When they were safe, Eleanor was going to have a good cry somewhere. Preferably with a bottle of really strong wine. Or that tea Caoimhe liked.
Again, the ship exploded all around them.
Even Diado, their formal dresser, had taken off, leaving them in the hallway, attempting to get to the nearby bank of escape pods. She kept searching for them. If all was normal, Eleanor would have known right where they were because she would have remembered them.
But not today.
Today it seemed like they had been hidden under all the metal and debris.
"We have to get to the escape pods," Freya said, her voice cracking in panic.
Eleanor saw the shift in the wall design near the pods.
"There," she said.
Veta almost tugged Caoimhe along at first, leading her. She didn't seem able to let go of Caoimhe. Caoimhe still seemed disoriented, but there was more color in her face again. Maybe she'd come out of her stupor.
Eleanor stayed by her sister, just in case she stopped walking again. Her red cloak got caught on a piece of metal that hung low, and she ripped it. She cringed at the sound of the embroidery tearing, but what was she to do about it now? Besides, it was just a robe.
She would get through this. She had to. What else could she do? Lay down and die?
Well, that certainly wasn't an option. Eleanor may not like every part of being a princess, but she wasn't about to give up just because she was scared. She'd been far more scared in her life.
Deep breaths.
Move forward.
Veta pushed up pieces of bulkhead that had fallen in the halls leading to the nearest bank of escape pods.
“We’re under attack,” Veta said as she raised another piece. “We have to get off this ship. The damn Rhimodians double-crossed us.”
It broke her heart to think that the Rhimodians would destroy this opportunity to end the war. Did they not want peace after everything? Caoimhe worked so hard to bring this together.
Why would they destroy it now?
The ship rocked, and everyone fell into the wall. Caoimhe stood, her headdress caught on a hook.
Veta and Freya worked to get it free.
“Stupid thing,” Veta muttered and yanked the piece.
Fabric ripped, and the sound felt like it was tearing into Eleanor's heart.
Caoimhe cried out as her hair ripped out of the braids she wore underneath the headpiece.
The piece flew across the walkway as Veta threw it out of the way.
It was enough to bring her out of the shock, and she stared at Veta.
“It’s just a headpiece,” Veta replied.
“Yes. We must get to safety.” Caoimhe was still a little out of it.
They were close. So close. The hall was torquing left and right, sending them careening back and forth into the walls.
"They couldn't have done this," Bianca whispered.
Eleanor looked at her. "Why?"
