Fluttering Cruelty (Fluttering Duology Book 1) by Ripley Sinclair

Author:Ripley Sinclair [Sinclair, Ripley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sinclair Books
Published: 2023-06-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

I feel so on top of the world by the time we walk out on the platform that I could throw myself off the edge and fly. Once we get further away from Brigid’s home, I take deep breaths so that I don’t faint. Spreading my arms out as I bounce toward our chambers, Rifen follows a few steps behind with a reserved smirk reflecting mine, which only grows wider.

“Nauts,” I finally say it out loud, having to control myself to not shout it like a fool. “The message said, ‘Nauts.’ Do you know what they are?” I stop and turn to him, still all jittery.

Rifen tilts his head. “Sailors. Their largest guild, I think.”

“In Port Prista?”

“I presume so, yes.” He nods, and I can’t help but notice how pleased he looks too. “You did well. Did you hear what he said?”

The subtle sting at the back of my throat fans my fire a little. “Yeah,” I say, a bit more serious. I can’t stop rubbing my fingers together and imagining the carving. I did not fail her, I found the clue, and we will reunite. All Juniper had to endure is going to be worth it. At least she’s no longer under that man’s control. “So did you. It’s almost scary how good of a liar you are,” I note teasingly, but I am truly grateful for him. Knowing even Juniper couldn’t stand Daithi’s abuse shows me that no matter how much determination I think I have, were Rifen someone like Tadhg, I might have cracked too.

“We got what we needed from there. That is all that matters,” Rifen says, but I notice the passing smile under his beak before he tilts his head down.

We. It really was “we” tonight, wasn’t it? And I didn’t hate it.

I say nothing else and prance ahead with my eyes up to the starry night sky. Knowing of Juniper’s experiences here, she would have probably killed me for even entertaining the thought, but I can’t help wondering about whether I will miss Rifen once I’m out of here. Will he miss me? What will he do once I’m gone? He keeps so equivocal about what will happen once we’re in Temelin... How is he going to make it possible for me to leave without being to blame?

I want to ask about it but don’t. I shouldn’t care about it at all. Not now. Now I want to let myself feel the joy and nothing else. The sense of a job well done.

Rifen doesn’t speak until we’re close to our chambers. “If you want to find out more about the Nauts, look in the library. There is bound to be some information there,” he finally notes.

“Good. It feels like I know little about anything,” I note with a huff. “I’ve kept fairly isolated since coming to the island. And the little I remember about Achrantar isn’t of much use here.” Not to mention that the endless conflict, migration, and chaos probably make it unrecognizable today.

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