Page 104 of The Isles of the Gods
Leander says nothing as we continue down the hill.
“If we can’t afford a boat, this place seems pretty sleepy,” I say, thoughtful. “We should be able to steal one without much trouble.”
Selly glances across at me, eyes widening in shock. “Are you serious?”
To her, a boat is—well, I suppose it’s what a library is to me. That around which one’s life is built.
“It would be better to buy one,” I say. “But if we have to choose between the loss of one livelihood and the loss of ten thousand lives…”
Selly looks across to each of us in turn, her gaze flickering over us in that way it always does when she takes our measure. I’m never entirely sure whether she finds us wanting.
“Fair point,” she says eventually. “But there are boats downthere that could overtake us, that will be bigger than anything we could crew. So it would be smarter not to be on the run from the good people of Port Cathar. I’ll find something tobuy.”
We elect to divide the tasks that lie before us. The sun is already touching the mountaintop to the west, the sea to the east descending into the gloom of the evening.
Selly departs for the tavern, tugging her sailor’s cap down firmly before she opens the door, and light streams out to envelop her before she disappears.
The prince and I are bound for the township’s one general store—we require provisions. I’m confident he’s never been inside an ordinary shop before—Selly and I agreed on this with a wordless glance, and so I am going with him to secure our supplies.
But Leander pauses, looking back toward the tavern.
“She’ll be safe enough,” I say.
“Probably safer than us, in a town like this,” Leander replies. “She knows it better than we do. I was just thinking—what have I done to her life, Keegan? Nothing I ever do will make it right, will it? And yet…how will I leave her when this is done? I could never keep her from what she loves.”
“There’s no easy answer,” I reply. “With respect, I suggest we put the solving of that problem at the end of the very, very long list before us. Should we happen to reach it, in what I estimate to be position number four hundred and thirty-seven, we’ll find a way to solve it then.”
Leander’s grin is warm and sudden, white teeth flashing as he turns it on me. I don’t think I’ve ever made him grin like that before—certainly not in all our years together at school.
“Well, if she’s four hundred and thirty-seven,” he says as we turn together for the general store, “then you’re four hundred and thirty-eight. What did you plan to study?”
Surprise at the change in direction slows my reply. “History. And now I’m determined to survive, so I can write detailed and useful firsthand accounts of this experience for future students. Having studied many that are wanting, I have firm views on the sort of information that ought to be included.”
The prince sounds almost wistful as he gazes ahead down the nearly empty cobblestone street. “What will you say about me,” he asks, “when you write the story?”
I pause to consider my reply. For years I’d have taken this chance to hurt him if I could. At best, I wouldn’t have paused to think about his feelings at all.
Even now I won’t lie to him—that’s not who I am. But there’s something I can say that’s true.
“I’ll say you won loyalty easily. Which is a rare and valuable gift. I’ll say you’re a powerful magician, and that— What was it Master Gardiner always used to bellow at you in mathematics? That you had plenty of brain, if only you were inclined to use it.”
Leander bursts out laughing. “How can you possibly know he said that? You weren’t even in that class.”
“I was in the classroom next door,” I reply gravely. “I assure you, we could hear his words quite clearly through the walls.”
He laughs again, and the tension that’s lived in my chest for the last few days eases just a fraction. I wish we’d talked like this at school. It only took a shipwreck to close the gap.
“You should study philosophy,” he says. “When you get there.”
“I’ll make my choice in my second year.” I pause. “I’ll keep an open mind.”
“You know I’ll fund it,” he says, softer. “Or Augusta will, I suppose.”
My gaze snaps across to him, but his expression is serious. I’ve been relatively confident until now that he’d at least see me safely to the Bibliotek. It never occurred to me his family might assist my studies.
The truth is, it would be useful in more ways than one. It’s not just the finances—I could, I think, find the money, with a combination of scholarships and tutoring work. It’s that when my family eventually discovers where I went, having the queen’s stamp of approval—openly or implied—would change everything.
It would also be the first time anyone—including my family—has thought it worth their while to help me learn.
