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“No, he doesn’t,” Sorinda says.
“How would you know? You never stay near him unless following orders.”
“And what I hear while following orders is telling enough. He’s a bumbling buffoon.”
“That’s rather rude.”
“He can’t hear me.”
Kearan looks between Sorinda and Mandsy. “Are you talking about me?” he says much too loudly.
Sorinda rolls her eyes.
The rain and light dampen now that they must filter through the trees to reach us. Many trails wind through the undergrowth; whether they were made by animals or something else, it’s impossible to tell. Either way, we follow one that takes us away from the sea. I monitor a compass in my hand, so we can find our way back to the ship. Radita stays close by my side, examining trees as we pass, but they’re still far too small.
The farther we go, the more entrapped I feel. On the sea, Ican see for miles in any direction. But here, on land in a thick forest, anything could be hiding. A threat could be three feet away, and I would be none the wiser. Why would anyone choose to live in a place like this?
When I judge us a safe distance from the ocean, I motion for the men to pull out their plugs. Enwen takes more goading than the others.
I still won’t look at Riden.
Instead I search between the coniferous trees, peering through their branches for hidden dangers.
A figure sidles up next to me.
The one I’m determined not to lock eyes with.
“What was that?” Riden asks.
“What was what?”
“You know what. You grabbed my hand.”
“Thought I saw something between the trees. I was protecting you.” The lie sounds pathetic even to my own ears.
“I see” is all he says.
The longer we travel without seeing any threats, the more certain I am that something foul is just waiting for us around the next hill. The animal life all but vanishes, as if they’re avoiding the center of the island.
After maybe an hour, we come to a clearing. A freshwater spring bubbles up from the ground, giving way to a small stream headed for the sea. A cave opening, likely carved out long ago by the underwater source, rests at the bottom of a rocky rise.
Radita strides over to a tree on the edge of the clearing,opposite the cave. She examines it carefully. “No signs of decay,” she mumbles to herself. Then, “This tall pine is perfect.”
“All right,” I say. “Ropes out. Get them strung up around the neighboring trees. Riden, Kearan, the saw.”
Haeli and Reona, my best riggers, climb two neighboring trees and carefully place the ropes. They’ll help support the tree as it falls, giving it a more controlled descent. It will also muffle the sound of it smashing to the ground. We don’t need to announce our presence. Lotiya and Deshel are on watch while the rest of us get to work.
Riden and Kearan mark the tree so it will fall at the angle we want. Then the two of them handle the saw. The rest of us wrap ourselves in the ends of the ropes, so we can use our weight to catch the trunk.
The grating sound of metal on wood starts. A bird twitches its head to the side to better view us with one beady eye. After a few seconds, it takes off in flight.
I tell myself it’s fleeing away from all the racket we’re making and not something coming toward us.
I’ve posted watches. There’s nothing more I can do except help.
My eyes dart from the tree line—
And land on Riden’s arms, flexing as they push the saw through the tree.
