Dragoncrest Cliffs bittersweet, irresistible, a crawling beast

Erzulie didn’t fault her for wishing to remain close to home, her sweet French words calming the guilt that stirred in Meerkat’s gut. She focused on breathing in and out as the Ruby spoke of the sea, drawing comfort from the woman’s familiar, pleasant lilt.

Doubtless she hadn’t meant to do anything but reassure Meerkat, yet something she said choked the breath from the young woman’s throat. “De sea takes an’ she gives…” Her stricken eyes fixed on Erzulie’s face as she came to a sudden halt.

You don’t think…? she voiced the question in a tremulous whisper.

The matriarch probably didn’t know Njord wasn’t just gone but overdue. And there was no word from Meares Island, at least not yet. Once more, she fretted that he could have been waylaid on his way back to Sapphique. Or what if he’d never even reached his homeland…?