One breath to keep
The beasts are the least when nature is law.
Rune’s quill scratches for a little longer after I finish. Tavi and Elio peer at the words.
“That is eerie as fuck,” Rune says, sitting back, his lips pressed in a thin line.
“You knew it wouldn’t be especially safe.” Elio’s admonishment is light, but unmistakable, and its tension coilsthrough me. Captain Ivor may have demanded his tongue for the slight.
But Rune smiles. Not a smirk or a grin—it’s almost sad. “Yeah,” he says.
Tavi presses a slender finger to the map. “We’ll be approaching from the west, but I’ll circle around to find a sheltered spot we can anchor and row in. We won’t be able to take everyone.”
“I never intended to.”
“Rune.” Again, Elio admonishes him.
Rune’s voice hardens. “We’ll take volunteers. I won’t put anyone in danger who isn’t willing.”
Elio shakes his head. “Everyone on this ship—”
Knock, knock, knock.
The man sighs and heaves himself out of the chair before Rune can stand. Natural light pours into the space as he opens the door and a brightly coloured square of parchment is thrust into the room as an offering.
“Believe this one’s for you,” Elio says, letting the door close behind him.
Rune glances at the parchment, his face carefully neutral, before his attention flicks to me again. “You’ll have to excuse us. We won’t be long.” Then, abruptly, he rolls the map and gestures for Tavi and Elio to lead the way out the door.
“Hey!” I say, pushing off the wall to follow.
He pops his head back through the threshold. His hair is still up high on his head, and the wily blue tendrils that have escaped catch the light. “Something wrong,Odi?”
I swallow once. Twice. Pretend the purr in his voice doesn’t affect me in the least. “What do you expect me to do? On the ship?”
Confusion flits over his face, then the grin returns full force. “I suppose you could find a mop.”
Ido look. I do. But besides the mop in the careful employ of a moonlight-skinned human man, there doesn’t seem to be any. Half the hammocks in the sleeping quarters have been unhooked and traded for crate tables and barrel chairs, apparently in preparation for lunch. A few of the night crew sleep around the edges, oblivious to the commotion. Their weapons are sheathed under their heads or cradled to their chests, some are in full belt and dress, ready at a moment’s notice.
It’s the first time I notice they’re all dressed well. Each of them wears neat clothes, like they change. And wash. Their hair may be unruly, but it’s trimmed well enough. Some of the men even appear to keep up with shaving. Maybe state of dress is a point of pride for Rune. Every captain has their own way of showing they’ve got things under control.
But how much does he pay them that they’re able to maintain it?
I startle as my gaze catches on a man watching me—the one who didn’t take kindly to my interruption of him and Rune. Reid. He’s brawny, with tan hair and a permanent sunburn on his nose and cheeks. I try to breeze past him on my way to the line that’s forming out the galley, but at the last moment he steps in my way, gets close enough that I could sink a dagger into his spleen without overreaching.
“Now don’t go thinking that because you’re whoring for the captain you’re absolved. It’s his ship, but he can’t run it on his own. He’s only one man.”
I keep my voice soft, my fingers twitching for weapons that aren’t there. “And yet, here you are, threatening me instead of making use of those massive gonads in a more productive way. Unless you wanted me to tell him you’ve threatened mutiny in your stead?”
Reid’s face goes impossibly redder. “We all know you’ll turn the moment you get the chance.”
I step into his space, closing the scant distance between us. His beard brushes my cheek as I whisper in his ear. “It sounds like we have that in common.”
He explodes away from me, shoving his grubby arms into my chest to force me back. Everyone in the room stills, but none move towards us. The thirst for violence in the air makes me grin. This, I know how to handle.
He’s taller, but older. Slower. Assuming he’s been sailing long, his hands will be the most dangerous. If he gets a solid grip on me I won’t be able to break it. Luckily, these clothes are loose, and he’s already moving for the dagger at his belt. If he draws it, he may as well tie a ribbon on itand pass it over.
“Reid.” Soraya’s voice makes the entire room flinch. “The captain already told you to let it go.” She pads down the steps and comes up beside me with all the grace of a noblewoman. “Your approval is not, and will not, be needed. If you’ve a problem with the captain’s choices, you can get off at the next dock. No one is insisting you stay, believe me.”
