Silver Waves

Six

Much stomping and shouting came from the top deck of the ship, waking Nami from her uneasy, pained slumber. A few of the other girls sat up, shackles clanking as they rubbed their eyes.

"Wha's goin' on?" Little Ren sat up, her dark brown stubble flattened on one side. She had been sleeping closest to Nami, caring for her when she awoke from hurt or thirst. It had been two days since the whipping, and her wounds weren't better; they were beginning to feel worse. The skin around the lash marks was red and inflamed, a sign of infection setting in. A fever had come, as well, and Nami's eyes were glazed with pain and sickness.

The islanders worried for her; Kaia most of all. She knew that if they didn't escape, somehow, that Nami was likely to get worse in the disgusting, unhealthy squalor of the ship. But how was Nami to escape when she was so unwell? Could the Tribe leave one of their own behind? The horrible weather hadn't stopped, either, the ship struggling on through high winds and treacherous seas. Escaping into that dangerous ocean would be impossible. The only hope was for the pirates to make port before they reached the northern islands, maybe to rest or resupply.

If, when they finally docked, it was on the shores of King Sisk's lands, the Tribe would never be free.

The shouting hadn't stopped, and Endel rose from the far wall, tugging his trousers from their sleep-tangled state. "I'll go find out what that's all about." He yawned as he walked lightly up the stairs and through the door to the upper deck.

Nami desperately had to relieve herself. She felt slightly embarrassed as she called Kaia to her side, whispering: "I can't stand on my own..."

Kaia stoically helped her Tribemate to her feet, waving Nami's shyness away with ceaseless care. She helped her friend to the bucket that one of the pirates had thrown into a corner. Slowly lowering Nami to sit, she looked away as her friend relieved herself and washed with liquid from their barrel of drinking water, then helped her once more to the mattress.

When Nami was lying down again, Kaia gently removed the hide wrappings from Nami's back. The material had stuck slightly to her inflamed skin, and smarted as it was pulled away. Sprigg approached the two with a mug of water, and started to gently wash the lacerations. Nami sucked in her breath and shied away from the unexpected sting.

"Sorry," Sprigg winced. "I didn't warn you, it's ocean water. The salt will help clean the area and take the swelling down."

Nami nodded and braced herself, gritting her teeth, letting the girls gently care for her. "Thank you," she said when they stepped back. "I'm sorry you have to-"

Sprigg cut her off. "No apologies. It isn't your fault you're hurt." She threw a murderous glance overhead.

All was silent for a moment, after that, as the trio thought of the cruelty they had already faced, and dreaded what was to come. Nami hadn't yet told the others what she had found out from Endel, about where they were going, about what they'd be made to do.

Sniffling came from the corner of the room, breaking the reverie. Nami glanced over and saw Fae, huddled into herself, tears streaking her cheeks, the tip of her pale nose turning pink. Lena and Oona sat at her feet, making little cooing, shushing sounds.

Dalma stretched a hand towards the young woman, cupping her cheek almost maternally. "What is it, Fae?" Her question was gentle and genuine.

"What-" the tearful girl choked out, "what if Jex is hurt?" She started to sob her fear, her heart aching for her betrothed.

Nami was taken aback for a moment. She had been so preoccupied with her group's plight that she hadn't yet thought about the people they'd left behind. Suddenly, she was overcome with worry for Osprey, for Inana and her children, for all of her family that may have been hurt in the futile effort to save the girls, for the heartache that her Tribe must feel.