Page 12 of Across the Sapphire Sea
“If you would, please.” Valeri gestured to the handle. “It isn’t locked.”
Elias pulled the door open. Inside loomed a black hole. He turned and nearly bumped into Valeri. “I can’t see.” A tinge of panic edged his voice.
“Ah, it’s all right. Here, take the horse. I’ll light the lamps for you.”
Elias took the reins. His chest loosened with relief upon hearing the word ‘lamps.’ At least if Valeri’s home was a cave, it would be a lit one.
Pavel’s nicker brought a smile to Elias’s lips. He gave the horse an affectionate scratch on the neck while they waited. “Thanks, boy. You were wonderful.” The mare, less overtly friendly, swished her tail and shifted her weight. “I’m sure you’re wonderful, too.” Elias reached to scratch her, but Valeri’s low laughter caught his attention first.
“She’s probably irritated to still be working, whereas Pavel has grown accustomed to being awake nights,” Valeri explained and reached for their reins. “I’ll need some time to see to their needs. Go on inside and make yourself comfortable. Eat whatever you like. It’s all for you.”
“All for me? You won’t be eating?”
A sly smile formed on Valeri’s lips. “Perhaps later.”
“Thank you.”
With a click of his tongue, Valeri signaled to the horses, and they were off to god knew where, because Elias saw no fence, no barn, no stalls. He watched them depart until their shadows disappeared into the night along the embankment, and he was alone.
A growing sense of anticipation churned in his chest. What had he gotten into? He turned and saw the flickering of the lamps inside. Then Elias let his curiosity and hunger drive him into the mysterious den of the demon.
4
Elias, Present, 1432 Common Era
Rain drove the six of them below deck where they crowded in the kitchen galley over a game of cards Aella had taught them to play. Karnoffel was a four-player game, with teams of two, so Elias and Valeri sat out the first round and would play the winners.
In the meantime, Elias went over his letters in his head. Remy had been teaching him to read in secret, and Elias was still memorizing the basic sounds and how they fit together to form words. Having something to focus his mind on had eased the seasickness to a tolerable level.
“That’s our trick,” said Aella, pulling the cards into her and Ash’s pile.
Ash’s cool blue eyes studied the remaining cards in his hand. He threw down an eight of shields. At this rate, they’d win the trick and likely the whole hand.
“Hell’s bones,” Remy murmured. “I’m out of shields. Laurence, save me?”
Laurence glanced over his cards. “I’m afraid all I can offer is to go down with you.”
Remy tossed down a ten of bells and winked. “I’ll take you up on that.”
“Later, you two.” Aella took a gulp from her mug. “Not until after we’ve beaten you at cards.”
Laurence also threw bells, while Elias thought to himself,B - E - L - S, bells.
Ash took the trick for their team, winning the hand. He collected the deck to shuffle.
It was surreal to be in a room with both Valeri and Laurence and witness civil behavior. After arguing at precisely all of their planning meetings, they’d run out of insults, though the tension between the two hung in the air like a bad smell. Valeri was no fan of Aella either. When he’d learned they must take a ship because she would not risk a portal, he’d judged her lazy.
Though from Elias’s perspective, her reasons were sound: the distance was too vast, she’d never been to the destination and therefore did not know its essence, and there were no witches to help on the other side. The combination made the task insurmountable. But rather than be grateful she’d be able to portal them all home when their mission was complete, Valeri held a grudge. And it wasn’t the only grudge he held.
Elias had asked Valeri what happened between him and Laurence to cause so much hostility, but he’d never gotten a full answer. Only complaints of Laurence being petty and disloyal. Valeri loathed disloyalty. Which was why Elias had kept the reading lessons secret. He’d been told not to speak with Remy, but he would not let Valeri’s jealousy stand in the way of making a friend.
“I call acorns,” said Ash with a glance to Aella. “Six tricks.”
Her lips curled to a grin. “Seven.”
Ash nodded. “Seven it is.”
Remy gave an exaggerated sigh and pushed Aella’s cup closer to her free hand. “You should drink more. It’s our only shot at beating you.”
