Dame Isough laughed.

  “You’re going to build a raft to get three or four people to shore.” She looked around the empty beach. “With what?”

  The one-eyed bald man puffed out his chest. “I could sail a rock around this island.” He picked up a rock that was almost big enough to fill his hand. “If rocks could float.”

  The graying woman shook her head. “That wasn’t my question. How are you going to build a raft big enough to hold that many people? How are you going to steer it? Where are you going to leave it so that it doesn’t get taken by those monsters and used to bring Zombies to the island.”

  “Dame Isough.” Val began. “The Touched in Port Reggo have all of the fishing boats. If they wanted to bring Zombies here, they wouldn’t need a raft-”

  The captain snorted.

  The Bokor glared at him as if she was daring him to interrupt her. He got the message and watched his hands twirl his thumbs.

  The ginger turned her attention back to the older woman. “There was rope inside the bunker that he can use and I’m sure Master Fyga can help him steer it once she recovers from using so much magic.” Her green eyes darted to Fyga for a moment, before focusing on the others. “Jace, how long will it take you to build a raft?”

  “With all da boys?” Captain Jace hummed. “Maybay two days.”

  “You’re not taking the people away from building a wall.” The aging woman’s shrill exclamation forced the captain to sit back down. “What if those killers come back while the Bokor are gone?”

  Val glared at the other woman and when she didn’t get her attention, the Bokor cleared her throat.

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  “Sorry, Master Val, I didn’t mean that you wouldn’t be able to protect us, I just…” The graying woman dropped her head.

  “While dramatic, you do raise a point.” Val looked to the blonde on her left. “Master Eve and I could handle the pirates, but it would be much easier if we didn’t have to worry about defending the group and could fight freely.”

  “It’ll take a week to build the walls.” Marshal Emes reminded her. “That’s not too long to wait.”

  The look in Captain Jace’s only eye told me that it was, in fact, too long to wait. And I had to agree with him. I had already lost a week in Port Reggo, which meant I had two weeks left before I was supposed to meet Master James in Port Town. It took ten days to walk down to the tip of the coast, though with how much faster we were and the fact that we didn’t need to sleep, only rest, we could make it in five days, but waiting another week would make it impossible to keep that meeting.

  “What if we gave Captain Jace a few men?” I looked at Marshal Emes. “You should be able to spare a few?”

  “I suppose letting him work with two or three wouldn’t add more than a day onto it at most.” The gray-haired man nodded. “That works for me.”

  “Only three!” Captain Jace sputtered. “Now listen here…” He wagged his finger at the older man. “What makes ya think-”

  “It could be none.” Val’s harsh tone silenced the rant. She raised an eyebrow. “No one here is getting what they want. Be grateful that you’re able to get part of your request.”

  The bald man nodded. “Sorry about gettin’ passionate there.”

  Dame Isough sighed, but refrained from verbally commenting.

  “I suggest you all get some sleep.” Val stood up. “We’ll patrol the beach and the surrounding area. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. No reason for our leaders to not be at their best.”

  Captain Jace had a huge smile on his face as he got up. “Ya here that?” He tried to put his arm around Dame Isough. She warded him off with a wave of her hand, which drew a cackle from the captain.

  Val stood and watched them break towards different fires. She looked down at me and sighed. She nodded further up the beach. “Byler, walk with me.”

  As I stood, the ginger turned to Eveth. “Eve, you good?”

  The younger blonde nodded and ran her hand over Fyga’s back. “I can watch her.”

  Satisfied that things were in hand, the Bokor started walking.

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