Everything is silent between us, and I use the other end of the staff, the one with a hook, to start dragging out all the remaining cloth.
Daria speaks first.
"I don't know about any of that."
I straighten, going over to hang up some of the heavier pants and coats that will need extra time to dry before being brought back inside.
"Are you sure? Just a few months ago, you were whispering to me and?—"
"That was before the women escaped," Alisa interjects.
I swallow. Time to stop dancing around this.
"You were conspiring with Paoli and Abi; now they are gone. You were gone for a week or so," Alisa says, balancing a woven basket on her hip. She smiles, ensuring that any onlookers wouldn't know what a heavy subject was passing between us.
"I was unwell," I say quickly when a giant guard walks out of the forest to watch us. I throw more clothes into the water.
“Meli, don’t take me for a fool. I think you escaped, too," she accuses. "I've been watching you since you came back. I can see it in your eyes. You have a new lover, new confidence, new purpose."
I bite my lip, thinking of our task to bring back humans. I know that Ra’Sa has been working hard, but I did my best work when I escaped with Estela. This time around, most of my days have been consumed with survival.
Taking a deep breath, I face my two allies. "Yes. You are right."
They both go utterly still, letting their clothes spin free.
It’s Daria who responds first. "Why didn't you tell us? Have we not been friends for years?"
My hands are still on my staff as it swishes around the clothing in the vat.
Friends?
"Well?" Daria pushes.
I think through my answer carefully, rehearsing each possible turn of phrase and how I could make it into my favor. I didn't want these women to turn against me, but I didn't want them to get angry at me for not answering.
"Abi and Paoli did escape," I say at last. It's not a direct answer to their question, but perhaps offering up this information would pacify them.
"Fuck. I knew it!" Daria shouts. She lets out a whoop and throws her arm around Alisa and me.
"Settle down," I hiss, pulling away. "They'll hear us."
She grins.
"So you'll help us escape, too," she says. "You came back to help us all. No one knows how, but half the giant warriorshave fallen ill. Wintertime coughing sickness, they say. We’re preparing to escape, aren’t we?”
My heart stutters.
"Just… be alert," I murmur. “Someone may come.”
Both of them smile, trying to keep a reign on their excitement.
Friends.
The word dances through my mind again. Maybe, when I go back to Zlosa we would be true friends.
Alisa’s hand reaches out and brushes over Daria’s arm. I blink at the affectionate touch. A look passes between them, and something clicks into place. Perhaps I hadn’t cared enough to look before, perhaps I merely didn’t understand the emotion. But now, after Ra’Sa, I know what I see.
Love.