“Histhings?”
She gives me a hesitant grin. “Bones, mostly. I packed a lot of tasty grizzly food to make sure he won’t gnaw on anyone here if the fish are scarce.”
I turn slightly away from her, deciding I need to gaze at Karthia’s familiar rocky cliffs for as long as I can. “When were you planning on telling me you were leaving?” I blurt out. Some of the crew turn to stare, and the back of my neck burns.
“You’re one to talk!” Meredy gives me another strange look, like she did earlier at the festival. “Itried to tell you, at the party. You were in such an odd mood, though, that in the end I thought it would be easier to say nothing.”
I think of the emerald pendant I almost left her, and nod. Then I frown as a ridiculous and unpleasant idea occurs.
“Were you following me? Is that why you’re here?”
Meredy draws herself up, her eyes flashing. She pulls out a tattered leather-bound book from inside her cloak and thrusts it at me. “Thisis why I’m here. And for your information, I came here straight after the party.Youweren’t on board yet. Just so we’re clear on who’s following who.”
As I flip open the book, she adds, “That was my father’s. I kept it all these years because it’s the one thing my brother and I had in common.” She taps the open page. “These are all my father’s notes on Karthia’s provinces. His personal maps.” She flips toward the middle of the book, where the pages are blank except for a few water stains. “And these were waiting to be filled in by Elibeth or Evander—or me.”
Shaking, I lean harder against the rail, but that only makes me feel like I might fall overboard at any moment. I straighten. “Why now, though? Why this voyage?”
Meredy arches a brow. “I don’t know of any other ships leaving Karthian seas anytime soon, do you?” Retreating behind her mask of coolness, she adds, “Besides, it seemed the smartest thing to do, given... recent circumstances.” She pauses, narrowing her eyes at me. “Now. What areyoudoing here?”
I shake my head. “Believe it or not, the same as you.” When she frowns, I add, “I thought I’d fulfill Evander’s dreams since he’ll never have the chance.”
Meredy sighs. “Well, since we’re both here, we’ll just have to make the best of things, no?”
I watch her lips for a moment before I concede, “Sure, Master Crowther,” nudging her playfully.
A wave crashes against the shore we’re leaving behind. The only place I’ve ever known. I wonder when I’ll see it again, and what else will change before then. Already, Valoria has reopened the temples of Change and spoken with her advisors about starting a mage school. A place to help people understand their magic—its dangers and its gifts.
“You’ll find your way back here sooner than you think, Sparrow,” Meredy murmurs, as if sensing my thoughts.
I open my mouth to say I hope so, but the words won’t come out. Even if I did return soon, what would Jax, Simeon, and Danial say about my leaving? Worst of all is picturing the betrayal on Valoria’s face. I’m not sure I want to come back to Karthia soon, if ever. The only thing I’m sure I want right now is to be alone so I can clear my head, but that’s plainly not going to happen.
“Storm’s coming,” Kasmira says.
I glance over my shoulder. Behind us, our captain searches the dawn skies with her gray-eyed Sight, checking whether she’ll need to work her magic. “Hope you’re both ready for an interesting first day’s sailing.”
“Oh, it’s already interesting,” Meredy whispers, almost making me smile.
If I close my eyes, listening to the gulls’ cries and breathing the salt air, I can pretend for a moment that nothing’s changed. But when I open them, there’s a beautiful girl by my side with adventure in her eyes, and a new world shimmers on the horizon.
And at long last, I’m ready to greetit.
