Page 102 of Artemysia
Riev is still nowhere to be seen as Eira shuffles us back and forth from our rooms to the council room. It’s better than being in prison at Stargazer, Ivy says.
For me, it’s not very different from the intense day-long courses I teach new recruits at the Academy.
When asked about Riev, Eira patiently explains that they keep us away from him so there can be no coordination of escape or attack. They don’t trust us, which makes sense.
On day eight, Ivy isn’t in her bed in the morning. She doesn’t show up to class, and no one can find her. The palace is in an uproar. Eira is berated in front of us by her superiors for losing Ivy.
Throg insists she was with him the entire night, but when he woke, she was gone.
When Throg and I are sent back to our quarters at the end of our long day of instruction, we find Ivy lying on her side in her bed, clutching her stomach in a tight ball.
“Little demon, are you okay?” Throg rushes to her side within a few large strides and strokes her hair. “Where were you?”
She winces, her violet eyes darkening. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to sneak out, but the halls might be enchanted. When I leave, I end up back here. Probably why they don’t need guards outside our doors at night.”
“How did you get out?” I ask.
“I climbed out the window this morning. Used my sheets.”
“And?”
“I left the palace and ran into town. You wouldn’t believe theconfectionary shops they have here!” She groans. “They have something called chocolate. I ate too much. But I bought some for you, Captain.” She weakly lifts an arm at a woven bag slung over the nightstand.
Out of that slew of information, one word catches my attention. “How did youbuythem? What do they use for currency here?”
“Well, first I picked up one of the large gems that grow on the side of the road. But they looked at me as if I were insane. They wanted sugar, coal, or ore—like copper. So I offered to work there for the day.”
“They let you?”
“They were really nice because they were curious about the rumors of Stargazers living with King Foss. That’s what the Syf villagers call the people of South Kingdom.”
She shouldn’t have snuck out, but she’s learned more about the Artemysians in one day than we have over the past week. I’m certain Eira and the others have kept us busy on purpose, and when they actually answer a question, I have a strong feeling the information is incomplete.
“Anyway, they said I could come back tomorrow if I wanted. Orion, you too. I explained your overheating problem, since it’s hot in there with all the ovens. They said you’d have to wear an apron and pants, but you could go shirtless.”
I cut in. “Okay, I’m not sure we’re here to assimilate into Syf society, but maybe you could spy and come up with more information. Not a terrible idea after all, Ivy.”
“Can you ask Eira if there’s anything for stomach cramps? Is their sugar different here?”
Eira is one step ahead of us. She slips into Ivy’s room from behind us with a tray. “The villagers reported your presence by the afternoon. King Foss allowed you to stay because it seemed productive to human-Syf relations. The Artemysians liked you.”
She sets down a glittery emerald teacup on a matching saucer, filled with a dark blue liquid. “This tea should help. Sugar is the same anywhere, as are the effects of overconsumption of chocolate,” she says wryly.
Throg takes the saucer and sniffs the tea, grimaces, and pulls Ivy upright against him. She remains in a balled position clutching her stomach as he puts the edge of the cup to her pale lips.
She sips the blue tea, which stains the melodramatic frown on her lips.
“So…what is chocolate?” I ask, curious.
Ivy’s face lights up. “It’s not that dry-ass jerky we’ve been living on, that’s for sure. It gives you extra energy. I felt like I could fight a lion. Or stay up all night!”
“Extra energy? Do you feel like that’s something you really need?” I ask tactfully.
Throg sniffs, clucking his tongue. “Morrigan, you’ve consumed too much of this poison fruit. You smell proportionally more of sugar than human right now.”
“It’s not fruit, is it? I’m not going to jail, am I, Eira? You could toss me into the deepest hell of your prisons, and I’d fight my way out for more chocolate. It’s heavenly.”
Eira shakes her head. “No. And also, Syf don’t believe in heaven or hell,” she says. “When we die, we don’t rot. So we burn our dead and return to stardust after death.”
