His heart throbbed as the tree floated beneath the pier, but he remained submerged until the brilliant Doing his best to remain silent, he waded inland but then hit the beach at a run, chasing Aren up the slope and not stopping until they were into the trees.
Keris dropped to his knees, dragging in ragged breaths. Aren was crouched next to him, equally winded, and Keris asked him, “You all right?”
“I’m fucking freezing. We need to find a way to warm up.”
“If you wanted someone to cuddle, you should’ve brought your wife. You aren’t my type.”
Aren huffed out a breath. “It’s amazing you’ve lived this long, given the shit that spews from your mouth.”
There was no arguing that point, so Keris focused on calming his pounding heart. Wasted effort, for Flecks of spray rose in the air as the channel narrowed, and with every second, they picked up speed. it only hammered faster. Zarrah was here, on this island, which meant he was closer to her than he’d
been since that fateful moment on Southwatch. Yet as he took in the shadowed forest, the only sounds the roar of the water and the rustle of the wind through the branches, he felt further from her than he’d ever been. “It feels bigger than I’d thought it would be.”
Aren grunted in agreement. “You have that package I gave you? We need to signal the ship while it’s still dark.”
Keris dug into his coat, then made a face. “It’s gone. Lost it in the water.”
“Might be just as well. I’m not sure we want to draw attention to the island.” Aren rose from his crouch. “My bet is that the prisoners have formed at least one camp. We’ll pose as new convicts until we can find Zarrah, then wait for Lara to figure out a way to get us free. Keep your weapons hidden.”
Neither of them moved.
For his part, it was because Keris had no clue which way to go.
“Lost already, are you?”
He could feel the smirk on Aren’s face even if he couldn’t see it. “You’re the king of the jungle—
you lead the way.”
Aren laughed softly, then turned on his heel and walked without hesitation through the forest. Keris followed him, trying to curb the anticipation rising in his chest.
How would Zarrah react? There was a chance she’d follow through on her promise and kill him.
But she wouldn’t want to risk Aren, which he hoped would temper her reaction long enough for him to explain himself.
and round before the violence of the water eased. Gasping in a breath, Keris fixed his eyes on a rocky Just what, precisely, needs explaining? the voice in his head whispered. What can you say to her beach illuminated by more basins of oil. He couldn’t see the cliff tops from this angle. Couldn’t tell if that hasn’t already been said?
I’ll tell her that I’m sorry, he answered. That I regret betraying her confidence. That I shouldn’t have burdened her with so many lives lost to spare hers.
The voice cackled in his head, wild and maniacal, like the Magpie’s laugh just before he jumped. A hollow apology, given that you are risking lives for her again.
It’s—
In the dim light, Keris saw Aren dumping out the contents of a waxed package, the powder seeming Keris broke off his internal argument with himself as his skin prickled. He glanced over his shoulder, searching the darkness for what had triggered his instincts. “Did you hear something?”
Aren paused. “All I hear is you. Do you think you can take one step without snapping a twig?”
“Price one pays for growing up civilized,” Keris muttered even as he hunted for motion. Hunted for eyes watching from the shadows. But there was nothing. “I … it’s nothing. Keep going.”
“I can smell the smoke from their fires,” Aren said, starting back down the trail. “Try to be quiet so that we can—”
Aren’s words cut off as he was jerked skyward, a loud crack filling the air.
Keris stumbled backward, gaping at Aren, who was tangled in some form of net. A trap.
Doing his best to remain silent, he waded inland but then hit the beach at a run, chasing Aren up the
“Cut me down, you idiot!”
Keris moved, grasping the netting and immediately recoiling. “This isn’t rope. It’s—”
“It’s gut,” Aren hissed. “Cut it. There’s a chance they heard their trap deploy.”
Reaching for the knife hidden in his boot, Keris abruptly froze as something sharp jabbed him in the back.
“Pretty faces,” a voice lisped. “We’d like to add them to our collection.”
There was no arguing that point, so Keris focused on calming his pounding heart. Wasted effort, for
been since that fateful moment on Southwatch. Yet as he took in the shadowed forest, the only sounds the roar of the water and the rustle of the wind through the branches, he felt further from her than he’d ever been. “It feels bigger than I’d thought it would be.”
Aren grunted in agreement. “You have that package I gave you? We need to signal the ship while it’s still dark.”
Keris dug into his coat, then made a face. “It’s gone. Lost it in the water.”
“Might be just as well. I’m not sure we want to draw attention to the island.” Aren rose from his crouch. “My bet is that the prisoners have formed at least one camp. We’ll pose as new convicts until we can find Zarrah, then wait for Lara to figure out a way to get us free. Keep your weapons hidden.”
Neither of them moved.
For his part, it was because Keris had no clue which way to go.
“Lost already, are you?”
He could feel the smirk on Aren’s face even if he couldn’t see it. “You’re the king of the jungle—
you lead the way.”
Aren laughed softly, then turned on his heel and walked without hesitation through the forest. Keris followed him, trying to curb the anticipation rising in his chest.
How would Zarrah react? There was a chance she’d follow through on her promise and kill him.
But she wouldn’t want to risk Aren, which he hoped would temper her reaction long enough for him to explain himself.
Just what, precisely, needs explaining? the voice in his head whispered. What can you say to her that hasn’t already been said?
I’ll tell her that I’m sorry, he answered. That I regret betraying her confidence. That I shouldn’t have burdened her with so many lives lost to spare hers.
The voice cackled in his head, wild and maniacal, like the Magpie’s laugh just before he jumped. A hollow apology, given that you are risking lives for her again.
It’s—
Keris broke off his internal argument with himself as his skin prickled. He glanced over his shoulder, searching the darkness for what had triggered his instincts. “Did you hear something?”
Aren paused. “All I hear is you. Do you think you can take one step without snapping a twig?”
“Price one pays for growing up civilized,” Keris muttered even as he hunted for motion. Hunted for eyes watching from the shadows. But there was nothing. “I … it’s nothing. Keep going.”
“I can smell the smoke from their fires,” Aren said, starting back down the trail. “Try to be quiet so that we can—”
Aren’s words cut off as he was jerked skyward, a loud crack filling the air.
Keris stumbled backward, gaping at Aren, who was tangled in some form of net. A trap.
“Cut me down, you idiot!”
Keris moved, grasping the netting and immediately recoiling. “This isn’t rope. It’s—”
“It’s gut,” Aren hissed. “Cut it. There’s a chance they heard their trap deploy.”
Reaching for the knife hidden in his boot, Keris abruptly froze as something sharp jabbed him in the back.
“Pretty faces,” a voice lisped. “We’d like to add them to our collection.”
“LET’S GET YOU fed, girl.” Kian and his soldiers led her into their camp, which was larger and better appointed than that of the rebels.
No, not rebels. Cannibals.
Kian dug into a barrel, discarding sacks of rice in favor of a package of salted meat. The idea of eating made her want to gag, but Zarrah took the jerky she was handed and, after determining it was beef, forced herself to eat, abruptly reminded of how unenthused Daria had always seemed when eating. Why hadn’t she seen the signs? Why hadn’t she asked questions?