Rowan: She looked petrified. Like letting me see her was the scariest thing she’d ever done. Whoever told her she was horrible to behold—well. I’d like to have words.
Katrine: You know that little smile Rowan does? When theylook at the sea? That’s how they smiled at me. And they said, “You don’t look like a monster to me. You look just like you.”
Martre: And they didn’t die.
Katrine: And they didn’t die.
Rowan: It was me that kissed her, not the other way around. Don’t let her tell you otherwise. I’m brave too, you know.
Katrine: They kissed me. And I kissed them back.
Martre: You didn’t confront Idryss again after that.
Katrine: I didn’t want her to turn me into a godsdamn bird, so no. You still haven’t told me where she got that power, by the way. Nobody has accounted for that.
Martre: I don’t think that’s relevant.
Martre: Would you say that your time on the island was enriching?
Rowan: Oh, sure. I got to take some space for myself. I got to take in the sea air. I fell in love. What’s not to like?
Martre: So it’s good that the ship sank?
Rowan: Well, no. A hundred of my friends died. I don’t think I’ll ever stop grieving that loss. I’m afraid to sail now, which I’ve never been before. I don’t know what I’ll do when we leave, other than build a place for me and Katrine to grow old. We can take the time we need to build Katrine’s self-esteem up a little. I suppose there’s good and there’s bad together, right?
Martre: Right.
Rowan: Thanks for the boat, anyway.
Martre: Are you glad for the time you spent here?
Katrine: No. I hate it here. I hate you. I hate what you did to us. I hate what Idryss did to all those sailors.
Martre: You won’t miss Idryss? Aren’t you scared to leave?
Katrine: Of course we’ll miss her. Of course we will. She made sure of it, isolating us like that. Using her power to keep anyone from getting close, telling us that we were the ones doing it. Inventing a curse to keep us scared. She made sure we’d be bonded to her, reliant on her.
Martre: But you’re not bringing her with you. Odette and Greta are okay with that?
Katrine: Honestly, keeping Greta away from Idryss is for Idryss’s own safety at this point. But—no. No, we’re not bringing her with us. She can have Cerna all to herself. Well, her and the giant wild pig. And you, I guess. Will you be here? Were you here the whole time?
Martre: Oh, I’m lots of places. Are you ever going to tell Rowan about Idryss’s powers? About what she did?
Katrine: Can I go now? You said that if I gave you an exit interview, you’d make sure no sailors would ever wreck on the island again. That she’d be alone forever. You got your interview. I’d like to go.
Rowan: Can we go? I’ve just got to bottle up that hawthorn juice, and then we can set sail before the sun gets too low.
Martre: Are you afraid to sail after dark?
Rowan: Odette’s got good night vision. I think we’ll be okay.
Katrine: Goodbye, Martre.
Martre: Goodbye, Katrine. Good luck.
Katrine: I don’t need luck. I’ve got Rowan.
Bride-Heart
