Songbird

Chapter Nineteen - Home

The rising sun lit the sea in shades of red and gold the next morning as the Zanabaq cut through the water, heading for Twinstones. After consulting a map and examining their surroundings, Hamid told his passengers that the storm had pushed them only slightly off their desired course. They would still reach Twinstones in a matter of days.

"Kal!" he called from the helm. "I would speak with you."

Kal joined him on the aft deck. "What is it?"

He rested a hand on Kal's shoulder. "You saved my son's life," he said. "For that, I can never thank you enough."

Kal shook his head. "It was Wren who saved the both of us—she's the one who deserves your thanks."

"And I will surely tell her, as well," Hamid said. "But I feel that I should apologise for what I said that night. You may have made some regrettable decisions, but you are no thief."

"Thank you, Hamid. It means a lot, truly." His eyes stung at the familial gesture, and he had to turn away.

"You're welcome, my boy. Now, check the set of our sails, see if you can coax any more speed out of the old girl."

"Aye, sir."

Wren caught his eye as he finished his task, and she drew him to the bow, lowering her voice so that the other two wouldn't hear.

"I want to tell Hamid about myself," she said. "He's helped us so much, I don't like keeping secrets from him."

"I don't see any harm in it," he said. "Why don't we tell him later, once we've slowed for the night."

"Alright."

The weather had finally cleared, only scattered wisps of fog still hovering over the sea, and the water was calm as it lapped against the sides of the ship. The sun shone overhead, warming the decks of the ship, so that the violence and terror of the storm and the island seemed like a mere nightmare half-remembered.

A full moon illuminated the sea that night as the four of them sat on the deck after finishing their supper, and the water was like a second sky, reflecting the stars.

"Hamid," Wren said. "Kal and I would like to tell you about ourselves, if you'll listen."

He sat cross-legged, hands on knees. "Certainly, if you wish to speak of it."

"I suppose it's about me, really," she said. "I am of a noble family. That, I'm sure, was no secret to you. And we told you our true names, but I'm also known by another."

"You're the Songbird, aren't you?"

She blinked. "You already knew?"

"I had my suspicions," he said. "At least, you match what I've heard about you—a young woman from a noble family, with prodigious musical talent. And being shut away in a tower is as good a reason as any to want to run away from home."

She laughed, glancing over to share a smile with Kal. "It seems we underestimated you, Hamid."

His eyes twinkled with amusement. "Are you a mage, as they say, then?"

The plate she had eaten from rose into the air, hovering at eye level as Hamid and Aziz looked on in astonishment.

"Incredible...!"

She gave a modest shake of her head. "Oh, this is nothing impressive. I still know so little about it."

"She doesn't give herself enough credit," Kal said. He smiled as she met his eyes. "She called to me from hundreds of miles away and spoke to me in dreams. So don't let her fool you, she's amazing."