The Pirate and the Amber Cat 19

Chapter 19

Suili learns her ransom.

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The next morning Suili awoke to a shaky stomach, aching head, and sour thoughts of the preceding night. She did not go out on deck until after noon, and when she did, she wondered how the crew could continue as if nothing had changed.

It was not their world that had been capsized, she knew. Only hers. But even Cortleno was the same. He acted no differently toward her.

It was only new to her, not him.

With great effort, Suili turned her thoughts to other matters, but found little interest in watching the jaegers and gulls battle over a fish, or the sea turtle one of the Hemtitti men hauled up from the waters. She discovered her attentions going repeatedly to Brons. The cabin boy had just entered his teen years, she guessed, and couldn't be too familiar with the operation of the Nysse, judging from his blunders and constant questions to Lucas and the boatswain.

New since Ibereth, a small voice echoed in her head. She shook this from her mind.

It took all Suili's mental powers not to observe the boy too closely. He had already noticed her scrutiny, but she couldn't decide if he was puzzled or wary of her. He certainly didn't return her attentions with the loathing she expected, and she wondered if he knew who she was. She couldn't remember if he had been present when Juriz was on deck in Leneau.

By nightfall Suili was emotionally exhausted from the turmoil of her own thoughts and busy conscience. Even with her preoccupation, Cortleno persuaded her into a game of Bull and Lion. She didn't fully realize she had consented to play until he plucked the chapbook from her unmoving hands as she sat before the fireplace in the bedchamber.

"You said you'd play."

She withdrew her feet from the hearth, which had grown far too warm with the modest fire. "Of course."

She sat down at the table, her eyes going to the tea and plate of biscuits beside the game. Cortleno lowered the blinds against the chill air and sat in the chair opposite her.

"You haven't eaten all day," he commented, nodding for her to make the first move. "And that was quite a bit of brandy for you last night." He set a frog across from hers. "What's on your mind?"

Her eyes held no humor and just a bit of a headache still. "You know what's on my mind," she said sharply.

"So you are considering what I told you." His elephant took her jackal. "Careful, little firefly. Your light is flickering."

Her hand moved the amethyst rabbit and snatched his white and gray horse from the board. "How can you joke about something like this?"

He frowned over the board, developing retaliation under her unexpected attack. "It was a long time ago, Suili. Methden is dead."

She shook her head, watching his black and white turtle take her jade fish. "That doesn't mean you've forgotten."

"No. I haven't forgotten."