Page 80 of For the Strange and Surprising

“I don’t miss anything from Earth.” He rolls his lips. “Maybe technology, but not enough to go back. I’m sure it’s changed so much, though.”

Ada snorts. “I don’t think I can accurately describe all the changes that have happened since then. It’s almost been fifty years.”

“That’s okay. I doubt I would understand anyway.” He taps his forehead. “Tech wasn’t my forte.”

“I know the feeling,” she admits. “I’m having trouble understanding most of the things happening around me.”

“Like what?” he prompts. “Maybe I can help.”

“The land, the politics, the people.” She sighs as she looks at the empty crates. “It’s a lot to take in at once.”

Will props himself against a shelf, smiling fondly at her. “I know the feeling. I can’t explain the island politics to you. The land will be easy; it just takes a little time. But my best advice? The people here are built for a different type of survival than we were, Ada. It’s imperative to learn those ropes as quickly as you can.”

She swallows thickly but nods with confidence. “Right. I’ll figure it out. Thank you for talking with me today, Will. I had a lovely time.”

“My pleasure.”

Maybe it was too early to introduce her to Will. He’s an honest man, but sometimes he borders the line of being too open. He still thinks survival on Spiran is primal. And he’s not wrong.

As we climb up the cellar stairs into the midday heat, I grab her hand and head for the village. “How do you feel about ice cream?”

“There’s ice cream here?”

“Yeah. We’re not animals, Ada.”

“I’ve heard you’re still debatable.”

“I’ve been more Mongrel than animal so far,” I reveal. “But I’ll let you know if I decide to change.”

She giggles quietly, and despite my purely selfish reasons for thinking it...

I hope she stays.

26

Imryll

Day Twenty-Two

Talodus and I wait in the catacombs for Connak and Ecaeris. It’s time to reassess where the attacks are happening since they’ve become more frequent. And while this place doesn’t have our home’s privacy, it has all the information we need to connect together.

We’re flattening maps out when Ecaeris enters the chamber. He sets a stack of papers and a few bottles of mead on the table without a word. We’ve barely taken our seats when Connak ambles in.

“She make it to her room okay?” Talodus immediately inquires.

“It’s like you don’t trust me or something, Tal,” Connak complains as he drops into a chair. “She’s fine. I checked the room and the woods before I left her.”

“I didn’t know if you were going to show up or not,” Ecaeris snarks. “But I brought some mead for you.”

He turns shrewd eyes to the hunter when he doesn’t take the bait. Connak only smiles at the prince.

I chuckle as I riffle through the papers. “You didn’t tell them?”

“They know what I told her about the beasts.” He waves the subject away.

“And staying the night?” I tease.

“What did you do, Connak?” Ecaeris presses his thumbs to his temples and messages.