A grin stole across Jolin’s face. “You’ll see.” Lilette did not like that wicked gleam in her eyes.
Sailors finished loading the supplies into the boat and tied them down, the cords of muscle in their arms straining. The captain himself verified the stability of each crate. Why do they need to be tied down so tight? Lilette thought uneasily.
Three more sailors swung into the boat—none of them wearing shirts. Jolin tensed up as another bare-chested sailor took the seat next to her. Another stood in front of Lilette. “That’s my job, Witchling.” He pointed to the oar in Lilette’s hand.
She huffed indignantly. “I can do it.”
“’Course you can. But it isn’t your job—it’s mine. You’ve a different part to play.”
With a huff, Lilette handed over the oar and scooted to the center of the bench. The four sailors picked up the oars. The boat was lowered by a series of pulleys, the sailors lined up to release the rope one handhold at a time.
The boat settled heavily into the water. The sailors dug in with the oars, their movements a perfectly matched dance. More boats filled with supplies were lowered into the water after them.
Lilette watched as Jolin’s gaze traveled down Galon’s wiry frame, her bottom lip between her teeth. He turned in time to catch her appraisal, and a slow grin spread across his face. Jolin’s face flamed nearly as red as his hair. Lilette laughed out loud. Jolin glared a death curse at her. As soon as Galon turned away, she mouthed something that looked like “I’m going to kill you.” Lilette laughed harder.
The sailors stopped rowing and concentrated on keeping the boat from drifting.
“Now you have to stand and sing,” Jolin said, a smug look on her face.
Lilette’s grin faded. “Why?”
Jolin rooted around in her pocket and pulled out a piece of a sheet of music. “It’ll be good practice. Besides, you’re a better singer than I.”
Lilette took the music and quickly scanned it. She filled her lungs and her voice rang out.
Oh, sister sea plants, I ask of thee,
Take me to the place none but witches see.
The words echoed off the cliffs, adding an eerie chorus. As she began her third repetition, she caught sight of something white glimmering beneath the waves. Still singing, Lilette leaned forward for a closer look. But the image was suddenly blotted out by a thick rope of green. As the last note trailed off her tongue, ropes of seaweed shot up from below and began weaving around the boat.
A strong hand pulled her down. “This is your first time?” Galon asked. Mute, she nodded. He swore and shoved her hand into a leather loop on the seat beside her. She hadn’t paid it any mind before. “Hold on to this.”
She grabbed it, too confused and frightened to argue. He grabbed her leg and jammed her toes into a wedge of leather that had been bolted onto the deck. The one she’d stumbled over before. He winked at her. “Hold on. This is the fun part.”
She finally found her voice to ask him what he meant when the last of the kelp wrapped them in near darkness and the boat suddenly upended. Half a moment too late, Lilette tensed, her toes digging into the wedge. A sailor grabbed her shoulder to steady her. Suddenly it was almost silent. The kelp bulged inward until it pressed against her face, water trickling past the leaves. Her ears suddenly hurt so bad she couldn’t think past the pain.
“Try to blow your nose, but pinch it closed,” Galon told Lilette. She didn’t understand but she tried it anyway. Her ears popped and the pain was gone for half a moment before returning.
“Keep doing it,” he said encouragingly. Jolin gripped her satchel and muttered something about stupid ideas.
“Are we going to die?” Lilette whispered.
“Not today,” Galon responded far too brightly.
Suddenly, they were rising—much, much faster than they’d descended. The boat burst above the surface, and the kelp slithered away.
Lilette lay against the bench, her dress damp with seawater. Wherever they were was dimly lit and smelled of damp rocks and smoke. Above her was an arched ceiling, black with soot.
Galon sat up, a wide grin on his face. He and the other sailors started rowing. Lilette stayed where she was.
Jolin checked the seeds in her satchel before settling back with a sigh of relief. She laughed at the look on Lilette’s face. “I’m a bad friend.”
“Yes, you are.”
“You can let go of the loops now.”
Lilette forced her aching fingers to relax. She rubbed the feeling back into them and yanked her foot free of the wedge. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Jolin smirked. “Because it wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun.”