Page 24 of The Storm of the Empire (Flyers Of The First Kingdom #3)

TWENTY-THREE

LUKA

“ W here’s your friend?” Faolan asked the next morning when he found me with the crew, checking and repairing sails.

I tied off my needle and glanced up at him. “Ill. Her head is unhappy after all the spirits we drank.”

Faolan eyed me suspiciously. Either he knew I was lying, or he had another bone to pick with me.

Would he be able to smell her several decks below? Did he know she wasn’t here anymore? I should have asked her or done my homework about how well their noses worked. It was a total blind spot in my plan, if scrambling to cover her disappearance could be called a plan.

I knew her leaving would cause a problem. Now I had to worry about both of them not trusting me. This job required a lot of trust, and I could be left ashore at our next port for less.

“I hope she feels better quickly. We’re leaving as soon as the tide turns, which won’t help.”

I made sure my surprise didn’t show on my face. “Earlier than expected? Great.”

“Yes. Plans have changed.”

Was this because they noticed she’d left? Did I walk into a trap?

“What can I do to help? These sails can wait.” I kept my voice and breathing normal while my heart sped up. Could he hear that?

He inspected me with those dragon eyes, considering my words. How had I not seen the beast in him before? It was so clear now that I knew. “You can check to make sure all the crew know. A couple of them were at the port last night and never made it back.” Was this his subtle way of telling me he knew Hazel wasn’t aboard?

“Sure,” I said, resisting the urge to shrink away from the predator I now saw in him. I couldn’t believe I didn’t notice before. He moved just like she did, watched just like she did, and there was an unnatural air to him.

“We leave at the turn,” he said definitively and stalked off.

I handed off my work to one of the other guys and stretched. After being bent over a sail since dawn, my body wasn’t happy with me. I made my way off the ship, checking the usual kinds of places for crew who didn’t make it back aboard after a night off, finding a few males sleeping it off where they passed out. After rousing them and getting them on their way back to the ship, I dipped into the makeshift tavern to buy a drink.

Maybe Hazel was right to dip out before we were caught. Staying here might have been a huge mistake—one I’d pay for with my hide and the kingdom could pay for in blood. There had to be a way out of here, but I couldn’t come up with one, not if I couldn’t get to the other side of the island, but that would either involve climbing the sheer rock face along the docks or swimming. Both of which would end with me in the sea, smashed into the rocks as soon as the tide turned.

I finished my ale and paid the male, deciding to do one final sweep for crew. I still had at least a candle mark. I wondered aimlessly through the tunnels and open cliff face that made up this side of Damona Island. It was bigger than I’d imagined when we arrived, supporting at least a small community.

I could barely believe fae lived here, although I’d seen communities survive in some surprising places, clinging on to the edges of the kingdoms. But I kept coming back to what we’d walked in on last night. Was this place an underground port, or did it actually belong to the priests? Were the undead here to be shipped somewhere else? It struck me suddenly that they could be the cargo we were waiting on! Surely not… I had so many questions and no answers.

I turned around to head back to the ship, passing by the cells where the prisoners had been offloaded when we arrived. The were quiet, and I didn’t slow, but I could see there were more in those cells than we had brought. What was this place?

“What are you doing down here?” Faolan called, startling me.

“I was looking for any leftover crew.” I acted innocent, not sure he’d buy it.

“Why would anyone be down here?” I knew he watched me for some sign I was lying.

“I’m doing what you told me to do. What’s your issue with me all of a sudden?” I straightened up, standing chest to chest so he knew I wouldn’t back down, but I also wanted to give him a chance to drop it. “I thought we were cool?”

“I don’t know why you think I have a problem with you?” His gaze flicked over my shoulder, down the tunnel towards the prisoners. Could he see that far through the dark?

“Why did you follow me?”

“You didn’t come back with the others, and I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss the ship.” Was he being genuine?

“Well, let’s head back then,” I said, trying to call his bluff. “I don’t think we have any other stragglers.”

Faolan cocked his head. “What’s down there?”

“The prisoners we brought here, at least some of them. There are more in there than we brought.” I went for honesty. If that didn’t work for him after last night, nothing was going to win him back. I knew guys like him. Once their opinion of you soured, nothing would get it back.

He stepped forward, knocking his shoulder into mine as he passed me. I followed because there was nowhere to run to, and if he was going to accuse me, I wanted a chance to defend myself. There weren’t many cells and barely any light. He glanced side to side as he passed, barely looking at them. It made him uncomfortable, and I could use that.

“What made you come down here?” He turned on me, rage deepening the shadows on his face.

“I heard something and wanted to make sure one of the crew hadn’t stumbled down here and passed out. I had no idea what I’d find.” I played it cool, not intimidated at all. What would come would come, and I was tired of stressing about his mood and worrying about Hazel’s flight and whether she was safely back in the capital yet.

“You know what poking your nose into things gets guys like us?” He barely kept a hold on his voice. Was this friendly concern or a warning?

“What does it get us?”

“Dead.” The word dropped like a stone into my gut. “If you’re not careful, the wrong person will take notice, and you will be dead.”

“I’m careful, and if I’m not careful enough, I’ll protect myself.” There was a bite to my words, and I didn’t try to hide it. Dragon or not.

“Not careful enough.” He pointed a finger at my chest. “Protecting yourself will only draw more attention.”

“Not the way I would set it up.”

He groaned. “I’m trying to help you.”

“This from a dragon that shouldn’t even be here?” I could have laughed. If he wasn’t mad at me what was his damn angle?

“I like you, there is something about you that makes me want to help you, but you make it so hard.” He dropped his hand clenching it into a fist at his side.

“What is your deal? You’ve been so off since last night.”

“I don’t think you understand what you’ve gotten yourself into or the consequences it will have,” he said through his teeth.

“What do you think I don’t know about?”

“You were skulking on the deck the other night and now all this sneaking around. Do you think they want us down here?”

“We transported them. We already know they exist.” I carefully mark every bit of information he doesn’t know he’s revealing. “What am I going to do now that I couldn’t have done when I had them alone on the ship?” I gesture to the cell to emphasize my point. “I’ve seen all their faces. Any one of our crew could have wandered down here. I have a good reason for being here.”

“This is what I’m talking about. You’re drawing attention to yourself. You aren’t subtle. Do you think no one will notice your companion is suddenly gone?”

“She had to leave, and I will tell them she had business to stay here for once the ship leaves. I think I have good reason for everything I’ve done. What’s your excuse?”

If he wanted to play, I was going to as well.

“I’m trying to help you. I think you have so much more ability.”

“What are you trying to say?” I moved to close the door and froze when movement in the cell behind him caught my eye.

I knew that face.