The tour of the town seemed to happen in the blink of an eye, but all too slowly at the same time. Although the Haven didn't have many structures that weren't homes, there were so many people wanting to catch up with the siblings as well as meet the new addition to their group.

Ash had no hopes of remembering all the names she heard, but she tried to store away the ones who would be on the ship. Those were the ones who would be her crewmates, as odd as the thought might have been.

The Nightwrath Pirates returned to the Haven once every one or two lunes, so all the pirates and Haven residents came together, preparing a bonfire celebration. Willow assured Ash she didn't have to attend and could stay tucked inside their borrowed space for the night.

As guilty as she felt hiding away from the others, she gratefully took that option. Everything was far too new, and she was on the brink of being overwhelmed. She didn't want to crumble from the expectations of joining the others partying.

Which was why she found herself curled up on a bedroll when night settled over the world. Moonlight and firelight poured in from the window, and the murmur of conversation mingled with the excited shouts of people dancing to improvised instruments.

It sounded like a thrilling time, but Ash couldn't bring herself to slip out and join. She lay on her back, staring at the ceiling and listening to all the sounds. The joyous life brought comfort of a sort. These sounds were so different from the ones she'd experienced in the previous few days.

But with the calmness of outward peace came the torrent of inner thoughts. Too many things had happened in such a short span. Never until then had she had a moment to stop and process.

Her friend, her confidant, her hope had manipulated and used her.

The young man filled with so much gentle light had been stolen away on his ship.

The Scions toyed with humans, and their fellow Scions turned a blind eye to it all.

And the gods... Not only did they do nothing about the Scions, but they had placed a mark on her sister that demanded her obedience to their vision or fall under their curse.

Ash didn't realize the flood of thoughts had pushed her to stand until she was already climbing to her feet. She wore only a nightgown, but she didn't let that stop her from slipping out of the silent house's side door.

The cheer and warmth of the celebration beckoned to her, but the darkness of the surrounding forest called out to the feelings churning in her heart. Wrapping her arms around herself, Ash crept away from the Haven and into the trees.

The forest swallowed Ash, tossing shadows over her and dampening the sounds from the village. Blips of starlight peeked through the thick foliage above, and the near-full moon of the lune's beginning sliced illuminated rays along her path. She took a dozen steps deeper until she found a patch where no trees blocked the view of the sky, and then she dropped her head back.

A horrible sense of déjà vu settled over her. How was it that less than a lune ago she'd stood under these same stars, eaten away by the struggles brought about by her twin, raging at the gods? Was this how Odella had felt after she'd been chosen? Like the entire earth quaked beneath her, refusing to give her a reprieve to find her footing?

Soon, Odella would be here, safe from the clutches of the Scions. Safe while Ash searched desperately for a way to cure her. If she had not been fooled again, at least.

Her eyes slid closed, and a tear traced a trail down her cheeks. Please. She didn't know who she lifted the plea to. Frustrated desperation created an almost crazed bubble of laughter, but she suppressed it.

This would work. They'd restore Odella. They'd rescue Callum. Everything would be fixed. It had to.

Something cold rested against her exposed neck. Her breathing stilled, and her eyes snapped back open.

"Don't move." The voice was familiar, but it took her a moment to place it. She'd heard it jovial more often than this hard, threatening warning.

Caspian.

Twigs crunched underfoot as he stalked forward, placing himself in front of her instead of to her side. She followed his movement as well as she could without moving her neck. The long side of the blade no longer laid across her skin, but its sharp point kept her trapped. It pressed so close she didn't even dare speak.

Grunting, Caspian dropped his sword to his side. "Well, if it isn't the wrong twin," he said. "A little far from the festivities, aren't you, Cinders?"

Ash frowned. Cinders? Instead of correcting him, though, she put a few more feet of space between them. "I wanted some fresh air." She squinted. "Though I don't understand why you're questioning me when you're also away from the others."

Caspian shrugged as he smoothly returned his weapon to its sheath. "Unlike you, I am meant to be here. I have guard duty."

Despite her apprehension, she couldn't help but feel her curiosity stir. "Why are guards needed if Sebille keeps people away?"

He didn't answer. His eyes skimmed over her. Not like how men would usually take in a woman, but analytically. When he rolled his eyes, she couldn't shake the feeling she'd failed some sort of assessment. Her cheeks flamed.

Without a word, he walked off. Ash's mouth fell open. He had held a sword to her neck and now he was just leaving?

She hurried after him. "Hey! You didn't answer me."

"And why should I?" He scanned their surroundings, but he didn't look her way again. "You're not my problem."

The fire in her face was no longer embarrassment, but indignation. "Excuse me? I just asked you a simple question."

Caspian snorted. "One I have no need to answer. You can go ask one of your fellow villagers." He waved dismissively, declaring their conversation over.

Ash faltered for only a moment before continuing to chase after him. "I will be on the ship, actually."

He spun so abruptly that Ash had to stumble away before she slammed her shoulder against his. He cocked his head to the side as he took her in once more. This close, she could see his eyes clearly. Which she shouldn't have been able to, not even with the light provided by the moon and stars, but the amber of his irises had a faint glow.

Her eyes fell to his chest. Even if his shirt covered the skin, she knew a Dreamweave must have carved its way over his heart. What could his curse be, to make his eyes glow now when she knew they hadn't other times she'd seen him?

Caspian didn't let her mind wander on those thoughts for long. "You'll be joining us on the ship?" He asked it casually enough, but there was a guarded edge to the words.

Ash straightened her back and tilted her chin up. He was a few inches taller than her, but she refused to feel like he was looking down on her. "Yes, I will."

Humming, he tilted his head to the side. "Then has Lorica pulled the veil back for you?"

Pulling back the veil? What could he mean? "Oh," she said, realization hitting. She forced herself not to sink back into her shoulders. "No, she didn't, but I am still—"

He stepped forward, placing himself only a handful of inches away from her. She wasn't sure if it was the disgusted twist of his lips or the sudden proximity that barricaded anymore words from leaving her mouth. She retreated a couple of steps, but his presence still fell over her like a shadow.

"Just stay here. If you don't even have the courage to face the truth, then you'll just be a hindrance to the crew. This isn't another game you can play where you tag along with someone you think will protect you and face the hard things on your quest."

His words ripped away the scabs that had grown over the many slashes into her heart. Pain oozed out in the place of blood, but that wasn't the lone emotion to escape. Rage came with it.

Angry tears blurred her vision as she put more distance between them. "You know nothing of what I've been through."

Something about her words hardened his eyes. "Perhaps not, but I know our crew doesn't need a coward. Don't say I didn't warn you, Cinders."

"That's not my name," she snapped. "It's—"

"None of my concern," Caspian finished. The emotion vanished from his face even as he smirked at her. "You won't be the first one to sail with us, thinking your conviction will carry you, only to learn all you wanted was safety. Now or later, you will return here until you can leave. It's how it plays out almost every time."

She wanted to argue, to point out he had even admitted it didn't always happen, but she withheld. This entire conversation had proven Caspian didn't want to listen. She settled on glowering.

It only made his eyes flash with amusement.

"Ah, Caspian, there you are." A young man pushed his way through a nearby bush. She thought his name was Warren, but she wasn't sure. "Lorica sent me to relieve—oh, I'm sorry." He looked between the two of them. "Did I interrupt something?"

Caspian smiled pleasantly enough at Warren, but there was a slight mocking quality to it. "Not at all, Clash. I was just welcoming the newest member to the crew." He tossed her a wink that fanned her outraged flames. He acted as if they were in on some joke when the only thing he seemed to see as a joke was her. "You should show her the way back. I think she got lost."

Warren—or Clash, though that didn't sound right—slowly nodded. "Yes, I can do that."

"Splendid! I'll also be heading straight for the ship, so please deliver a message to Linden to please bring back my pack."

Something shifted in the young man's eyes, but he nodded. "I can do that as well."

"Perfect. Well, Cinders, as wonderful as this little chat was, I must be off." He executed an exaggerated bow that tempted Ash to kick his head.

"I said that's—" she started.

"Still don't care," he sing-songed back at her as he strolled away, quiet laughter shaking his shoulders.

"I wouldn't recommend you bother," Warren-Clash said, sighing. "He will call you what he wants to. I've noticed he only calls a handful of people by their actual name. He's a strange fellow, that one."

"I'm not sure strange is the word I would have chosen," Ash muttered.

Warren offered a sympathetic smile. It gave Ash the impression that she wasn't the only one Caspian infuriated. "Come along," he said. "I can lead you back to the others."

"I know the way back, but thank you."

After a few more assurances she would be fine and a quick farewell, Ash made her way back to the Haven, sticking to the outskirts so nobody would pull her into the celebrations. If she hadn't felt like joining before, she definitely didn't now. Her encounter with Caspian left a rotten taste in her mouth.

She paused in the shadow of a house near where she would be staying. Her gaze dropped to her ring finger, and the anger quelled as darker emotions chilled her. She had meant her words to the troublesome pirate. He didn't know what she had been through.

Maybe she wasn't quite ready to give up what remained of her stability, but she would continue to fight. While Odella still needed her, she couldn't afford the comfort of safety.

She would make sure Roan met justice for the pain he had dealt.

She closed her eyes and pressed her ring against the spot between her brows and drew from the strength of her twin so far away. After a moment, she dropped her arm and continued onward.

For the first time, the unstable pathbefore her didn't feel so impossible.

*****

There are a couple of scenes I have re-read for this book outside of the slight edits I do before posting, and this is one of them xD Bratty Caspian is just so fun.  I'm sure he won't be a thorn in Ash's side outside of this chapter at all :D But hey!  At least Ash is starting to feel more certain.  Look at her, putting that anger to good use VwV 

Let me know your thoughts on the chapter down below, and if you enjoyed it, don't forget to vote and comment! I also have a discord open to anyone who wants to join, and we have a section there to discuss the book :D Let me know if you want to join!