Page 145 of Grave Situation

He shrugs. “That’s what I was told.”

“So it would be impractical. I’d need to go for supplies with Leicht first just to keep us going.” I definitely don’t want to live solely off winter forest forage for that long. It’s not really enough for the horses, either.

A thought strikes me. “Where’s your horse? Is there any grass there, and is it closer than the hilltop above the city?”

Peiris winces. “I planned to tell you when I was sure you were who I was here to meet, but then we got distracted by everything,” they begin, and I brace myself. “I don’t have a horse.”

“What?” Coryn asks blankly.

“How did you get here?” Jaimin adds—more sharply than is usual for him. He’s still tense about whatever his theory is.

“I sailed.”

We digest that.

“On a boat?” Arimen asks, and I hold back my instinctive need to ask what the fuck else they could have sailed here on.

“Yes.” Peiris nods. “On a boat.”

Coryn’s frowning into his tea. “Did it sink?”

“No, it’s docked in one of the coves to the east of the city. There are some big old mansions there and a fancy stone marina.”

I wish I had a map of this area, but of course we assumed that if we had to come this way, we’d be able to buy one before we left the road—or at the docks before we sailed. Nobody was prepared for the stone’s impulsive whims. Still, east of the city is opposite to the direction we came from, which would explain why we saw nothing.

“You have a boat,” I say, wanting to make sure I understand the situation. “How big is the boat you have that’s close to here and would mean no more camping in the stinking hills?”

“I liked the hills,” Arimen says to nobody in particular. I ignore him, because he likes everything and everybody, including the gloomy rain.

“Big enough,” Peiris admits. “We’d all fit comfortably, especially for a short voyage.”

“And the horses?” There’s a touch of anxiety in Coryn’s voice. He’s very attached to his horse.

“They’d have to stay on deck, but they’d fit… I think.”

I look over to see what Jaimin’s thinking, but he’s not paying attention anymore, his gaze distant as his fingers worry the hem of his shirt. I hope Master finds some answers soon, or this is going to become a real problem.

“What do you think?”I ask Leicht instead.

“I think you should let Jaimin work through this in his own time.”

Uh, what in the holy gods’ turds kind of advice is that?“I actually meant, what do you think about getting on Peiris’s boat and leaving Caimae? But also, you’re wrong. Jaimin’s worries are my worries, even if I don’t know what they are.”

I can almost see his look of disdain.

“Get on the boat. Even if you need to go north, Peiris doesn’t have a horse, so you’d need to sail somewhere to buy them one first. Do that now while you’re waiting.”

An excellent point, and damn the dragon for being the one to think of it.

“If we’re all in agreement,” I begin, “why don’t we sail south today and find a village where we can resupply and get Peiris a horse, just in case we need it later? I think we could all use a night or two in a comfortable inn, as well.” Or even an uncomfortable one. Anything has to be better than sleeping on mud or stone, right? “Then, once we have an idea of where we need to go, we’ll be rested and ready and can set off immediately.”

“Even if we can’t find a decent inn, there are three cabins on the ship,” Peiris volunteers. “They’re not big, but the bunks are decent.”

Bunks. Presumably with mattresses. It seems like a dream.

“The horses really need better feed,” Coryn agrees. “I like it.”

Only Arimen is devastated. “Leave?” he says, his lip trembling. “But we just got here!”

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