Born of Water

Born of Water Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

AFTER EFFECTS

Ria leaned over the edge of the boat and threw up. Lavinia watched as Ria heaved drily, fingers gripping the gunwale. Niri kept a hand on her, rubbing Ria's back between her shoulder blades. Finally, Ria stopped and curled up on the deck, her head against Niri's side. The predawn darkness of the empty ocean was broken by the waning moon against the clear sky.

"Did Lavinia really kill that Priest?"

"Yes," Niri answered without inflection. Lavinia gnawed on her lip and looked away.

"Good."

Tears welled in Niri's eyes. Looking away, Niri's gaze found Ty. Without a word between them, Ty sat behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder. Lavinia swallowed and kept her eyes on her feet, watching her three companions from the periphery of her vision. They were a few feet away, wedged between a bench seat and the ship's rail. Lavinia sat on the rear seat, near the tiller post and lines to the sail. Being in charge of the ship gave Lavinia the excuse she needed for distance.

As Niri leaned against Ty, he wrapped his arms around her. Niri pressed her cheek against his and closed her eyes. She kept a hand on Ria's head, absently smoothing her golden curls. Watching them, Lavinia ached for Darag so much she thought she would cry. A shudder went through her.

"Where are we?"

"About a quarter of the way to Tabook," Ty answered Ria.

Ria sat up, glancing at Lavinia. Lavinia kept her expression fixed, hoping that no one noticed that she sat because her knees would tremble if she stood. Ria offered a tired smile before turning to look around the boat. Ria's gaze took in Niri, still held against Ty without a flicker of emotion.

"Are you feeling better?" Lavinia asked. At least her voice didn't shake.

"A bit. I... I don't know what overcame me. I was so scared. I wanted to use my power, but couldn't. I kept grabbing for it but it kept slipping away. And then... then when you killed him it all just went out of me."

"I know," Niri whispered. "I saw."

Niri took an unsteady breath. "I could see you try to call it. It rose up around you without staying attached to the ground or you, not like in Mirocyne or Sardinia when you tried there. It just rose like flames leaping from a fire, burning themselves out without fuel. But there was a glow under you, like you stood on... on a beam of moonlight only it was soft green. Like your power. It is nearly the color of your eyes. I hadn't thought of that before." Niri's attention wandered off for a moment. She gave a shake of her head.

"And then when Lavinia killed the Priest, the glow disappeared. More like exploded outward, dissipating so fast I could barely see it."

"Why?" Ria asked.

"I don't know. I wish I understood. I've never seen anything like it before."

Ria's hopeful look dimmed. She bowed her head, resting her forehead against Niri's forearm.

"Maybe when we get to the Temple of Dust. I just don't know."

"Can we still go?" Lavinia asked. "The Church will know where we are even if Ria didn't call the Curse." They would know because of what she had done, though Lavinia couldn't bring herself to say it.

"I'm not sure," Ty said. "Rah Hahsessah doesn't like to attract attention. People tend to disappear there without any stir."

"But a Priest?" Niri asked.

Ty's expression was calm though tired. "From what I heard from Ryic, even Priests. Arkira was careful to obey the city's rules when we were there and she didn't listen to much other than herself."