Page 6 of Buoy
“Had to finish chores. But I saw the sails.” He handed Soren a small package. “Eat.”
Rhys hadn’t forgotten about him, and he was already back to feeding him. Soren’s heart slammed in his chest, and heat spread across his cheeks. What in the twelves seas was this feeling?
“Thank you,” Soren said. “You’re taller.” And he was sure Rhys’ voice was different, too. Deeper, but maybe he’d imagined the difference. It had been a year.
Rhys shrugged. “I’m at six feet five now. Dad thinks I’ll be taller than him and he’s seven feet.”
Soren didn’t think he’d grown at all in the last year, but hoped he had. He didn’t want to stay tiny forever.
“Eat. And tell me about your adventures.”
Soren led them to the edges of the dock, the farthest away from Vex’s tavern and hidden between ships.
“There’s not much to say.” Soren settled on the wooden planks and unfolded the cloth to find bread and cheese. A hint of piney minty rosemary wafted up, and he took a bite. “So good.” An involuntary trill sounded from him, and he bit the inside of his cheek as embarrassment poured through him from making the sound. But it was just so delicious. He usually ate hardtack mixed with a bit of fresh water, even when they were at a port. Bellani didn’t want Vex wasting money to feed Soren. Luckily, Vex spelled the hardtack to keep bugs away. And sometimes he passed off real food, which Soren usually devoured without tasting. Rhys’ food was down right divine.
“I studied pixie dust this year,” Rhys started, probably so Soren could eat. “It’s fascinating. It’s both an illicit drug and a healing ingredient.”
Soren didn’t like pixie dust. “It makes my head feel funny.”
Rhys’ eyes went wide. “It shouldn’t be used on children, no matter the reason.”
“I was bad.” Soren shrugged and wiped bread crumbs from his lap. Pixie dust was much better than being whipped by Bellani’s belt.
“Soren.”
“It was only the one time. I got really sick, though.”
“What happened?” Rhys picked at his sleeve. “Why did they…”
What could Soren tell him? That he went to the wrong house in the middle of the night, woke a dog, got bitten, and went back to the ship empty-handed because he was bleeding so much. No. Not that. That was embarrassing. True, but embarrassing. “I talked back to Bellani.” That was also true, but usually earned him a slap.
“So she drugged you?”
Soren shrugged again. “Didn’t last too long. I’m fine.”
“You should leave the ship.” Rhys stood and paced in his spot. “My parents—”
“I can’t leave. They otherwise treat me fine. I enjoy the work I get to do. Vex is nice. Why would I leave?” Soren went to his feet, too. He had to lean back to look up at Rhys, but he’d stand his ground. “Also, I’m not free to make that choice. I was bought. Remember?”
“They starve you.”
“They don’t. And you gave me food, which helped. A lot. Thank you.” Soren’s stomach did ache with hunger more often than not. If only Vex would allow him to swim, then he could catch fish whenever he wanted. He’d never be hungry. But Vex didn’t want anyone besides him, Bellani, and Kane, knowing Soren was mer. He suspected Ash knew, though. She was perspective and had her own secrets.
“I’m sorry. I just don’t understand.”
“You don’t have to. Besides, the crew treats me better than my parents ever did.” That wasn’t entirely true. Ash was great, but most ignored him, or barked orders, sending him scrambling across the decks with useless tasks.
Rhys nodded. With a sigh, Rhys settled back on the edge of the dock and hung his legs over the ledge. “Other than pixie dust, anything else happen?” He pulled his boots off and set them beside him.
“We had an encounter with kelpies a few months back.” Soren shivered as he sat again and went back to his food, munching on the cheese. He didn’t care much for kelpies, though he and they were both from the sea.
Rhys’ eyes went wide. “What… is a kelpie?”
“Don’t you learn about sea creatures in your fancy school?”
Rhys opened then closed his mouth. “Yes. But we haven’t gotten to whatever a kelpie is.”
Soren couldn’t help but laugh. “You live by the ocean. How have you never heard of a kelpie?”
