Safire said nothing.
Eris gritted her teeth. “If you don’t give me the information I need, I’ll have no choice but to march you straight to the captain’s cabin.”
Safire looked away—but not out of defiance. Eris sounded genuinely frightened for her. As if she didn’t want Safire hurt by Jemsin. As if shecared.
Don’t be fooled.
Safire remembered the deal Eris made with Jemsin back in the Thirsty Craw. Asha was the key to whatever kept Eris boundto the pirate captain. Her fear for Safire’s life was feigned—a ploy to make Safire play into her hands, luring Asha into the clutches of a monster. All so Eris could go free.
“Never,” murmured Safire, her hatred for this despicable girl burning bright within her.
Annoyance flashed across Eris’s face. “All right, then.” She started to pace. “Let’s say you don’t tell me. Let’s say you wait for your chance and manage to escape tonight—which you won’t. Where will you go, princess? You’re in the middle of the Silver Sea.” She started ticking points off her fingers. “You don’t know which way land is. You’ve never sailed a ship. I’m willing to bet you can’t even swim.”
Safire kept her face carefully neutral. The last two things were true. But she did know where land was, thanks to the compass in her pocket.
“Youreallywant me to march you into Jemsin’s cabin right now?”
Safire lifted her chin, staring Eris straight in the eye.
“Youreallythink I’ll put Asha in danger to save myself?” The mere thought of it disgusted Safire. “You are deplorable.”
The air grew cold at those words. Eris’s expression hardened.
This is it, she thought. The moment Eris unlocked her chains and handed her over to Jemsin.
Instead, Eris kept feeding her—the bread, the fish, the apple. All of it. Only this time, she did it in silence, her eyes stormy, her lips pressed into a hard line.
When the only things left on the platter were herring bones and an apple core, Eris covered it up. “You have until morningto change your mind,” she said, as she crossed the room to the bed, taking the lamp with her.
Safire frowned.Huh?
“I convinced Jemsin to give you until sunrise to think things over.”
“Why?”
“I’ve been asking myself that same question,” she said. “Maybe because I’m too tired to watch him take those eyes of yours tonight.”
Unlacing her shirt, Eris tugged it off, giving Safire a full view of her tapered waist, the gentle flare of her hips, and the light dusting of freckles across her shoulders.
Safire suddenly felt very warm.
Too much wine, she thought, looking away as Eris pulled on a loose, oversize shirt.
“Storm’s coming,” Eris said. “Wake me if you feel sick.” Sinking into the bed, she tugged off her boots, then her trousers. “I don’t want you puking your guts up all over my floor.”
She didn’t wait for Safire’s answer. Just blew out the flame in the lamp, lay back in the bed, and turned over.
Safire waited for her breathing to deepen, then even out. When it finally did, when she knew the girl was good and truly asleep, she unlocked her manacles and, without looking back, silently slipped from the room.
Pirate thieves weren’t the only ones good at picking locks.
Twelve
The boat creaked and groaned as Safire stumbled up the narrow hall. For every step she took, she paused to press her palm to the damp wall, steadying herself as the rocking boat threw her off balance.
The steps were wet. When she emerged onto the deck, she realized why. Rain lashed her face and arms, soaking her clothes and collecting on her eyelashes. Lightning brightened the angry clouds above, giving Safire a momentary view of the deck, which was clear of crew. Only a single man stood watch, facing the sea, his back to her.
Beneath the dim light of the deck lamps, Safire made her way to the starboard side, where the rowboat was kept. Her clothes clung to her. Her teeth clattered with cold. The ship rocked, and a wave rolled over the deck, submerging it completely, soaking Safire up to her knees and nearly knocking her over.
