Lila rolled her eyes. “Trust me. It was far from my first choice.”
“What about Inez?” asked Erinna, trying to swallow the growing sense of unease. Inez’s safety was assured, but Erinna hoped she was being treated kinder than she was.
Lila didn’t stop her stride, just cocked her head over her shoulder to respond. “She’s on foraging duty for the most part. Once Cap is sure she won’t break apart like a glass doll.”
“Good, good.” Erinna was relieved to hear they wouldn’t make her do anything strenuous.
The sun glinted off the crumbling walls of the courtyard, devoured by the imposing walls of the Fort. Slivers of exposed steel from Lila’s numerous blades caught the light, making Erinna wince internally.
“She your sister or something?” Lila asked, scanning Erinna from head to toe.
“Inez? No.”
“So, a good friend then? Or cousin or something?”
Erinna shook her head. “She needed help. Didn’t deserve that fate.”
Lila gave Erinna a knowing look. One that almost looked like acceptance. “Very kind of you.”
Erinna shrugged. “It’s what needed to be done.”
Lila’s eyes narrowed as she bit her cheek in thought. “I still don’t like you.”
Erinna’s mouth ticked up in amusement. “Feeling’s mutual. But I respect your suspicion. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t like me either.” She could understand Lila’s predicament.Erinna was a stranger, a risk. A cursed Tarthan with no loyalty to the crew. She would be against having her around as well. But Kane had extended Erinna grace, and once she managed to fix her remaining witchstone to his mast and wheel, they would all see she was worth the trade.
Erinna eyed the large iron doors that barred their entrance. Fort Solitude was part military building, part library. The large tower was located in the center, surrounded and reinforced by a navy-built stronghold. Seeing it in daylight, Erinna could understand the difficulties. At first glance, it was clear that the only way to get to the library was through the fortress.
“You can’t seriously be here for that as well?”
Erinna turned her attention back to Lila. “Is that so surprising?”
“I thought you Tarthans worshiped the Chancellor. Isn’t it heresy to steal from him?” Her curiosity was warranted, and she was absolutely correct.
“Mage or not, he was still just a man. A man with a lot of power who turned the other way when the Synod of the Everdawn and the Royal Council started snatching up children.” Venom coated Erinna’s words.
A few days ago, she would have thought twice before speaking her distaste out loud to another human being. But Lila was a pirate, and from what Erinna could tell, not a fan of the island nation. What Tarth did with aberrants was a poorly hidden secret at best.
“Hmm.” Lila gave an approving nod. It was the closest Erinna would get to a compliment, and she would take it. “Let’s go. We don’t have all day, and you’re already wasting time.” Lila spun on her heels with Erinna trailing close behind.
TheHellish Rebukewas a fine ship, roughly the size of a brigantine, a bit larger, and well managed with the number of people she saw around camp. There was something familiarabout the build; it was an older style of vessel with hints of alloyed silver that lined the hull in thin wisps like a maritime bracelet.
The ship was outfitted for the north, or for sirens. Silver, she heard, was a good deterrent for creatures that dwelled in shadows and darkness.
Large gouges on the side and breaks in the rail on the deck were the external indications of rough water. Not even the famous scourge of the sea made it through Talon Bay unscathed.
Fortunately, the sharp, jutting rocks failed to pierce through completely, but the structural integrity was severely compromised.
High on the mast, a black flag flapped in the wind. The dark fabric bore two swords bisecting a dragon skull, stitched with deep red thread.
“Will I be starting above or below?” Erinna asked as they boarded the boat. Erinna could swear that half the crew was already onboard and scurrying across deck, running back and forth from the hold.
Lila snorted. “Oh no, no, no, Brax is our carpenter and very territorial. You’ll just be taking those trinkets of yours and fitting them wherever you please.”
Erinna balked. Lila could not have lived under such a large rock that she would dare consider witchstone atrinket. Lila waved her arms around in a gesture Erinna could only assume meant,Do what you have to do and make it quick.
There was only one stone she could work with, and choosing the right area was crucial.
Erinna walked from stern to bow, Lila always five steps behind as she toured the ship.
