Sasha gave a long look toward the shoreline as it receded away from them, and they retreated into the tranquil waters surrounding the island. Beside her Rannok breathed, the top of his head set aglow by the pale light of the full moon overhead. They watched together as lanterns appeared on the beach. The sounds of the men shouting carried over the water, too far away and too drowned out by the racket of the sea for her to make out what they were saying.

The mooring line she had cut flapped in the front of the boat. It was too dark for them to see out into the water from the shoreline, or at least Sasha hoped so as she pulled her oar through the water. The water around them splashed, and the wind kicked up around them, blowing the smell of brackish water into the boat. The lights on shore faded into nothing, then were gone.

"That was close," Rannok said, letting a long whistle through his teeth. As close as they'd come in a long while, and doubtless the local authorities would be after them once they got wind. "Maybe we can go somewhere this shit doesn't follow us for once."

"I don't know where that would be." Sasha smiled a little bit, even though the situation was more terrifying than funny. They'd figure it out. They always did. But they couldn't stay in the mountains anymore, that was much more certain. Sasha didn't know what was beyond them, and didn't think she dared to ever find out, until now. "I feel bad we left Rosa."

You should not feel bad. As I said before, she made the decision for herself. If she wanted to leave, she would.

The crow perched itself on the bow of the tiny rowboat, feathers flapping around in the wind. Its eye glowed in the dim light. Sasha didn't look at it. She knew it was right. Rosa had more opportunity to leave than they had. She could have absconded on one of the boats at any time, like they had. But Rosa didn't have what they had. 

Some are more fortunate than others. She is happy, in a way.

"I doubt that," Rannok responded. He pulled his own oar through the water and glanced around in the dark. "I can't see anything. Where are we even going?"

The current will pull the boat into the ocean by morning. You will be able to ground it on the sandbar and walk to shore.

Sasha nodded. It wasn't a good option or even a safe one. As far as they could drift until morning didn't seem like far enough away, but it was their only option. She pulled the oar into the boat and let the waves pull them instead. If they didn't know where they were going, it didn't make sense to waste all their energy trying to get there.

Rannok put his arm around her, after a few minutes of quiet, and she leaned her head into his side. The air coming off the open river was cold, and it prickled at her skin. He wrapped his cloak, then his left wing around both of them and shifted around, like he was trying to find a good place to settle with the rocking of the boat and the spray of water that came up every once in a while to slap them in the face.

"I hate boats," he said. A sound like a groan came out of his throat. Sasha laughed. She remembered one time he'd mentioned the ride to Horizon from Terres had made him ill. Hopefully this one would be shorter, if not more pleasant. 

"It's not funny," he said. Sasha snorted another laugh and let him give her a squeeze. The tension in the air dissipated as they continued to drift, and Sasha's eyes began to sag. She didn't think she could sleep with the boat rocking the way it was, but she could at least try to relax. Try to forget about the last six months, about running from the constable, and about what they were going to find when they got to shore.

"I'm glad we talked. Before we left, I mean." 

Sasha wasn't sure how long they'd been adrift, or how long she'd been resting when Rannok's voice broke the silence just as the sun had begun to break over the horizon. It cast beams of red and purple light over the boat, enough that she could see his eyes drifting toward the shoreline as their boat floated downriver. Her eyes searched for other boats, then her shoulders relaxed when she realized there were none.

"Where did the crow go?" she asked, as her eyes traveled over to where he'd been sitting. 

"Took off a while ago," he said. "He'll probably be back."

Sasha nodded, then stretched before settling back down. That probably meant they'd run aground soon if what the crow said was true, but she had the oars in the boat anyway. They'd manage without him if they needed to. Rannok ran a hand through her hair. She sighed before resting her head on his shoulder again.

"I'm glad you're here," she said quietly. 

Rannok snorted. "I'm a little insulted you thought I wouldn't be. I've been following you around for a while. I wasn't just going to leave for no reason."

Sasha's face got hot. 

"I'm not mad or anything."

Rannok's eyes were still locked on the horizon, like he wasn't paying attention to where she was or what he was doing. She could tell by the fact that he wasn't looking at her that he was lying. He was at least a little mad, but probably not at her. It was okay. He'd get over it.

"I'm sorry," she said. 

"It's fine. How long do you think we can drift like this before we need to go to shore?" Rannok replied. She put her hand in his and he gave it a squeeze.Yes, he would get over it. Things were going to be okay.