Page 134 of Of Wind and Fate
“I only managed half of my father’s order…” Yarlav’s jaw hardened.He cleared his throat.“You wish for us to live, Kaken?”
I nodded.
“So, we will not stay in the Land of the Northernmost Star.Is there somewhere you would like us to go?”
I pushed away the damp cloth coming for my forehead a second time, and moved to the edge of the ship, pressing Halvar between my body and the rails.I hoped the rushing air would clear my mind.I needed it to.
Yarlav followed, sticking close to my side—so much closer than felt normal.I leaned my face over the rails, thinking for a moment that I would be sick.
Deep black-blue washed with white.Lurch.Lurch.Lurch.
Where would Halvar be safest?
I thought of Fell’s hands and dry heaved.Nothing came out.
I took a deep breath, all the way to the womb as Fara had taught me.Fara.
I can’t go to the Isle.Halvar is a sea dog to them, and Arik would think I would go there.Hyrold, help me.I closed my eyes and took in another salty breath.I don’t know any other places.
At that very moment, the sun came through the clouds with such force that I could see it even with my eyes closed.I opened my eyes to the brilliance of white bouncing off the surface of the sea.I raised my hand to shield my eyes, but even then, the sun was the only thing I could fathom for a full heartbeat.
Fara’s words leapt into my mind.You will be told only the smallest piece of the whole.Go to this place.Pay attention.Only if you listen to the first piece will you see the second.
“South,” I said.
I heard Yarlav repeat it.I heard several other crew members repeat it.A map was thrust on the deck at my feet, forced open against the wind.“Where in the south, Kaken?”
I knelt, Halvar squirming in my arms.The map was large but didn’t contain nearly as much as Arik’s map had.I pointed to the edge.“Here, but further.”
“What is there?”Yarlav’s voice was hushed.
“The sun worshippers.”
“What?”
“The sun worshippers… Arik worships the god of truth.This means they are his sworn enemies.”Halvar will be safe from Arik there.
Yarlav looked up at me then, his white brows furrowed.His stone-blue gaze was firm and unblinking.He nodded.
“South-west-west-south-south!”he shouted.
The Fearsome Beastgroaned as her direction shifted.The rowers grunted as they thrust oars away from their chests and then reclaimed them.The sea quieted, splitting easily as the ship cut through it.
I numbed entirely.There was no sadness or anger or yearning inside me.I could have worried about the crew—about someone slicing me apart and claiming captainship for themselves.I could have worried about Dayne and the fleet of Norsern ships that might be coming his way.I could have worried that the sun worshippers were long gone or had changed and no longer cared about those sworn to the truth.But I didn’t.
The day had emptied me of everything I had and everything I was.
Never again would there be too many stars in the sky.
