Figurehead

nine

Faint light trickles through the pale curtains covering the large window, into the simply furnished room. A now-empty hearth, three single beds spaced evenly apart side-by-side, a small table in between each. A large chest of drawers with a vessel of water, some folded cloths, combs and a shallow basin on top.

I sit with my knees to my chest, covered by a sheet that was white once, but has been discoloured by time. A head of tangled dark braids and lump of sheet is all I can see of my sleeping companion- but she's not asleep. She turns with a groan to face me.

"Did you tell me I'd have a headache?" she moans. I nod and suppress a smile. She groans again and thumps the pillow beneath her head. "Should have listened." I laugh this time, even more so when she shoots me a glare that would have been piercing if she didn't look so tired.

Yud walked her back, the both of them stumbling, bursting through the door before he gave her a clumsy kiss on the cheek and almost walked into the fire in the hearth on his way out. Eler had been conveniently walking past in the hall, winking at me as she gently guided the man so he didn't crash into any walls or walk into any other room. That he'd found this one was something of a wonder in itself. Nirs had practically collapsed onto her bed, asleep before I had even sat up.

I slip into my jacket and out of the bed, padding over to the chest of drawers and pouring some of the water into the basin, splashing my face. "You didn't drink?" I shake my head as I blindly take one of the cloths and dry my face.

"No," I say, voice muffled by the cloth. I place it on the other side of the basin and peer into the water at my reflection. My dark hair is a knotted and wavy mass, my eyes, just as dark, somewhat bleary with sleep. It is difficult, in the little light of the room, to see the rims of gold around my eyes, but they are still visible. I don't use the combs, knowing I'll probably break them if I do, and pad back to the bed I used, one hand patiently (or not) attempting a task it has done so many times before.

She is sitting up now, blinking at me after rubbing her eyes, the bright green of her eyes slightly dull in the dim light. "Are you leaving?" she asks quietly, having watched me a moment.

I continue the arduous task of untangling my hair and nod once. "Yeah."

"Oh."

I sit on the side of the bed, facing her, as I try not to tear all my hair out. One of her hands clutches her head as she winces, still watching me. In the silence, I wonder if she will stay, I wonder what she thinks of me leaving already. I wonder how much she cares for Yud- but I have an idea of that, after hearing her mumbling and giggling about him yesterday.

"Will you stay?" I ask, lowering my hands from my head.

She sighs heavily. "I don't know."

"You-"

"I didn't do anything with him yesterday, apart from talk," she interrupts quietly. "I'm pretty sure."

I shake my head. "No, that's not what I was going to say. You can stay here if you want, Eler said she didn't mind. With your farming experience, it'll be helpful."

She sighs again. "What did you see in Kalsemir that you want to go back so quickly?" Her eyebrows are creased in concern, her gaze soft.

I shake my head again. "No, it's not that."

She smiles weakly. "Somebody you miss? The mysterious man you spoke to moments after we left the stables?"

I laugh, although it's not awkward, like yesterday. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because Eler is more than a few Dre older than me or something. Maybe it was the knowing look in her eyes. "It's not that either." Mostly. I make an effort to stop thinking about it, but then, my mind does tend to fix on way too many things at once-

"So what's going on?" She looks more awake now, enough to get out of bed and shrug her cloak on as she shuffles to the washbasin.

I sigh, standing and turning around to flatten and rearrange the sheets. "I need to bring the message back with as little delay as I can." I glance at her.

"Why?" Her already-quiet voice is muffled by a damp cloth she dabs her face with. She folds it up and places it against her forehead.

I pick up my things from the table by the bed. "We were meant to meet up with Pev, and I did. She told me the message was for the king." My voice is a low murmur. This is not exactly knowledge to be shared in the open. Nirs is a trusted messenger. She was honoured with that; she can hear this without anyone having any qualms if they were to know.

She frowns. "That sounds serious."

I sigh, packing my things. "Yeah." I shrug my cloak on, strapping my things to my back. I pause. "So I'm leaving in a few moments."