Page 27 of The Garnet Daughter
I scrub my hands down my face, trying to collect my thoughts about what our next move should be
“Should we double back in a bit? Try again?” August suggests, sensing my frustration.
“No. Look, Rouke and his friends are blockading the path.”
The group of young hunters watches August and me from across the fire, daring us to come back to the celebration.
“I’ve pushed through harder blockades than that lot,” August says smugly.
I begin back down the path toward home. “I don’t think they will see me tonight anyway. Maybe because of how I approached them this morning.”
August strides along next to me. “The leaders of the three worlds have more in common than they know. Try to speak with them in the morning then? Be more persistent?”
“Or maybe we just ask others to help us after all.” My desperation to get back now, knowing Ferren’s life is in danger, eases some of my discomfort in bending my village’s traditions. The longer we stay, the more I feel like an outsider, and this is most definitely something an outsider would do.
“With Ruth and Kieran, we would only need a few others to erect the beacon, right?” I duck under some of the decorative flowers, now wilting and tired from the festivities.
“You said no one would help without the elders’ permission.”
“We should try. We have been gone too long and—” I wait for two men who are headed back to the celebration to pass by and lower my voice. “Ferren and 99 would do the same for us, break the rules. When we ask around, we will let a few people know the risk of upsetting the elders, but I think many of them will want the beacon restored whether we are using it or not. Many have family on other worlds and it’s the only means to communicate.”
“We should start tonight, when people are happy and drinking.”
“They won’t be done for hours, would likely forget what they agreed to by morning. If we can convince Ruth and Kieran, I think more will join. We go see them tomorrow as soon as the village starts to stir again. They will not be affected by drink like the others with all her remedies. Many will come to her house for just that, and we can select our volunteers then.”
He inspects me with a smug smile, the intensity making me squirm.
“What?” I ask, confused.
“You would have made a great Viathan soldier. You’re excellent at strategy.”
“I'm in no mood for jokes.”
“I’m serious. I have no questions, nothing to add. Ready to charge into battle at your word.”
“Save it for tomorrow.” I groan.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Chapter
Eleven
Again, something disturbs my sleep, like when the moss sheds the excess water after a rain and it hangs in the air, thicker than any fog. My body moves across a distance, but I cannot wake my mind fully. Anytime I acknowledge my half-conscious state, I am pulled deeper into the depths of unconsciousness.
When I wake with a gasp, I am once again standing in my room, my blankets undisturbed. The soles of my feet are grainy with sand and stones like they were last time. I was unsure before, but now I am certain I folded in my sleep somehow.
Without thinking it through, I race toward the guest room, where August is likely deeply asleep given the hour. I pause in front of the door. I should turn around and go back to my own bed. The last time this happened, it stopped once I woke up and I was able to sleep after. I could wait and tell him in the morning, and we could figure it out together then when we are both well rested and I’m not wearing a nightgown.
But like a fool, I knock.
And when he doesn’t answer, I knock harder because it wasn’t lesson enough to change my mind.
“Calliape?” August’s voice sounds sleepy.
“Hi, so, something happened. Can I come in?”
“Yes.”
