Veils of Storm

13. Alathea

After their discussion, Kat thought Cage would demand that they start training her immediately. Instead, Jazz started assigning tasks to everyone and she ended up in the depth of the ship, listening to Harrison prattle on about supplies and what should be used first in cooking because it was perishable.

Then, the two of them set off to cook dinner for everyone, because lunch was apparently not a thing when there was limited food.

Kat wasn't sure how she felt about that. On one hand, being inside felt a bit easier than out into the open, staring at endless see. On the other hand, the fact that the floor moved under her feet made everything much harder than in needed to be. And what was worse was that Harrison walked without the slightest sway or difficulty, as if he could tell which way the ship would move before it did.

Gritting her teeth, she focused on the familiarity of cutting vegetables and roasting meat. It managed to soothe her, as did the fact that the old man threw her work space one glance before deciding that she was much better at this than he was and followed her lead instead.

It took ages. The tiny stove in the mess hall hardly had enough power to boil and egg, so everything cooked very slow. Kat had read in a book somewhere that slow cooked meals were a lot more savory, but this seemed like overkill.

While the food was left to simmer, Harrison began teaching her about the condiments they had and how to use them.

"Look, Mr. Harrison, no offense," Kat interrupted during a lecture on thyme, "but I do know these things."

Harrison narrowed his eyes. "You don't need to call me mister."

She faltered. "You call me Miss Kat."

"And I call Jinxy Miss Jinx, but it's more an endearment rather than a formality."

An endearment. They'd barely know each other for one day, and the man was claiming endearment.

"Um, not to sound rude or to dismiss this, but why?"

The man's squint deepened and for a moment she regretted asking rather than just accepting his warmth. But it was still weird.

"I have met my share of people," he finally said. "I grew up in Valona Port, in the seedier part of it. I've been exposed to sailors, pirates and mercenaries all my life. I'll be honest with you, because you don't really have a choice. Most of the people were the bad sort. A lot of people in this world are the bad sort. So when I see someone who is not, I tend to dispense with the formalities."

She blinked, trying to wrap his mind around what he'd just said. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to grow up in a port. She hadn't even considered that some of the shanties might be for families rather than bars or taverns. He was awfully articulate for his background.

"Um, thank you. So Cage and I... You see us as good people?"

"You are innocent in a world with so little of it left. And Cage..." Harrison drummed his fingers on the table, deep in front. "Let's just say I believe he would've made a much better king than his uncle."

Kat winced at his words, trying her hardest to get used to the fact that there was no one to overhear, to turn them in. But she was impressed by how close the crew were if Jazz had shared their secrets with everyone.

"Speak your mind, Kat."

She couldn't open her mouth and speak her mind. Her mind was treason. And she was too afraid that once she'd start speaking her mind on this, she wouldn't be able to stop and doom them all by accident.

"Do you not trust us?" Harrison asked.

It was much too soon for that question. "I'm sorry, but I don't really know you. I appreciate your kindness and having us along... " But you did it for a lot of money and it's business. Jazz should've kept his big mouth shut.