The girl moved to my wrists. Soft material grazed the skin from the gloves she’d pulled on while searching for the knife. Even so, I shuddered from cold when her fingers grazed my bare skin. Once the last binding fell away, I scrambled to sit and fumbled clumsy fingers against the gag.
“Let me do that,” she said, raising the blade to eye level.
I flinched back.
The girl released an irritated breath. “What do you think I’d be doing? Come here, so I can get that gag from your mouth.”
It took every bit of will to overcome the raw instinct. With a pounding heart, I leaned forward where the blade slid along the back of my head. There was a quick tug, and I shivered just as the tension released from the corners of my mouth. Spitting, I yanked the cloth away. The girl hustled back to the bench, I assumed to get the maximum amount of distance between us.
Fine by me.
I pulled in several deep breaths. My tongue and throat were dirt dry, and it didn’t take long before a coughing fit set in.
Something thumped on the pallet next to me. Glancing down, I saw a leather water skin.
“Take a swig,” the girl said, “afore we start.”
I drank greedily, droplets falling from my chin. The burning eased after a moment, but I kept drinking till my stomach swelled. Satisfied, I tossed the skin aside and used a sleeve to dry the excess water.
I looked up at the girl, anger sparking in my eyes. “Where is Lynch taking my friends?”
“Don’t know for certain. To hell if’n he can manage it, but me guess be the Colonies to sell his cargo.”
I bit my lower lip. Justine had seen her share of villains over the past three hundred years and was more than capable of dealing with the likes of Lynch. Her voice trick alone could subdue the crew...unless the captain had received advance warning to stuff wool in his ears. Even then, Lord Stroud and Mr. Roth were far from helpless babes, and the three of them could surely manage an escape.
Worry continued to pluck at my ribs for their safety, but in truth there was little I could do other than hope for the best. Nora needed me more, and I would push on with our original quest to Wexford—just as soon as I got free of the charlatan.
In need of answers, I narrowed my gaze on the girl. “Why did you trick me?”
“Calhoun told me to.”
“That’s a poor excuse if ever I’ve heard one.” Quiet loathing laced my voice.
“Don’t be getting snotty with me, Eanin. Tried to warn you, I did, and got a face full of bruises to show for it. Even told you to go away when Calhoun had me hide in the hull crying to lure you out. But you weren’t to listen.” She crossed her arms in a huff. “If’n you need someone to blame, best be looking to yourself first.”
I studied her face, the swollen eye and bruised cheeks. She had a point, though just barely, and only if she spoke the truth. For all I knew, she’d gotten those bruises for making poor work of Calhoun’s boots earlier.
“Why did you attack me then?” I asked.
“Do you think I wanted to touch your bare skin?” She shuddered from the memory. “I did it to save your life, or have you forgotten the feel o’ the captain’s sword poking at your breastbone.” Peeling off the gloves, she tossed them in my lap. “Put these on now, we haven’t much time.”
I snatched up the black velvet gloves and dangled them at arm’s length. “Time for what?”
“For me to be telling you what to do once we reach Dunmore. The sight o’ Calhoun’s caravan will rile folks to murder, so you’ll have one chance to save all our necks, Eanin.”
The lack of detail was really getting under my skin. “How am I to save anyone’s neck?” I asked heatedly. “And why do you keep calling me Eanin?”
She gave me an odd look. “‘Twas the name Deri told us in Bristol. Means little bird in Gaelic. She and the other lady said you’d be a lovely prize for Calhoun supposing he could get his hands on you.” The girl snorted. “Turned out to be easier than he thought.”
I just stared at her while she spoke, speechless as the past events came together. Deri and the girl were both Cailleach’s descendants, so of course they’d be in league together. It explained why Calhoun had been waiting at the gate to the city, and why he’d offered hasty passage to our party yesterday when no other ships would sail.
The gloves slipped from my hand as a burst of excitement jumped inside me. While I possessed a vague idea of Deri’s destination, this girl might well know the exact location of the oak grove and Carmen’s grave.
A caravan wheel struck a rock. Jarred to one side, the glass jars clinked on the shelves above. I braced a hand on the pallet for balance, and the girl did the same on the bench.
“Where exactly is Deri going?” I asked once we were resettled.
The girl shrugged. “To the devil for all I care.”
“You’re lying.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “What makes you say so?”