Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
“Seriously?” Rynthea mumbles. “This man is going to get us all killed.”
“Just make sure you remember rules one and two,” Solyen insists before drifting past us. “Carry on. Best that you enjoy your lives now before they come to an end on that island of death.” He opens the door to the captain’s quarters and disappears inside.
We can’t go near the side of the boat, but there are ropes dangling close by, their ends anchored into posts. I walk to one of them and grip it tight, peering over the edge to see the water.
Solyen’s magic-powered speedboat is incredibly fast—so fast I can hardly feel the ship rocking or swaying. It seems the Emellie is cutting through the sea like a knife through butter.
“Fucking shadows.” Algar moans, dropping his face into the bucket again. Zephra gives him two little pats on the head in a “there, there” sort of way.
Rynthea removes her rucksack and digs through it until she pulls out a white flower. “Here.” She stuffs it into Algar’s hand. “Eat a few of those petals.”
“What is it?” he croaks.
“Skyflower. I found it in Immalon. It’ll curb the nausea.”
Algar studies the crumpled flower petals before popping them into his mouth and chewing. Then he sighs and rests his head on the rim of the bucket. With a deep exhale, Rynthea takes the spot beside him.
Thane sits on a bench to sharpen some of his daggers. Our eyes catch, and I give him a smile. A smirk appears before he focuses on his daggers again.
“I take it you love the sea.” Someone’s voice rises behind me.
I gasp, nearly letting the ropes go as I turn my head to find the culprit.
“Oh no! I’m so sorry!” It’s the boy Solyen called Conred. I sway a bit, and he grips the rope to steady it. “Did I startle you?”
“A bit, yeah.” I force a laugh.
“I sincerely apologize.”
“It’s okay.”
“May I ask that you stand behind the ropes, though?”
“Oh. Uh, yeah. Of course. Sorry.” I release the ropes and move back, making sure not to get my feet tangled in the thick lines below.
“It’s just that I’ve seen way too many people trust these things and then we hit a snag in the sea, and they go flying over, ya know?” He releases a nervous laugh.
“Right. That makes sense.”
“I’m Conred Joshell.” He offers me a hand.
I take it and give it a shake. “Zaira Quinlocke.”
I study his features—the deep brown of his skin, the darkness of his coarse hair, and the faded gold streaks in them that can never be replicated. I know exactly where he was born.
“You’re from Ember Coast,” I say.
“I am!” he exclaims, pleased that I know.
“That’s—that’s incredible. So am I.”
“No way. Do you have any other family around?” he asks.
“Just a sister.”
“It’s wonderful that you have someone.” Conred scratches the top of his head. “I wasn’t so lucky.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s not your fault. Besides, after I spent some time in the refugee center in Meriva, I was adopted after just two months. So I’d say that was fortunate.”
Ah. That explains why I don’t remember his face. I grew to know everyone at the refugee center over the years.
Conred points to the captain’s quarters. “Captain Solyen adopted me.”
“Oh. That was kind of him.”
“Yeah. But other than the fact that he was lonely, I think he just needed a new chief mate. He tells me he wants to pass Emellie down to someone one day. He doesn’t have children of his own, so…”
“He would leave the ship to you.” I nod as it sinks in. “His heir.”
“Yep.” He takes a step back and looks past me to the others. “The people you’re traveling with are an interesting bunch.”
“Yeah,” I half laugh, half scoff at the comment. “I’ve heard that quite a lot lately.”
He studies each of them with a faint, intrigued smile. “You all seem very close…but distant. I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
“Yeah, well…” I let the words go. I’m not quite sure how to explain our crew, either. Our relationships are complicated at best and a shit show at the very least. And mine with Thane? Well, our lines have blurred—a lot…
“Anyway, I was just about to go inside for some tea and sweet rolls.” Conred points at a door across the deck with a half-moon window. “Would you like some?”
I light up at the mention of food and tea. “I’d love that.”
Chapter 44
Emellie’s interior smells of wet wood and cinnamon.
Beds are built into the hull of the ship, held by metal beams. They are all neatly made with white sheets and gray quilts. A small galley is set up in a corner at the far end, where Conred prepares the tea and rolls.
I sit at one of the two square tables and enjoy the cinnamon scent wafting from a batch of freshly baked cookies on a tray.