27

Ash

Bells ring, and the sloop pitches back and forth. Sunlight spills down the hatch where I am wrapped in the gentle swing of the hammock. In my sleep, I kept pressure on the inside of my wrist, which kept the nausea at bay, but still I awake bruised and incredibly sore from the last two days of battle and capture and escapes.

A quick count shows four sleeping forms around me. Kaylin must be on deck. I wait for the pitch to lean me close to the floor, slip out of my hammock, and gain my feet. When the sloop pitches again, I head to the hatch and climb.

I cross to the rail. The sunlight makes the deep teal water sparkle like gems. Waves roll along the channel and break on the reefs surrounding the Isle. The offshore wind blows the white water from the crests and showers me with mist. I go up on tiptoe, holding the railing with both hands, and laugh aloud. “Aku! Aku!” I call like a bird singing to the sun.

The sacred Isle of Aku is the most exhilarating sight I’ve seen in my life. It’s a safe harbor for those who come in goodwill to train their phantoms and raise in ranks. There is no stronger sanctuary in all of Amassia, and we are here. We have arrived!

“Finally,” my inner voice whispers.

The cliffs loom high and rugged, the beaches sandy white and backed by a forest of pine and spruce that climb to the top of the highest peaks. Well above the headland sits the oldest teaching sanctuary in Amassia. I make out the copper-green tiled rooftops and the brightly colored flags after the tradition of the southern savants, in order of their rank: brown, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. I spot another tower with only two flags, one black and one white. Black for the robes of the Bone Throwers, but the white is a mystery to me.

“The lass awakes!”

I pull my attention away from the island at the sound of Kaylin’s voice. “Not too late, I hope?” I shade my eyes to find him climbing down from the crow’s nest.

Kaylin leaps to the deck and takes a wide stance in front of me. “It’s a brilliant morning. And you are a delight to my eyes.”

Something deep in my belly flutters, and I blush.

As the ship rocks and pitches, Kaylin and I turn to gaze at the Isle. My eyes linger on his profile, taking in his wind-tossed hair and open face. He’s a delight himself, but I’m not going to say that aloud. “Does that mean we are too late?”

His smile dims. “I won’t lie, lass. It could go either way.”

All our struggles only to miss out now? “Can we go any faster?”

“We dock around the leeward side.” He points north. “Nearly there.”

My eyes cut to the road leading to the top of the Isle. It looks like a scaly reptile, snaking its way to the clouds. “How far?”

“A three-mile climb. It’ll take a fast jog to reach the gates by the fourth bell.”

“It’s just after first bell. Three hours should be enough.”

“It’s still hard, especially after such a journey. We’ll need every minute of it.”

I hesitate, my lips parting. Did he say we?

“I believe so.”

He’s coming with us?

“Why not just ask?”

It’s the obvious thing to do, of course. Just say, “Are you joining us, Kaylin?” But, suddenly I’m not sure how to begin or where to put my hands. “There is much to see on Aku.”

“True words.” He turns back to me. His eyes are smoky in the morning light, and it’s all I can do to meet them before quickly glancing back to the island.

“The library alone is the most esteemed in Amassia.” I lace my hands behind my back, feeling my palms sweat. When the sloop lurches, I grab for the railing.

“This is you asking him?”

Shh! “What I mean to say, to point out, really, is that it would be a shame not to partake of the Isle of Aku while you have the opportunity. Before winter sets in. As it does this time of year…”

“Really?”

Kaylin lifts an eyebrow. Does he enjoy my floundering?

I try again. “More to the point, are you staying?” My face bursts into flames, no doubt red as a High Savant’s robes.

But Kaylin doesn’t laugh at my unraveling. Quite the opposite. He leans in to tuck strands of windblown hair behind my ear before straightening. “Would you like me to?”

The muscles of my throat tighten as every cell in my body says yes.

“You’ll need to speak up,” my inner voice prompts.

“Em, indeed,” I manage to reply.

His eyes gleam as he leans in again. Is he going to kiss me? My breathing falters, then I realize, no, silly, we aren’t going to kiss on the deck in front of all Aku.

He simply gives me a formal bow. “Then yes, I will be most pleased to stay, for a time.”

Warmth rushes through me and I sputter an unintelligible word that sounds something like “glabich,” which was not my intended response. But, to be honest, I have no idea what my intended response was going to be. Maybe great, or good news?

Mother of Mar, where has my vocabulary gone?

Kaylin only chuckles.

We both do, as together we turn back to the island. It’s growing larger as we glide over the reef toward the sandy bay.

Thanks to the fresh sea air, the heat in my face eases, my poise returning as we share a moment of reverence for Aku, the smallest realm in Amassia—with the greatest consequence.

“We made it,” Kaylin says softly, his eyes still on the mountain sanctuary.

“We did.” I reach out my hand to take his. “Thanks to you.” My fingertips tingle at his touch before I pull away. “I’ll go wake them!”

I hurry across the deck, too many emotions rolling through me to identify a specific one, but once down the ladder I sober. Disembarking will be anything but quick, even though we have no baggage or sea-weary horses. Oh, the horses—my hand covers my mouth to hold in a sob. We’ve lost so much on this journey. Not just the lovely beasts, but the introductions for us all from Brogal, the scrolls and sanctuary seal he entrusted to me. His personal translation guide… I’ll have to write some b’larkin spectacular records for Marcus and Belair to make up for it.

I wonder if Kaylin will stay the whole time? He could help with—

“Maybe get the initiates to the gates before they close first, or there will be no records to write at all.”

That sobers me further. “Marcus! Belair! It’s past first bell!”

My call is met with groans from everyone.

Marcus is hardest to rouse, the few hours of rest doing him more harm than good. He’d clearly been running on sheer willpower the night before. Belair fares little better, and Piper, with her phantom down, can do nothing but change their dressings, offer a quick cup of broth, and shuffle them onto the dock when we finally reach it. To top it off, the wind is not in our favor. It blows hard into our faces.

In the end, we stumble down the plank and assemble just as the second bell rings. My nose tips skyward to the Sanctuary, following the winding path up the mountain. The other candidates must be there already.

I look to Piper where she leans against the dock railing. She’s expended all her energy healing the others and herself over the last two days. Samsen props himself against her, clutching his shoulder. Has it popped out of the socket again and he’s not said? Marcus is on the ground, head bent forward, hands wrapped around his knees. This isn’t good.

“Rise, savant.” I give Marcus a shake, but he only groans.

We’re not going to make it.

No. I will not allow myself to think like that. I will get Marcus and Belair through those gates if it is the last thing I do.

“Forgive me,” I say under my breath and shake his shoulder, harder. He lifts his face and I slap it, stinging my hand like a hive of hornets. Belair gasps at my actions, but I have the Heir’s full attention now. “You have to lead us to the Sanctuary, and you have to do it now.”

He opens one eye. “How much time?”

“Not enough, unless we go now.”

He straightens slowly, and in his deep brown eyes, I see the fear that echoes my own.