AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Something in the tone of his voice urged me to pause and listen. I should’ve moved on, but for the first time, I wanted to be right where I was. I could almost imagine we were two ordinary people, without the ropes binding us to our duty.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
I shook my head to shake away my thoughts. “No. But we’ll have to be careful to avoid the islanders. They won’t welcome a Brennin with anything but a spear.”
“Are they really that violent?” asked Graham. “Your book doesn’t portray them that way at all.”
“Well, that’s because my father was one of them.”
“Your father?” Graham asked. “That’shisjournal?”
Oh. I frowned, remembering I hadn’t ever told Graham where the journal came from. But I guess it didn’t matter now. “Yeah. He wrote it.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You never asked.”
“Yes, I did!” said Graham. “I asked a million questions about that book.”
I smirked. “Yeah, that’s true. You definitely did.”
We hiked uphill through the thick forest, wary and alert for signs of islanders. I kept my bag open and my knives ready. Mixed in with the rustling wind and bird calls came the sound of running water. The bushes and trees grew closer as we followed the sound. My hair caught on branches, tangling and slowing me down. Brambles scraped our hands and clothes, but I didn’t mind so much when I noticed the blackberries.
I stopped, set down my barrel, and popped a few berries in my mouth. They were tart and firm, and the juices stung my dry tongue and lips. I still couldn’t resist eating another.
I handed some to Graham.
“What exactly happened last night?” he asked, taking the blackberries.
I choked on a berry and nearly swallowed it whole. “You mean, besides you almost dying?” I was afraid of what he might remember. He was too full of questions this morning. “We sailed for hours. I’d nearly given up when I saw some rocks that put me back on course. Eventually, we came here.”
“I’m glad you held yourself together better than I did.”
I shook my head angrily. “Don’t try to pretend it was by chance. You weren’t drinking any water.”
He put his barrel on the ground. “It ended up being a good strategy.”
“Strategy?”
“Sure.” He lifted his head and looked me in the eye. “If we’d shared the water, neither of us would’ve been capable enough to find land.”
I stared him back in the eye. I knew a lie when I heard one. “There’s no way you could have known that. You almost killed yourself.”
“I’m sor—” Graham started to apologize, then stopped. “No. Actually, I’m not. I’d make the same choice again.”
“Then you’d die.” I felt a heat rising in my face. “I couldn’t do it on my own. I barely made it off the boat before—” I cut myself off, swallowing my words.
His voice was quiet and curious. “Before what? You brought back water, didn’t you?”
“I . . . yes,” I answered lamely. “But I only just made it back to you. We both nearly died.”
“Iamsorry about that.” He took a step closer to me. “Is there anything else?” he asked.
“Anything else?” I asked, my heart racing.
“Anything that happened last night, I mean. I thought I heard you shouting at someone.”
I froze. “No, nothing. I was a bit delirious. I may have been shouting, but notatanyone.”
