Page 56 of The Lost Reliquary

“Cyprene.” Nolan tosses the word out like a coin, telling me he doesn’t read anything threatening in the captain either. Or he’s eager enough not to care. “Though I’d rather keep my reasons for the destination to myself.”

“A common enough sentiment.” The unspoken finally spoken, the captain sits a little straighter. “The Goddess favors you. Cyprene is among the destinations we are headed to, and I have a cabin available. But this is not an inexpensive passage.” She names an exorbitant figure.

Nolan’s soft, satisfied smile doesn’t falter. “That’s robbery.”

“This isn’t a pleasure cruise.”

“Good,” says Nolan, “because I prefer business.” His teacup clinks gently as he returns it to its saucer. “Your price is acceptable. As long as it comes with privacy.”

Captain Cleophas’s lips spread into a feline smile. “Guaranteed, so long as you observe the same for the rest of theSquid’s passengers.”

“Of course. I would ask that we depart soon, though. My business is… pressing.” An impatient note leaks into his tone, though I can’t tell if it’s affected or real. Time is not on our side. At least no one in Phrygis is buzzing about any new avatars… yet. Still, if the heretic headed to Carsaire is already on his way to Cyprene, we can only hope they will linger there, give us time to arrive and root them out.

“We sail on the evening tide,” says Cleophas, “with stops along the coast before we reach your destination. My cabin boy Mishael will see your horses into the hold and your baggage to the cabin.”

“Excellent,” Nolan replies, though I can tell from the slight tightness of the word that, if he had his way, we’d be raising anchor immediately.

Twenty-five

There is nothing beyond the Unlit Seas that is not cold and dark compared to the Flame. I will not, cannot, ever call it home again.

—WRITINGS OF THE PILGRIM EKKRU, IN THE ERA OF TEMPESTRA-ENOCH

WHENCLEOPHAS SAID SHEhad a cabin available, apparently she meant one cabin, singular.

And only one bunk, of course. As far as amenities are concerned, they’re a bit lacking, consisting entirely of a small desk, one wobbly chair, and a salt-worn strip of rug. I awkwardly maneuver through the narrow doorway and dump our gear onto the floor, already growing tired of our little fiction.

Nolan leans against the doorframe, giving me a saucy smirk as he nods at the bed. “So… are we going to share?”

“You wish.” I extract my bedroll and blanket from the pile. “I’ll sleep in the hold with the horses. No offense, but Mortimer and Buttons smell better than you.”

He steps in and closes the cabin door, keeping his body between me and it, still smiling. “You won’t seem like a very good bodyguard.”

“I’m not. You should probably keep that in mind, seeing as how easy it is for someone to accidently fall overboard.”

“I thought we had a truce?”

“I said ‘accidentally,’ didn’t I?”

He falls onto the bunk, shedding his new persona and the teasing tone in a heartbeat. “It will look strange if you don’t keep to our story. We don’t need anyone getting more than the normal level of suspicious about what we are doing here. As you said, it’s easy enough for someone to disappear overboard.”

“Fine.” I drop my bedding. “Floor it is.” I can’t fault his logic, even if I don’t like it. Even if there’s as much potential danger within this cabin as without. Part of me doesn’t even care; after our anxious, sleepless journey to Phrygis, a floor is as inviting as a feather bed.

“Don’t worry.” Nolan stretches out, throwing one arm behind his head. “I’m not going to cut your throat while you sleep.”

“How reassuring. Especially given how truthful you’ve been so far.”

The air around him cools. “You know, eventually we will have to trust each other enough to let our guards down. Or this isn’t going to work.”

I snort. Clearly, I’m not the only one who is exhausted. “Oh, does someone need a nap?”

He frowns. “Lys—”

“Take your own advice. You’re the one with the history of betrayal.”

“It wasn’t personal.”

“Hmm, I guess that makes it okay then.”