It was easy to wallow, harder to work.
Erinna swatted at a small tear that had snuck down her cheek during her small dance with despair. Crying could be done later, when there truly was nothing else she could do.
“What’s next?” she asked, turning to Lila.
The two were nearly back to camp, following the rocky footpath that went from dock to courtyard. A few pirates moved past, giving Erinna and Lila a wide berth.
Lila slowed to a halt near a path that disappeared into low trees and shrubs, just before the camp. “You’re on scouting duty. We need a lookout on the northwestern bluff.”
Erinna nodded and quickly turned on her feet, ready for the distraction. She trudged through the underbrush on her way to the next job. If she had to be honest, playing lookout was a welcome break from the noise and the constant reminder of her situation.
The door was still locked, and they had less than two weeks before Major Apprentice Haru Tyril would be on the island to complete her transition to Chancellor.
Erinna hiked higher up the hill, through brush and bramble, suffering cuts and scrapes while she made her way to the far edge of the island. She glanced at the walls, now hidden behind thick vegetation, and wondered what would happen if they didn’t make it in. If the academy got to the island before they could enter.
The impending doom and her own failure chilled the blood in her veins. A cold sweat built on the back of her neck. She turned to stare out at the horizon in hopes of clearing her head. Erinna focused on her breath and the gentle breeze against her skin.
The ground gave way to a crumbling cliff. Erinna had to admit that the view was beautiful. Turquoise waters thrashing against jutting rocks. A blue sky and warm sun graced the afternoon. It was easier to appreciate the feral beauty of Fort Solitude when one was safe from the clutches of the bay.
A twig snapped behind her, and Erinna instinctively backed away from the edge. White-blonde hair shone in the sun as Inez approached. She picked leaves and twigs from sloppy braids, then patted the dirt and dust off her trousers.
Erinna breathed a small sigh of relief, grateful she didn’t have to defend against a wild animal, and glad to see small signs of life returning to the poor diviner. Her cheeks were flushed with effort, and a healthy hue returned to her skin. Though rest and nourishment had done wonders, she was still far too thin and tired easily.
“What are you doing here? You should rest if you have the chance.” Erinna closed the distance and plucked a few of the twigs she missed.
“Here.” Inez pushed a small tin into Erinna’s hands. “Thank you. For saving me.”
The edges were blunted from some sort of impact, but the small latch was still intact. Erinna hesitated for a moment. Gifts like these made her uncomfortable, like a prize for doing the right thing. A transaction for humanity.
She made a move to return it, but Inez shook it away. It was clear that she wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“I think this will help you sleep at night,” she said, and Erinna finally relented. She popped the latch and opened the lid. Tea leaves rested in the small container, and with one sniff,Erinna could tell it was the Ionian variety meant to promote deep sleep. The mixture was slightly different, perhaps from a different region of the southern kingdom, but very similar to what she used to drink at home—the kind that helped keep nightmares away when she was young.
“I…how did you get this?”
Inez chewed the inside of her cheek as if assessing whether the information was best kept a secret. “I asked Serg for some.”
“Serg?” Erinna’s brow shot up in surprise. She had no familiarity with that name.
Inez pressed a hand to her lips to stifle a giggle. “The ship’s doctor.”
What was so funny, Erinna wondered. Sure, she hadn’t been doing a great job of making friends. But the crew seemed to take well to Inez, and Erinna was just fine with that status quo. The young woman had been through enough. Rough and rude sea scoundrels didn’t have to add to her misfortune.
“Is everything okay? Are you hurt?” Erinna scanned Inez from head to toe.
“I’m physically okay.” Inez gave Erinna a friendly squeeze on her arm, a sign that meant it was time to change the topic. Erinna was growing familiar with this sort of unspoken language.
Eventually, the two companions settled on the grass, looking out over the ocean. Erinna’s lookout shift was a joke, and even she knew it. Scout, theHellish Rebuke’sbest lookout, did his duty with a diligence that would rival most military consistency.
No one was approaching the island, and Erinna hoped it would stay that way for as long as possible.
Inez closed her eyes and breathed in deep, face tilted up at the sun.
“What really brought you all the way up here?” asked Erinna, working a few knots out of her shoulder. It was hard to believe she had come simply to deliver tea leaves.
Inez pursed her lips in thought before responding. “I like you, and felt like you needed some company.”
The sun was getting low, bathing the sky in warm yellow and orange. The scent of the sea mixed with fire and grilled meat. The camp was getting ready for dinner, and the two of them would be called back soon.
