15. Darak

15

DARAK

T he stench of fish and salt air assaults my nose as we make our way down the narrow corridor of the ship. Our meager coin only bought us passage in steerage, and my jaw clenches at the thought of sharing space with others, especially a human.

"This is it." The first mate points to a cramped cabin. "Bunk room six."

My shoulders barely fit through the doorway. Inside, three men look up from their belongings – two Dark Elves and a human, just as promised. The space between the bunks is hardly wide enough for me to turn around.

"No." I grab Lirien's arm, ready to drag her back to the purser's office. "We'll find another way."

"We can't afford another way," Lirien whispers, her fingers pressing into my forearm. "This is fine."

It's not fine. The human's gaze lingers too long on Lirien, and the Dark Elves' expressions shift from dismissive to interested at the sight of her. My blood burns.

"Take the top bunk." I guide her to the ladder of the nearest bed. When she hesitates, I grip her waist and lift her up myself, ignoring her squeak of surprise.

"I can climb perfectly well on my own," she hisses down at me.

I pass up our bags, making sure to block the others' view of her with my body. "Just stay up there."

The two Dark Elves spring up from their bunks, all smiles and predatory grace. The shorter one, dressed in a docker's rough clothes, extends his hand.

"Vex," he says. "And this is my brother Karn. We're headed to the eastern ports."

I give his hand the briefest shake possible. "Darak."

"A warrior caste," Karn notes, eyeing my blade. "What brings you down here with us common folk?"

"And such lovely company," Vex adds, craning his neck to peer up at Lirien.

"Hello," Lirien says, far too cheerfully. "I'm-"

"My sister," I cut in sharply. "Who's very tired from our journey."

Vex's smile widens. "No resemblance at all. You must take after different parents."

"How fascinating to meet a Miou," Karn says, ignoring the human who watches silently from his bunk. "Tell me, sister, does he protect you well?"

The way he says 'sister' makes my skin crawl. These zagfer dock workers view her like a prize to be claimed. I've seen that look countless times – in taverns, brothels, back alleys. The same entitled hunger that leads to broken bodies washing up on shore.

"She doesn't need protection," I say coldly. "And she's not interested in conversation."

"Let her speak for herself," Vex suggests, moving closer to the bunk. "We don't bite. Much."

Their laughter grates against my ears. Lirien was right about us. About me. How many humans had I dismissed as worthless before her? How many had I watched my fellow soldiers abuse without a second thought?

These two would be all too happy to use her until she was broken and toss her overboard. Anyone would. By the Thirteen, I might've at one point.

But not now. And I'm not going to let them touch a single hair on her pretty little head.

The ship creaks and groans around us as I lean against the wall beside our bunk, watching Vex and Karn play cards with the human. Three days of this, and my patience wears thinner by the hour. Every laugh, every sideways glance at Lirien's bunk makes my hand itch for my sword.

Lirien shifts above me, her arm dangling over the edge. The sleeve of her robe slides down, revealing the pale skin of her wrist. Karn's eyes dart to it immediately.

I clear my throat and she withdraws her arm. Smart girl.

"Your sister's awful quiet up there," Vex says, not looking up from his cards. "Sure she's not sick?"

"She's fine."

"The washroom's free," the human mumbles, nodding toward the door.

Lirien stirs again. "Actually, I should-"

"I'll walk you." I'm already reaching up to help her down.

"How sweet," Karn drawls. "Such a devoted brother."

I ignore him, keeping my body between them and Lirien as we exit. The narrow corridor rocks with the waves, forcing her to steady herself against my chest. The contact sends warmth spreading through me, reminding me of nights spent holding her close. For protection, I'd told myself then. But now...

"You don't have to hover," she whispers. "I can handle myself."

"I know." But I won't risk it. Not with the way they look at her. Not when every protective instinct screams at me to keep her safe, to feel her pressed against me again, to...

I shake the thought away. "Just hurry back."

She nods and slips inside. I take up my post outside the door, glaring at any passing crew member who glances too long in this direction. The bond thrums between us, letting me sense her nearness, her safety.

It would be so easy to suggest sharing the bunk again, to make excuses about watching over her. But I know the real reason I want her close has nothing to do with protection anymore. And that terrifies me more than any enemy I've faced.

Lirien emerges, walking ahead of me as we make our way back to the room. I return her to her bed and the lamps are blown out as we call it a night.

The ship lurches violently, and Lirien's scream pierces through my restless sleep. My eyes snap open just in time to see her small form tumbling from the top bunk. The crash of waves against the hull drowns out the thud of her landing.

"Well, what do we have here?" Vex is already out of his bed, helping Lirien up with his hands lingering on her waist. "Such a delicate thing shouldn't sleep so high up."

My muscles tense as Lirien tries to pull away, but Vex's grip tightens. "I'm fine, really-"

"Share my bunk," Karn offers, patting the space beside him. "I'll make sure you don't fall again. A proper protector, unlike your... brother."

The way his tongue wraps around that last word makes my blood boil. Through our bond, I feel Lirien's panic spike as Vex's hands slide lower.

"Let go." My voice cuts through the darkness like steel.

Vex's smile doesn't waver. "Just helping the lady-"

I'm across the small space in one stride. My fingers wrap around his wrist, applying just enough pressure to make him wince. "I said, let go."

The moment Vex releases her, I sweep Lirien into my arms and deposit her on my lower bunk, positioning her against the wall. Her breath comes in short gasps, fingers clutching my shirt.

"Stay." The word comes out as a growl. I turn to face the others, placing myself between them and Lirien. "Anyone touches her again, they lose their hands."

"Such hostility," Karn drawls. "Almost like you're jealous."

"Almost like you're not really siblings," Vex adds.

My hand finds the hilt of my sword. "Almost like you should mind your own business."

I lay down beside her, keeping my movements slow and deliberate to avoid rocking the narrow bunk. The thin mattress dips under our combined weight. "Can't you spell them to be blind? Or mute?"

Her quiet laugh sends a shiver through me, but it dies in her throat as I wrap my arms around her waist. I pull her against my chest, fitting her small frame perfectly against mine. The scent of herbs and moonflowers fills my nose – her scent. It mingles with the salt air, creating something uniquely intoxicating.

My voice drops to barely a whisper against her ear. "I won't let them hurt you." The bond thrums insistently, carrying my fierce protectiveness. My arms tighten around her. "I won't let anyone hurt you."

Through our connection, I feel her heart racing. Whether from fear of our bunkmates or my closeness, I can't tell. Maybe both. But she doesn't pull away, and that small victory makes my chest tighten with an unfamiliar warmth.

"Watch your step," I say, steadying Lirien as she navigates the slick gangplank. The salt-crusted wood creaks beneath our feet, and I keep my hand hovering near her elbow.

The remainder of our journey by sea went well enough. Neither the human or the elves overstepped too far after that night in the cabin.

Good , I think to myself, less blood spilled when people behave.

The port bustles around us, a chaos of shouting merchants and clattering carts. I scan our surroundings, mentally mapping escape routes while Lirien counts our remaining coins.

"We should find supplies first," she says, tucking the money pouch away. "Then-"

"Well, if it isn't our favorite siblings!" Vex's voice cuts through the crowd.

My jaw clenches as he and Karn approach, their docker's clothes replaced with merchant finery. The past three days of relative peace clearly hadn't taught them enough about boundaries.

"We're opening a shop just down the street," Karn says, pointing toward a row of storefronts. "Importing exotic goods from the eastern ports."

Lirien's laugh sparkles in the morning air. "How wonderful for you both."

"You must visit us," Vex purrs, stepping closer. "We could use some... entertainment."

"I'm sure your brother wouldn't mind sharing," Karn adds with a wink.

It’s not hard to miss Lirien's amusement at their obvious ploy, but my patience snaps like a bowstring. In one fluid motion, I sweep her over my shoulder, ignoring her surprised yelp.

"Darak!" She pounds her fists against my back.

I stride away from the docks, leaving the zagfer merchants' laughter behind us.

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