Should a threat arise or danger grow close, Ashwood would pound one fist over the top of the other, then signal a count of how many threats we faced by tapping two fingers until we calculated the full amount.

“One tap signals there could be up to two assailants.” Emi demonstrated on her own wrist. “Three taps means three or more. Understood? Naturally, if there are threats such as beasts or falling stone, I hope you all have enough wits to run without being told.”

Herb bread and a few strips of dried herring and berries were passed about for a simple meal. Emi took the morning to guide us through more of Ashwood’s commands, all while he kept his back to us, his focus on the sea.

I mimicked each gesture by my side; I watched every simple movement Roark made.

The man was not born of this land, yet he’d earned the trust of a king and the prince. Without the bark of captains or warriors, Ashwood could still bring a hush to a room, he could command the attention and respect of his men.

He was powerful and would not be a simple foe to defeat.

“You have not blinked once, Ly.” Kael pulled himself up to sitting, back against the mast. “Do Ashwood’s hands fascinate you for reasons I don’t yet know?”

I rolled my eyes. “Emi taught us basic commands, but nothing to know his true words. I want to know what he says when he thinks we cannot understand.”

“Why?”

I hesitated. “I don’t know. I simply need to understand him.”

The more I knew of the fiercest warrior of Stonegate, the more I had to believe I could find weaknesses in the walls. The more I had to believe I could get us free.

“When he speaks, I ask the woman Stav what it means.”

“Making nice with Stav Nightlark?”

I snorted with a touch of derision. “Never, but she knows the Sentry enough to speak with him often, and she seems interested in earning my forgiveness for what she did to you.”

Kael rolled his eyes. “Always scheming, aren’t you, Súlka Bien?”

I ignored the jab and showed him a few subtle gestures with my fingers. “I’ve already learned more than the basic commands.”

“You’re picking up hand speak swiftly.”

“Must be my craft. When I melded the shard into you, I could practically see the bones.” The truth of the eerie phantom in the shadows died on my tongue. How would I explain such a thing without sounding like my magic had brought about an unnerving delusion? “Perhaps that is how I’m learning his words. I’m memorizing the movement of his bones, like I can see them.”