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I take a seat on the fur next to her. “To apologize.”
She frowns, her head hanging down in shame. “There’s no need.”
“You’re wrong. I never meant to get testy with you. There’s just so much pressure to do well. Not that you’re not doing good—”
“You don’t need to explain. I know I’m not as hearty as the others.”
I grab a small bundle of what looks like the start of a ball of yarn. “Hearty or not, you have talent. No one else could have made this. Well, maybe Nori, but she doesn’t have the drive to.”
“It’s not as soft as I’d like it, but I’m getting better. The ones on the left come from various animals, the ones on the right are from plants. I’m trying to spin various threads together to see what results I get.”
“You really are doing so much.”
“Thanks. I think I’m almost ready to undergo my first big project, which is a blanket. I’m hoping to make bedding to complement the furs we sleep on.”
I hold up a section of fiber that’s purple. “I see you’ve been experimenting with dyes.”
“Purple, red, and orange have been easy to find. Green is a little harder, but I’m close to a decent tone. Violet has helped find the plants I’ve used, but I’m thinking about asking Nori to grab some when she heads out next for those maps she’s making.”
“I want you to keep it up. If the guys choose to take us with them, they’ll be impressed. How could they not be? And if we’re left out on the shore, we’ll need all this and more.”
Asha’s face darkens with worry. “Do you think that will happen?”
“I don’t know what to think, but I’m not nearly as worried as I once was.”
“Why is that?”
“Because look at how strong we are?” I gesture around our small encampment. “We’ve been here for only a few weeks and we’ve already accomplished so much, and even if the men leave, we’re far more prepared than we were when we left that ship.”
A ribbon of cold bites at my skin. Asha’s whole body jolts.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to being startled like that.” I rub my arms as warmth returns. “Nori doesn’t think they’re natural.”
“Nothing about this place is natural. The weather, the animals, the men…” she bites her lower lip, looking worried. “Sorry—it’s not that they’re not great—”
“I get it. Believe me, I hold no notion that Grixis and his men are anywhere close to normal. They’re clearly human, but made of different stock.”
“There was a man that the Penticar king would seek council from. He was just as large, bluish of flesh, and all muscle.”
I furrow my brow. “Did you go to the royal court a lot?”
Asha looks away, her worry deepening. “Just…when my father was summoned.”
Something about my question has her on edge, but I decide not to press her. If her family was in trouble, I doubt she wants a reminder.
“Well, we’re going to need those blankets. A lot of them.”
“I’ll keep working, day and night until I have the perfect weave.”
“I can’t tell you how good it feels to be able to rely on you. You’re just as important as the hunters.”
Footsteps catch my attention, and I turn to see Fiona, red-faced and panting.
Jumping to my feet, I ask, “What’s going on?”
“It’s Grixis! He’s returned and is asking for you.”
“Where?”
