Erinna wished that were true, but if she could play the right cards and if Mistress Fate saw fit to bless her with a miracle, maybe they would be off the island soon, and she would be heading back home with an answer to her and her father’s affliction.
She could feel the pull of sleep, the promise of rest, before hushed and hurried whispers filtered from the courtyard outside, accompanied by the sound of running boots. Something was happening. Erinna was on her feet in moments, pulling on her boots and sprinting out the door before Inez had time to ask what was happening.
Kane was in hushed conversation with Scout while Afton flipped furiously through a book nearby. Worry and tension decorated their features. Kane ran a hand through his hair before barking orders.
Something was wrong.
The crew quickly carried out their commands. Kane made eye contact with Erinna as she approached, and she could almost hear the click in his jaw at the prospect of conversation.
“What’s going on?”
“Scout saw an academy ship in the distance.”
Erinna’s heart plummeted to the floor. She knew it. She knew they were wasting time. Still, they were early. The envoy wasn’t supposed to be there for another few days. If someone was already sent ahead…
“How far away?” she asked.
“Less than a day, but they were anchored.” Even Afton seemed worried.
“What does that mean?” Erinna shoved her hands into her pockets, trying to calm growing tremors.
Kane moved to rest a hand on her shoulder, as if sensing her unease. “They’re waiting for the Chancellor’s vessel.”
Erinna’s heart sank even deeper. “So we might only have a few hours?”
Afton shook his head. “No, they’re waiting for the full escort. If the Chancellor’s vessel hasn’t been spotted, then they’re likely at least a day out. The anchored ship is here to scout for any potential difficulties.”
TheHellish Rebuke. They would spot the ship, and this would all be over.
“Lila and Asher will take the ship to the opposite side of the island to avoid discovery. But we’re running on borrowed time.” Kane answered, already sensing her next question.
Erinna scanned the iron doors. It was decided then. “We head in tonight.”
“Tomorrow morning,” Afton hurriedly corrected, his nose back in his book. “That’s the earliest I can get everything ready so we don’t get flayed alive.”
Kane and Erinna exchanged a look. A conversation that didn’t need words. “I’ll get the gangplank ready tonight. We head in by dawn.”
Erinna nodded and turned on her heels. She would not wait for morning. She made one trip back to the room to grab another offering. Some seaglass and a broken fork. Not like the offerings helped her in any way, but something was better than nothing at all.
Inez was upright in bed, a broken book in her hand. Her eyes were aimed at the pages, but her stare felt somewhere else. Somewhere far away.
“I might not be back until morning,” Erinna told her, giving her arm a light squeeze. Inez folded the book and placed it gently in her lap; a few pages threatened to fall from their binding.
“Go, you’re wasting time.”
Erinna grabbed the lantern by the side of her bed, lit it, and headed towards the cemetery. The small groundskeeper’s house was exactly as she left it. She strode toward the desk, riffling through the papers. The pieces of parchment were faded, and the edges had been worn over time. Despite its wear, Erinna could make out a list of names. Most likely a list of those who passed and had been buried.
The scribbles were almost illegible, like pure chicken scratch with missing letters. But at the bottom of the list was the closest thing she could get to a name.
Raye.
She tried not to succumb to hope too early. She hadn’t ever been successful in contacting the deceased directly. The chances were high that she would fail. Even with intention, she couldn’t control the will of her Talent. There were no books or teachings on how to handle aberrant magical nature. But she had to try something.
Erinna pickedher way back to the crumbling graves, drawn to the one where she’d left her offerings before. Inez had shown her that particular stone for a reason—she was certain of it now.
The ground bit cold through her clothes the moment she sat. Night fell fast on the island, stealing the warmth of the day with it. Erinna clenched her jaw against the shivers that curled up her spine, closed her eyes, and reached deep inside herself. Finding the place where her Talent dwelled, she pulled.
It awoke, beckoning, asking her to do something she still didn’t understand. The prickles beneath her skin were icy, and her fingertips buzzed. The sensation came faster this time. Herbody cooled from both the night chill and her own magical gifts. Erinna welcomed it in desperation.
