She poured herself another and plopped into her chair. Instantly, her hawk settled onto the desk beside her and eagerly took an offered bit of bread. Maps curled on the wall behind her, where the humidity had soaked into the parchment. The dim light of her oil lamp cast shadows onto her pale blue face.
“Time to explain what the fuck is going on,” she said.
“The guild lied to me,” I said, lacing my hands in my lap.
Frowning, Louisa propped her legs on the desk, crossing them at the ankle. “I’m going to need a bit more information than that.”
“All right. As you guessed, this was my first assignment.” I tossed the original parchment onto the desk, and her hawk poked his beak at it. “That’s the task I was given.”
She arched a skeptical brow. “Am I allowed to read that?”
“By guild rules? No.”
Louisa chuckled. “You’re playing with fire, Frida.”
I shrugged and waited. The cabin was tense and silent, save for the creaking of the ship as it swayed. Eventually, Louisa snatched up the note, unfolded the parchment, and read every word. By the time she’d finished with it, the confusion on her face matched my initial feelings.
“They wanted you to steal a fucking dragon?” She dropped the parchment, like it might bite her. Then she pointed at the stoic orc who sat silently beside me. “Let me guess. That’s Rune.”
“The very one,” he answered.
“Do you have a dragon?” she asked frankly.
“No, he doesn’t. That’s not the real reason Erik sent me here,” I said, leaning forward. “He wanted me to…well, what he really wanted was—”
“Let me guess. Erik knows about the magic that protects the islands, so he lied to you about your assignment. Since then, he’s been in contact to tell you what he really wants you to do. Which is to assassinate the orc, I’m guessing.”
“Well, yes,” I said, surprised she’d pieced it together so quickly.
“Don’t look so shocked,” she said with a small smile. “I’d already wondered if he found a loophole. I thought it might be something like this, but I didn’t dare ask. He doesn’t like people asking questions.”
“He doesn’t like a lot of things,” I said.
“Yeah, and I’ll tell you one thing I know he doesn’t like. His guild members not completing their assignments.” She jerked her thumb at Rune. “Why’s he still alive? And better yet, why are we talking about this in front of him?”
I pursed my lips, hating the traitorous heat that filled my cheeks. “Well.”
Louisa’s eyes went wide. She pointed at Rune, then pointed at me, then shook her head and laughed. “Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea what’s happened here.”
“Do you remember what you told me just before I got into the rowboat?” I asked.
“I said you’re not like the others. Looks like I was right.”
“Very right. The truth is, I only wanted to join the guild for my family. They’ve always been a part of it. So I thought I needed to be a part of it, too.” I shook my head. “But I was wrong.”
She folded her arms, leaning back in her chair to eye the two of us. “Listen, I’m sympathetic to your story. I really am. And I wouldloveto help you. But if I try to smuggle you back in without Erik knowing, we’ll all get caught. He’ll have someone waiting at the docks for us.”
I exchanged a quick glance with Rune. His steady nod grounded me.
“I don’t want you to smuggle us back in,” I said. “I’m staying here on the island with Rune.”
She cocked her head, surprised. “Oh, in that case, congratulations. I’m happy for you, I really am. You deserve better than what the guild can give you.” She reached for the whisky. “Let’s toast to it."
“Before you get too excited, I do need your help.”
Her smile dimmed. “I’m scared to ask.”
We were so close. I could feel it. Louisa clearly thought little of the guild, and I felt encouraged by her happiness at hearing I wanted to stay. All I needed was to provide some assurancesthat Erik would never find out—that she wouldn’t be at risk if she helped me. And I had to trust she was the person I hoped she was.
