Page 88 of Valour

“You snore like a hog, all night long.” Charlotte folded her arms. “I’m looking forward to finally getting some sleep.”

Hester’s jaw dropped, and Arnold laughed and hooked an arm around Charlotte’s shoulders. “You heard the Boss, better get to your own bed.”

Hester flashed them a smile before leaving, the tent flaps falling closed behind her. Charlotte was sure she heard the words, “You’re welcome” sung from outside.

Her cheeks flushed, and she turned to Arnold, who looked pleased as punch.

“Back to bed?” he asked, gesturing to the floor. Charlotte nodded and slid into the sleeping bag, nestling once again between the warmth of Arnold and Marjorie. And she knew what tended to follow in the romance novels. It would be easy. She just had to roll over and that’s all it would take, he would surely understand her intentions, and then...well, the thought had her breath coming in tatters, her heartbeat stuttering. She fisted her hands, trying to dredge up the confidence, the courage. Look to the light. Had Ernie meant for her to look to Arnold? Hester wasn’t right, she wasn’t stopping herself because of a relationship that had never been romantic, but for another more awful reason. Perhaps she could find the courage to move on from that night. She took a deep breath and twisted to face Arnold.

Who was fast asleep.

Her bravery flickered and died.

Hester sat in the tent alone, fretting about Rufus and Winston seeing her wings while she slept. They were all out doing various things to make the camp more secure, and she was making sure her sleeping bag and small bag of belongings were on the edge of the large tent. But the only way for them not to have seen would have been to share a tent with Charlotte, and she so wanted to play matchmaker. Wanted her friends to be happy.

“Hester?” Fliss called from outside the tent. “Can I come in?”

Hester froze, throat thickening. What did Fliss want? Was there some administrative task she’d forgotten to do? Her heart sank. She couldn’t take any more of Fliss’s stand-offishness. It was the last thing she needed.

“I’m coming inside.” Fliss ducked through the tent flaps.

Hester took a step back, her chest already aching from the chill that stretched between them. Her voice broke when she said, “I cannot do this right now—" She gestured between them.

Fliss barrelled forwards, wrapping her arms around Hester. Her shoulders shook. “I cannot believe she’s gone.”

Hester’s face crumpled, and she sobbed into her friend’s hair. “I don’t know how to carry on without her. Without you. I’m sorry, Fliss.” She had been so stupid to let this go on for so long. “I never wanted to keep things from you. I didn’t want you to think of me as a freak.”

“You’re not a freak, don’t say such things.” Fliss sighed. “I forgive you, Hess.”

“Everything is so dark. So hopeless.” Hester gripped Fliss’s filthy coat. “Our ship is gone. My magic is used up. I don’t know how to get us out of this mess.”

“We’ll find a way. We always do. You always do. Remember when we had nothing, and you saved me? You can do anything. You are limitless.”

Hester screwed her eyes shut, unsure if Fliss’s words were the weight of an anchor, or as light as a feather. “That was a lucky break. Winning the Valour was chance. This is entirely different.”

Fliss’s hands pressed more firmly into Hester’s back. She shook her head. “No. It was more than chance. Every move you made back then was weighed. Every choice was immaculate. Luck was involved, but isn’t it always? We will get out of this. I trust in the captain.”

Hester slumped against her mate, mumbling, “Hold fast. Charlotte said we have to hold fast.”

Fliss rubbed circles on her back. “She’s right. And really, you have two choices. Let this drag you under, or let it fuel you. And I know you. I know how brightly you burn.” She pulled Hester back, planting a kiss on her nose. “Shine so bright it burns their fucking eyes.”

Hester snorted. “I never took you as one for a dramatic speech.”

“Yes, well.” Fliss rubbed her broken fingernails on her coat, looking smug. “It was rather good, was it not?”

Hester sniffed. “It was.”

“I’m glad you agree. Now.” Fliss pulled Hester to the ground, and they sat shoulder to shoulder, arms around each other. “Tell me more about this magic. Is it from your parents?”

“Who knows. Charlotte has a book of mythical beings. It looks like I might be one of them. Or maybe I truly am a freak and that’s why they left me.” She had always wondered whether they had died as Fliss’s parents had, or whether they had abandoned her. She was sure it was the latter. Was convinced of it. And that was the crux of her fear, though she shoved it down into a trench so deep it never saw the light, until now. Hester could not bear to be abandoned again.

“You’re not a freak, don’t say that.” Fliss leant her head on Hester’s shoulder. “A mythical being though? Seriously?”

Had she really said it out loud? It sounded so ridiculous. “Who knows.” Hester sniffed, tightening her grip around Fliss. It was like old times. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too, silly goose.”

Why did people keep calling her that? “Friends again?”