The patrolling Seaguardians look up at the noise. I place a callused hand on Isagani’s shoulder.
‘Gently, now. That ship is only going to stay in the harbour for so long before the Seaguardians have fully repurposed her and thenshe’s lost to us. It’s an insult. She deserves to go down properly, the way she should have. The way I should have.’
‘How many times do I have to save your arse before you value your life?’ They hiss through gritted teeth.
‘I’m doing that now,’ I counter, voice hushed. ‘I want to take Ris to the Maelstrom. She’s going there whether I help her or not. She doesn’t stand a chance without me. I want to get her there and back if I can. She needs a sailor, and we need a navigator.’
‘And what makes you sure she’s up to the task?’
‘I’m not entirely. But I know she can read maps, at least according to Morna. And now she’s got some navigational tools. It’s better than naught.’
Isagani is silent for a moment, then they laugh. ‘It’s a miracle.’
‘What is?’
‘How you can be so self-serving and self-sacrificing all at once?’
I can’t help but laugh, too.
‘Stubborn as a royal.’ They sigh.
Not the first time I’ve heard that. ‘Look – I can understand if you don’t want to come. It would be wild of me to involve a kid—’
‘Biba’s half my age!’
‘Biba’s gifted.’
Isagani glares. ‘I’m not a child; I’m almost fully grown. I can hold my own. I need to get away from Paranish.’
I study them. ‘You said you tried before. Why?’
‘I owe it to her to actually leave this time, to find something better.’
‘Who?’
There is a brief silence. ‘My grandmother,’ they finally say. ‘She’s the only one who ever cared about me. If we could’ve left before she’d still be alive.’
There’s nothing I can say to that. I let the moment pass, and then gently pull them into my side. ‘Even if leaving might kill you? There’s no glory here.’
‘My grandmother knew of a smuggler in Umasa named Finlyr Pane. She never found him. We didn’t know he’d fucked off to Lassair by then. She wanted to get off this island, but the Bastion took its tithes despite the harvest shrinking. They practically starved us, then blamed us for not producing enough food. The Bastion killed her, plain as if they had put her on the gallows.’
Fuck. I hug my kid closer, and we stand there for a long time, the wind whipping at our cloaks. Some sellers battle to pin bunting to their stall, all bright orange flames and stars.
‘The Magliyab festival,’ I say into the top of their head. ‘It’s next week.’
‘What?’ they ask, pulling away.
‘You said it’s all about timing. Well, Magliyab is the perfect distraction. The Seaguardians will have their hands full with travellers. And the queen’s expected any day now. Last night was too close a call. It’s time for us to get away from Paranish.’
chapter twenty-six
hanan
I stare out thelarge windows of the queen’s chambers, which overlook the mainland towns. Each one is beginning to light up as the sun sets, like stars scattered across the night sky. My breath catches as I’m reminded of lighting candles in the temple at dusk. I didn’t think I’d miss the rhythms of Aistra.
‘Do you know what we celebrate tonight?’ the queen asks, and I’m brought back to my task, the loose strands of her hair beneath my fingers. Attendants usually flutter around her like birds: maids, attendants, envoys, courtiers. For novelty, she sometimes dismisses her lady’s maids, and we are almost alone this way. Although she is never really alone, accompanied by the child in her belly. And Salvacion, the Queen’s Royal Guardian, the Captain of the Seaguardians. Salvacion is always here.
I shake my head, and the queen turns towards the window, looking down at Umasa. ‘Your naivety is a breath of fresh air. Magliyab: the festival of flames.’ She stands and appraises herself in the mirror.
