Chapter 31
Chapter
Thirty-One
Technically, Erinna did not plan on taking time away from Afton’s work.
She planned on helping him. Erinna waited to make sure there was no sign of the captain before she tramped across the courtyard to the guardroom.
Afton, for all his talk, was a creature of habit, of routine.
If he wasn’t by the doors or eating in the corner of the courtyard, he was holed up in that makeshift study doing whatever it was he did with those books and papers.
Erinna knocked feverishly on the door. She had to be quick. Kane made it clear that he didn’t want Afton interrupted, and she had a sinking feeling that if the captain found her, she would be slung over his shoulder, kicking and screaming.
She continued to knock on the door until the mage had the decency to open it.
“What the hells—” he started, running a hand through disheveled hair. Erinna didn’t let him finish. She ducked beneath his hand, pushing her way into the small space, and kicked the door shut behind her.
“Hey!” Afton turned to her with more curiosity than irritation. Good, Erinna thought, that meant he might listen to her.
“Kane told me not to bother you,” she explained.
“So you decided to come and bother me?”
“I’m not bothering you.” Erinna settled herself in the rickety chair and took a quick look around the room.
More books and papers had been brought in since the last time she was there, making the small space even stuffier.
Afton managed to get a witchlight on the table.
The light was dim but safer than bringing one of the candles near such high stacks of could-be kindling.
The Minor Apprentice crossed his arms but remained standing. “So what are you doing?”
“Helping you.”
Afton couldn’t hold in his laughter. “How do you intend to help me?”
Erinna glared at his arrogance. He may be the Minor Apprentice, but he was still struggling to get them into that library. He should have accepted any help he was given. Even she was setting aside her grievances to be in this room and offer assistance.
“Are you really in the position to deny it?”
The humor left his green eyes and was replaced with a look Erinna understood all too well. He was willing to come to the table and listen to what she had to say.
“What is your bottleneck? What do you need the most to get into that damned library?”
Afton finally settled in the seat across from her, finger thrummed against the wood in thought. He was taking too long to answer for Erinna’s liking. “Don’t think about how I can help you. Just tell me what you need, and I will find a way to help.”
“Why does this sound like a bad business tactic?”
“Because this isn’t a business tactic, this is a desperate attempt toward a common goal. Haru and the academy will be here soon and once they are, we’d be lucky to leave the island with our bodies intact. You know better than anyone what they would do to us.”
Afton winced. They had days at best before the library was attuned to its new master.
“There are a few more traps that need to be disarmed, but I can’t cross the rift in the foyer which means I can’t see them. So we are basically back to square one.”
“Rift in the foyer? That’s why I’m not allowed in?” Erinna remembered Scout’s warning. Afton rolled his eyes.
“Long story. The doors are unlocked but we can’t cross the valley of death that was triggered by Kane’s impulsive decision.”
Kane, she seethed but pulled the rage to the back of her brain. First, they needed to cross whatever rift that blasted, reckless pirate had created. “Will a gangplank work?”
Afton blinked in surprise. “I…it was hard to see how far it was. But Kane might know.” His voice grew quieter, closer to a grumble as he thought to himself.
Erinna resisted the urge to roll her eyes. How had neither of them thought of that? “What happens next? Once you get into the fort?”
“I would have to scout for the traps and then disarm them before anyone else could come with me.”
Erinna’s stomach soured at the thought. There was no way in all the hells that she was going to sit and wait while Afton disarmed an unknown number of traps. It was time to throw his caution to the wind. “Can you disarm them on the go?”
Afton’s brows knit into a tighter line. “Perhaps. But it would be dangerous to try with a group of people.”
“Then we limit the number of people.”
Afton let out a sigh. “Also, once we get to the library there is one complicated web I need to untangle before we go in. A failsafe that is specifically for instances when there is no Chancellor to claim the place.”
Erinna’s head fell to the table with a hard thunk. She should have known better than to trust the two of them alone. Kane would no sooner light the place on fire and hope for the best while Afton picked at details until he was blue in the face. They were a doomed partnership from the start.
She took in a steadying breath and squared herself. They needed a way to maneuver around whatever obstacles that remained in their path.
“We need a map. A guide,” she said, tapping her finger on the wood. Erinna would need to summon a guide.
Afton physically moved back in his chair and scanned her as if he were looking at a creature and not a human. “Do you know where we can find one?” he asked in disbelief.
Erinna bit the inside of her cheek. “I may be able to find something.”
Afton opened his mouth to speak, but Erinna was already on her feet and at the door.
“Ask Kane about the gangplank. I’ll find you if I manage anything on my end.
” With that, she darted back into the normal chaos of the courtyard.
She’d allow herself one night—just one—to rest. Then she would return to the cemetery and stay as long as it took to call upon someone who could guide them.
It was the only way left for her to be useful, the only card she had left to play.
The warm water hit the tea leaves—the last of them. Erinna watched the steam rise. This would be her final cup, before she needed more.
She cursed herself for such carelessness. Every night, she felt she was using more and more of the herbal remedy to try to keep the dreams at bay.
“You’re running low.” Inez watched as Erinna prepared for the night, already settled on her mattress.
One of Lila’s broken books rested in her hand.
From the gap in the spine, Erinna could tell that half of the story was missing.
Maybe she could find a real book for Inez to read.
She was already stealing one, what was another?
“I’ll see Serg tomorrow and ask for some more.”
A look of mild concern flashed across her face. “Is it still working?”
Erinna nodded. “Yeah, for the most part, but I may need to increase the dose.”
Inez chewed on her bottom lip. There was something more she wanted to say.
“Anything else on your mind?”
Inez closed the book. “I wonder if those are actual dreams.”
Erinna blinked in surprise. Certainly not what she expected. “Do you see me disappear at night?” she quipped with a teasing smile.
“No, it’s just…” Inez trailed off.
“A feeling?” Erinna finished.
Inez nodded in a way that turned Erinna’s stomach. They were dreams. They had to be. She was sure of that, but heeding the warning of a diviner was always best, even if it wasn’t right.
“I’ll get some more tea, and I’ll tell Serg about the issue.” That seemed to settle her friend’s nerves as Erinna gulped down the rest of the sleep remedy. Gods, did she crave just a few hours of peace.
The noises from the courtyard quieted as most settled in for the night. The excitement from earlier still buzzed in most people’s minds. Whispers of the now-open doors made their way, and most of the crew took that as a sign that they would soon be off the island.
Erinna wished that were true, but if she could play the right cards and if Mistress Fate saw fit to bless her with a miracle, maybe they would be off the island soon, and she would be heading back home with an answer to her and her father’s affliction.
She could feel the pull of sleep, the promise of rest, before hushed and hurried whispers filtered from the courtyard outside, accompanied by the sound of running boots.
Something was happening. Erinna was on her feet in moments, pulling on her boots and sprinting out the door before Inez had time to ask what was happening.
Kane was in hushed conversation with Scout while Afton flipped furiously through a book nearby. Worry and tension decorated their features. Kane ran a hand through his hair before barking orders.
Something was wrong.
The crew quickly carried out their commands. Kane made eye contact with Erinna as she approached, and she could almost hear the click in his jaw at the prospect of conversation.
“What’s going on?”
“Scout saw an academy ship in the distance.”
Erinna’s heart plummeted to the floor. She knew it. She knew they were wasting time. Still, they were early. The envoy wasn’t supposed to be there for another few days. If someone was already sent ahead…
“How far away?” she asked.
“Less than a day, but they were anchored.” Even Afton seemed worried.
“What does that mean?” Erinna shoved her hands into her pockets, trying to calm growing tremors.
Kane moved to rest a hand on her shoulder, as if sensing her unease. “They’re waiting for the Chancellor’s vessel.”
Erinna’s heart sank even deeper. “So we might only have a few hours?”
Afton shook his head. “No, they’re waiting for the full escort. If the Chancellor’s vessel hasn’t been spotted, then they’re likely at least a day out. The anchored ship is here to scout for any potential difficulties.”
The Hellish Rebuke. They would spot the ship, and this would all be over.
“Lila and Asher will take the ship to the opposite side of the island to avoid discovery. But we’re running on borrowed time.” Kane answered, already sensing her next question.
Erinna scanned the iron doors. It was decided then. “We head in tonight.”