Marielle reappeared, blood now staining her lips.
“We couldn’t stop the boats in time. There were hundreds, some of which we managed to sink, but not all. I tried to send warning, but my power is useless on land. Your bird caught sight of them, though.”
Hundreds?They would have slaughtered the entire town overnight.
“Do you know how they got here?” Hesper asked.
“My sentinels reported a large, black ship patrolling the isles north of here. I’d assume that same boat sailed them as far as they could before the reefs prevented it from going farther. Most likely pirates for the Prince.”
“Are there more coming?” Hesper asked, her eyes now scanning the horizon.
“No, those were the last of his hounds. We interrogated a few before we… took care of matters.” A small trickle of blood dripped down her chin. She licked it and let out a satiated sigh. I wasn’t sure what was more terrifying: a pack of demon hounds or Marielle in kill mode. Then she added, “You will be safe from here to Irk. I know not what will follow you on the Road, but the waters are secure.” And with a pat on the side of our boat, she elegantly flipped back into the water. Her pink tail disappeared into the darkness beneath.
“That was a close one,” Hesper said before smiling. “Oh, and I found this—”
She pulled out one of the syrupy pastries I thought we had to leave behind. “Don’t want you getting peckish.” She set to readjusting the sails. I popped the delicious pastry in my mouth, savoring the sticky-sweet delight.
“One more thing.” Hesper took a flower from the inside of her cloak and placed it behind my ear. “There were several blooms all over the floor as I packed up. Figured you might like it. I think I remember one of those plants in Patti’s shoppe?”
“Blooms?” I asked, my mouth still full of food. Sure enough, the delicate flower I held in my hand was a blood-ruby bloom. Each petal was shaped like a gem, the glossy outside shining so brightly in the moonlight, it looked fit for a queen. “That should be impossible.”
“Huh, I wonder if we know someone with a proclivity for magic that might…”
“Enough,” I bit back. “Please don’t poke fun at me after everything you heard tonight. Lore Isles must have the right climate.”
“Sure,” Hesper mumbled to herself. “Or maybe it’s something else entirely.” She pulled on a rope that lurched the boat forward a bit.
Something else indeed. Therewasthat kernel when Hesper and I almost…
But surely not.
The sails caught the wind just right, and we careened forward.
Hesper heaved a sigh of relief just as I heaved over the side of the boat.
She lost her hope, her reason, but also her clothes.
—opening line attempt 93
I vomited the entire night and into the morning. When she was not tending the sails, Hesper held my hair out of my face and rubbed my back. Perhaps that’s why I didn’t remember much on my journey from Cenawind to Moss. I threw up the memories.
The sun set when our boat hit land. Hesper picked me up and placed me gently down on the pebbly shore. As soon as my body stilled, my world snapped back into focus. The roiling nausea was wiped clean, and I swore as the smell of vomit coated myself and my senses. Hesper was covered in vomit, too. My vomit.
I would not get into a Goddess-damned boat ever again. I would never eat one of those pastries ever again.
Well, actually, I probably would.
Hesper knelt in front of me, wiping sweaty strands of my hair off my face.
“Thank you,” I said weakly.
“Always, princess,” she said.
“Don’t. Call. Me. Princess,” I managed to say.
“Good to have you back,” she said with a relieved smile.
A rolling mist that looked thick enough to be sliced with a knife surrounded us. The small, dark, pebbled shore was the only visible bit of land. Beyond us, we could see nothing. That must be Irk Road then.
