The late queen’s kin, Prince Rishan, had helped the assassins gain access to the castle, but not many knew of his treachery. Last I saw, he had assumed the throne and intended to rule the entire empire.
Only sovereign dragon arcanists were allowed to lead the Argo Empire due to the fact they had a prosperity aura that helped maintain growth and wealth. Prince Rishan was, in fact, a sovereign dragon arcanist, but he had been bonded for less than a full day and certainly hadn’t trained enough to develop a magical aura. That meant the other sovereign dragon arcanists who ruled over territory in the empire would surely protest Rishan’s power in the capital. It could lead to further rebellion or infighting. Perhaps civil war.
I understood why Captain Devlin wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Instead of dwelling on problems I couldn’t solve, I instead focused on my surroundings.
The Sun Chaser had three decks, and I was taken down below to wash up. Since this was a ship in the air and not the sea, they didn’t have much water, but they gave me as much as they could spare along with a washtub. Since Fain was immune to the plague, he accompanied me below and took away my clothing after I stripped.
I sat on a bench in the washroom, my feet in the shallow tub, my back against the bulkhead, and my gaze on the ceiling. The Sun Chaser creaked like any other ship, but not with the rocking of waves, only when it moved from one air current to the next. The howling of wind beyond the porthole was a new experience.
Luthair moved as a shadow from my feet to the bench. He didn’t form into his suit of armor, instead remaining a puddle of darkness.
“My arcanist,” he said.
I didn’t move when I replied, “Yes?”
“Are you done bathing?”
I glanced down. All my injuries had healed thanks to my magic, and the water in the tub was a sickly pink from the dried blood I had scrubbed from my skin. As far as I could tell, I was clean.
“Yes,” I muttered.
“It pains me to see you like this.”
“Sick?”
“Despondent,” Luthair said.
I didn’t reply. What could I even say to that? Should I be cheerful and carefree? Of course not. And I was exhausted, but my mind wouldn’t stop replaying all the scenes that had brought me here. It was like nothing was right, and I was waiting for everything to fall back into place.
The door to the washroom opened, but the room wasn’t large enough for it to swing all the way out. Fain stepped in, reminding me just how cramped the room really was. I moved down on the bench so he could take a seat next to me. His wendigo waited out in the hall.
“Here,” Fain said as he handed over a new pair of trousers and a white button-up shirt. “But they said you should wait to dress until their surgeon comes to see you.”
I set the clothes on my lap in an attempt to be modest, but it was difficult to care. “Thank you.”
Fain cracked his frostbitten fingers. He glanced to me, then back to his hands. Then to the door. I didn’t understand what he wanted—maybe to leave?—but he just sighed and leaned against the bulkhead. “After you get some rest, would you mind helping me with my magic?”
I lifted an eyebrow.
Fain continued, “I was never formally trained, and what little we did back in Thronehold helped me understand that I need guidance. I just thought, well, since we have to travel south to find Adelgis’s father, that we might have time.”
In theory, Adelgis’s father, Theasin Venrover, was crafting a cure for the plague. He had left Thronehold weeks ago and headed south, though no one knew his destination. It would require searching, but in an airship, I suspected we’d be able to catch up to him.
But what if we couldn’t?
I tried not to think negative thoughts, but they popped up faster than usual. Much faster.
Fain must’ve realized I had mentally drifted away from the conversation because he placed a hand on my bare shoulder to get my attention. His blackened fingers had no warmth—just an icy touch.
“Hey,” he said.
I waited, uncertain of why his tone had shifted from casual to low and serious.
“At one point I thought dying would be a lot easier than living.”
“Fain,” I muttered. “I don’t—”
“You were the one who helped me then.” Fain tightened his cold grip on my shoulder. “Let me help you now.”
Although I wasn’t sure if he could do anything, I answered with a slow nod. Perhaps magic training would distract me.
The door opened a second time and hit Fain in the knee. A woman stood in the doorframe, her curly brown hair framing her youthful, heart-shaped face. She wore pants with five times as many pockets as usual and even had a belt with several pouches.
“Hello,” she said, her tone hesitant. “I’m Tammi, the surgeon for the Sun Chaser.”
Fain stood, offered a quick bow of his head, and then shuffled past her. “Pardon me.”
She moved all the way into the washroom and shut the door behind him.
I held my new clothes tightly on my lap, wondering why they didn’t want me to dress before Tammi had arrived. This seemed awkward. And unnecessary.
Tammi sat on the bench where Fain had been. She smiled, though it was forced. I tried to offer half a smile in return, but I couldn’t muster the enthusiasm.
“You’re remarkably… tall,” Tammi said, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
I nodded.
I stood just over six feet, and I suspected Tammi was closer to five. The difference in our heights was exacerbated when she slouched.
“The captain said I should give you some bandaging.” Tammi produced several rolls of gauze from her many pockets, all neatly bundled.
“I’m not injured,” I said.
“No, but you might be. Since we want to prevent the spread of any plague-ridden blood, this will help.” She unraveled the gauze and pulled on the sides, showcasing how durable it was. “This is made from wootz cotton. Have you heard of it?”
“I don’t think so.”
“It comes from copper plants to the west. They’re minor magical shrubs with interesting colors and steel-like stems. The great thing about it is that wootz cotton is mighty absorbent. The plan is to keep you wrapped up, at least over the major organs, so that if you get hurt, the wootz cotton will prevent blood from going everywhere until your arcanist magic allows you to heal.” Tammi scooted closer and motioned for me to sit away from the bulkhead. “I’m going to wrap you real quick, then I’ll take the tub and dispose of the water, and you’ll be free to walk around the ship. Sound good?”
Tammi seemed older than me, but only by a few years. I would be seventeen soon, and I suspected she was in her early twenties.
I held out my hand. “I can help with the wrapping.”
She replied with a nervous laugh. “Actually, I’d prefer if you didn’t move around much.”
“Okay,” I said with a shrug.
“And I’d also prefer if you stared at the opposite bulkhead while I worked.”
I narrowed my eyes, confused by the request. When Tammi didn’t explain, I exhaled and turned away from her. “If that’s what you want.”
What did it matter? Looking at the wall or looking at her—nothing would change.