"What?"
Silence filled the air.
The only sound came from the waves as they sloshed around the hull of the Lady Rill.
Zuzu stared at Ren, eyes wide and her heart hammering in her chest like it was trying to escape.
"What do you—"
Ren turned slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. "You're not yet an adult Tidecaller."
Zuzu froze.
How did he know?!
She looked away from him, trying to figure out what he was going to do. Would he send her back home? But she was already here!
She said nothing, her eyes locked on the gentle churn of the water before the boat.
"You haven't taken part in a war yet." Ren added, his voice quiet, not accusing. "You haven't passed the Rite."
Still, she didn't look at him. Her hands clenched tighter around the water rope she used to steer.
"Why did you still let me come?" She asked at last, the words small, sharp, like broken shell edges.
Ren leaned back. "Because I like rule breakers."
She blinked. That wasn't what she expected.
