Page 13 of Under Restless Skies

Listeno goes up the ladder, back to the deck, while a bitter taste comes to my mouth as I realize I’m on a boat with strangers.

“Don’t mind them,” Alayel mutters. “Sailors can be pigs. Stay close, and you’ll be fine. They won’t dare cross me.”

His words do nothing to quiet my racing heart; they only confirm the danger. At least Alayel doesn’t seem like a threat, even if I’m still confused as to whether he has any power or not. But there’s another question itching in my head.

“Who’s the friend who didn’t come?”

Alayel waves a hand and chuckles. “A coward. Few people have what it takes. They think they do, but they don’t. When the time comes, when they can finally prove their worth, they crack. They’re worthless.”

“Everyone has some worth.”

“Of course.” He smiles. “That’s not what I meant. People can be beautiful and unique and special. They can be all that. Great. But only some of us are cut to achieve anything. To get things done. You can make things happen.”

I swallow, a little stunned, unsure if he’s trying to flatter me for some reason or what. “You think that?”

He approaches me and stands so close that I almost step back. “Yes. I already told you. You were brilliant in the Trial.”

My agitated heart shifts for a different reason now. When Alayel looks at me like that, the idea of frolicking with him doesn’t sound the least offensive. Not that I trust him yet.

“Can we go up?” I’m breathless. “I’ve never been on a boat.”

“Sure. Come.”

He climbs behind me, and we go to the back of the boat, while Listeno and another man open the sails.

We sit on the edge of the deck, and I watch the city where I lived for the last ten years from an angle I’ve never seen before, hidden behind ships, surrounded by dark hills.

“So you never left Dracolius?” Alayel asks.

“The kingdom, no, but I’m not from Dracolius City, but from Sirenna. I came here as a child.”

“Sirenna?” He narrows his eyes, thinking.

“North of the Claw Bay,” I say. “And you?”

He smirks. “We’re exchanging secrets already?”

“You asked me first. And I didn’t know it was a secret.”

A thud startles me, and Alayel looks behind us. “They just pulled the anchor. We’re leaving. You want to know where I’m from? I was born here, in Dracolius City, but I was raised across the ocean. Cainara.”

That explains his subtle accent.

“Is it as huge as they say?”

He spreads his arms. “Ten Dracolius Cities. Dozens and dozens of ships in the ports. People from all corners of the Great Continent, not only the Sorensen Kingdom.”

“Did you like it?”

“No dragons, so that’s sad. But it was a great place for picking pockets.”

I laugh. “And what brought you here?”

“Picking pockets gets hard when you are past a certain height.”

I narrow my eyes. “You’re joking.”

“Maybe.”