Academy Island

Sweet

I wound another morning-gilt strand around the finishing touches to a net Silas needed, still unsure of the exact pattern and how to use a shuttle to knot a tight web fish couldn't escape through. North had agreed to help me, sitting with me after breakfast at the main work table. We were almost finished when Luke edged up to where I sat, setting opposite his brother to close me in between them. He nudged his shoulder against mine.

"Hey, sugar. Come draw out a map of the mango area for me, will you? I want to head out this morning since I'm free today."

He had a bit of edge browned paper and a charcoal pencil in his hand, offering it hopefully. I set my shuttle down, took the old page, smoothed it the best I could before bending over it to mark down where I'd found the mango groove and everything I remembered about the swamp.

I blew over the page to get the crumble of the pencil's grit away. We both stared down at the map I'd sketched. As accurate as I could make it, it still left a lot to be desired. I'd been there, knew what the landmarks looked like, had a feel for the area already. I glanced up at Luke's face, intent on his study of my scribble, and clamped down on a hope I'd had running in the back of my mind ever since I'd been back on my feet.

"I should go with you."

Luke brightened, a good sign. "Do you think you can handle it?"

I nodded emphatically, sure. Besides, it had been a few weeks since I'd been further than a half mile from camp. I was looking forward to exploring. North took one salty look at my sketch and shook his head.

"No way. You have a map now Luke, so she should stay in camp, it's safer."

Luke's brows furrowed. "Dude, she wants to go. Besides, she'll be with me, I'm not going to let anything happen to her."

"Did you not hear me? It's a bad idea."

Attention was being drawn from the fish roasting on a spit to the hike in North's voice and I cringed inward. Even Mr. Blackbourne looked our way, clapping his hands clean and standing, his interest sure to be the downfall of my hopes.

"What's the problem?"

My shoulders slumped as North gestured to the map I'd drawn, his features tight and movement tense. "She wants to go out with Luke mango hunting out at the swamp. I say it's too soon for her."

Mr. Blackbourne's eyes flicked between us. "Why not? Her feet are healed, and she knows the place better than any of us do."

North rose out of his seat, fists clenched, chest out. I was impressed with Mr. Blackbourne's ability to remain unflinching despite North's taller hostility.

"I'm against it. She's too green out here, too rash, doesn't know what she's getting into half the time. Besides, she almost died last time she was out there."

Mr. Blackbourne paused; sizing him up and sparing only a momentary glance at me. He wasn't backing down judging by the set of his shoulders.

"Let her try."

North glared at us both, then spun and walked off towards his hut. I cringed when he slammed the door, looked to Mr. Blackbourne for what to do next. This was bad. I hadn't meant to make North so angry, I just wanted to help. Mr. Blackbourne sent a look around to the men gathered around the bird that would be our dinner, getting most of them to set off in different directions without a word spoken. I took the rucksack Luke held out to me, his own already on his back and his sun bleached hair tied back with unraveling twine. Mr. Blackbourne faced me, gave the slightest of nods. I couldn't disappoint him with this. He was putting his neck on the line over me, with no expectation other than coming back uninjured and safe. I glanced at North's hut where metal could be heard being thrown about and flinched at a metallic crash inside. I didn't understand why he was getting so worked up over me doing something the others did all the time.