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There'd be no rescue by Eli, Jaiel, and the vrytra like in Gleyma, and there were no miracle-working doctors like the ones who'd saved my life six months ago in Karemi.
Between them, I used up enough luck for two lifetimes.
I shot a glance at Jaiel. He stood, basking in the afternoon sun. Loose white shirt haphazardly tucked into blue pants obviously tailored to show off every single muscle.
But that familiar flirting smirk of his was missing.
"You okay?" I nudged him with my elbow. We'd come to a sort of truce after the previous morning in bed.
And it hadn't helped that I'd had another of my nightmares the night before. I woke up terrified and screaming, but he'd been there with me, holding my hand and trying to comfort me as I came back to the real world.
His brows lifted.
"We've been standing here for the past thirty minutes, and you haven't tried to flirt with me once," I teased.
His expression softened as he let his gaze slide down my body. "I could remedy that if you'd like."
"And he's back." I winked. "Care to share what you're so worried about?"
His jaw tightened, and he turned back to the rail. "It's probably nothing. But Frexin's team was supposed to be burning a signal fire for us to row toward." He gestured to the cliffs. "I don't know about you — but I don't see any smoke."
My stomach twisted as I studied the cliffs. Without that signal, we'd have no idea where to land. Jaiel wasn't familiar with the rocky shores on this part of the Isle.
Had something happened to the team? No. No reason to worry just yet.
"There's probably some logical reason," I said, forcing a confident smile. "Maybe they needed more wood or something. Worst case, we could land where you normally dock, then make our way toward their camp by foot. It would be rough, but we could do it. Right?"
He grimaced, twisting the rings in his ear. "The break in the cliffs that Frexin's team found was why I thought this mission was even possible, Princess. My normal port would put us back at least a day, and we'd have to trek through the most dangerous parts of the Isle." His concerned gaze slid to mine. "Besides, by the time we made it to our rendezvous point, Frexin would likely have already moved her team onto some backup plan. You know how she is."
My fingers dug into the railing. It was only a day … but he was probably right. Lady Frexin was always thinking a few steps ahead, and a mission without the mech support would be difficult at best. We'd be in the same dangerous position as the dozens of teams who tried and failed before us.
"There's still time," I said, forcing my gaze from the empty cliffs. "I'm sure Lady Frexin's men will come through."
"I hope you're right —"
"Prince Kierstall!" a young voice interrupted from further down the deck.
Jaiel's eyes widened as he spun to face the intruder.
"Here!" the cabin boy said, running up to us and passing Jaiel a small pack of food. "I made these for you."
My brows lifted. He'd said the cabin boy had been following him around like a mother hen, but a care package?!
Jaiel shook his head and took the bag. "You should stop being nice to me, you know. It's not exactly endearing you to your crew-mates."
"Oh, fuck 'em," the kid said, his hat brim flopping as he waved dismissively. "It's far more important you not die of hunger out there. You already seem to be the sort who will struggle to survive in that kind of place." He gestured toward the Isle. "So, anything I can do to help keep you alive, I'll do."
I pressed a hand to my lips in an effort to suppress a laugh. This was a far cry from the scared kid who'd run from the room in terror a couple of days ago.
And the fact that he was echoing my own concerns from before was just too rich.
Shooting an angry glare my way, Jaiel bent until he was eye level with the boy. "I've told you a thousand times these last two days, I don't need you worrying over me. I will be fine."
The boy clucked his tongue and tugged his hat lower over his forehead. "You can act as confident as you want, but I can see through it."
Jaiel spluttered and looked up at me as if asking whether I saw the same thing as him.
I bit my cheeks to keep from laughing and shrugged. "Don't worry. I'll protect him."
