From Leather to Lad
Iwoke up the next evening with a sense of resolve that I could not explain.
Colsar was between Urasal and Veynar protecting the children. Protecting our future. He could handle Edrin for me until I was able to return.
But Avaneer was in Thrykis. Too close in proximity to Morrath for me to ignore. I had been able to handle Urasal. Perhaps I could handle Thrykis.
My cough had grown worse. The vials helped, but they were only delaying something I did not fully understand.
The Arrolyn gave me strength after dark, but it was only placed, not activated.
I did not know what would happen when it woke.
I did not know what it would change, or whether I would still be myself afterward.
And if I chose not to activate it, I did not know what would happen next.
There was no guarantee I would find an antidote. No guarantee I would have another chance.
I thought of my mother, how she had died without ever seeing the vengeance she deserved.
I remembered Avaneer's voice that night.
"Two nannies. But only one guard."
He had threatened my children.
And now he would be punished, I thought to myself calmly.
It was barely sunset when I reached the shoreline. I was earlier than usual, yet Eravic was there, standing near the dock as though he had been deep in thought.
He looked down at my dress. “It is tied wrong again.”
I rolled my eyes. “It is not.”
“It most certainly is.”
He was not wrong. I could not find Fiersa this afternoon and was in a rush to get here so I had thrown the leather on and tied it to the best of my ability.”
“Come,” he motioned.
He carefully loosened the laces, threading each one properly through the leather corset. “I’ll leave it loose for the treatment, then we’ll tighten afterwards, princess.”
This was becoming routine for us, though usually it was done inside the hut.
“I do not want the treatment right now, Eravic.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What is it that you want then?”
“I need to get to Thrykis.”
"You cannot leave,” he said immediately.
"The vials have been helping. In the evenings I feel strong.
The Arrolyn helps after dark. Enough to move.
" I do not say the rest of it: that I do not know how long the nights will keep giving me that much, or what happens when they stop, or what happens if I do not activate the Arrolyn and never find an antidote?
No. I needed to do this now.
I looked at him carefully. "If you will not take me I will find a way to go anyway."
"It is not what needs to be done right now."
I stared at him. "It is not in your nature, perhaps. But it is in mine."
He laughed. "There are some things about my nature that perhaps you do not know."
"Oh? Such as?"
He took a step toward me. Closer than I was used to him being. "I want this just as much as you do."
I could barely breathe. "Then take me there."
We stood like that. The water at our ankles.
He looked down at me. “You cannot get on my ship with your dress half-on.”
I sighed. “Fine, then lace me up.”
He came behind me and began lacing the corset.
“It is too tight,” I whined.
“My men haven’t seen a woman in a while.”
“That should have nothing to do with my ability to breathe.”
He stepped back. Then smiled. “Well now the problem is you are not dressed for killing. You’re dressed for….”
“For what, Lord Eravic?”
“Eating a human demon at a fancy Morrath dinner.”
I couldn’t help myself. I burst into laughter.
"You are stalling and making excuses," I said flatly. "We both know I will not die if we go. Not with a healer on the ship. Not if we leave now, in the early evening, and come back before dawn."
"Asharin." His voice was low and his eyes did not have their usual amusement in them.
"Yes?"
"Hurry up, then."
"What is the ship’s name?"
"Blue."
I raised an eyebrow. "How dull."
"I am a simple man."
"If by simple you mean dull, then perhaps."
"I was not dull when I beat you at cards the other night. Your coin debt is enough to bankrupt all of Veynar," he said dryly.
"You were dull then and now that I know your ship is named Blue you are most certainly dull now."
The men on his ship slowed as they saw me come aboard.
"They are staring at me."
"That they are. To be fair, you are supposed to be dead."
"It is supposed to be a secret," I hissed.
"Vaelor crewmen do not talk much."
I rolled my eyes. "I thought Vaelors could not lie. It cannot be both."
"Where to, Captain?" A man called from the bow.
"Turn the cloak," Eravic replied. "Thrykis."
"Oh, the invisibility thing you do," I said.
"Yes." A twinge of pride in his voice. "I am trying to impress you."
"Silly me. I thought you were trying to prevent us from getting eaten by undead."
"Aye. That too."
"Another Vaelor lie. I am beginning to grow skeptical of your lineage, Lord Captain of the Seas."
"Fucking Eravic."
I laughed. Harder than intended. He stared at me and shook his head. "Every time you laugh like that, princess—"
I put my finger over his lips. "Less talking, Vaelor. You have a princess on your ship. She has demands."
"Oh?"
"Shitty ale and clothes I can kill in."
He threw his head back and laughed. And admittedly, that did something to me.
We walked to his cabin and I entered.
"It is not very seemly. Colsar probably would not—"
"Colsar would not dare," I said, sharper than I intended.
"Oh?"
"I have been loyal to him. Waited for him. Almost died while doing it. Loved him. Given him children." I looked up at him and removed my coat and set it on the chair by the bed. I took a step toward him. "I have only ever slept with him."
Eravic did not look away.
"And?"
"I am his. Completely. But I am also a person. And I just recently died and came back to life."
"Vaelors speak straight, not fancy."
"I was being theatrical and you have not let me finish," I said, irritated.
"I have forgotten the original question."
I tilted my head. "Admittedly I do not remember if there was one."
I held out my hands. "Clothes."
He walked to the wardrobe and pulled out a shirt and trousers then handed me what was either a belt or a length of rope.
"I will look ridiculous."
"Aye. I cannot wait."
I reached for a gold pin on his bedside table.
"That is the captain's brooch, princess. Not for throwing."
"A brooch? Is that not a decorative item for women who attend sewing circles?"
I snorted. “Did Esmeraldis Rathmor give it to you, Vaelor?"
The laugh he gave filled the whole room.
"Turn around. No peeking."
He turned.
I began to untie the laces on my dress.
"What did you do to these, Vaelor?"
"I tightened the leather ties the way I do each time before the treatment," he said, defensive.
"You entrapped me in a prison of knots and leather. You must have been extra sore about losing tonight."
"I did not lose—"
"Untie me."
He turned and began to loosen the ties. His breath on my neck and that cedar and sea salt smell made it difficult to concentrate.
"I remember now," I said quietly.
"Oh?"
"I was saying I am a good person. A trustworthy one. The circumstances here are exceptional and I will do what is necessary to survive it."
"You are taking forever. I told you it was too tight."
"I did not. I made it secure."
I snorted. "If you say so."
"So this is what you must do to survive it?"
"Putting on clothes I am comfortable in while a friend I trust helps me. Yes."
He was quiet for a while.
"Done."
The ties were loose. Finally.
I turned my head. "It took you long—"
The ship lurched. I fell forward. He caught me before I reached the floor.
"What the—"
Thunder roared outside.
"Of course," I said. "A fucking storm."
Eravic grinned. "Aye. My favorite."
He handed me the clothes. "Now put those on. I like you better as a lad."