“We’ll sleep on the road,” Ora insisted, ushering a tired-looking Mina up the steps. “The oxen know the way. More time for us in Taigoska then.”
Malou nodded, darting her eyes from Ora to Hector and back to me.
“Esh. I’ll be damned, those waters really are magic,” she said, eyes dropping to my chin. I wasn’t sure what she suspected, but she shrugged and left it at that.
“I don’t know why she won’t let you lead her.” I twisted toward Navin’s voice. He led both oxen between him, Grae a few paces behind. “She’s normally comfortable with strangers.”
Sadie huffed and Hector nudged her. The humans might not know we were Wolves, but prey animals like oxen probably sensed it.
Grae kept his distance from the large, shaggy animals. From the way he fixed his stare straight ahead, I could tell he was trying not to look at me.
I stepped forward anyway. “Hey, can I talk to you?”
He slowed but didn’t stop. “I’m going to ride up front and give Navin a break.”
“Okay . . .” My mouth grew dry. “Listen—”
“I’ll see you in Taigoska.” He stepped around me and my heart sank.
My fingers twitched to reach out for him, to make him listen to me, but there were too many people around. It wasn’t the right place to prod at those fresh wounds. Despite that, the fact he wouldn’t look me in the eye made me want to crumple to the ground right then and there.
Sadie clapped me on the shoulder. “Come on,” she said. “I think we need a drink.” She turned toward Navin. “You up for a drink?”
“I’m exhausted,” he said with a giant yawn, hefting his harp up the steps. “But have fun.”
“Yep,” she said, but I saw the hint of disappointment on her face.
“What drinks did you have in mind?” Hector asked, following us into the back seating area. “I don’t recall there being anything other than tea on board.”
Sadie whipped out a flask from her cloak pocket and wiggled it at her brother.
He guffawed. “We’re definitely related.”
The others climbed into the upper decks, stowing their instruments and milling about, readying for sleep. I dropped onto the patchwork couch and leaned my head back, looking up at the ceiling. I scrubbed my hand down my face. Ostekke gut me, everything was such a mess.
Sadie sat beside me, kicking her feet up on the low table as Hector lounged across from us.
“Here.” She passed me the flask.
I shook my head at her offering. I already felt nauseated enough. She shrugged and took a sip.
Hector watched the others getting ready for bed and muttered, “Are we still on for stealing the nitehock in Taigoska?”
“We have no plans on how to enter the palace undetected,” Sadie whispered back, her words rising as the others drifted further away. I scratched a hand up my arm, feeling jittery and unsettled after Grae’s dismissal. I knew the siblings were dancing around the Aiden news, and I wondered if they were waiting until the humans were asleep. They carried on their same old spat as if everything hadn’t just changed for us—the final nail in the coffin—we could never go home. “Even if we hide under the guise of human servants, you think they’ll just let us waltz into the royal apothecary?”
“We could be quick.” Hector shucked off his boots and they thudded to the floor. I wanted to interrupt them, wanted to scream, but the shock of everything that was unfolding was too much. “In and out. We just need some sort of distraction.”
“You’re going to get us killed,” Sadie hissed.
“And you’re going to get Maez killed,” Hector snapped back. “How do we get to wherever they’re keeping her? Why are you more concerned about stealing nitehock than saving our friend.” Sadie twirled her knife like she might stab her brother, but he continued, “You think we can storm the castle on a lake with brute force alone? Sawyn can’t be at full power if—”
Ora appeared at the top of the stairs, cutting off Hector’s whispered protests.
They had already changed into a thick purple robe. The fabric looked incredibly soft, perfect for the cold Taigosi nights. They cocked their head at us like a curious bird, and I knew they could sense the heightened tension that stormed among the three of us. Ora always seemed to know more than they let on, and I once again wondered how many times this had happened before—stowaways of Galen den’ Mora swapping secrets in that very spot. Maybe we weren’t even the first Wolves who had hitched a ride . . . I looked past Ora toward the badges swinging above the table, searching for a little Wolf face, but there was none. If a Wolf was hiding on Galen den’ Mora, they wouldn’t have announced what they were to the humans.