I brushed my hand over the smooth sheets and smiled at him. “I’m sure I will.”
“Then I will bid you goodnight.” He inclined his head one last time and slipped out of the room.
Marc walked over to the bed and took a seat beside me. “You’re sure you’re alright?”
“I think I’m better than those Managers,” I pointed out as I recalled their haggard appearances. A laugh escaped me. “I suppose they’ll have to find a tailor somewhere around here.” Marc stared ahead and pursed his lips. My humor died in my throat. Regret crept into my mind. I leaned forward to catch his eye. “What is it? Did I do something wrong?”
“Nothing you were aware of at the time, but we both saw their faces. A Manager relies on their anonymity to travel the islands.”
My heart began to sink into the pit of my stomach. “So what’ll they do to us?”
“The common punishment is death.”
I stiffened, and the color drained from my face. “Death? For seeing their faces?”
“That’s their usual policy.”
“But didn’t you see that other Manager’s face? The one that passed away?”
“He waved that rule for me, but only because we respected each other. These others won’t give us the same courtesy.”
“But if they kill me, then they won’t get paid, right?”
“They may or may not care about that.”
“Oh.” I grasped my hands together in my lap to stop them from shaking. “I. . .I really messed up then, didn’t I?”
I set his hand over mine and met my gaze with his bright blue one. “There’s no way you could have known about their policy, or what your magic would do.”
I bowed my head and bit my lower lip. “But I need to know about the second one before I get someone hurt who shouldn’t be hurt.”
A hard slam made my head shoot up. Ramaro had slammed his tail on the floor and now glared at me. “Stop this blubbering and focus. Tomorrow we practice out in the garden. The professor has enough flora, fauna, and watering troughs to fill any witch or wizard’s order.”
I managed a smile. “I suppose that’s what’s needed, isn’t it? Then I’ll only end up killing one of you guys.” Ramaro and Marc’s faces drooped, and I burst into laughter. “I’m joking!”
“I hope you are. . .” Ramaro muttered as he dropped onto his stomach on the floor.
Marc stood and turned to face me. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I winced. “Please don’t say ‘bright and early.’ I’m not sure I can do either right now.”
“A pirate gets up with the sun,” he warned me with a twinkle in his eye as he made his way to the door. He dropped his gaze to Ramaro and jerked his head in my direction. “Watch over her good, or I’ll be having a new coin pouch.”
Ramaro flicked his tongue out. “Better than you have been this evening.”
Marc chuckled, but there was a hollow sound to it. He winked at me before he slipped out.
I stood and stretched my arms over my head. “I guess I’ll wash up and-”
Ramaro’s head shot up. My eyebrows shot down. We both whipped our heads at the bathroom door.
I bolted with the lizard close at my heels. My longer legs and a millisecond head start gave me the advantage, and I raced into the bathroom and slammed the door on his face. I leaned against the wood and burst into laughter.
Ramaro pounded against the door. “I can’t protect you on this side of the door!”
“And you can’t watch, either!” I quipped as I pushed off.
“I can.”
