Cloak and Scalpel

THE CADIA ARC: Precious

Author's Note:

Hello! I'm so sorry for the late update. Let's just say I had a lot to deal with on my plate. I'm starting to think the Ao3 author's curse is real at this point. Let's just say it involved medschool and an online stalker case.

Yeah.

But I digress. Enjoy this chapter!

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One Week Ago
The Vonetis Sea
Blue Flame Island
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"You talk to your brother."

"No. Aamon's been broody. I'm not disturbing him when he's broody. You do it!"

"Bro. We're not even friends. Look, even Lieh thinks your brother has bad vibes."

Lesley sat nearby on an overturned crate, her long rifle stretched across her lap. She ran a cloth down its gleaming barrel with steady hands. It had been a week since Kalea had rescued them from the unforgiving waters of the Vonetis sea. One week since the ship had capsized, since they had lost Diana...

Aamon hadn't spoken much in that time—his words few, his gaze always turned to the sea. The hut they shared was modest, tucked beneath the palms, built from sun-bleached wood and woven leaves. It was Kalea's home on the island, and she'd opened her doors to them, unwittingly becoming the caretaker to four strangers from the Moniyan Empire.

It was a situation Lesley hadn't imagined for herself. She'd never stepped foot on a ship before, let alone traveled this far beyond the Empire's reach. Life, she supposed, had a twisted sense of humor.

Outside the hut's windows, the sun was starting to set, throwing golden light across its walls. A large clay pot hung over a firepit in the center of the floor, and the tantalizing scent of pork and spices wafted over Lesley.

"All right, that's dinner," Kalea proclaimed, hands on her hips as she took a whiff of the stew she'd cooked for them all. "Pretty sure I followed Badang's recipe, it should be good."

Lesley set her rifle down. "Thank you for cooking for us tonight," she began, gesturing to the clay pot. "But like I said, you've done enough for us, and we barely even know you. You don't need to bother yourself, Kalea. We can manage—"

Kalea scoffed, waving her golden clawed hand. "Don't worry, I insist!" She grinned, giving Lesley a thumbs-up. "Anyway, this is me trying to learn more about humans. Badang thinks it's good for me, so I don't mind."

Lesley vividly remembered the striking tribal warrior who'd greeted them a week ago. Though their interaction with the warrior had been brief, he struck her as a noble leader, trustworthy enough for them to drop their guard around. Kalea had said Badang had helped train and look after her.

"Besides." Kalea's grin stretched ear to ear. "Between you and me? I like human food. Too bad my ancestor never got to try any, he'd have looooved this." She clapped her hands and turned to Yin and Gusion. "So! Can someone fetch Mr. Tall-Dark-And-Broody?"

Gusion and Yin glanced at each other. "You do it," Gus told him.

"No way! I called him in for breakfast this morning. He looked at me like I'd stabbed Tyrasos or something," Yin replied, spine cringing from the memory of the cold menace in Aamon's eyes.

Lesley's boots clicked on the wooden floor as she turned to face them, arms crossed. "Honestly?" She arched a brow at them. "You're both being dramatic."