“Not you. All you’re good for is blowing shit up. I need to borrow that shipwright. Heard she did good work a few nights ago on Kane’s impulsive sail.”
Lila tapped her chin in thought. “Mmm, how much are you willing to offer?”
“Excuse me, but I am not a tool to barter,” huffed Erinna.
The two pirates turned their gaze on her, and for a moment, Erinna wanted to shrink away and pretend she never said anything. It was clear, by merely speaking, that she had offered her services willingly.
“This way.” Brax calmed at a concerning rate and gestured for Erinna to follow.
For the first time in ages, Erinna felt excited. They approached the doors that led to the lower deck, the forbidden zone, and she lost her annoying shadow. To watch a pirate’s carpenter at work would be an experience of a lifetime. The small spark of joy was soured slightly as she thought of her father—the first person she’d want to tell—entombed in his own magic.
They didn’t go far, nor did she expect to. The largest gash to the ship sat midway on the vessel. What Erinna didn’t understand was why they wouldn’t approach the repair from the outside.
“We’ll reinforce it from the inside for now. It’s best to keep as many scars as possible for a ship like ours. Keeps people from thinking we’re soft.”
“Just tell me what you need me to do.” Erinna knew better than to express her opinion. But if she did, she would remind Brax that most assaults would come from the outside. Leaving compromised areas along the hull would only make repairs more complicated.
Small rays of sunlight poked through the round windows. Most of the light came from mounted lanterns on the wallor swinging overhead. A few witchlights dotted the room they entered, but it was clear the ship was worked on and refurbished in bits and pieces over time. There was a sense of art to it, nonetheless. A personality. The place was a living home on the ocean.
A line of damage spanned halfway up the wall. Another good hit against those rocks and the room would have an opening straight into the ocean. Some chests and a pile of burlap sacks remained in the room but everything else had been cleared for repairs. Erinna figured this was a storage area, to keep belongings needed on a day-to-day basis for the members on board.
Near the wall lay thin strips of wood, a pail full of thick sap, and a mound of sawdust. It only took a moment for Erinna to size up operations. Brax planned on reinforcing the entire area, like giving the boat a cast for a sprain. It would alter the size of the room ever so slightly, but a good option for a fast and practical mend.
Erinna strode to the bucket, her foot scuffing a large brush caked in hardened sap. She bent and took a quick sniff. Erhglur sap. Her suspicions were correct. The glue-like substance was a godsend for mending on the go, but hardened frightfully fast. She scanned the room looking for some sort of heat source. The sap would work best when warm, but to Erinna’s dismay there was nothing around for her to use.
Brax shuffled over to a small crate and collected a clean brush. The ones strewn about the ground were useless now.
“That won’t be necessary.” Erinna shooed the offering away. The brush would be the problem. Without hesitation she picked up the bucket and plunged her hand into the sap. The texture was thick and viscous like honey.
“Huh.” Brax tucked the brush into a worn utility belt that sat snug around his waist. He stroked his beard in a moment of thought and gave her a quick nod of approval.
“I saw your handiwork from the other day,” he started. “Pretty good.”
Erinna managed a small smile but beamed internally with pride. “I did my best, given the circumstances.”
Brax let out a full-bellied laugh. “Kane can be?—”
“Bullheaded? Risky?” Erinna offered.
“All of the above.”
They both laughed. Erinna appreciated the sudden sense of camaraderie with the older pirate. It was nice to know she wasn’t the only one frustrated with Kane’s treatment of the ship.
She turned back to the task at hand, sizing up the damage and the amount of sap she had to work with. This was not a job for a beginner—that poor kid would be scarred, and for what?
“We need to get the paste on quick. I’ll be ready with the wood but won’t hesitate to snap your fingers if you’re too slow.”
“Careful, Brax, she needs to keep those fingers until my ship has witchstone.”
Erinna stifled a gasp. Kane had entered so quietly she didn’t hear the approach. It was a sobering moment. Reminded her of just how lethal he could be.
Brax nodded. “Noted.”
Kane spared her a quick glance before crossing to Brax. “When this is done, Afton and I need to see you by the doors.”
A red flush of frustration returned to Brax’s cheeks. From what Erinna could tell, this wasn’t the first time his services were requested at the Fort, and it seemed Brax was growing tired of failed attempts. She could relate.
“This is only a fraction of the work I have for the day. Do you know how many tears are left to stitch, holes left to patch?—”
