Page 29 of Death’s Kiss (The Order of the Tide Raiders #1)
"I did," I agree, glancing around the empty corridor and realizing that it's not isolated enough, with various raiders spilling out from the nearby chamber.
“We need to go somewhere more private,” I mutter, trying to think of somewhere that might be quiet enough and away from unwanted ears to discuss.
Finally, it dawns on me. I know the perfect spot.
“Come on!” I call out, beginning to trek down the empty hall.
Vash watches me with uncertain eyes but eventually follows after. I take the winding staircase steps two at a time until we’ve made it to the top of one of the black thistle-like spires.
“Alright, lets go,” I order, opening a large window that reveals black netting below.
Vash looks from me to the open window, then to the ten-foot drop onto dangerously wide knotted cording, his expression filled with alarm. “Are you insane? You don't know these nets are even stable! Wait—Boreas—is Captain Leporem making you do this?”
Giving him a side eye full of annoyance, I wordlessly crawl through the window and drop down to the netting, landing neatly on my feet. Looking up, I find Vash sticking his head of bronze waves out the open window with a frown full of unease.
“Come on, Larceon, your girlfriend makes this jump all the time,” I taunt from below.
I don’t deem it necessary to mention that technically we’ve never been on these particular nets before.
Mine and Kleio’s usual spot is around the second highest spire, or sometimes we walk the nets lining the edge of the, but I’d never show Vash either.
These ropes feel sturdy as any others beneath my feet, so what he doesn’t know won't hurt him.
Vash tumbles more than jumps from the open window, coughs on air, and rolls over the cording before finally making it to a sitting position with a dark scowl. I glance down at him with one brow raised. “That was very graceful. Truly. Your stealth affinity is one for the ages.”
“Ha ha,” Vash retorts, standing at last and brushing himself off. “Now will you tell me what the hell is going on? You’re acting strange.”
He’s right, my weight keeps shifting from my toes to my heels with nerves, and I’m suddenly reminded of Nimra. I glance around once more to be sure there’s no way for anyone to overhear.
Satisfied, the next words practically fall out of my mouth. “What if I told you I know what the next pillar trial is—or at least I know some of the major pieces?”
The golden flecks in Vash's green eyes brighten with intrigue before clouding over with doubt. “I’d ask how you could possibly know what it is and then follow up with—are you insane ?”
I bristle at his words, explaining snappishly, “I know what it is because I was given a tip-off by a source that I’m very inclined to trust.”
Vash eyes me like I really might’ve gone mad before swiping a hand down his face in exasperation. “You are inclined to trust? Sea hags tits, Boreas,” he curses, shaking his head in disbelief before snorting. “Fine—just tell me what it is that you think you know.”
My eyes narrow with a frown before answering him.
"We won't be doing the next pillar task individually. We'll be working in pairs with our cardinal captains. It actually makes sense when you think about it. In levels one and two, we’re taught endurance and survival but then in levels three and four, the training shifts into Vek and Brek and we focus on—”
“Alliances,” Vash says, taking the word from my mouth. I nod, and he rubs the scruff along his jaw in contemplation. “Okay, that tracks, but there’s always two ends to every pillar. If alliances are one end, then what’s the other?”
"Weaknesses,” I answer. “I don’t know exactly how it will play into the trial, but I’d bet my captain’s ring it has something to do with our affinities.”
Vash nods again, looking over the netting and towards the darkened sea beyond, appearing lost in thought for a moment.
“And who is your source, exactly?” he suddenly asks, as if just remembering that tidbit.
My hands move to twist the end of my white braid around an idle finger. “I can only tell you if you swear an od not to reveal their identity to anyone.”
Vash blinks at me in response. “You sure are wearing that dramatic flair today. Why is an od necessary?” He questions, crossing his arms before the width of his chest. “I am your co-captain after all. We’ve been through seven years—almost eight here together.
I’m also currently dating your best friend. Do you seriously still not trust me?”
I tilt my head to the side and study him with a frown. “Od or no dice.”
Vash sighs a long stream of annoyance. “Alright,” he concedes, pulling out a piece of metal from the band around his arm and flicking out a menacingly sharp blade.
I watch in silence as he swipes the edge across his palm, and crimson blooms beneath.
Vash then tugs off his captain's ring from its spot on his right hand and grips it in his bloody palm.
The corners of his mouth pull down in irritation as he grumbles, "I swear on my captaincy title not to reveal the identity of your source, or may the drowned gods take back my affinity and pull me back down to their deep, dark netherdepths. "
I give him a smile in satisfaction. “See, that wasn’t so hard.”
He gives me a look filled with ire. "Okay, now tell me.”
“Captain Bedivere, from the West Order.”
Vash’s mouth hangs open. “You made me swear an od for that? Are you joking? Why on Pontus would you think that she would ever give you or me any sort of advantage? I swear, Merena, you’ve taken one too many hits to the head or—”
“She isn’t trying to give us an advantage—she’s trying to level the playing field!” I snap, sharply cutting him off.
Vash’s expression turns curious, so I explain with a huff, “Brisa told me their Grand Preceptor already informed them it would be a partner trial and hinted about memorizing lunar patterns. She also said that Captain Tetsuo overheard the eastern captains discussing strategy for the second pillar and caught them studying a tomb about moon phases. They all already know.”
“That makes no sense.” Vash shakes his head. “Why would their Grand Preceptors risk telling them? That’s absurd. Why would—”
“Because the trials are here in the north, Vash,” I say through my teeth, effectively cutting him off again.
"You said it yourself—they've never held trials at one of the cardinals before.
" The other Grand Preceptors view this location as more than enough of an advantage for us—Brisa told me she and Ansil knew about the kelpies.”
At that admission, Vash looks somewhat stunned.
"They had time to prepare and form a strategy, just as the East did. Brisa wasn’t certain about whether the South had, but I am. All of them already knew.” My words have turned bitter, and Vash clearly notices, although he’s clever enough not to comment on it.
“Alright, let’s say that’s true. I still don’t understand why she would tell you any of this. Captain Bedivere is ranked first right now, and you’re tied for second. Why would she risk that?” The suspicion in Vash’s voice and crease between his brows tells me how truly unfathomable he finds it.
“Because she doesn’t want to win that way!” I’m surprised by the rising of my own voice. I swallow and make an effort to keep my tone even. "It may come as a shock to you, Larceon, but some raiders do indeed hope to keep some shred of their integrity intact."
His angular jaw sets, and there’s a cold gleam in his eyes. “What is that supposed to mean?”
My glare is dark. “You know exactly what that’s supposed to mean.”
Something flickers in his gaze—something calculating, a side to Vash Larceon that I've never forgotten. A piece of him that his stealthy affinity hints at.
“If you’re referring to the incident in level four, then I’m surprised by your ability to hold a grudge. Really, I thought we were past all of that,” he says, lifting his chin in disbelief.
I shake my head incredulously. “Level four, Larceon? How about the night I spent sleeping in the snow after that nasty trick in five? Or the stunt you pulled in six? Tell me, who was the first person in the north to ever call me a squid?”
Vash pales, looking at a loss for words for once in his life.
I save him the trouble of finding any.
"Just because you decided to play nice this past year does not mean I forgot the previous six. Kleio might have forgotten who you used to be, but she never saw how truly dark that side of you is to begin with, and I’ve never disclosed it to her.
But I can promise you that I will if I see even a shadow of it returning. ”
“I apologized—I apologized for all of—“ Vash starts up in his own defense.
“I am aware,” I hiss back at him. “ That is the only reason I’m standing here able to have a somewhat civil conversation with you. The only reason I haven’t deterred Kleio and although I accepted your apology—it does not erase what happened.”
Vash’s jaw clenches, and he swallows with a nod, trying to ascertain how to go on from here.
I sigh deeply before adding, “Look, for right now we’re partners. We should start researching together, our crews included, and find out anything we can on lunar phases or past trials that mention them. If I had to bet, Saubarag is giving the southern raiders more than just hints.”
Vash agrees a tad briskly, "Aye-aye, Captain Boreas," before turning back to scale the side of the spire and slipping in through the window opening without another word.
I wander to the edge of the nets and sit to watch the last few rays of the sun melting into the chilly waves. My left palm opens and I trace the jagged line of my own od made earlier today to Brisa. I’m relieved Vash didn’t ask exactly why it is that I trust her, relieved I wasn’t forced to lie.
He would have picked it up immediately, given his affinity.
The truth isn’t mine to tell.