Stormbreak (Seafire #3) - Natalie C. Parker Page 0,21
passages, it was almost like being at sea. The drills were always over too soon, and as she disembarked Tin was already at her elbow, repeating Caledonia’s schedule for the rest of the day.
Oran joined a step behind Tin, his skin slicked with sweat even as circles deepened beneath his eyes. If she wanted Hesperus and the rest of Cloudbreak to trust Oran, she had to be seen trusting him. Acting as Caledonia’s proxy in her absence meant acting as her second in her presence. His days were filled with as many administrative tasks as hers, and his nights with all the work no one knew about except her. The long hours were beginning to take their toll.
Caledonia could hear Pisces, still on deck, shouting at the crew. “Folly, Shale, you were faster than last time, but still too slow. Far, I don’t care if you’re already on board, the minute we hit the deck, I want you reporting to Tin. We need to know who’s accounted for and who isn’t. Remember, this is a battle scenario! I know it’s a two-mile run between here and town, and that’s why I want you running the trails every morning and twice more right now, let’s go!”
She was going hard on them, but the truth was, they’d done well. They were the only crew with so far to travel. Keeping the Luminous Wake in the interior docks ensured it was protected, and put them in position to flank any attacking ships by exiting the canals far south of the harbor. It also meant speed was essential. But every time they did this, they got a little bit faster.
“Tin, we’ll check in on the barracks later,” Caledonia said, choosing the cramped stairwell over the lift.
“Captain?” Tin asked, jogging at her heels.
“If the crew is running the trails, so are we.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Caledonia paused, turning to Oran and stepping closer so that her words were only for him. “You should head back to town. You could use the rest.”
He responded with a one-sided smile. “If you’re running, I’m running.”
“Oran,” she breathed, guilt gnawing at her lungs. “Don’t make me order you.”
“Don’t make me refuse an order,” he responded, still smiling as he moved around her and jogged ahead.
They were already panting by the time they reached the top of the stairwell. The rest of the crew followed just behind, racing up to the top of the stairs, where they gathered in a group, stretching out muscles in preparation for the run. Pulling up the rear were Pisces and Far, Far’s array of black curls pulled away from her face in a wide ponytail. The woman rarely joined them for this kind of exertion. Judging by the look of resignation on her face, Caledonia suspected Pisces hadn’t given her a choice.
“Mary sisters, take the lead!” Pisces called.
The air was cold up here and the rocky ground dry and steep. The Mary sisters led them down through the work camp, picking a trail that darted briefly through towering pines and then along the edge of the cherry orchard before diving upward once more and curling around the northern edge of town. They moved all together, a stream of dusty footsteps and encouraging whispers.
Caledonia started at the rear of the group, jogged steadily at Pisces’s side. Then she shifted, moving from one person to the next and saying their names as she went: Pax, Vera, Hildegard, and Deri. Oran stayed in the corner of her sight, jogging always a few paces away. Soon she’d reached the Mary sisters, still driving along like the tip of a needle. At the very front was Lurin, the second eldest of the five sisters. Her sandy pale cheeks were pink with effort, but her eyes were brimming with energy.
“Keeping us steady, Lurin,” Caledonia called. “I’m surprised I don’t see you lapping the ship more often.”
Lurin laughed along with her sisters.
“That’s only because we threaten to tie her to her rack,” Abrasin teased. “She would run a rut right into the deck if you let her.”
“Don’t hurt my ship, Lurin,” Caledonia warned.
“Noted, Captain,” Lurin responded quickly, her smile growing.
They looped around, retracing their steps and then turning down the trail back to town. By the time they arrived at the stronghold, they were covered in sweat and dust and the sun was dipping low in the western sky.
“Showers!” Pisces called. “And I want to see every one of you on that trail at sunrise or it’ll be twice again!”