Witch Fall(55)

But they were still moving forward. She searched for signs the ship was taking on water—slowing down or sitting deeper. Nothing. She released her breath and let go of Han. “See if the hold is taking on water. Be thorough—if there’s a small leak now, it will be an enormous one by tomorrow.”

Lilette scanned for any sign of a reef they probably wouldn’t be able to avoid anyway. She didn’t see any darker shapes, or the break of waves on rocks. She set up a watch at the stern for pursuit and at the bow for snags.

Geth trotted toward her. “The rudder caught on the chain. It’s ruined.”

That must have been the splintering sound. Cursing, Lilette hustled to the stern as fast as her exhausted body would allow. Sure enough, the rudder had shattered at the narrowest point.”

“Pull it up and see if you can’t rig something to get us by until we can reach Grove City.”

“And how do we steer in the meantime?” Geth asked.

She pursed her lips. “Right now, steering isn’t as important as getting out of sight. If the ship is damaged, we won’t outrun anyone.”

“But with the keepers singing—” Geth began.

“Their singing won’t stop us from sinking or sitting so low in the water we can’t move,” Lilette interrupted. “We can steer the ship with the wind, at least a little.”

She felt Han’s solid presence beside her. “I didn’t find any holes.”

They were going to make it. Lilette couldn’t stop herself from glancing back at the city of Rinnish as dusk stole over the island. Through the blur of rain, smoke rose toward the sky. Lightning lit up the clouds. The palace still lorded over the city, looking pristine among the destruction.

Lilette let out a breath. “This isn’t the first time I’ve fled this city while it burned.”

Han made a sound deep in his throat. “I remember.”

All these years of trying to get back to her sister, and they’d had less than an hour together. Sash had taken Lilette’s place, and Lilette had abandoned her. “I’ll come back for you, just as you came back for me.” The wind caught her promise and carried it away. Lilette wished her sister could hear it.

Knowing the image had burned a brand in her memory, she turned away. They’d made it, but how many had fallen behind?

Guardians were hauling the injured below decks while the witches continued singing. Jolin wove through the mass of guardians and witches toward them. “I found some charts to plot our course by,” she said, then turned and headed back.

Lilette motioned for Geth and followed Jolin to the hatch. They waited as Han went down first. “How long will it take to reach Grove City?” Lilette asked.

Jolin looked toward the circle of witches, her eyes narrowed with concentration. “If we keep a steady rotation of singers, five days.”

Lilette went down next. Her trembling legs barely held her weight, and she went slowly so she wouldn’t fall. The hold was one long room full of barrels, crates, and swaying hammocks. Someone had already lit the lamps. A couple dozen injured had already been laid out. Witches went among them, doing the best they could.

Lilette turned in a slow circle as Geth and Jolin dropped down. “Any food?” Lilette asked.

Han found a crowbar, then pried open a crate and reached inside. He pulled out handfuls of what looked like twisted ropes of fine, shining hair. “Looks like they’d just loaded their cargo—raw silk.”

Lilette found one with bits of fruit peeking out. “Over here.” There were barrels of water too. “How many of us made it out?”

Jolin peered hungrily between the gaps of the crate. “Twenty witches. Thirty-two guardians.”

Lilette hesitated as Geth pried another crate open—this one held rice. “How many were lost?”

Jolin’s face fell. “Too many.”

They moved among the crates, trying to estimate if they had enough food for over forty people. “If we’re careful, we should make it,” Geth finally surmised.

Motioning for them to follow her, Jolin strode through the injured to the stern, where there was a screened-off partition—probably where the captain slept. She gathered a rolled-up map and a small chest. “I have some calculations to make when the stars come out in about an hour. I’ll be topsides if you need me.”

“Geth—” she tipped her head toward the drafting table “—bring that, if you will.” But she paused at the doorway and nodded toward a group of guardians who were pulling apart some planking. “What are they doing?”

Lilette grunted. “Making a new rudder.”