Chapter 18 #2
He was fine, Erinna reminded herself. For now. According to Inez’s divination, her father would be safe for as long as she was on the island. It was the only hope she could glom onto.
Erinna shook her head and rammed the tool into the mast again. The force blistered her skin, rubbing her fingers and palm raw with use. The physical pain was much more welcome than the ones that sat heavy in her chest.
“Take a break, girl. It does neither of us any good for you to pass out.” Lila shielded herself from the sun. “Or get sun poisoning,” she murmured as an afterthought.
Erinna flopped to the ground, exhausted and defeated. A rough outline was carved into the wood, and a small indent had been painstakingly chiseled to provide a resting place for the dark stone. She couldn’t use a setting or prongs. Not if she wanted to use the witchstone’s full potential.
The tricky part was getting the stone to fuse with the wood.
It could not be done any other way. The stone needed to accept its home somehow and notch itself into its resting place.
At least, this was the optimal construction.
Many devices had been made by forcefully shaping the stone and setting it into tools to provide arcane utility.
In this manner, the stone’s capabilities were limited.
“Perhaps…” Erinna stood up again and pointed the tip of a knife at the center of the stone. It thrummed against the metal. Erinna wavered on her feet from fatigue. Just one more try, then she’d rest.
Before she could attempt anything too reckless, a strong arm wrested the weapon from her grasp.
Lila stared at her with wide eyes, and Erinna thought that for a moment she glimpsed the smallest amount of concern.
“You’re done for the day.” Lila pulled Erinna from her workplace, despite her protests.
“Just one more try,” Erinna pleaded, but swayed slightly on her feet.
Lila yanked her farther away from the project. Her mind still on work, Erinna didn’t notice Kane boarding the ship until Lila jerked her away to avoid a collision.
“Sir.” Lila nodded at him in respect.
Kane’s gaze fell on Erinna, lingering there for a moment before eyeing the mast behind her. Her failure. Heat rushed to her cheeks, and embarrassment gnawed at her stomach. “I—” She started to explain, but Kane simply shrugged. “At least you’re making progress.”
Erinna couldn’t tell if he was being genuine or facetious. “Don’t mock me,” she grumbled.
“I’m not mocking you.”
“I know it’s not working.” Erinna couldn’t keep the confession from rolling off her tongue. Even Kane looked shocked at how quickly the conversation was devolving.
Strong hands landed on her shoulders and started to push her away. “I think it’s time for a break, and perhaps an extra cask of ale at dinner.” Lila steered Erinna back to the campsite before she could pick a fight or start wallowing in despair.
“Don’t worry, we don’t have high hopes,” Lila continued. It was clear that Lila didn’t mean for it to be a complete insult, but the words stung all the same.
Erinna jerked herself from her grasp. “Just give me something else to do for the rest of the day,” she grumbled and started again toward camp.
It had already been three excruciating days since her life was upended, and she had nothing but damage to show for her labor.
Erinna had been too confident and cursed herself for poor thinking.
There were only a handful of times that Erinna wished she had some drop of natural Talent.
She would prefer summoning or even transmutation.
She would pray for a fraction of her father’s power. Anything to help her feel useful.
Erinna paused her spiral to take in a breath, steeling herself against rising hopelessness. That kind of thinking was dangerous.
It was easy to wallow, harder to work.
Erinna swatted at a small tear that had snuck down her cheek during her small dance with despair. Crying could be done later, when there truly was nothing else she could do.
“What’s next?” she asked, turning to Lila.
The two were nearly back to camp, following the rocky footpath that went from dock to courtyard. A few pirates moved past, giving Erinna and Lila a wide berth.
Lila slowed to a halt near a path that disappeared into low trees and shrubs, just before the camp. “You’re on scouting duty. We need a lookout on the northwestern bluff.”
Erinna nodded and quickly turned on her feet, ready for the distraction. She trudged through the underbrush on her way to the next job. If she had to be honest, playing lookout was a welcome break from the noise and the constant reminder of her situation.
The door was still locked, and they had less than two weeks before Major Apprentice Haru Tyril would be on the island to complete her transition to Chancellor.
Erinna hiked higher up the hill, through brush and bramble, suffering cuts and scrapes while she made her way to the far edge of the island.
She glanced at the walls, now hidden behind thick vegetation, and wondered what would happen if they didn’t make it in.
If the academy got to the island before they could enter.
The impending doom and her own failure chilled the blood in her veins. A cold sweat built on the back of her neck. She turned to stare out at the horizon in hopes of clearing her head. Erinna focused on her breath and the gentle breeze against her skin.
The ground gave way to a crumbling cliff. Erinna had to admit that the view was beautiful. Turquoise waters thrashing against jutting rocks. A blue sky and warm sun graced the afternoon. It was easier to appreciate the feral beauty of Fort Solitude when one was safe from the clutches of the bay.
A twig snapped behind her, and Erinna instinctively backed away from the edge. White-blonde hair shone in the sun as Inez approached. She picked leaves and twigs from sloppy braids, then patted the dirt and dust off her trousers.
Erinna breathed a small sigh of relief, grateful she didn’t have to defend against a wild animal, and glad to see small signs of life returning to the poor diviner.
Her cheeks were flushed with effort, and a healthy hue returned to her skin.
Though rest and nourishment had done wonders, she was still far too thin and tired easily.
“What are you doing here? You should rest if you have the chance.” Erinna closed the distance and plucked a few of the twigs she missed.
“Here.” Inez pushed a small tin into Erinna’s hands. “Thank you. For saving me.”
The edges were blunted from some sort of impact, but the small latch was still intact. Erinna hesitated for a moment. Gifts like these made her uncomfortable, like a prize for doing the right thing. A transaction for humanity.
She made a move to return it, but Inez shook it away. It was clear that she wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“I think this will help you sleep at night,” she said, and Erinna finally relented.
She popped the latch and opened the lid.
Tea leaves rested in the small container, and with one sniff, Erinna could tell it was the Ionian variety meant to promote deep sleep.
The mixture was slightly different, perhaps from a different region of the southern kingdom, but very similar to what she used to drink at home—the kind that helped keep nightmares away when she was young.
“I…how did you get this?”
Inez chewed the inside of her cheek as if assessing whether the information was best kept a secret. “I asked Serg for some.”
“Serg?” Erinna’s brow shot up in surprise. She had no familiarity with that name.
Inez pressed a hand to her lips to stifle a giggle. “The ship’s doctor.”
What was so funny, Erinna wondered. Sure, she hadn’t been doing a great job of making friends. But the crew seemed to take well to Inez, and Erinna was just fine with that status quo. The young woman had been through enough. Rough and rude sea scoundrels didn’t have to add to her misfortune.
“Is everything okay? Are you hurt?” Erinna scanned Inez from head to toe.
“I’m physically okay.” Inez gave Erinna a friendly squeeze on her arm, a sign that meant it was time to change the topic. Erinna was growing familiar with this sort of unspoken language.
Eventually, the two companions settled on the grass, looking out over the ocean. Erinna’s lookout shift was a joke, and even she knew it. Scout, the Hellish Rebuke’s best lookout, did his duty with a diligence that would rival most military consistency.
No one was approaching the island, and Erinna hoped it would stay that way for as long as possible.
Inez closed her eyes and breathed in deep, face tilted up at the sun.
“What really brought you all the way up here?” asked Erinna, working a few knots out of her shoulder. It was hard to believe she had come simply to deliver tea leaves.
Inez pursed her lips in thought before responding. “I like you, and felt like you needed some company.”
The sun was getting low, bathing the sky in warm yellow and orange. The scent of the sea mixed with fire and grilled meat. The camp was getting ready for dinner, and the two of them would be called back soon.
Emotion thickened Erinna’s throat. “You’re right, I appreciate the company. I like you too.”
They settled back into a comfortable silence.
Warmth momentarily filled Erinna’s heart as she let Inez’s words sink in.
Inez was kind. Far too kind. The thought of what King Mycelar would have done to her made Erinna bristle, but she shook herself away from those thoughts.
Inez was safe for now, and the pirates treated her well.
Kane remained true to his word. Something in her chest grew heavy as she thought of Kane and his crew.
Their acceptance of an aberrant, a kindness she hadn’t been giving them credit for.
After a moment, Inez stood and brushed the dirt from her trousers before stepping closer to the ledge. “Come here.” She waved Erinna over.
Erinna hurried to her feet. “Do you see something?”
“No, just come.”