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"Fair enough" She scoots behindbraid We sway a little as the wind picks up and rocks the ship It’s coht two," I say "One for each of us"

Her fingers on my hair still "Yes Belén and IHe is so handsohs "We’ve both changed a lot He’s scarred too, now Sothat happened between us, I thoughtrees

Tonight, I decide not to take the lady’s shroud But I wrap it carefully inti which would bethat ht

Chapter 23

THE waves grow playful They toss the Aracely about, and I clutch the rail as I descend the stair on er cabin to visit Storht be permission to enter, but I can’t be sure I open the door anyway

The scent of stale vo

"You really need to let some fresh air in here"

"Go away," heover the side, his arm over his eyes Footsteps patter across the deck above us A single fly executes lazy circles around the slop bucket near the head of his bed

"Maybe you should go up on deck At least you’d be able to throw up over the side instead of in that bucket"

The ship tilts on a sudden wave, and he groans

"I sensed the zafira," I tell hi position "You’re sure?"

"It feels like it’s calling--"

He heaves into the bucket It hasn’t been dumped in a while, and a bit splashes over the side I jerk et someone to clean that up"

He wipes his mouth with a sleeve "No It keeps Hector and the captain out ofin the hold"

I’ust

"You’ll be tested," he says "The closer we get, the harder it will be"

"That’s what I caatekeeper"

He nods "I did, yes"

I sigh, exasperated at how he makesyou know about the gatekeeper"

He lies back down "Fetchup is thirsty work"

"Information first, water later"

I catch the faint hint of a satekeeper was selected froi Only the most powerful applied There was a contest of sorts, and the winner was sent to watch over and protect the zafira"

I frown "You’ve never mentioned any of this before"

"You never asked Also, I’m not sure he really exists But I am certain that my people would have erected soreatest resource Why not use the us in our nation to do it? And since the zafira conveys life and power, so time"

I stare at him in disbelief "But your people have been cut off fro He’d have to be hundreds of years old"

"More like thousands"

I laugh "Not that old After God brought hu tiapes at irl," he says

"What? Why?"

The ship lurches, and he covers hismy question "Why do you think I’h and faint at the top castle, gaining strength as the other bells pick up the signal A voice booms down the hallway "All hands! All hands!"

Crewmen hurry past Storm’s doorway "I’ll be back!" I say to the Invierno before rushing out after thehted land already? Has soone overboard?

I burst onto the ht Sailors mill about with tasks I hardly understand Two scurry up the rigging, daggers in their teeth Why would we be preparing to cut the sails?

"Elisa!" It’s Hector He stands at the botto for rabs my hand and yankssoutheast I follow his gaze

A blue-black cloud bank curls along the horizon, a rolling darkness in an otherwise crystal sky