29. Adrian
Adrian
“We have to stop,” Anne said.
“We can’t,” I said.
“There’s ship damage needing repairs”
“And it can’t wait until we arrive at our next destination?”
She shook her head. Connie, Bramwell, and I were gathered in the meeting room, with Sage sitting beside me. She was surprised I had invited her to this meeting, but I didn’t want her out of my sight. Despite yesterday, she brought her sewing with her, working on someone’s pants.
“No, the hull took more severe damage than we thought. We’ve managed to mitigate the water pouring in, but there’s structural damage. If it doesn’t get resolved, there’s a chance we won’t be able to stop it. And the rudder is broken, there’s no going forward without it.”
I sighed. “We’re only at sea for three more days, are you sure?”
“It seems like a big risk,” Connie cut in. “If it was only one, it would be worth it, but the extra manpower to monitor over three days would stretch us thin, considering some people were injured in the collision.”
I was still on the fence. I’d lasted more days through bigger breaches, and I wanted to try to stay on schedule. Returning a princess late seemed like a good way to end up chased by the entirety of the Peradonian Navy.
“But we could probably—”
“Did you not hear her?” Sage interjected, surprising everyone. “The ship will break and we’ll all be floating in the ocean like sugar cubes. I thought you were trying to get my necklace, not kill us all.”
It was like the air had been sucked from the room. Even Connie and Bramwell, the only people on the ship who would dare question me, didn’t speak to me in such a tone.
“I can assure you, my ears are working just fine.”
“Is it your brain then?” she snapped. “I’m not dying in the ocean because you’ve decided you can’t be patient.”
Though there was an attitude there, there was something more obvious if you were listening. Fear. I could see it in her eyes.
“Fine,” I said finally. “Where’s our next closest stop?”
Bramwell was quick to roll out our map, filling the table. “Coordinates show we’re closest to Eros Island.”
I grumbled. “There’s no place closer?”
“What’s wrong with Eros Island?” Sage asked.
“Nothing,” I said. “Make the preparations to port, I want to be as quick as possible.”
I didn’t say anything else as I rose, forcing myself out of what now felt like a too cramped room to be in. I slithered quickly to my room, craving just a moment to breathe.
The pocket watch in my pocket felt extra heavy. I took it out, examining the gold top, my finger running over the ornate filigree on the front.
Someone knocked on my door. I slid the watch back and let them in. Connie was standing there, leaning against the frame.
“I’m fine,” I said, leaving the door open and retreating into it.
“Yeah, that’s what people who are fine say as soon as they open the door.” She went over and sat at my desk, the chair creaking as she leaned it back on only two of its legs.
“I just… haven’t been back.”
“None of us have,” she said. “But we don’t have a choice.”
“I know.”
We sat in silence, her quiet comfort telling me she’d be there if I wanted to talk, but what was there to say?
My best friend turned up a corpse in a dumpster on that island.
By the time he was actually found, the rats had gotten to him and he was barely recognizable.
It was chalked up to a mugging. Which could have been the case, nothing was left on him.
That never sat right with me, but pirates didn’t mix well with the law, and I had no other leads to track.
“You can stick to the ship,” she said. “There’s no real reason to get off anyway.”
“I know,” I said, though I had a feeling that wouldn’t end up being the case.
“So… what’s up with you and the princess?”
That question took me by surprise. “What do you mean?”
She shrugged. “I’ve never seen you let anyone talk to you like that.”
I scoffed. “Of course she talks like that. She’s a princess used to getting her way, after all.”
“And you’ve been avoiding her.”
“I have not.”
Her brow lifted. “You indeed were.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“Bramwell caught you hiding in the hall when she was going to the mess the other day. You seemed very keen on making sure she didn’t see you.”
“Sounds like you two need more work, if you have all this time to gossip.”
I finally glanced at her, and she was studying me the way she did when a new crew member came aboard, trying to see what shaped peg I was, where I fit in.
“You like her, huh?”
“Connie, stop.”
“I’m just looking out for you,” she continued. “I just don’t see how it could work.”
“There’s nothing to work.”
“Unless you plan on retiring, or she plans on leaving her life behind and—”
“Constance,” I finally snapped, using her full name. Something I knew she hated, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of what she was doing either.
She sighed. I knew she wanted to continue prodding, but my tone seemed to make it clear how disinterested I was in continuing that line of questioning.
“Fine, if that’s what you want. I’m going to prepare the crew.”
She stood, letting the chair fall back to all fours.
“I’m just trying to look out for you.”
“I know,” I said, barely above a whisper.
My door clicked shut. I was left alone, again.