Page 12 - UnderEarth

witch would have finished the job! I would have, if I was a witch. Maybe you just aren’t brave enough.”
“What does that mean?” Storm pushed herself up on to her elbows.
Cloud had stopped pacing to glare at her. “This isn’t the first time you’ve failed us! You let two of the raft towns escape after the attack on Yanlin. And now they come to finish their job because you didn’t have the courage to kill when you could! Have you forgotten Thorn?”
Storm swung out of bed and nearly fell as her legs gave way. She grabbed the hammock with both hands and stared at him. “Have you forgotten that my mother died in their raid?”
His face flushed red. “Sorry,” muttered Cloud. “I ... I didn’t mean it.” His voice was strangled with frustration – he still doubted her. Was he right? Was she a coward?
When she didn’t speak, Cloud shrugged and left. She watched him disappear through the deck hatch, his bare feet gripping the ladder rungs, every step slow and stubborn.
Storm let go of the hammock and dropped heavily
to the floor. Much later, her uncle found her lying there
staring, dry-eyed, at the underdeck. He helped her
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