“Why… would you sail?”
“It was recreational. We did it for fun. They taught me everything about crewing it and sailing solo.” I paused. “My parents died in the water, because of a rogue wave and discarded fishing nets.”
“You…really know how to sail?” Aiko cocked his head.
“Absolutely.”
Valius rolled up his map. “You’ll leave tomorrow morning for Winter Keep. I will send a message tonight to have a sturdy boat ready and stocked for you.” He narrowed his eyes. “You’re sure about this?”
“Forty years, Commander,” I smiled. “Through some of the most treacherous straits in the Western Sea. I’m sure. And capable.”
Odom turned to Aiko. “You’ll go with her?”
He nodded. “I have to. And maybe she can teach me to sail? We can use that skill.”
I pulled Aiko to the side after we figured out all the plans to get to North Landing. “Aiko, I don’t want you to feel obligated to go with me.”
Shaking his head. “We don’t know if you can just have anyone’s blood. I’d rather the Breaker not die on my watch. You also don’t know how to judge how long you can go without. Every vampire is different, and we all learn from birth to figure out our interval.” He grinned. “If you think being angry-hungry is bad, wait until that first blood need hits you.”
I didn’t like the sound of that.
THE SLEEPY LITTLE HAMLETOFWINTERKEEPslipped away in the midday sun.
Aiko and I were on horses at dawn, riding the five hours from the Burnt Woods to Winter Keep. The horses made good time, and we were there before noon.
A couple, with a small, adorable vampire child between them, met us at the stables. They handed us food and led us quickly to where the small, delightfully clean, and well-maintained boat was moored.
Otep, the male, walked me through the vessel, showing me all the quirks he knew about, where he stored things, and how the ship had a natural starboard list. I could tell this was his boat, and he was giving it up for me.
I would do what I could to get it back to him, someday.
Aiko was a little wary about the whole thing but climbed in after I instructed him how to untie the ship. Otep waited until we were away from the dock on the tide to disappear back to his house and family.
Letting the tide guide us, I moved us away from Winter Keep due north. The new land from the Spine wasn’t explored yet, and we’d have to give a wide berth.
The maps we had of the water were better on the east side of the Spine. The west side maps were all old, but I did remember some of Cold Bay.
The anxiety coming off Aiko was shocking.
I pulled a rope to unfurl the foretriangle sheet for more speed, and he jumped off his seat.
“Relax. I’m just getting the sail down.” I pulled the sheet tight and secured it.
“People… do this for… fun?” His teeth were chattering.
Turning and hitching a hip, I studied him. “Are you frightened?”
“It’s water. It’s cold water. It’s a lot of cold water.”
“It’s an ocean. Have you never been?”
He shook his head rapidly. “I’m not fond of water.”
“But you’re in a boat.”
His eyes grew wide. “A boat implies water.”
The mainsail slacked in the wind, and we slowed. I grabbed the ropes and tacked the boat to catch the wind again.
