Chapter 13 #2
There’s a distinct flush spreading across her cheeks as she goes, and my brow furrows.
I glance back at Gable, curious, but his only reaction is to wink at me and shoot another air kiss my way.
I pretend to strike a lighter with one hand and then mime using an aerosol can with the other.
I aim my imaginary blowtorch at the unwanted air kiss and imitate lighting it on fire.
Gable play-screams, horrified, and laughter once again resets the tension Amadi left in her wake.
“How much time do you think we have before we need to go?” Olinta asks as she starts to collect the empty canteens to be refilled.
Everyone turns to me like I’m some leading expert, despite the fact that I know about as much as they do. “Four days, maybe.” I shrug. “More if they take their time bringing supplies over before they start targeting this area.”
Nods stagger through the group, and eyes wander around the camp, momentarily lost in thought. It feels as though each of us is taking our last mental snapshots of the place we’ve called home for the last sixty-two years, a place we’ll never see again, at least not how it is now.
I scan the skies, but Herm and Blay haven’t returned after they dropped off their last load of supplies.
They set up more tents and unloaded a crate of focus stones.
However, they didn’t arrange the rune-marked rocks into an arch like I expected before they left again this afternoon.
I don’t know if they’ll do it when they return or if that’s something the Span Crafters will oversee when they magic themselves here.
So far, only the two dragons have been spotted, but we all know more will show up.
Once they do, I figure it will take a day or so to discover the magic protecting this place, and then they’ll start trying to force it down.
There’s some consolation in knowing they won’t be able to breach it, not until they figure out what it is, and it’s anyone’s guess how long that might take.
“It’s eerie how quiet it is now that everyone is gone,” Sofann observes.
Several of the others murmur their agreement.
“I thought I would be more keyed up, more nervous, you know?” Mayur surprisingly admits.
I offer him a soft smile, knowing exactly what he means.
Enslee chuckles. “We’ll see how long that calm lasts when you have a dragon on your ass,” she jokes.
Gable opens his mouth to say something, and I can just see the dirty responses propagating in his mind.
“Don’t,” I cut him off, but a laugh sneaks out at the pouty face he makes.
“Come on,” he pleads. “Just one. She left the door wide open.”
My dimple fights to make another appearance, but I neutralize the little bastard and shake my head. “Try it and you’ll be the caboose when we break for the gauntlet.”
Gable throws his hands up in defeat, but his hazel eyes gleam with mirth.
Enslee claps once. “All right, Amadi has a point. We’ve got a million things to do, and the clock is ticking.”
I must make a face, because both Gable and Mayur laugh and it’s aimed in my direction.
“Empty your quarters of everything that isn’t a necessity for the next few days, and then we’ll work on our fliers,” Enslee orders, and with lazy salutes and a few bows, everyone disperses and gets back to it.
Enslee’s gaze drifts to the tunnel doors again, and I reach out and squeeze her arm, offering what little comfort I can.
“I’m sure everyone is fine. Even if they double-timed it, Iker and Craith won’t be back until late tonight.
There’s no indication that they’ve been detected.
” I pointing out the empty sky and the undisturbed sand that stretches from our dunes to the yardangs in the distance.
“The boat will be there. Stop borrowing trouble.”
Enslee laughs and gives me a knowing look. “Oh please, like you aren’t also running a litany of worst-case scenarios through your head every other minute.”
My smile is cheeky. “Of course I am, I’m just way better at hiding it. Work on your poker face, twin, you’re going to need it in Four Tiers.”
She flips me off and heads for the stack. “What am I thinking now?” she teases as I catch up with her.
“Hmmm,” I contemplate while rubbing my chin like some wizened elder. “You’re thinking that Amadi is a bitch and we should leave her behind to fend for herself.”
Enslee barks out a laugh and turns to me. “I knew something was going on with you two. What happened?”
“Are her and Gable?.?.?.” I hedge, leveling her with a look that’s both curious and scandalized.
“What?” she asks, her gaze and tone dubious. “Fucking?”
I point at her. “See, your mind went there too.”
“My mind only went there because you’re looking at me like a creepy perv,” she defends.
I gesture behind me. “Just sayin’, I was picking up on some territorial vibes back there.”
Enslee’s face scrunches in disbelief. “Absolutely not, he’s way too immature for her. She’s always saying he gives off little-brother energy, and it annoys the shit out of her.”
My laugh is barbed. “What doesn’t annoy the shit out of her? She probably orgasms indignantly. Actually, now that I think of it, does she even remove her lips from your ass long enough for either of you to explore your nether regions?”
Enslee swats my arm with an “Ew.”
“Or are you two?.?.?. ya know?” I whisper with mock shock.
“No,” she objects with another lighthearted whack.
“I mean, sow your royal oats and all that, but you could do so much better.” I start up the ladder that leads to our deck on the seventh floor, Enslee right behind me.
“Amadi’s just stressed. Don’t take it personally,” she assures me.
“Um, I’m pretty sure she’s the one who made it personal when she inferred I was a whore and a traitor,” I point out.
The sound of my boots on the metal ladder is suddenly all I can hear, and I look down to see Enslee’s stopped climbing.
“She did what?” she asks, looking up at me, thunderstruck.
I wave off her dismay. “It’s fine. I knew someone would pop off about the Noctis thing at some point. It won’t be the first time or even the last, not until everyone sees the truth for themselves.”
“Still,” Enslee counters. “I’ll talk to her.”
I step off the ladder into the hallway that connects to both of our bunks. We have the level to ourselves. Our rooms sit on opposite sides of the stack, connected by a bathroom and the hall, creating one big square.
“I’m just going to pack a few things real quick, and then I’ll come help you with your stuff,” I tell my sister as I move toward my room.
“You’re not clearing everything out of your container?” she asks, heading for hers.
“What’s the point? The Horde knows I exist. It’s fine if they want to comb through my panty drawer.”
Enslee’s snicker trails after me as I stride into my room and pick up the pack that was left on my bed.
I start filling it with essentials: clothes, my dead suit, weapons.
I open my bottom drawer where I store my meager trove and freeze.
Sitting on top of my treasures is a note I forgot I even had.
It feels heavier than I remember when I pick it up, almost as though the words written inside are now laden with everything that’s transpired since Aeson put ink to paper.
Carefully, I unfold the note and read the message, my eyes catching on the last sentence.
“A great treasure for the greatest treasure of all.”