Chapter 24
After a restless night debating searching the future of those aboard the ship, Orra wandered the fortress halls, her magic levels unaltered, but her worry at an all-time high.
Perhaps she should have gone with them. If they didn’t return, eventually Orra would have to hunt for the starbridges by herself, something that had once been a given but now felt like too much to bear on her own.
Everyone around her had a task, whether self-imposed or assigned by General Nels. Even Emeris had returned to the makeshift Sungazer, praying with soldiers on break until Rildan forced her to rest.
Orra wanted to do her part to aid the Recreants’ efforts, but only the Sun knew what that might include. The onyx stone was beyond her reach, and she felt its absence like a lost limb. If she wasn’t searching for a starbridge, what purpose did she have?
A blur of silver sped passed her, followed by almost three dozen more.
At three days old, the winex were like small school children, always in trouble but learning quickly.
She smiled as Felk led the others to the kitchen, then winced as she heard howls mixed with clattering pans.
She rounded the corner to find one of the soldiers’ cooks chasing them out of their favorite room.
Yesterday Iris had set aside meals for them before she left, but now they were on their own.
“Are you hungry?” Orra called.
Several stood tall, peering over their clan members to see who spoke. Felk rushed forward, tilting his head as he studied her. “You have food?”
She bent down at his eye level and patted his head. “If you can be patient enough for me to saddle a horse, I’ll show you where you can get an endless supply.”
Felk’s grin revealed dozens of new teeth that had cropped up during the night. The others all clambered to join them, practically pushing Orra down the hall.
By the time she led them to the beach, they’d begun whining about the wait, but the moment she pointed out a school of tilapia, they went wild with anticipation, scrambling over each other to get first pick.
Orra kept her distance, settling on the sand to watch them struggle, then adapt, until all were well fed and there was more splashing than hunting.
Felk returned first, settling on his haunches beside her, his knobby knees near his ears and his full belly protruding. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiled and patted his back. “I suggest you all gather more to take back for your evening meal. You can return each morning and do the same so you don’t have to rely on the soldiers to feed you. They won’t be as accommodating as Iris was.”
He nodded, then hesitated. “Emeris showed me memories. Iris and Mama helped us, but I don’t remember you.”
“I’m Orra, a friend of Aeliana’s. I’ve been with you for much of your journey with her, but I usually keep to myself.” She glanced back in the direction of the fortress even though she couldn’t see its turrets. “It seems we both have to make adjustments if we want to fit in here.”
“The soldiers don’t like us,” Felk said, trailing a finger in the sand.
“They’re afraid of you,” Orra corrected. “And I supposed they’re afraid of me too.”
He threw back his head, the tinkling laughter having no effect on Orra.
She smiled, once again amazed at how little attention she’d given the winex before meeting Aeliana.
What if she’d befriended one hundreds of years ago?
Perhaps she could have had a companion who didn’t wither away like all the people she’d known.
“I think if we work hard to help them, we can gain their trust,” Orra said. “Can you do that?”
His backside wriggled like a dog’s as he shoved to all fours. “We can work hard.”
She stood. “Gather more fish, and I’ll race you all back to the fortress.”
He rushed off to tell the others while she mounted her horse. She patted the mare’s withers and leaned in, brushing its hair softly. “Let’s go. They’ll still beat us back.”
Orra settled into a routine with the winex, showing them how to help the soldiers with menial tasks. By the sixth day of their cycle, when their bodies were the size of a twelve-year-old but their strength matched that of the soldiers, they graduated to more difficult labor.
Despite how much time and effort the winex saved the soldiers, General Nels’ men showed little thankfulness. If they’d been men aboard her ship during her time as Pirate Redwood, she would have shown them the plank. Instead, she took her complaint to their superior.
She found General Nels working alongside the soldiers, building supports for the outer wall so they could double its width with an additional layer of stone.
“I don’t know what you want me to do.” He didn’t even look at her as he nailed the wooden planks together. “Most of these men watched friends or family members torn apart by the winex. Maybe not these winex, but ones just like them. I can’t force them to be friendly.”
“But they’re proving themselves with their hard work,” Orra insisted. “We can at least show gratitude for the help. They have no obligation to work alongside your men.”
“I think you need to give it more time.” He took out a cloth and wiped the sweat from his brow, his gaze finally meeting hers. “If they continue to work hard, the men will see that. Give it a few moons.”
Orra huffed, ready to tell him that was lifetimes to the winex, but a tickle started at her wrist that grew to a familiar hum.
She reached out a hand to steady herself on the temporary stakes, closing her eyes as she perceived the change.
She could sense the onyx stone again, but it was too faint for it to tell her much.
“She’s back,” she murmured.
General Nels shook her elbow, and she opened her eyes to find him standing in front of her. “Mayvus has returned?”
Orra pursed her lips and did the math. “If she’s done building her army, she’ll reach us in ten to twelve days.”