“What if I could find a safe way through?”
Kane studied her face, trying to find the answer himself. “Find a safe way in, and the crew of theHellish Rebukewould owe you a favor.”
“I will find a way,” she said with certainty, and Kane grinned. It was an expression that said he did not believe her but was excited to see her try.
“Do your best. But you will not take time away from Afton’s work.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Kane let out a soft laugh and started again toward his quarters. “It’s a deal,” he called over his shoulder, leaving Erinna alone in the shadows to consider her impossible options.
Chapter
Thirty-One
Technically, Erinna did not plan on taking time away from Afton’s work. She planned on helping him. Erinna waited to make sure there was no sign of the captain before she tramped across the courtyard to the guardroom. Afton, for all his talk, was a creature of habit, of routine. If he wasn’t by the doors or eating in the corner of the courtyard, he was holed up in that makeshift study doing whatever it was he did with those books and papers.
Erinna knocked feverishly on the door. She had to be quick. Kane made it clear that he didn’t want Afton interrupted, and she had a sinking feeling that if the captain found her, she would be slung over his shoulder, kicking and screaming.
She continued to knock on the door until the mage had the decency to open it.
“What the hells—” he started, running a hand through disheveled hair. Erinna didn’t let him finish. She ducked beneath his hand, pushing her way into the small space, and kicked the door shut behind her.
“Hey!” Afton turned to her with more curiosity than irritation. Good, Erinna thought, that meant he might listen to her.
“Kane told me not to bother you,” she explained.
“So you decided to come and bother me?”
“I’m not bothering you.” Erinna settled herself in the rickety chair and took a quick look around the room. More books and papers had been brought in since the last time she was there, making the small space even stuffier. Afton managed to get a witchlight on the table. The light was dim but safer than bringing one of the candles near such high stacks of could-be kindling.
The Minor Apprentice crossed his arms but remained standing. “So whatareyou doing?”
“Helping you.”
Afton couldn’t hold in his laughter. “How do you intend to help me?”
Erinna glared at his arrogance. He may be the Minor Apprentice, but he was still struggling to get them into that library. He should have accepted any help he was given. Even she was setting aside her grievances to be in this room and offer assistance.
“Are you really in the position to deny it?”
The humor left his green eyes and was replaced with a look Erinna understood all too well. He was willing to come to the table and listen to what she had to say.
“What is your bottleneck? What do you need the most to get into that damned library?”
Afton finally settled in the seat across from her, finger thrummed against the wood in thought. He was taking too long to answer for Erinna’s liking. “Don’t think about how I can help you. Just tell me what you need, and I will find a way to help.”
“Why does this sound like a bad business tactic?”
“Because this isn’t a business tactic, this is a desperate attempt toward a common goal. Haru and the academy will be here soon and once they are, we’d be lucky to leave the islandwith our bodies intact. You know better than anyone what they would do to us.”
Afton winced. They had days at best before the library was attuned to its new master.
“There are a few more traps that need to be disarmed, but I can’t cross the rift in the foyer which means I can’t see them. So we are basically back to square one.”
“Rift in the foyer? That’s why I’m not allowed in?” Erinna remembered Scout’s warning. Afton rolled his eyes.
“Long story. The doors are unlocked but we can’t cross the valley of death that was triggered by Kane’s impulsive decision.”
