Page 16 of Light and Shadow
“What’s there that can’t wait until the ferry crossing tomorrow?” The woman is tall and has blond hair also, touched with gray. Her skin has seen many years of too much sun. Her brown eyes are curious and kind.
“We have an appointment of sorts, and the longer we wait, the more dangerous it gets for us.” It’s easy to be impressed by the way he tells them the truth without giving anything away.
The woman’s eyes narrow. She whispers, “Domhan?”
Aaran nods. “You know where we need to go?”
Frowning, she touches her ear. “Aye, I know.”
“Nancy?” The bearded man is standing now too.
“What’s going on?” one of the other men asks. He has red hair and a scruffy beard. “Do you want me to toss him from the bar, Nancy?”
She shakes her head. “No, Bill. It’s fine. I just realized I knew this young man’s parents. He and his lady need to get to the coast near St. John’s tonight.” She looks at the bearded man. “Will you take them, Bert?”
I walk closer.
“You know my parents?” Aaran asks.
“I came here with them more than ten years ago. I stayed.” She squeezes Bert’s hand.
“You’re Nainsi. I remember you, though I was young when you lived with us.” Aaran grips her arm.
Emotion welling in Nancy’s eyes, she draws a long shaky breath. “We’ll get you where you need to go.”
Bert clears his throat. “I’ll take them, love.”
Gripping Aaran’s shoulder, Nancy looks him in the eyes. “The prophecy was found?”
He nods.
The hint of an accent like Aaran’s creeps into her voice. “Tell your mother that Nainsi sends her love. Tell her I’ve thought of them often and regretted nothing. My life has been very fine here with Bert.” She gives Aaran a quick hug. “Luck to you.”
We follow Bert to the dock and onto a white-and-gray fishing boat. As soon as I step on the boat, something in the ocean shifts. It darkens, and the soft waves grow angrier.
Bert frowns and looks at me. “You’re like my Nancy?”
“No. I’m from New Jersey. I’m going to help Nancy’s people.” I grip the metal railing. “This is my first time out of the bay.”
“You may get sick, but this is a good boat. She’ll get us there.” He starts untying lines and checking over things I don’t understand. We start to drift away from the dock.
“Wait!” Nancy calls from the shore. She’s running to where we were moored, with a large pack slung over her back.
Rushing to the wheelhouse, Bert starts the engine and reverses toward the dock. “What’s wrong, love?”
“I’m going with you. I’ll see them off, and we’ll overnight in St. John’s. I’ll not be left behind.” As soon as we’re close enough, she jumps on board with the agility of a much younger woman.
Shaking his head, Bert smiles and takes us away from civilization. Once we’re clear of running into anything, he pulls her into his arms and kisses her. “I wasn’t going to run off.”
“No. I know.” They stand watching the ocean together, and she rests her head on his shoulder.
He kisses her head. “You can spell me when I rest, and I’m sure happy to have your company. This is a long go with several stops for fuel.”
She nods.
The farther out to sea we get, the rougher the ocean. My stomach is rolling, and I’m distracted from anything else by the notion that soon Aaran is going to see me hurl over the side of this fishing boat. Sitting on the long bench that runs along the side of the vessel, I clutch the rail.
Aaran touches my shoulder and sits next to me, pulling me to his side. He wraps his arms around me. “Try to think about something else, Harper.”
