It simply must be somewhere else on the ship.
Why should I have thought that Riden had it at all? He’s certainly portrayed himself as the least favorite of Lord Jeskor’s sons. Not sure I can say which is my least favorite of Jeskor’s sons at the moment.
Riden’s a bloody half-wit. Locking me in here, trying to toy with me, using me to kill a pirate he couldn’t kill himself. Sometimes I think him a coward. But not a coward by fear. A coward by choice. Which is worse?
I’d purposely kept my mind focused on the search, but now that it’s over, my mind is free to wander. And it shifts straight to what I’d been doing with Riden an hour ago.
Sometimes I’m an idiot. I clench my hand into a fist before giving the table a good slam.
I feel the pressure in my hand, then hear the rumble of the desk and the shattering of glass.
Stars!
Among maps, compasses, and other navigational tools, Riden has an hourglass on the table.
Had an hourglass on the table.
Now it’s broken at my feet.
I hope that didn’t have any sentimental value.
Actually, no. I hope it did have sentimental value. Lots and lots. Serves him right. In fact, why stop with his hourglass?
Riden wants to keep me locked up in his room. Well, he’d better be prepared to deal with the consequences. I rearrange his boots so each left foot goes with the wrong right one. I throw his clothing onto the floor in heaps. That’s not good enough, though. I can’t help but jump up and down on them. I hope there’s plenty of grime on the bottom of my boots.
I rearrange his bookcase. I crumple his papers. I knock everything over that stands upright.
I’m going to be the biggest pain in the arse Riden has ever dealt with. That’ll serve him right.
When the door opens a while later, I’m sitting at Riden’s desk, drawing pictures of sea creatures all over his maps, using a quill dipped in ink.
“What the bloody hell!”
“I got bored,” I say, not bothering to look at him.
“What did you do?”
“Well, I made you something. Look here. I gave this squid your face.”
There is silence, and then, “Alosa, I’m going to kill you.”
“It’ll be awfully hard to collect a ransom from my father if I’m dead.”
“Are you sure the man doesn’t want to be rid of you? We haven’t heard from him yet. I’m beginning to think we did him a huge favor. His loss was our bloody demise.”
I set the quill down and look up. “I’m out of parchment. Is there any more on the ship?”
Riden clenches his fists. I think his eyes might pop out at any moment. His face is as red as a crab.
“You don’t look well,” I note.
“I’ll have you know it takes every ounce of self-control I have not to pummel you right now.”
“Can’t imagine what it takes to break you, then. Tell me, Riden, does your skin itch to see your room so filthy?”
“I’m going to bed. In the morning, you’re going to wish you hadn’t done this.”
“Mmm. I’d be careful in the bed. I think I saw some glass shards in there earlier. You really should watch what you do in there.”
Riden rips off the sheets and shakes out his blankets. Glass does indeed fall to the floor. He takes the time to sweep it all up before dumping it over the side of the ship. At least I assume that’s what he does. Can’t be sure, since I’m confined to the room while he leaves.
When he gets back, I ask, “Where will I be sleeping?”
For the first time in a while, he grins. “I’ll be sleeping in my bed. Feel free to join me, but something tells me you’d prefer the floor. ’Tis a shame there’s not much room for you now that it’s covered with all my things.”
Riden locks the door on the inside. Then he pockets the key. He removes his boots and his shirt before climbing into bed.
“You’re seriously going to sleep while I’m in here alone with you? Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?”
“I’ve already made sure there are no weapons in this room. Besides, I’m a very light sleeper. You won’t be able to take one step without waking me.”
“Is that so?” I ask cheerily.
Riden’s face falls at my tone. He knows it can’t be good.
This night is already one of the best I’ve had in a while. First I destroyed Riden’s room and saw him blow up over it. Now I get to drive him mad when he tries to sleep.
His eyes droop closed. I wait a few minutes. Then I stomp on the floor. Riden’s eyes shoot open. He sits up, ascertains I’m not up to anything. Then he falls back asleep.
I repeat this process three more times, when Riden finally gets out of bed. He strides right up to me and gets in my face. “Do that again, and I will knock you unconscious.”
I stop my knocking and instead start humming.
It doesn’t seem to bother Riden, though. His eyes stay closed. If anything, he looks like he huddles down farther in his bed. My humming turns to singing. I’m not really saying any words, just testing out different notes. It’s a random tune that comes to me.
In moments Riden snores softly.
I’d hoped that by keeping him up later, he would sleep more deeply.
I take a hesitant step forward. Riden doesn’t budge. At the bed, I put my hands in his pockets, trying to find the key. Still he doesn’t stir. I find it quickly. Then I’m at the doors, stepping outside, closing them behind me.
Tonight is the first night I can scour the ship uninterrupted. All the men are ashore, save three. And I’ve rendered those unconscious. I abandon my orderly search in favor of tearing through the deck. Normally there are lookouts wandering about, and tonight might be my only chance to get free rein of the deck. I search deep into the night until I hear splashing water and laughing men. Some have returned to finally sleep off their celebrating.
Though my eyes strain with the effort it takes to keep them open, I’m disappointed I won’t find the map tonight.
I’m getting close, though. And that’s enough for now.
Chapter 9
I TRY TO SLEEP on the floor when I return, I really do. But after so many nights spent on the cold, wooden floor of my cell, Riden’s bed is too inviting. Even with him in it.
Besides, he’s asleep. He stayed out of it the entire time I searched the deck. He won’t wake if I just sidle up there on the end.
I barely fit in the space. I can feel the heat pouring into me from Riden’s back. He’s awfully warm. I don’t think he needs that blanket.
So I snatch it and return the key to his breeches before drifting off.
*
My first thought when I wake is that I’m so warm. I’m wrapped in it, like I’ve been trapped inside a large, heated cocoon. It feels so good, I lie there with my eyes closed. I don’t care where I am or what I’m doing. This is too pleasant to ruin by doing something as rigorous as moving.
I feel lips on my forehead. Now someone’s nuzzling my neck.
“You stole my blanket, Alosa,” a voice whispers in my ear.