The people wanted answers.

  I didn’t blame them. I wanted answers too, but at the moment, I had even more questions than the growing crowd was voicing, though mainly because a lot of people were asking the same thing.

  “Where are we going to stay?”

  “Why are we here?”

  “Don’t you know this place is haunted?”

  “Why didn’t you kill the zombies instead of taking us to this cursed island?”

  “What are we going to eat?”

  “Have you seen my Timmy?”

  “Do you need a lover? I’m very good…”

  Okay, maybe not the last two. Besides, I’d seen the subtle interaction between Val and Eve enough that even a social pariah like myself could tell that neither had any interest in men.

  “If you don’t shut up, then I’m going to throw you off the island!” Fyga pulled out the yellow Bokor blade and fed it enough magic to make it glow bright enough that all the people had to shield their eyes. She had blue eyes, so her magic didn’t match with that of the blade, but that didn’t mean that she couldn’t wield it.

  The crowd quieted down.

  “Good. Now stop talking and LISTEN to what Master Val has to say!” The black-haired Touched adjusted her thin goggles as she directed everyone’s attention to our ginger leader.

  “I need people to oversee the needs of our group. It’s going to be dark soon and the children are going to need shelter!” She scanned the crowd until her eyes fell on the large lumberjack walking up behind me. “Hugh! Can you handle building shelters along the tree line for people?”

  The large man looked over at Theo.

  “He’s not your boss anymore!” Val called his attention back to her. “If you want to serve him again once we’re back in a city, that’s your choice, but right now, all of you answer to me.”

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  There were mumblings within the crowd.

  “Anybody got a problem with that!” Fyga pulsed magic into the blade again.

  The mumbling stopped.

  “I can do it, Master Bokor.” The larger man bowed his head.

  “Good.” Val glanced at the woods for a moment. “Take however many people you need.” She scanned the crowd while Hugh began calling people out by name. “While they’re doing that, I need a group of guards to make sure they're safe…” She pointed at one of the few men in a guard uniform. “You!”

  The aged guard pointed at his ample chest. His hair had gone gray a while ago and the wrinkles in his skin promised that he should have retired years ago, but the strong wall promised an easy job. In all honesty, the man probably spent most of his time fishing on the dock while also watching the empty bank on the other side of the wall.

  “Yes, Miss Bokor?” While his answer left off her title, which many Bokor would have considered an insult, the way he said miss implied authority and respect. Which was different from the fearful way most people said Master Bokor.

  “Gather up a group to help clear away the underbrush while keeping an eye out for any trouble. We don’t know what else is on the island with us and we need to be ready in case the Touched decide to try to follow us over here.” She nodded before continuing to look for supervisors.

  “Dame Isough.” Val settled her gaze on an older woman in a threadbare blue dress. “Gather up all the children and elderly into the middle of our group. I don’t want any of them wandering off and getting lost. Also, please set up a place for the wounded and have someone tend to them if needed.”

  The woman with slightly graying hair nodded. “YOU HEARD THE BOKOR! KIDS ARE WITH ME! FORM UP!”

  While there were less than a handful of women on the Island, most didn’t survive ascension, but the one who had and was in charge of the younglings sounded almost exactly like her. My hands began to itch as I remembered her ruler against my knuckles while I was learning to write. I had no doubt that this woman would inspire enough fear in the children that none would dare try to wander off.

  “All that is left is food.” Val pointed at a pair. “Cletus and Hannah. Organize groups to see what food anyone brought and to look for any berries or pools where there are fish or shellfish that can be easily caught. Once I talk to the other Masters, we’ll see what we can do about supplementing what we have as soon as possible.”

  The pair nodded and picked over the few that were left.

  “The rest of you need to find something to do to be productive.” The ginger looked over the handle that remained. “Except you, Theo. You’re staying with us.”

  “But why?” The yellow-eyed man groaned. “I should be helping with guarding the perimeter!”

  “Oh, you’ll be helping alright.” There was an evil gleam in her green eyes. “Because you’ll be part of the exploration team.”

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