Pᴇʀғɪᴅɪᴏᴜs || Tʜᴇ Cʜᴏsᴇɴ Eɪɢʜᴛ Bᴏᴏᴋ Fᴏᴜʀ

Chapter nine// Are We Pirates?

Sabien

"Listen, I know this is upsetting, but we need to stay focused." Tyler's voice was soft, his face a mask of anxiety. "Remember, we have an upper hand here."

"How so?" Sasha asked doubtfully. "As far as I can tell, they're one step ahead of us."

As much as I hated to agree, he wasn't wrong. Our situation was pretty bleak at the moment. Tyler rubbed his nose. "We have a bargaining chip, remember?" He gestured toward Zarlo.

"What?" Zay hissed indignantly.

"He can't stay with us." Tyler told her; "he's too dangerous."

"Put she did!" Zay pointed accusingly to Lizzie. "She was with them, too!"

"He stowed away on our ship. If he was running from them, it's more plausible that he would've shown himself." Tyler explained patiently, "I believe he's on a mission."

"But he's my brother!" Zay argued. "What are we, pirates?!"

"Your probably evil brother." Ryan put in.

"Zay." Sasha grunted, resting a hand on her shoulder when she opened her mouth to reply. She looked mutinous, but held her tongue.

"Now that that's settled." Tyler continued, "here's the plan." He went on to explain.

"Wow, that's intense." I commented as Navia and I walked away. She didn't answer. "Hey, everything okay?" I asked softly.

She sighed, looking up. Worry lines creased the space between her brows. "I suppose... I'm just thinking."

"About?" I took her hand. We'd set up camp after realizing that the Conquerors weren't far away, so I led her to our bedrolls. We sat across from each other.

"I don't know... I just... I don't feel that Zarlo deserves this. A ransom? For a talisman? Since when did we trade lives?" She stared at her feet for a moment then looked at me with a miserable expression. "I don't want to lose anyone, kyif... he's a good person."

I exhaled. "I know, Nav. But we have to do what we have to do." I surprised myself with my answer, and Navia as well.

She blinked at me, hesitating before murmuring, "you've changed."

I nodded, staring at our untwined fingers. "I know."

I could sense her trying to catch my gaze. She quickly gave up. "I guess we all have." She muttered softly, twisting the gold ring on her finger.

"I guess." I agreed. It was quiet. The question burned on my tongue, and I eventually had to ask. "Is-is it a bad change?"

"You?" Navia shook her head silently. She did everything that way; silently, softly. Almost like if she was too loud or too harsh, she may scare something. Or someone. Was she afraid I'd be scared away? Did my old self maybe act like a scared puppy around her? Was that it?

"How did I change?" I demanded, trying to match her gentleness. I don't think it worked.

"You... you're steadier." She answered thoughtfully. "Not afraid to speak your mind now. Um... always willing to do what's right." She stopped, and I sensed she wanted to say more, but didn't know how. Navia glanced at me with her glimmering blue eyes.

"I don't think you've changed a bit." I murmured.

The corner of her lips quirked slightly and she shook her head. "Maybe not the way you have, kyif, but I have changed. Not everything is visible." She smiled mysteriously and leaned forward to kiss me.

I sat back as she left, my lips still tingling. Not everything is visible. Her words intrigued me. What could she mean? I wondered silently, is she talking about herself, or someone else? I rolled over and sighed, staring at the sky. It was darkening slowly, a deep navy that was edging toward black. The sun has long since set. Dinner was being passed out, but I wasn't hungry currently. Navia would probably grab me a plate, to make sure I wouldn't starve. I half-smiled, she really hadn't changed. I felt the grin slip from my lips as my thought turned. Is it really right, to ransom Zarlo for the talisman? The rational part of my mind agreed, of course it is. We need to save Erdas! But the other side, the emotional side, wasn't so sure. Maybe Navia's right; he doesn't deserve it. And how do we know that using the talisman will save Erdas, anyway? I rubbed my eyes and sat up, feeling tired. A shadow, or, I suppose, a darker darkness than the one that surrounded me fell over me. I glanced up.

Navia offered both a smile and a plate. I took the latter and returned the former. "I figured you probably were hungry, but too lazy to get up." She said teasingly as she plopped down beside me.

I laughed. "Yeah, you know me too well. Thanks."

"Anytime." She answered. Silence fell as I ate. Finishing my meal, I got up to return the plate. Coming back, I saw she was still sitting there. Her arms were wrapped around her shins, her chin resting on her pulled up knees.

"You okay?" I rubbed her back as I sat.

"Mhm. Just tired." She mumbled.

"Well, I think it's late." I glanced at the sky, "we could sleep."

"I guess we should." She agreed, but didn't move.

I wrapped an arm around her, my fingers tangling in her long hair. "It's up to you."

"Hm." She gently brushed off my arm and pulled her bedroll closer, scooting onto it. Navia stretched up and looked over at me as I did the same. Without thinking, I offered a hand. She clasped it with her own, our fingers automatically sliding into the right place.

"I'm scared." She swallowed. "Sabien, what if something happens?" She looked over at me. The moon's white glow reflected off her eyes.

"I'm scared too." I admitted, "but tomorrow is still a ways away, and we'll greet it when it comes, but for now we'll sleep."

Navia blinked, her eyes finding mine again. "We'll be okay, right?"

"Always." I answered, wanting to pull her closer, but knowing that my bedroll was too small. Darn this stupid tiny beds. "Always." I whispered, watching her eyelids falling closed.

Someone get a doctor, I just updated twice in one day. :0000 I think I'm going crazy. Hope y'all liked the chapter, blah blah blah, next one up either late today or tomorrow (maybe two tomorrow as well- if you're lucky ;), so stick around!