Page 132 of Seven Oars
Eze sighed.“Figures.”
Anske put her nose in the air and took another noisy sip, secure in the knowledge that she’d won that argument.
Rosamma pulled out a meal pack and started eating.
“How is Galan doing with the Holy Guide?” she asked Anske.
“We’re making some progress,” Anske replied stiffly, her reserved tone indicating that Galan was not, in fact, progressing at all.
As Anske launched into a detailed account of the two lessons they’d had, Rosamma chewed the dry contents of the packet she refused to identify. She had no real appetite, still traumatized by her close acquaintance with Father Zha-Ikkel.
It was illogical. He couldn’t harm her. Living, breathing boogiemen on Seven Oars were infinitely more dangerous than a long-dead Tana-Tana.
But feelings were feelings.
“And he’d do better if that trollop Fawn didn’t distract us in the Habitat,” Anske complained.“She frolics with Thilza right there, out in the open. Can you imagine? Despicable. And,” Anske lowered her voice,“I have a suspicion that Thilza isn’t the only one. Xorris too. Maybe even Galan, when I’m not around.”
Rosamma blinked rapidly and washed down her food with stale water, racking her brain for an appropriate response.
Luckily, Anske didn’t need one.
“I’ll see about moving our lessons to the Crew Quarters,” she concluded with resolve.
She left the Cargo Hold shortly afterward, striding off like a determined school principal, committed to elevating Galan from his base instincts.
Eze reached out to touch Rosamma’s hand.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better, Rosamma. The Striker stopped your energy loss, didn’t he?”
Rosamma looked around the Cargo Hold, noting how the lights no longer gave off halos. She was cold, but not frozen inside. Her head still ached, but it no longer rang like a bell.
Eze and Gro watched her, waiting.
“Yes,” Rosamma said, suddenly hoarse.“That’s what he did. He stopped it.”
Fincros had seen her bracelets; he had understood.
Father Zha-Ikkel was Tana-Tana.While Rosamma had been tethered to his corpse, her energy had stayed contained.
Gruesome… and effective.
Why, Striker? Why make me your problem?
Gro’s expression turned somber.
“I guess you haven’t heard,” she said. “Alyesha left us. She escaped.”
Feeling wretched, Rosamma looked at Gro.
“I’ve heard,” she said.“The Striker told me in the Engine Room.”
The gaze Eze threw at Rosamma was sharp.“He was in the Engine Room with you?”
“Yes.” It gave away the fact that her energy lapse hadn’t happened on its own.“He’s the one who fixed the climate control system.”
Eze rubbed her hands down her face.
“And what they did to Ucai…” Gro shook her head.“Fawn said that’s all the pirates have been talking about. Keerym isn’t a Rix, and it pisses them off that he killed one of their own.”
