Page 116 of The Eye of the Fifth
‘It doesn’t matter,’ Kawai hissed. ‘Just get us out of here.’
Shaking his head, Damar said, ‘Mad, I tell ya.’
Kawai didn’t respond as the captain hustled away. He let his head fall back against the side of the ship, his breathing slow and jagged.
The boy next to him stirred. Kawai was instantly alert, watching wide blue eyes blink in new surroundings. ‘Kano…’ Kawai said, a hand gripping the boy’s shoulder. ‘Kano, it’s me. It’s Kawai.’
‘Kawai?’ Kano rasped, then gingerly felt the back of his head. ‘My head…’
‘I’m sorry,’ Kawai said guiltily. ‘It was the only way to shut you up.’
Kano aggressively shook his head, then smacked the heel of his hand hard to his forehead, all whilst murmuring, ‘No, no, no…’
‘Easy!’ Kawai cried, wrapping his fingers around Kano’s wrists to stop him from hurting himself further. But even without the use of his hands, Kano slammed his head repeatedly on the wood behind him. ‘Kano… Kano, stop!’
‘Have to go back,’ Kano moaned desperately, and Kawai struggled to stop the slamming. ‘Have to go back… can’t leave! Have to go back, have to go back…’
Kawai looped his arm around Kano’s neck and pulled him into his chest in an attempt to stop him from writhing. ‘Kano, you’re safe now! He can’t hurt you anymore. You’re safe, Kano, I promise.’ His voice broke. ‘You’re… you’re safe.’
But Kano either wasn’t listening or couldn’t comprehend his brother’s words. His eyes were wide, so wide with all-encompassing terror. ‘Have to go back,’ he wailed. ‘Please… have to go back, have to go back…’
‘Where to, boy?’ Damar called out.
Kano began to sob. His fingers scratched Kawai’s arm hard enough to draw blood, as he repeated the same words over and over again. Hopelessness covered Kawai’s face, and tears spilled from his eyes as held his brother. Tormented by demons he couldn’t see.
With his grip still tight on a distressed Kano, Kawai said over his shoulder, ‘Head for Nevatis.’
Damar was outraged. ‘You’re mad! The ship’ll be torn to bits by mer outlaws before we even reach the border!’
‘There is no other place for him, Damar!’ Kawai shouted back over the storm’s wrath. ‘If he stays in Loros, the king will find him. But in Nevatis…’ he shook his head. ‘It’s his only hope.’
Slamming a hand on the helm, Damar cursed, ‘Damn you, Astaveron! Corla save us.’ He spun the helm to the right and the ship obeyed, heading for a black horizon of endless ocean.
‘You’re alright,’ Kawai promised his brother, over and over again. ‘You’re out. You’re alright. You’re safe.’
Kano was beyond any capabilities of listening. He convulsed with continuous sobs, and they rang through the salty air, a clashing harmony against the swishing waves below.
Kawai just held him, repeating the affirming words. Silent tears slid down his face as he peered back at Blythtrie with nothing but hate in his eyes.
Kyra hurtled back to her present at a sickening speed.
Kawai’s face was inches from hers. Gone was the admiration, the pleasure, the longing on his face. Now, his expression was cold. Hurt. And…
Furious.
She was still atop him, their naked bodies still locked as one. It felt wrong now, completely and utterly wrong, as though everything that came before had disappeared into an unreachable abyss.
Nausea swept through her, and it was all she could do not to vomit all over him. ‘Kawai, I-’
‘Was that what this was about? Was that all you wanted?’ His voice was low. And quiet.
So very quiet.
All too aware of her nakedness, Kyra pulled herself off him and put a shaking hand to her clammy head. ‘No… no I- I don’t… I don’t know what happened.’
He was painfully still for a moment, just staring down at nothing.
But then he got up and began pulling his clothes back on. Slowly. Deliberately. ‘Well, you got what you wanted.’ His voice was ice cold. He laced his trousers. ‘I’ll leave now, shall I, if you’re done with me?’
