Chapter 3 #3
Sunlight peers through a small circular window, turning dust particles golden. Daylight has a way of making things seem more real, including the tinge of fear running through my blood.
The growl startles me again. I get up and see Alayel, a leg and an arm outside his hammock, sleeping with his mouth open—the source of the sound. He’s snoring. I almost cackle, but I don’t want to wake him. We’ll need all the rest we can get.
He turns to the side, and his breathing changes as if he realized he was being watched. Asleep, he looks lovely, his face a piece of art with delicate lips and dark eyebrows framing his incredible eyes. But he snores! I’ll need to keep that in mind every time I look at him, just to remain sane.
As if there was any sanity in the recent hours of my life.
I want to see where we are, so I head to the ladder and clutch it firmly, climbing slowly as the boat bounces with the waves.
Blue sky with fluffy clouds above and endless sea surround us.
No sign of land. I thought we’d be sailing closer to Dragon Island, that we’d be able to see it, but there’s just a circle of ocean surrounding us. A strange form of infinity.
The boat is slightly tilted, moving fast across the water, and the sails remind me of the gliders that fly above Dracolius City. For a moment, I close my eyes and imagine we’re flying over the ocean.
“Admiring the view from my boat?”
I turn and see an older man with tan but reddish skin and brown hair. Something in his demeanor makes me uncomfortable, but I’m not sure what. He speaks with a Dracolian accent , unlike his companion.
“It’s stunning,” I reply with a smile.
He extends a hand. “We weren’t properly introduced last night. I’m Felien.”
“Mayara.” I shake his hand, but it’s humid and I need to make an effort to refrain from wiping mine.
He eyes me up and down, spending a long time on my breasts, even though there isn’t much to see under Alayel’s long shirt. His stare makes me feel like he’s undressing me with his leer.
“If you ever need any special protection, just say the word. We can come to a nice arrangement.”
“Right.” I give him a curt nod, then look back at the latch. “I… need to rest.”
“Come to the cabin.” He gestures to the door. “We have some nice breakfast. Nice beds, too.”
“Appreciated.”
I turn around and descend the ladder, wishing I could jump into the ocean and wash any traces of his leer still clinging to my skin. Why do men do that?
At the restaurant, Laristella didn’t allow me to serve tables. The few times I tried, I was soon accosted by greedy, inappropriate stares, so I gladly returned to the kitchen.
I sit on the hammock and try to relax, rest, something, but my stomach growls, and I decide to check Alayel’s bag and get some of his bread.
It’s all I’ve eaten since last night, and all we’ll eat on the island, as anything else could smell too strongly and attract attention.
The bag is on his hammock, beside him. Actually, still over his shoulder. My fingers find the clasp. I ease it open, but the bag shifts away from my hands. In a second, Alayel sits up, a dagger pointed at my throat.
I step back and suck in a breath.
His eyes widen, and he relaxes his arm. “You scared me.”
That has to be a joke. “I did?”
He shrugs, looking so sweet and innocent, but not the least apologetic. “You were about to open my bag.”
“I wanted some bread.”
He gestures to the ladder. “The smugglers have food for us.”
The thought of going up and eating with those men is almost enough to fade my appetite. Almost. My stomach’s still growling.
Alayel and I go up to the cabin, where Felien gives us some rice and pickled fish.
Everything tastes poorly seasoned, and eating while being leered at is nothing short of uncomfortable, but I tell myself I’ll need the strength.
Alayel is friendly and entertains the boat owner, who boasts about dangerous trips across the ocean.
I would be captivated—if the man wasn’t so nasty.
His talks make me think of my brother and his dream of becoming a sea merchant.
Sometimes I wonder if it’s because he wants to visit the world, or if he’s looking for something—or someone—but it’s not my place to quash his dreams. He’ll have to join a merchant company as an apprentice in an unpaid position, but to do that, he’ll need the funds to cover his trip.
If I enter the Sky Academy, or rather, when I enter it, I’ll save all my wages to make sure he goes on a prestigious ship, where he’ll learn what he needs to succeed.
It’s one reason why I’m here, and why I can’t fail.
After we eat, I stand at the edge with Alayel, watching as the boat moves fast over the ocean. We’re doing a long detour, as we sailed away from Dragon Island last night, and we’re now returning.
According to Alayel, boats can’t travel directly west to the riders’ lands. They have to sail out first before turning south toward Dragon Island. It’s why I couldn’t see any land in the morning.
But we’re getting closer and closer now. Closer to the enemy’s land. The idea that I’m about to steal some dragon eggs still feels like a feverish dream.
Hopefully it won’t turn into a nightmare.