Figurehead

fifteen

"We don't need one," he says dismissively.

She crosses her arms, dark eyes like coals as she fixes a glare on her kin. Of blood denied the Escatin name by her parents, she barely resembles him, or Lus. Her skin is pale, to begin with. But her eyes and her hair are dark, and the way some of her features are structured, I suppose, hint at their shared blood.

"You're the king," she says flatly. I forgot how funny it was to listen to them bantering back and forth. It's been a while since I talked to Tui. I can't remember the last time I did, actually.

"I'm aware of that, thanks," he rolls his eyes. "Lus," he calls. The man frowns as he approaches us. We stand in one of the wider passageways turning from the main hall.

"What now?" he mutters, coming to a stop beside me. I tuck my hands in my pockets with a shrug. He sighs.

"Inform her that a guard isn't necessary," Dein tells him.

"A guard will bring unwanted attention," he begins.

"See?" She rolls her eyes. They behave like siblings. I haven't seen my sister in two seasons. I wonder how she's doing.

"But a guard will bring protection against those who already know who you are," he finishes.

"'See?'" she mimics him.

"Who offered to come?" Lus asks. His voice is devoid of energy. Flat. There are lines beneath his eyes, which hold little spark.

"Juk and Gri did," I answer. I eye him. Did he actually get any sleep? I wonder when he last saw Riu. Or when he last had some proper sleep in his own dwelling, back in Ronseluf.

"You trust either of them?" Lus asks, glancing between the three of us. Tui shrugs.

"Oh, so now you stop talking," Dein mutters, and I snort at the look Tui shoots him behind his back. He shrugs. "I trust them enough."

"With your life?"

"I don't know," he says after a pause.

"Did anyone else offer to come?" Tui asks. I suppose she's dropped the idea of a guard's accompanying us, then. She looks at me. I shrug. She glances at the king. He shakes his head. "Oh."

"We leave soon," I point out. It won't be long before half-day. "Do either of the guards actually want to come? Or did they feel obligated to volunteer?"

"You can ask," Lus mutters. The two stand by the entrance. Tui goes to do just that.

We stand in silence as we wait. Lus covers his yawn with a hand, then shoves his hands in his pockets. He looks at me. "What?" he mumbles.

"When's the last time you slept properly?" I raise an eyebrow. He shrugs and mutters something incoherent. I sigh.

"They both don't mind coming, but I don't think they really care, either," Tui says quietly, coming to a stop between her two kin. They're all around the same height, all fairly tall. A shared trait in their blood, I guess. They dwarf me.

"So. Like I said. We don't need one." He crosses his arms.

"I know you can both defend yourselves, but it won't be safe," Tui sighs. "This is Dre. It's only been raining here, but snow is definitely coming. Maybe in the next two days." Her expression becomes grim. "It's not easy to see if you're being followed during snowstorms."

I shift my weight from one foot to another, feeling the light pressure from my boots telling me my blades are still there. "Yeah, I know," he sighs heavily, running a hand down his face as he looks at the floor. Lus turns and meets my gaze.