“The soil and pots are perfect. We’ll also need fresh water—no salt—and a place where the pots can sit in the sun without getting abused by the wind.”
Mini’s tail shot straight up. “I know a good spot.”
They put aside the pots and soil, and after catching another anxious glance from Kit, Nick gave him the seeds back to keep in his own pocket as they followed Mini above deck. As they passed by the cabin entrance, Kit tensed, tail curling around his own leg, and he drifted closer and closer to Nick until he was butting up against him. Once they were beyond the entrance, his tension eased. Nick looked over his shoulder, noting how the sailors on deck took great care to avoid the entrance too.
Mini clambered onto the roof at the back of the cabins. “Up here.”
Nick eyed the handholds Mini had used, deciding on the path up.
Kit’s gloved fingers brushed against Nick’s elbow. “No. Your ribs need to rest, not to be extended. What am I checking for?”
Nick reluctantly agreed not to climb up. “We need shelter from the wind, but not shade. Coffee plants need near constant sunlight to grow.”
Kit nodded. He eyed the climb in front of him, took three trotting steps for momentum, kicked off the ground and vaulted up the wall with ease. Kit and Mini disappeared from view, and Nick took the chance to examine his surroundings. There was no land. The waves were moderate, and wind filled the sails, gliding them along at what he personally considered painfully slow, but according to Kit was a ‘good clip’.
Kit’s face appeared over the edge. “I can assign a child to move the pots to keep them in the sun as it circles the masts throughout the day, but there is no shelter from the wind.”
Nick considered that. “Can we build a small frame for them? Something big enough to block the breeze, and that can be moved around?”
Kit hummed. “I will procure materials.”
Procure. “Because it’s not stealing if you’re the captain, right?”
Kit’s lips slid into a boyish grin. “Exactly.”
Nick grinned back, amused.
“Kit.” Evie was suddenly next to Nick. “Lady Desre wishes to see you.”
Kit’s grin vanished.
Kit climbed down from the roof, landing lightly in a crouch, and even though he straightened to his full height, he seemed smaller. His shoulders didn’t hunch. His back didn’t bow. But his tail curled around his leg and tightened as if he was trying to strangle himself.
“Mini, take Nick back to his room,” Kit said, emotionless. He didn’t look at anyone but rather at the open air next to people instead.
“His room?” Mini questioned, peeking over the edge of the roof at them.
“My room,” Kit corrected himself, a crack of embarrassment showing through the blankness. It was goneagain in seconds. He didn’t delay, marching stiffly with Evie towards the cabin doorway.
Nick frowned after him.
Chapter Ten
“Do you want to spy on them?” Mini hopped down from the roof.
Nick blinked. The child who had suggested to Kit that he should whip him with his tail now looked at him as if they were co-conspirators. Was this a trap? But even if it was a trap, what were they going to do, kidnap him?
“Do you have a way we won’t get caught?” Nick asked.
Mini scuttled to the cabin wall, bringing them out of sight of the nearest sailor, and then, with a casual shove, an entire panel of the wall pushed in.
“Quick,” Mini hissed.
Mini fit easily; Nick did not. He contorted his broad shoulders to squeeze through the gap, emerging into a closet just large enough to fit the two of them. Mini waited with a grin like the Cheshire Cat’s. “Evie helped me make a latch that works like a door. See?” He showed Nick that the panel, which looked like a wall from the other side, was in fact a trap door complete with hinges and a lock.
“Did you steal those?” Nick asked, amused.
Ignoring the question, Mini pulled Nick by the collar to the front of the closet and pressed them against the door. “You can peek through here.” He pointed out a slim horizontal crack in the wood.
