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.“Not yet.when we near a place close to shore.I will come for you.”She blinked twice.Had she understood? Did she comprehend enough Droevinkan for his suggestion to take root deep in her mind? He repeated more slowly, word by word.The young one craned her head, turning frightened eyes upon her companion.The adult frowned and blinked, and glared suspiciously at him.He looked different from her captors, but was human nonetheless and not to be trusted.Then slowly, she nodded.Welstiel returned her nod with a soft smile and placed one finger to his lips.He slipped out, sliding the wall panel back into its floor bracket.It took a moment to figure out how to close the portal fully, until he realized stepping on the floor’s wood square lifted the panel back into place.He placed the globe back on the desk and stepped out of the captain’s quarters.He was not clear of danger as yet.Hopefully the adult female would keep her young companion quiet.He had heard tales of human ships trying to round the northern peninsula into elven waters, but in these stories, not one had ever returned.The elves were savage in protecting their own.More than likely, he was not the only one who knew of the two stolen women.Magiere came south at a fast pace, and her vessel had its own purpose.As Welstiel crept back along the ship’s rail toward the aft, and slipped down its steps, the smell of blood rose around him again.His patience was already taxed to its limit.What had Chane been up to now?CHAPTER TENThe moon rose as Chap paced the deck amid the sounds of wind and wave, but his thoughts drifted.He had forsaken so much to protect Leesil and Magiere, yet now felt uncertain of the correct path—again.How had the Chein’âs known of Magiere? What did they want from her in exchange for their gifts of a dagger and what Wynn called a thôrhk? Something beyond vengeance, most certainly.And in the great scheme of things, what was the purpose for the artifact which Magiere sought?She and Leesil only wished to finish this last task and go home.With all Chap’s mortal heart, he wished this might be.But amid worry for them, something more nagged him tonight as he paced near the ship’s rail-wall.He felt a strong sense of something out there, coming closer—like a hole in the world he could not pinpoint.Chap hopped upon a storage chest near the rail-wall and stared ahead into the dark.Several elven crew members watched him curiously.They found it unnatural for a majay-hì to willingly leave its homeland.The young woman with the thick braid and oversized boots studied him like a mystery to be unlocked.But the crew’s discomfort did not matter, and he watched only the sea.“Chap, where are you?” Wynn called out.He glanced back as she emerged from the hatch below the forecastle, dressed only in her white shift, boots, and Chane’s old cloak.Chap sighed, concerned for her as well.His kin, the Fay, might still want Wynn dead.Not only for her ability to hear and perceive their presence, but also because she knew they were up to more than just sending Chap as a guardian to Magiere.And why did Wynn keep wearing that old cloak instead of her new coat?Her preoccupation with Chane worried him—no, it was outright disturbing.He looked out across the rolling water rushing around the ship’s prow and tensed, looking for.something.“There you are.” She scurried to his side.“It is getting late.”Being treated as her charge—instead of the other way around—was annoying, but it still warmed him at times.Normally, Wynn did not come on deck without Osha or Sgäile.He was surprised to find her alone and knew he should take her back downstairs.But that hollow in the world that he could not quite find began to make him ache.To make him want to.hunt?Chap inched to the storage chest’s far end, but his sharp eyes saw nothing upon the ocean ahead.“What is wrong?” Wynn asked.Chap hesitated.Something is out there.Wynn put a hand on his head and slid it down his neck.“I do not see anything.”You are only human.“Only?” she answered indignantly.A wink of light rose ahead in the dark.Chap reared up with his forepaws perched on the rail-wall.“Vessel ahead!” someone shouted from up in the rigging.Chap already saw it.The distant wink came again, catching upon sails, and the hackles on his neck stiffened.Chane sat upon an old canvas tarp spread over the stained floor.He had propped open the hatch, but the hold still reeked of blood.All was quiet above on deck.Welstiel stepped in, glaring at him.Chane climbed to his feet, half-hoping Welstiel would make some self-righteous demand for an explanation.He was sick of this existence and spoiling for confrontation
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