Page 12 of Under Restless Skies

I’m about to steer my destiny.

Were my words enough?

I’m safe, and I’ll come to see you in a few days. Mayara.

Will my brother understand that I’m not leaving him? I wish I could say more, just in case, but what’s the point of saying I love you, then walking away? The memory pokes the endless hole inside me.

What I need to do is survive and return.

I’m approaching the docks with Alayel, my hands bandaged, wearing one of his shirts that’s long enough to be a replacement for my ripped dress.

The contract is rolled into a canteen, clipped to a belt he gave me, its words etched on my mind.

I, Alayel Stormchaser, promise Mayara of the Earth a place at the Sky Academy upon our successful return from a mission in the Kingdom of the Riders. She’ll also be fully pardoned for any perceived misdemeanor during her Trial.

Then there’s the date and a drop of his blood and mine. People used to believe that contracts like those were magically binding. They’re not, but they’re legally binding. You could go to jail for breaching a contract. Still, he’s making some bold promises for someone allegedly with no power. Then again, writing a contract promising something you can’t grant could also land you in prison.

When we left the cells, the guards let him walk through, so I’m counting on his so-called wisp of power, whatever it is, to get me into the Sky Academy.

At this time, the city is quiet, except for a few remaining drunkards in the Tavern Alley, but we avoid that area and keep to the empty parts of Dracolius City.

When we set foot on a wooden pier, a shiver of dread hits me like lightning. I’ve never been this close to a boat. This close to leaving our kingdom.

I signed the contract, agreed to the terms, and yet, only now it feels real. I bet it will feel even more real when we get to that island, so perhaps I should tone down my dread now, or it will rip me apart tomorrow. The thought only tightens the knot in my stomach.

“Mayara?”

Alayel has a foot on the deck of a small sailboat, a hand reaching out to me. I could turn around and run, but that would be extremely stupid. Where can one go when on an island with a huge wall protecting it? The only exit is here.

I take his hand—soft, warm, a pleasant touch.

My feet hit the wood floor of the boat with a thud, waking me from the momentary daze.

Alayel is beautiful beyond normal, and he got me out of prison. But he also got me in prison, regardless of whether it was his fault or not, and he wants me here because I’m useful to him—even if I’m not sure why. The only reason I didn’t ask was because I feared he would think about it and decide I didn’t have to come after all. But I’m here, on a boat dwarfed by the larger commercial ships docked nearby.

A sailor approaches us, tan-skinned and heavily tattooed, with blue eyes and blond hair.

He huffs. “We were thinking you had given up.”

Alayel shakes his head. “Just a small detour.” He points at me. “Mayara, this is Listeno. Second in command.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” I say.

The blond man ignores me and laughs. “Last in command too. If there was any line of command. This is no Sky Guard ship, boy.” His voice carries the typical accent from across the ocean. He then looks behind us, as if expecting someone else. “Is your friend coming?”

“It’s just us,” Alayel says.

Listeno narrows his eyes and examines me. “Hmm. I see. I’ll get you to your quarters.”

Instead of leading us to the cabin, he opens a trapdoor with a ladder, and we descend to the belowdecks, where wooden crates and barrels are stacked on one side, and three hammocks hang from pillars on the other. A small, faded lumos algae jar is the only source of light.

The man points to the ladder. “You can go up and down to the deck whenever you want.” He then points to the hammocks. “No frolicking. This is no pleasure house.”

I blink, the insult taking a moment to land.

Alayel nods. “Understood.”

My stomach sinks. I was hoping he would clarify that I’m his mission partner, nothing more, but I suppose he wants to stay on good terms with the sailor.