Page 62 of Into Orbit
He snorted. ‘I know Tirians,’ he said. ‘You are born and given spears in place of rattles.’
My lips twitched reluctantly. ‘We will look after Anna as best we can.’
He nodded and disappeared; the cell’s glass wall went opaque again.
I glanced at Vesper. ‘Can you see anything?’
He closed his eyes; the cell went dark. I sighed and got up, groping around the wall until I found the light switch. I waved it on, but kept the lights dim, thinking it might coax Anna to go back to sleep.
Vesper frowned. ‘By the stars,’ he said. ‘They’re fightingeach other.’
‘Who is fighting each other?’
He opened his eyes; the room warmed, bathed in a golden glow. ‘The Roth. The heat and light shapes are consistent with a dignitary ship – withthisship. There’s ours and one more, and they’re shooting missilesat each other.’
Anna squeaked. ‘The Prince,’ she said weakly.
‘Your saviour will be just fine,’ Vesper said, settling back against the wall and closing his eyes once more.
‘What do we do?’ Anna whispered.
I tried to smile. ‘There’s nothing we can do,’ I said. ‘Not aboutthat, anyway. But you can rest, and drink some water, and try to eat something more in a few minutes.’
‘I’m scared,’ she said.
I took her hand and held it between mine. Her hands were different to Maeve’s, her fingers so slender they were almost too thin. My human’s fingers were long and graceful and capable, and I felt a rush of heat just thinking about them, and how they’d felt in my hair and against my skin. ‘I’m scared too. But they clearly won’t let you die, Anna. They risked their lives to steal me so I could help you. They’re not going to stop protecting you now.’
She settled back in her bed, flushing. ‘They stole you? For me? They shouldn’t have done that.’
‘They could have gone about it differently, yes. But I’m glad they did, if you are feeling better.’
Vesper made a vomiting noise.
‘Hush,’ she chastised him. ‘Not everyone is as bitter and heartless as you, Vesper.’
The starling gave a half smile and turned his face away – but not so far that he couldn’t still see her cot.
I smiled again, this time for real.Maeve isn’t the only human wrapping other beings around her little finger.
‘IneverthoughtI’dhave to say this sentence, but Elswyth,pleasecome out of your tree.’
The heartree shivered, but there was no answer.
‘I know you’re in there,’ I grumbled, resting my forehead against the trunk. ‘The Forest is green again, and Iknowyou did that. The bees still sound pissed, but honestly, I’m not sure I can tell the difference.’
A barely-perceptible laugh danced on the air.
‘Come on, El,’ I coaxed. ‘I haven’t seen you in days. I’m starting to forget what you look like. There’s no way you can be as beautiful as my memory makes you.’
Ahumphmurmured close to my ear, but it didn’t sound entirely serious.
I rubbed my cheek against the rough bark. ‘Come back. For me, if nothing else. Ash has been gone for ages and no one’s heard from him. I have honestly never been this worried about anything, ever.’
Arms circled my waist; I suppressed a sigh of relief. ‘When was he due back?’
I pulled her hands tighter. ‘He said he’d check in every hour. But he’s been gone for four hours and there’s beennothing.’
‘The Pod’s comms systems could have been disrupted by the asteroid field,’ she pointed out sensibly.
