FROM THE JOURNAL OF RUBY

The Lucky Elisa sailed east against the Dorne’s strong current, painfully slow. I made small talk with the impostor, trying not to reveal my suspicion.

In the afternoon, I found a moment to speak privately with the captain.

“The girl I came with is not who she pretends to be,” I whispered to him, glancing over my shoulder to ensure she had not followed me. “Can you have your men secure her, so she can be questioned?”

The captain stared at me as if I had sprouted a third eye.

“You said she is your sister!”

“Shh! I believed then that she was.”

“Do you not know the face of your own sister?” He looked disgusted now. I began to fear he might have me arrested.

“Of course I do. An impostor has taken on her exact appearance.”

“Are you feeling well, young lady? Perhaps you should go back down to the hold and get some rest. We have quite a bit of sailing ahead. Should have you in Deshire by early morning.”

I returned to the hold. It was no use, and likely would have been too dangerous for me to confront the impostor. I did not know who I was dealing with. I thought that I might know, but hoped to the gods I was wrong.

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“I am hungry, sister,” she said.

“I know. I am as well. I meant to ask the captain if we could have something to eat. I will go back—“

But the captain entered the hold just then.

“You young ladies doing all right?” He asked. He gave me a quick look.

“We are quite hungry, actually.”

“There is food in the galley. It is not much but should be enough. Anything else you need?”

“No, captain. Thank you.” He spared me one final glance and went back above deck.

The food consisted of molding cheese, stale bread and dried fish. We avoided the fish altogether and ate sparingly.

“Do you think the water is safe to drink, sister?” the impostor asked me.

“I do not know,” I said. “I do have some wine.”

I took the poisoned flask from the pocket of my robe.

Her eyes widened. “I have not had wine in more than a year. And then only the few sips mama gave me.”

If I had entertained doubts about this not being Shirelle, they were gone now. This was the second time she referred to mother as “mama.” We never called her that.

“Have some, sister. You are not in Sanctuary anymore.”

“You must have some as well.”

“My stomach is a bit uneasy from the motion of the boat. You go ahead.”

I handed her the flask. Tentatively, she took a sip.

“This tastes awful.”

“It is an acquired taste.”

“I feel a bit strange. I do not recall one sip of wine having that much of an effect.”

“Perhaps it is very strong. Get some rest, sister. The captain told me we will sail all day and into the morning.”