The cloth falls over my fingers, and I stare down at it in shock.
I’m remembering the last time I had a cloth sack tied over my head.
He drops to a crouch in front of me. “Tessa,” he says quietly. “I know you hate me. But I never lied about the most important parts. I care about my people just as much as you care about yours—and I know you see that.” He pauses. “I didn’t force you to do this. You volunteered—just like you volunteered to help people in the villages.” His gray eyes seek mine, and I remember what they looked like when we were clinging to the rigging, thirty feet above the ocean. “You can help them again.”
I swallow, thinking of everyone in Kandala waiting for us to return. “I said I’d do it, and I will.”
He lets out a breath, and relief blooms in his eyes. “Thank you.” He presses a palm to my cheek. “I swear to you, I’ll be right here the whole—”
“No.” I straighten, pulling away. “Rocco will be my guard.”
Rian stares back at me. “Tessa—”
“That’s my requirement,” I say. “If you still want me to do this, I want Rocco.” I hold his eyes. “Not you.”
Rian stands. He looks at Erik. “You’re still injured.”
“I only need my hand to shoot a crossbow.”
Rian scowls. “I will not—”
“How far away was the ship?” Olive says. “Do you have other people to move into position?”
Rian swears. “Fine.” He tosses a length of rope at my feet, then glares at Erik. “Make sure she’s really bound. If this fails because of you, nothing she says will save you.”
Then he’s through the door before any of us can respond.
Erik gingerly bends to fetch the rope.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “Are you sure you can—”
“Of course I can, Miss Tessa. I wouldn’t have left you with him regardless.”
“No matter what happens, I won’t let him harm you.”
Erik’s eyes meet mine. “I’m not afraid of him.” He looks up, past me, at Olive. “Do you have a safe place to hide?”
She nods. “I’m going into the barn.”
“And Ellmo is safe?”
Her face softens. “Yes. He’s soaking himself in sugar and cocoa in the palace. He hasn’t seen Anya in ages. I think they’re baking something sweet.”
“Good.” He uncoils the rope. “Give me your hands, Miss Tessa.”
When I hold them out, he looks up at Olive again while he loops the rope around my wrists. “Do you have a weapon?” he says to her.
“I stashed my crossbow,” she says.
“Livvy!” Rian calls from somewhere outside. “You need to get out of there.”
Olive doesn’t move.
Erik doesn’t tie my wrists tightly atall, then reaches for my ankles next. “What about a dagger?” he says to Olive.
“I have a blade hidden under my skirts.” Her voice is serious, but she gives him a wink. “You really are a big brother, aren’t you?”
“In truth, I’m the youngest.” He tugs the knot at my ankles—again, too loose—and stands.
