Page 24 of Feathers and Thorns

Before they reached the town’s edge, she stopped in front of a rundown apothecary. “I’ll just be a minute.”

Enara nodded then yelled ahead to the guys to wait for them. They tilted their heads in question, and she shrugged in response.

Soren popped out a couple of minutes later, a cloth baggy of vials clinking beneath her fingers.

“Whatcha got there?” Enara asked, eyeing the cotton sack.

“Dreamless sleep tonic,” was Soren’s reply.

* * *

Jai breathed a sigh of relief when his rough hands grazed the top of the wooden box. Before now, he had yet to be over a day’s journey from them, and he prayed to the Maker that the documents had remained undamaged.

He brushed off the granules of sand that had stuck to the outside edges of the wood before lifting the clasp. The lid popped open to reveal that the rolls of parchment and Adaryn’s photograph had come out unscathed.

He tucked the worn picture into the inside pocket of his surcoat, wanting to keep her close to his heart, and then shoved the box into the leather ruck he had acquired.

Soren cleared her throat to announce her presence. “Ready to go, Your Highness?” she questioned with a flourished bow.

Jai rolled his eyes. “You really don’t need to call me that.”

She shrugged. “Better get used to it if you’re planning on claiming that crown of yours.” She picked at her nails. “You ready to go?”

“Yeah,” he replied. “Best to get the crossing over with. I recommend sitting at the back with me. Our friend has still yet to discover his sea legs.”

Soren chuckled. “Oddly enough, he was the best swimmer in our final year.”

“Really?” Jai asked skeptically.

“Yep, he just doesn’t do well in open water. He does okay in shallow ponds and such, so long as he can see the bottom.”

“Hmm … I can’t say I blame him, given what happened to his parents.”

“So, he told you, then?” Soren asked, surprised Baz had shared his childhood trauma with the tracker.

“Yeah, the three of us went through a lot to find you,” Jai admitted, tugging up his collar as a brisk wind lifted the hairs on the back of his neck.

“I don’t think I ever fully thanked you for all that you did”—Soren hesitated—“for putting yourself at risk for my friends and me.”

“You are most welcome.”

“I didn’t say thank you yet.” Soren scowled, hating feeling like she owed him something.

“Then thank me later,” he said before planting a chaste kiss on her cheek and brushing past her toward the docks.

Soren stared after him, open-mouthed, and touched her hand to her face where she could still feel the warmth of his lips. Then she shook it off and followed his sandy footsteps to the dock, where Enara was mentally preparing Baz for the crossing. She gave Jai the side-eye as they set sail and thought, I’ll deal with you later.

* * *

Enara rubbed circles across Baz’s muscular back as he heaved the last of his breakfast over the side rail of Jai’s boat.

“Hey now, watch the paint,” Jai warned.

“Hey, leave him alone,” Enara rebuked and turned back to Baztien, who had turned and slunk to the floor of the vessel.

“Sorry, man,” Baz said, wiping his mouth then taking a sip of water from the canteen Soren had handed him.

“I was just bugging you, brother.” Jai patted his shoulder before jumping onto the dock to tie off the ship.

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