Over the next four days I study the Foxes. I’ve watched them before, but knowing they have been keeping careful surveillance of my brothers and me over the past several days has me needing to know more about them.
I discover Vera is a sensational liar. It makes her particularly good at cards. She is an easy talker, making her not only an excellent flirt, but an even better distraction that helps her win nearly every game. The only person she doesn’t toy with is Sky, and had I paid attention sooner I would have known instantly that they were lovers.
Chana is an observer and her strength is in her silence. She is also a keen listener in both conversations not meant for her ears as well as for those who confide in her. Like Deean, who managed to pour out all his tribulations to her. She doesn’t seem to mind though.
Sky is the trickiest. He is neither sly or great with conversation. Introverted, but not because he’s shy, because he genuinely despises most human interactions. It takes me several tries to break him, my attempts at connection are usuallyblocked with callousness, until the conversation becomes about apothecary—a shared passion. He is obviously much better at it than me, but I used the opportunities to have him teach me a few new poisons and elixirs.
Then there is Ariah, who I don’t watch with suspicion like I do the others. Attention to her is strictly personal. Her wit and quick tongue make it easy for her to get along with others, but this I already knew. In her free time she takes to drawing, refusing to show me her designs even when I beg for a peek. Instead, she offers up a kiss, which I don’t dare refuse. She is also inquisitive and goes around to the crew to learn the responsibilities of the various positions. The navigator educates her about sailing and how to stay on course; the boatswain teaches her how to rig each morning; and the arms man lectures her about everything in the weapons cabin.
Today I find her with the navigator, fixated on what she sees through a spyglass.
“Good morning,” I say as I approach.
She lowers the tool to give me a kiss. “Good morning.”
“Anything yet?”
“No.” She starts searching again. “We should be approaching soon, shouldn’t we? Do you think the calculations are off?”
I catch the navigator’s grin as he excuses himself.
“Are you questioning my ability to read a map?” I tease as I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her back into me. “You do remember I have done this more than you.”
Resting her head against my chest, we hold each other. “I just want to be there already.” She turns her head to look at me and lifts herself up on her tippy toes to place her soft lips to mine. I inhale the faint scent of the peony and musk perfume she always wears, but it is fading. She pulls away and out of my grasp, then spins to face me. “Find the flower.” She gives me another kissbefore pulling away again. “And go to Saden and this can all be over.”
Although her main reason for going back to Saden is for her safety, there is a kernel of excitement in knowing she’ll be with me.
“I want that too.” I kiss her forehead while one of my hands slyly grabs hold of the spyglass and I yank it from her playfully. Let me show you how it’s done.”
“Didn’t know you needed to be an expert to look through a chunk of glass.” She folds her arms and watches me carefully.
I smile at her dig and look through the spyglass, scanning the horizon. Nothing but endless blue for miles. It’s disheartening until I catch a few birds in the sky, flying southeast and far away from any land mass. They disappear and that’s when I see a small sliver in the distance.
I move across the deck to get a better view and sure enough, off in the expanse is a cluster of trees. The image is blurry and blends in with the sea, making it especially hard to see, but it’s there. Farella is there. Every bedtime story and the countless books I’ve read are no longer just words, they mean so much more.
I give back the spyglass and point Ariah in the right direction. “Look again.” Concentrating, she gives it another glance. She tries moving the spyglass, unable to see the distant isle, but I gently glide it back. “Follow the birds.”
Remaining silent, she looks once again. Her head snaps back for a second, but she quickly goes back to the rim of the spyglass. “We’re almost there,” she whispers excitedly.
“You want to say it, or should I?”
She doesn’t answer and instead, for everyone on board to hear, shouts, “Land ho!”
Come morning, Sallen steers the ship into a large mouth of the island. Enormous mountain ranges are situated on both sides of us. The land is covered in the greenest leaves and a sandy white beach waits for us at the shore.
Without getting too close to shore we anchor the ship and load one of the row boats on the starboard side. Sallen allows us to take what we need from the weapons cabin. I arm myself with a sword and a few throwing knives. Also on me is the small anchor figurine, in case we need it again, along with a few healing elixirs.
Most of the Foxes have weapons of their own but it doesn’t stop them from taking more. I suggest Vera, Sky, and Chana stay behind with Sallen’s crew but Vera looks ready to punch me. Dismissing my suggestion, they prepare themselves.
Leaving my carrier behind I put Deean in charge of carrying our supplies. Benny takes some of the extra stuff, but Deean takes all the heavier items.
The only other person going with us is Nico, my associate navigator and cartographer. Not only will he be our guide, but he is also in charge of creating a new, much easier-to-read map of the isle. A lot will be missing, as we don’t have the time to explore the entirety of the isle, but we just need the main route to the flower.
“You should have everything you need.” Sallen hikes up a leg on the side of his ship. “We packed some non-perishables and a few canteens of water for you. But I suggest killing your own food and finding fresh water so you don’t run out.” He waves a hand towards me. “But you’re well aware.”
“Thank you.” I give him a nod of appreciation. “Nico is confident that it will only take us two to three days to get to the flower and then the same amount of time to get back. That’s if Fraya’s map is correct.”
“We’ll be here,” Sallen assures. “And in case you need it, there is a bit of parfa powder in there. Set it on fire if there is an emergency. We’ll be able to see it from the ship and will find you. Let’s just pray to the divinities it will be in time.”
