Page 27

27

T he crew had spent the day burying their fallen, marking the graves of those lost in the raid. When the smaller scouting group returned, bringing news of more deaths, whatever hope remained in the crew’s eyes was snuffed out.

At sunset, they gathered at the stream. Captain Garrett spoke of the fallen, sharing their names, their stories. For each life lost, a flower was sent drifting downstream, a quiet farewell in a place that had given them nothing but suffering and death. Proper mourning had to wait. They still had hostages to save and an unknown tribute to find.

At the far edge of camp, the officers gathered, their voices tense.

“We shouldn't waste another moment,” Cirrus argued. “We need to rescue our crew, find the tribute, and get off this damned island.”

Melodie took a measured inhale. “We must acknowledge the possibility that the hostages are already dead. If we send you all out to meet your demise, the rest of us are screwed. We won’t be able to leave the island without a navigator and a functional boatswain.”

Cirrus bristled. “So, we leave them to die?”

“I’m saying we focus on the people we can save,” she snapped, folding her strong arms across her chest. “If I don’t operate on Gus and several others in the next twenty-four hours, they won’t make it.”

Owen nodded. “Dr. Mercer has a point. We still don’t know what the tribute is, let alone where to find it. We may not have the time or resources to?—”

Cirrus scoffed, throwing his head back in frustration. “Sounds like you both want to give up on this whole thing. Let Enyo win. Abandon Florence to fend for herself against those animals.”

Melodie’s eyes flashed with anger. “How dare you!” she snarled, jabbing a finger at him. “I’m not abandoning anyone. I took an oath to care for as many of our crew as I can. I will not sacrifice thirty to chase after seven.”

Owen lifted his chin. “The doctor makes a good?—”

Cirrus grit his teeth in anger. “Oh, screw you, Thorne ?—”

The argument exploded, voices overlapping, frustration turning to outright shouting.

Garrett raised a hand. Silence fell.

He turned to Lewis. “Mr. Blume, what’s your take?”

Lewis blinked behind his spectacles, startled to be addressed. “Captain, I, uh… I’ve never encountered man-eating plants in the royal greenhouse.” He cleared his throat. “Most of the flora here is a mix of familiar and unknown species. Hard to say what we’ll run into next.”

Cirrus waved impatiently. “So, your vote would be…?”

Lewis dropped his shoulders. “Whatever we do, we need more food. I can help with foraging, but as for everything else… I haven't the foggiest idea.”

Cirrus turned to Vivienne. “I’m sure she agrees we should move forward.”

The commander’s jaw flexed. “Miss Banner can speak for herself.”

“She also doesn’t need your representation, Owen ,” Melodie cut in, her gaze full of daggers.

All eyes landed on Vivienne.

Her heartbeat hastened. Her skin tingled with the prickling heat of panic as a rush of adrenaline fueled the gathering storm inside her.

“I-I need a moment,” she stammered. “Let me think.”

Without waiting for a response, she turned and hurried into the trees.

Cirrus and Lewis moved to follow, but Garrett stopped them with a firm hand.

“Allow me,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

* * *

Vivienne walked twenty feet into the rainforest before sinking to the ground against a massive tree. She pulled her knees to her chest, tears spilling down her cheeks. What am I doing? How can I choose who lives and who dies? Why are they asking me anything? She ached for home, the library, the smell of parchment, and the simple joy of a warm pastry. Nothing about this journey was what she had imagined.

Footsteps rustled through the underbrush, making her snap to attention. Her hand flew to her dagger, but relaxed when she saw Captain Garrett. He sat beside her without a word, his steady presence oddly reassuring.

Her voice trembled. “Why is everyone looking to me? I’m the last person who should decide anything.”

Garrett tilted his head. “And how did you arrive at that conclusion?”

She let out a bitter laugh. “Are you serious? People are dead, injured, and missing because of me. None of this would have happened if I’d just kept my reckless mouth shut in front of the king.”

The captain rubbed the back of his neck. “This isn’t the first expedition born of the king’s whims, and it won’t be the last. No voyage comes without risk. Everyone knew that.”

“I didn’t. ” Her arms tightened around her knees. “It’s one thing to read about adventures. It’s another to live them. Legends and stories don’t talk about how terrified and unprepared their heroes felt. They always seem to have everything figured out.”

Garrett arched a brow. “Vivienne Banner, daughter of two brilliant parents and remarkable in her own right, is scared ?”

“Of course I am!” Her tears came faster. “I don’t know what I’m doing, and people are dying because they followed a librarian into the rainforest.”

Garrett nodded, considering his words. “Do you know what separates real heroes from the ones in books?”

Vivienne shook her head, swiping at her splotchy cheeks.

“It’s not that they aren’t afraid,” he said, his sea-green eyes steady. “They feel the fear and choose to move forward despite it. There is no bravery without fear.”

She exhaled shakily. “I’m not ready for this.”

“No one ever is.”

“I have no idea what I’m doing.”

Garrett turned to face her fully. “And you think there’s a handbook for surviving a dangerous island, avoiding a crazed mercenary, and finding a mystical tribute? If there was, I’d bet it’s sitting in that library of yours.”

She almost smiled. What she wouldn’t give for this to be a story—a book she could close and return to the shelf. “You’re the experienced captain. Why defer to me ?”

“I’ve been in tight spots before. I’ve fought, bribed, and thought my way out. You learn by doing.” He flicked a leaf from his boot. “You’ve already got the information—you just need the nerve to apply what you know.”

Vivienne frowned. “Apply it how ?”

“That, my girl,” Garrett said with a warm smile, “is up to you.”

He stood, patted her shoulder, and strode back toward camp, leaving her alone with her swirling thoughts.

She closed her eyes, searching her mind for anything useful. A soft buzzing sound interrupted her focus. Please don’t be some giant insect. She cracked one eye open. A hummingbird hovered above a flower curling from a vine. Emotion swelled in her chest.

Hummingbird. Her mother’s nickname for her. The small carving at the foot of her childhood bed. The engraving on her compact. The symbol on her library stamp. The way she’d flitted from place to place, never staying still. It reminded her of who she was.

I am Vivienne Banner, daughter of two of the greatest minds and explorers in Fendwyr. Apprentice at the Library of Metis, keeper of the world’s knowledge. I have traveled thousands of miles in my mind, studied strategy, survival, politics, astronomy, and hundreds of other topics.

Garrett’s words echoed: You just need the nerve to apply what you know.

Vivienne took a deep breath, gathered all the nerve she could muster , and walked back into the clearing.

* * *

Lewis’ gaze lingered on Vivienne as she approached, assessing her behind his round spectacles.

“Miss Banner, the captain has informed us we are to take orders from you,” Commander Thorne stated.

Cirrus let out an exasperated sigh.

The commander’s sharp stare pinned him. “Something to add, Mr. Theodosia? You’re not questioning the captain’s orders or disrespecting Miss Banner, correct?”

Cirrus scowled but said nothing. Instead, he turned to Vivienne. “So, Banns? Are we going after those bastards and finding the tribute first?—"

“Or regrouping to care for the wounded and secure ship transports?” Melodie interrupted.

Vivienne took a steadying breath. “We do both. Cirrus, lay out the map.”

Brows furrowed, Cirrus unrolled the map, and the group crouched around it.

“The next landmark is a tree,” Vivienne began. “Civilizations that carved stone usually started by painting or etching softer materials. The presence of stone relics suggests a long history.” She tapped the map. “On our scouting trip, we saw an enormous, dead tree, burned by fire.”

Cirrus frowned. “Right. We saw it from the ridge. But how does it connect to the tribute?”

Vivienne’s lips pressed into a thin line. What is his problem? She continued, “Carving stone is difficult, especially with rudimentary tools. Anything they took the time and effort to engrave into rock was important to them. Since the same tree appeared in a carving at the ruins?—"

“It held significance for them,” Melodie finished.

Vivienne nodded. “We might find more answers at the tree.”

“And what’s your plan for the crew?” Cirrus asked, arms crossed.

“We split into two groups. A small team investigates the tree and the tribute while the larger group returns to the Zephyrus to secure provisions and treat the wounded.”

“Who’s in which group?” Captain Garrett asked.

“I need Cirrus for navigation, Lewis for plant identification and medical backup, and either you or Commander Thorne.”

“Just four of us?” Cirrus scoffed. “That sounds like a bad idea.”

Vivienne’s frustration simmered. “No, it’s strategy. ” She folded her arms. “In the year 721 of the Sapphire Age, the Kingdom of Ardenth faced invasion from Karnast. Their forces were outnumbered two to one. General Eleanor of the Silver Spears?—"

Cirrus rubbed his temples. “We don’t have time for a history lesson?—"

“ Shut the everdark up, Cirrus! ” Vivienne snapped.

Several of the officers flinched. Cirrus blinked in stunned silence.

She smoothed her tunic, centering herself. “Eleanor led a false retreat. She sent her army into the forest with great fanfare, making sure the Karnastian scouts saw them. Meanwhile, she placed a small, elite force in the mountains. When Karnast advanced through the pass, thinking the Ardenthrians had fled, they were ambushed. Those who survived panicked and retreated, thinking the entirety of the Adrenthrian forces had reappeared to defend the pass.”

Commander Thorne’s eyes lit with understanding. “You want Enyo to believe we’ve left , so a small group can move unnoticed.”

Vivienne smiled in confirmation. “If he thinks we’ve given up and left, there’s nothing for him to ransack and no rival crew to compete with.”

Captain Garrett stroked his beard. “Four people can stay hidden far easier than thirty.”

Lewis snapped his fingers. “If we really want to sell it, we could move the Zephyrus out of sight, behind the cliffs.”

Silence settled over the group.

“Well?” Vivienne raised her shoulders. “What do you think?”

Captain Garrett’s grin spread wide. “My girl, I think you found your nerve.”