Chapter 37 Karinna
Karinna
Karinna checked for a pulse and injuries, and once she’d established that Cero was merely exhausted and not dead, she dragged him up the beach and beneath a rocky overhang so the tide wouldn’t carry him away.
It took an hour. He was much taller than her and heavy as a buck carcass. After, she pulled the Sail from the tide line, gagging at the reek of rotting seaweed. She’d hardly noticed it when they landed, but clouds of flies had descended, and by the time the sun was up, the stench was unbearable.
She curled up next to the pilot so he wouldn’t freeze to death—it was late summer in the north, but frigid in Imaana, and they couldn’t risk a fire.
Still atop the Sail, Abzi slept, her fur rising and falling peacefully.
Karinna stared between the cat and the pilot, trying to comprehend what she’d just witnessed.
Karinna understood the basic underpinnings of magic, though she hadn’t necessarily been taught. Combine an emotion like desire with whatever your innate power was, and with practice and an application of willpower, the magic would flow.
She’d discovered her magic recently, when she was sixteen, a few months after Ruh died. It was finicky no matter how much effort she put into it. Cero clearly did not suffer from that problem. His willpower was prodigious.
If he remained an ally to the Empire, he would be formidable. Which meant Karinna needed to get word to Musa urgently. But as she was considering how to lure a wight to her, she closed her eyes, just for a moment.
When she next opened them, Cero was crouched beside her. He’d woken her with a tap and she was relieved to see color back in his cheeks.
“The Sail is badly damaged. I need a day or two to repair it.” His voice was gravelly and tired. He’d changed out of his leathers into nondescript black clothing, and his hair fell loose to his shoulders, softening his features. Karinna told herself to look away.
“A day or two?” she said, quickly standing. “Why so long?”
“Because we don’t want to travel with a hole in the canvas. Unless you’d relish crashing into the sea. I’ll get supplies from that city north of us. Get us ready for the journey across the ocean.”
“Should I—do you want me to come with you, or—”
He cocked his head, his expression unreadable.
“So solicitous,” he said softly, the words edged in ice. “I don’t care what you do. As long as you don’t make things more difficult for me. I’ve hidden the Sail—and this cove isn’t accessible from the sea. It will be safe here. You can forage.”
Musa had ordered Karinna to stay with Cero, no matter what. But she felt reluctant about pushing the point right now. Besides which, she needed to get that message to Musa, and Cero’s absence was the perfect time to do it.
“Right,” she said. “Fine. Good riddance, then.”
She stepped past him out to the beach, immediately gagging at the smell. “You couldn’t—er—” She waved her hand around, hoping he’d understand without her having to explain.
He gave her a dark look and grabbed his pack, walking swiftly and disappearing over the horizon. Moments later, a sudden wind swept through, dissipating the stench.
Karinna looked after him, an unpleasant feeling unfurling in her chest. She’d never been particularly friendly to Cero, of course.
He was Kegari, after all. But he’d never returned that animosity.
At worst, he was reserved. At best, he looked out for her.
Gave her first pick of food, the spot closest to the fire when they slept.
He tried to talk to her, even when she was grumpy.
Offered her tea for her cramps a few days ago when she had her moon cycle.
He made her feel less lonely.
Karinna felt a brush of softness at her ankles. Abzi.
Are you all right, Abzi? Karinna knelt down and scratched under Abzi’s chin, grateful to think about something other than the stupid sky-dog.
My chest aches. I was in a different realm. I walked with others in that shadow for a time, I think. Abzi glanced up at Karinna. You understand me?
Yes. Karinna couldn’t hide her surprise. We are speaking—differently.
You understand the language of the mind now, Abzi said. This is the truth of your magic. To speak into us, not at us. You did it in the witch city, when you told me to jump. Abzi began to lick a paw, cleaning her face vigorously. I knew you would understand one day. Where is Storm-eyes?
You mean Cero? Karinna said. He’s buggered off.
He is upset, Abzi said. Why did you hurt him? It was wrong.
Karinna sat back, a flood of emotions surging through her.
Anger that she was being admonished by a cat, for skies’ sake.
Guilt because she suspected Abzi was right and that in her attempt to trick Cero into giving up his truth, Karinna had failed to see something obvious: that if she’d asked directly, he might have told her what he was.
Abzi turned up her nose and disappeared into the rocks nearby. Karinna stomped to the ocean and dove in, fully clothed.
It was a chill sea, dark blue but shallow for a quarter mile at least. Karinna floated on her back, letting the cold shock her out of her guilt. No rotting seaweed here, nor judgmental cats, nor oversensitive pilots. Just—
Wights.
They’d disappeared when she entered Jaduna lands, but they’d found her again. Thank the skies.
She dropped to her knees in the water, watching as the wights played nearby. They didn’t look at her. Talk to her, even. Their refusal to engage was irritating, as it reminded Karinna of their earlier rejections of her.
But somehow, she had to lure one into taking a message to Musa. He might send a wight to find her, but who knew how long it would take. She hadn’t heard from him since that first message back in the Empire. He might not have any wights to spare.
And he was depending on her to get him word. Wherever he was, the wights would find him. They adored him. All that was left was to get one to agree to take her message.
She considered ordering one of the wights to do her bidding, but they were flighty creatures. Besides, Karinna realized grudgingly, it wasn’t as if she would respond to such a summons. Why would a wight?
Previously, she’d spoken to the wights by trying to imitate their language. It had gone poorly. She thought of Abzi. You understand the language of the mind. Instead of considering each word, Karinna tried to open herself, to allow the words to flow out of her.
Your wings shine so beautifully, she said in her best approximation of their language.
The wights ignored her.
And your flight—you move like—like sunlight on dew. Apparently, Karinna had learned something from years of listening to her mother’s tales. One of the wights preened and flitted around her head.
Do you have a name, beautiful one? Karinna asked.
Isitufani-Masairdu-Lilanfo Dushunafagh.
Bleeding hells. That is lovely, Karinna made herself say. Would you tell me its meaning?
It means She with the Wings of Violet and Roses on Her Tongue, Which Is a Tongue of Many Tales. The little creature tilted her furred head. You may call me Rose. I know our names are difficult for your kind.
For the first time, Karinna smiled at them with genuine warmth. Thank the skies at least one of these creatures had sense. Nice to meet you, Rose. I am Karinna.
Musa’s skill was more complex than Karinna’s. He could bend the wights to his will—and though he did not do so anymore, it was how he had initially gotten them to listen to him. Karinna didn’t have that power. She was going to have to make nice.
I have followed you for a long time. You interest me. Rose glanced back at the other wights, some of whom now watched her and Karinna. They are my tribe. They follow me. They do not like you.
Karinna had heard or felt those words so many times, from so many people, that they shouldn’t bother her anymore.
But for some reason, from Rose, they stung.
She bit her lip to keep it from trembling and was tempted to go hide in her cave.
But she had a bleeding mission and by the skies she would complete it.
I—I do not always understand the ways of wights, Karinna said. Please forgive me.
Rose sniffed and flew away. Karinna noticed the other wights diving in the water for bits of seaweed, devouring it hungrily before going back for more. She pulled a chunk of the seaweed free and held it out to them.
A few of the wights raced over, including Rose, and within moments, the seaweed was gone.
One of those who had taken it had clearly been eavesdropping on Karinna’s conversation with Rose.
He circled her before landing on her shoulder.
My kind say half of forgiveness is asking for it.
I will do the other half. I am River and I will forgive.
But only if you do the rite of contrition.
Rose glanced at River sharply.
What—what is the rite of contrition? Karinna asked.
River hopped soberly on one foot before dunking himself under the water for a disturbing amount of time. When he came up, he spun around three times before flopping back in the water.
Karinna looked at him suspiciously. That seems like something you made up.
I assure you, River said, it is not.
Karinna sighed and did the stupid rite, only realizing she’d been taken in when she came up from the water, sputtering, and Rose and River were shrieking in laughter.
Karinna’s face went hot. She felt like a fool. Her hands fisted and she was a moment from swimming back to the beach when she caught a glimpse of their faces. They did not seem mocking or cruel. Only joyful.
And Karinna had to admit that, upon reflection, it had been funny. If Ruh were here, she could imagine his giggle. Skies, the wights would have adored him. Just the thought of him here made her smile.
A fine trick, River, she said. The wights splashed her, and she them, and suddenly, she was playing as she hadn’t in ages.
She learned about the wights’ travels, occasionally offending them so they fled in anger and then luring them back.
She emerged from the sea as the sun set, washed in a nearby spring, and offered them more seaweed.
By then, the stars had come out, and for a long time, the wights pointed out their favorite constellations.
Rose, Karinna said, when some of the wights began drifting off to sleep. I’m wondering if you might do me a favor.
Ask.
I must get a message to Musa of Adisa. He is in the far northern city of Antium.
We know Musa, River said. But we don’t wish to travel so far. We wish to stay and tell tales. With you.
It would be fast for you, Karinna said. You travel at great speed. Your wings are strong.
The wights looked at each other. A few of them flew away, as if irritated. Others chattered too quickly for Karinna to understand.
Please, Karinna said, but Rose held up a hand.
You have just met us, Karinna. We have just learned your name. Do not ask us for so much so soon. It pains us to be far from our tribe. Come, let us sing star stories.
“I don’t want to sing star stories!” Karinna cried out, annoyed by hours of wheedling and being nice. “I want you to help me!”
The wights scattered so quickly that Karinna thought she’d lost her ability for a second.
Rose? she called out tentatively. River?
But the wights were gone. And Karinna was alone again.