I look up at her. “Daniel deserves to die a slow death.”
She shakes her head, sad. “No, he doesn’t. He’s an ass, but… we were all in pain.”
Liana furrows her brow. “He cast you out after such a loss? And you defend him?”
Anger crawls up my arms. Arlet tends to be like this—malleable.
“Daniel watched when the first prince cut off one of Arlet’s fingers so she would tell him where the baby was.” My words are so hot, they burn my throat.
More silence. Then Ulla says, “Let me see.”
Arlet reluctantly holds up her hand, showcasing the sloppy stitches I made and its skewed placement.
“I sewed it back on after they branded me in front of the entire pit.”
Liana nods. “Vann has a few missing fingers. Has he shown you?”
Arlet stiffens. “No. But Joso has told me of them—says that it makes his grip on his cleaver more impressive.”
Liana nods.
“I think it would be good for you two to write together. Estela is losing some of her memories, and you have been with her for so long. You also are an excellent reader,” Liana says affectionately.
Arlet’s pale skin goes pink, and I furrow my brows. “You’ve been reading scrolls?”
Arlet nods. “Some are… love stories.”
For some reason, that makes me laugh.
“Saucy love stories?” I ask.
Her red face is more than enough of an answer.
I laugh. “Do they have pictures?”
Everyone around us laughs, but it’s Liana who says, “Some do. Let me know if you need recommendations.” She steps back. “Hurry with your writings. We have to plan for the elves’ second visit if what Thorne says is true.”
Ulla follows her out, leaving me alone with my friend.
Arlet shakes her head. “It’s so strange to see how different they are from the Enduares from the ocean. I think the stories we heard fit them more, though the flesh-eating still sounds excessive.”
I nod, feeling uneasy again. Spreading a hand over the scroll, I think of what to say.
“Do I get to know why you glow now?” Arlet says.
I take a deep breath. “There was a god at the bottom of the ocean.Endu.”
Her eyes grow wide. “No. Really?”
I nod. “He spoke of many things, but especially of our goddess. He said he was helping her by touching my soul. Her name is… Ashra.”
Arlet tilts her head to the side. “Ashra.”
I nod. “I’ll be honest, I still feel very little about it. I think she had a connection with my mother, but I feel much more in tune with the Enduar gods. Especially…”
Arlet nods and tucks a piece of hair out of my face. “I agree. But it is interesting to think about.”
I nod, and the silence stretches between us again.
