Lissie felt nauseous. The basket that Nikolai and Alexander had made looked like it would fall apart with a breath. She walked closer and looked over the side to see the Ruskin wagging his tail.
Strong enough to hold a dog at least. She thought.
“You two got a lot of work done while I was asleep.” Lissie said, shaking the side of the basket. It came up to her waist.
“Niko here can do the work of a hundred men.” Alexander was tightening something on the other side of the basket. “As long as it’s not delicate work, but luckily that’s where I shine.”
“It is a change, to be thanked for my work.” Nikolai looked away as he spoke, staring at the forest.
Lissie moved around the basket and stood near him, looking up to catch his eye. “Have you worked without thanks before?”
“I have worked without choice before.” Nikolai moved away from her, and turned to face Alexander. “Do we need any more lumber?”
“Nope, I think we got her. I’ll attach the ropes,” Alexander said.
Lissie went back inside. She had a headache. Her arm was starting to feel better, though. Cora had wrapped it in fresh linen layered with Alexander’s shiny paste. It had hardened to a shell. It’s like armor, Lissie thought.
Riley was fixing her sword. She had shaken the black shards into a pile, and was replacing them one by one. Lissie sat and watched her for a minute. The work was delicate, but Riley’s bare fingers had not a drop of blood on them.
Riley looked up and said, “It’s nice that I don’t have to strop this thing. But it’s sure fragile.”
“I think steel would shatter on Nikolai. Touching him…” Lissie trailed off.
“Is that how he got hurt? When we found you?” Cora was writing in her journal as she spoke.
Lissie took a breath before saying, “It’s hard to explain what happened. But yes, I touched him. He was going to kill Riley.”
Riley scoffed, “He didn’t have a chance. I was just distracting him so you could get away.”
“You did dodge. He was moving slow. I don’t think he really likes fighting.” Lissie was on firmer ground.
Cora said, “We have noticed that they move a lot slower during the day. It’s the only reason we got away. Regardless of what Riley would have you believe.”
Riley said nothing and worked another chip into the blade’s edge.
“Maybe they are nocturnal. I haven’t really seen him sleep.” She looked at the stone slab with her rucksack laid out. “He gave me his bed.”
Cora raised an eyebrow at her. “That seems like a question for Nikolai, doesn’t it?”
Lissie opened her mouth and then closed it. She flexed her hurt arm, moving the fingers.
“Be careful not to move that, it’s supposed to be immobilized.” Cora continued with her writing.
Alexander ducked his head in and said, “I need your help. For testing.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
Lissie got up and followed him outside. Cora was close behind. The basket looked sturdier now that it had a liner. It was made of Alexander’s tent.
“Alright, ladies, join Ruskin and I in the basket.” He looked around. “Where’s Riley?”
“She has a little ways to go on her sword. Nikolai broke a good half of it, you know.”
Alexander threw his arms in the air and said, “That simply will not do! We need the full volume for testing.” He ducked back into the stone lodge.
Lissie walked over to Nikolai. He was standing on the other side of the basket, the straps hanging on the ground in front of him. “So you’re to carry all of us? Not just me?”
Nikolai responded looking at the ground. “It was Alexander’s idea. The man is…”
Lissie swayed a bit, and stopped herself from reaching out a hand. “Yes, I know. You know, back in Westgat, he took us to a brothel.”
“Seems like he would be at home.” Nikolai looked in her eyes.
“Alrighty then! We have all of the subjects ready for testing.” Alexander rubbed his hands together, and vaulted over the side of the basket. “Gather in, girls!”
Riley picked up Lissie and handed her to Alexander before jumping in. Cora climbed to join them, easing herself close to the others. Ruskin was overjoyed at having so many legs so close together.
“Niko, pick her up!” Alexander shouted, and Lissie closed her eyes at the noise. The basket rose.
“Excellent, give us some shaking.” Lissie opened her eyes and saw they were very high up. Then the basket fell out from under her and launched to the side. She grabbed for the side with her good right arm.
“So far so good, now do what we talked about.” Alexander sounded overjoyed. Lissie’s stomach sank.
Niko’s voice rose up like the Wind, “I will catch you. Hold on.” Then she was launched in the air. Her stomach twisted and lurched and she tasted last night’s liquor. The impact was not as hard as she expected, and the basket held against their weight.
“That’s enough of this foolishness!” Riley shouted, and she shoved Alexander over the side. He tumbled and sprang to his feet.
“Another flawless Ellium innovation. Absolutely exquisite. Lower them down!” Alexander whooped in joy.