“I do,” Ligon said, voice taut. “It’s distant still. Best we pretend we’re deaf before it decides to come closer.”
But the melody began to weave through the fog like threads, drawing tighter and nearer
Valia looked back at the boat, eyes narrowed. “Alright, this is getting nastier by the second. We need to leave, and fast. Even if the boat’s our only option. We take it.”
He hesitated.
But logic whispered that standing still in enchanted fog was as dangerous as stepping forward.
“You stay close,” he said finally. “If anything feels wrong—”
“—I destroy it,” Valia finished, drawing her claws out.
A reluctant smile ghosted across his face. “Exactly.”
They climbed aboard. The wood felt warm underfoot, as if the boat had been waiting for them. The lanterns flickered to life of their own
