Sienna’s eyes drifted over the waves as she contemplated the question. Shedidfeel safe with Casper, though how much of it was just because she associated his presence with her father’s safe return? But there was no sense of danger or malice about him, despite his frequent scowls and gruff words, and she had the distinct impression that he would go to great lengths to ensure her well-being, if the situation required it.
“I just do,” she finally answered, looking back at her friend with a shrug. “It’s hard to explain, but I know that he’s honorable. And his eyes are too sad and guilty for him to be needlessly cruel, like he’s constantly reminded of something in the past that’s gone wrong, and he doesn’t want to repeat his mistakes.”
“But why does Daland feel the need to leave you with a body guard now? He’s often out fishing.”
“Since he lost his boat during the storm, Casper offered to let him use his ship for the week. That isn’t a lot of time, though, so Papa plans to spend almost every minute of it fishing. It turns out that we’re in a great deal of debt because of the cost of healers.”
“What about the income from the lighthouse?”
Sienna laughed mirthlessly, wincing slightly at the scratchy pain in the back of her throat. She had been doing a great deal more talking than usual the past few days, and it was starting to wear on her. “A lot has happened since we talked yesterday.” She quickly filled Devri in on the situation, concluding with, “Celly is trying to take care of it as quickly as possible, but until she does, we won’t be paid.”
Devri blew out a long, slow breath. “That’s…a lot, Enna. I’m sorry. I’m assuming that was why Celesta and Drosselmeyer were in town yesterday?”
“Among other things.” Sienna wasn’t sure yet how much she should disclose about the strange boxes. “Did they stop by your shop?”
A wide smile bloomed on her friend’s face. “They did. Having the approval and patronage of the Queen of Winter does wonderful things for business. We sold out of everything hours before closing yesterday.”
“That’s wonderful!”
“It is.” Devri nodded decisively before her face switched back into business mode. “But also beside the point. Daland needs to be gone for an extended amount of time fishing. So what? You’re capable of looking after yourself. I know he worried about your health after the accident and your illness, but you’ve been getting better every day for months now.”
Sienna scuffed a toe in the sand. “Remember how the whole reason Celesta was working on getting the law changed was because someone had cited it as evidence for their claim to the lighthouse?”
“Yes,” Devri stretched the word out.
Sienna looked at her pointedly.
Devri gasped. “No! He wouldn’t!”
She shrugged. “He did. And Erik was nosing around the lighthouse yesterday and tried to force his way in to ‘get a look around.’ He seems to think that it’s a given that the lighthouse will be his.”
“What did he do?” Devri’s face darkened. “Did he touch you?”
Sienna quickly shook her head. “No, no—nothing like that. He just tried to appeal to our shared history and used the excuse of checking in on my health as his reason for being there at first.”
“That elf,” Devri scoffed. “Well, if he’s been bothering you, I can see why Daland would hesitate to leave you alone. But you don’t have to stay with some strange man you just met. You could always come to me.”
“But the lighthouse—I need to be here in order to take care of it.”
“Then I’ll come to you.”
“You can’t be gone from the shop that long, especially with the festival next week.” Sienna quickly rushed on before Devri could offer up another argument. “It’s the simplest option. And besides, it’s only for a week.”
Devri studied her for a long moment. “I still don’t know that I’m convinced. I think I’ll have to meet this captain before I will consent to give my blessing.”
Sienna rolled her eyes and pulled her forward again. “He’s here for the Midwinter festival, but after that he’s leaving, so it will hardly matter.”
“Hmm.” She sounded unconvinced. “Is he handsome at least?”
Sienna’s face heated almost immediately at the question, her tell-tale blush giving away the answer to the question before she could even say anything.
“Oh, this just gotmuchmore interesting!” Devri sidled closer. “Tell me everything. What does he look like? What kind of fae is he?”
“I…don’t think I know. He never said. He’s quite a bit shorter than Erik, but stronger, I think. Maybe part dwarf? But then they don’t normally sail.”
“Alright, so he’s got a nice set of shoulders. That’s good.” Devri nodded wisely.
“I never said that!”
