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he Lady Theatus seemed so inviting in the sunlight. I scrambled onto the deck after some help hoisting myself up. Rio climbed up beside me with much more energy, eager to begin telling everyone about the secret city of the merfolk.
I, personally, just wanted to get out of these awful clothes.
I found my bag untouched where I left it in the captain’s chambers. I put on some of my usual attire and smiled. It was fantastically comforting be in my own things again.
I walked back outside and down to the main deck. Among a growing gathering of crewmen, I heard Rio loudly describing our entrance to Eigiollys.
He grinned as he saw me. He dashed over to me and pulled me toward the group. I tried to make myself very small and unnoticeable.
“Thanks to Miss Taimi, here, I lived to tell the tale.”
I continued to think small. I smiled nervously at the group of motley sailors who nodded and made noises of approval.
When the half-blood set me free, I staggered over to the railing. I watched as the anchor was slowly cranked off of the ocean floor. The ship began to move, wind pushing it out of the small bay. The sails picked up a gust as we cleared the cliffs, and the ship began to pick up speed.
I had to look away from the water once we hit larger waves.
Levent and Bolivar stood together near the stairs to the lower cabin. The human captain was frowning seriously at Levent, who was speaking in a hushed tone. Bolivar nodded in agreement to something, smiling in the way a merchant would after closing a big deal.
My eyes narrowed. What were they up to?
When the captain excused himself and walked over to join Rio, I walked up to the kin.
“What was that about?”
“I was just discussing our transportation to Lahnfabon,” the kin said as if it was a simple matter.
“Oh.” For a moment I had forgotten.
“Unless you’d like to stay,” he said.
I shook my head. “No, Lahnfabon sounds fantastic. Thanks.”