Page 56 of Minor Works of Meda

“Yes, well, at least I look good in anything.”

“What were you doing there?”

Oraik sighed heavily, and waved a hand in the air.

“I paid a man to sail me to the festival. Then those pirates came out of nowhere. They killed him. Thank the mysteries, I managed to convince them I was a good-luck charm, and much more fun to keep alive.”

Only the cold reality of the situation kept me from laughing at his choice of strategy. I angled us south along the coast, wondering if we could hide in the wilderness of Montay or ought to pick a new island altogether, one where nobody had seen us. A glance over my shoulder confirmed we still weren’t being followed.

The magic in the air was already fading, faded, nearly gone. I could have used the burst of power to contact Kalcedon, if I hadn’t needed it to save our lives. Now all I could do was pray he was alive, and able to find me.

“Is that a town?” Oraik pointed at a smudge of color at the edge of Montay’s visible shore. “Let’s see if they’re celebrating.”

“We need to find somewhere quiet to hide out.”

“I’d rather not, thanks.” He said it with the same attitude as a man refusing a second piece of cake. Oraik lounged on the boat’s narrow bench, leaning one hand over to trail his fingers in the Etegen’s water.

I took a deep breath, nostrils flaring.

“Someone’s trying to bring down the Ward, and I think they’re going to murder you to do it.”

He chuckled, and stared at me in disbelief when I didn’t join. I stared back, my face unflinching. He waited, then grimaced when my expression didn’t break.

“Well, that’s not a story you hear every day.” He flicked the sea water off his hands.

“The stones are keyed to each family,” I told him. I had no energy for subtlety. “You’re the last Doregi royal. Aren’t you?” I saw his throat bob. I continued on. “They’ve done three of the stones already. So we need to hide.”

His hands tightened in his lap.

“Are you some sort of bounty hunter?”

“What? No. I’m trying to help.”

“I’m sorry, but I barely know you,” Oraik told me carefully. “It seems a little funny that the needy woman I found in the tavern is running around the isles killing people and spinning stories about the Ward.”

“Needy? I just saved your life! Twice, by the time I get you to safety!”

“Fair certain you kidnapped me.” He arched one eyebrow elegantly.

“Kidnapping? Do you want me to bring you back?”

“That depends. Am I free to get off where I like, or are you taking me somewhere against my will? Because your excuse is very pretty, but…” Oraik twirled one of his curls around a finger, but his shoulders and jaw were stiff.

“Horns,” I groaned.

“I would like to go to the next decent-sized village we pass,” Oraik said. He folded his hands primly in his lap. “On the off chance I haven’t missed all of Laghek Day—”

“That holiday about the fish? Really?”

“I want to experience it. So please take me there, or else I will have to assume that you are, in fact, planning to sell me for ransom.”

“Oh, honestly. What will you do if I am? Jump overboard? Do you even know how to swim?”

“I will cease to consider you my friend,” he said, his voice grave.

“Horror of horrors,” I muttered. “People are looking for you. To kill you.”

“So you say,” he told me with studied weariness. “You’ve offered no proof.”

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