Esther climbed the steep steps to the airship as carefully as she could manage- They obviously hadn’t been designed with someone grappling with a crate of bandages and a baby in a sling at the same time in mind.
“This is an airship,” she explained to Harriet. “Like the one we were on when Auntie Sameera and I tried to stab one another to death- You slept through that, though. If I have my way, you’ll not be going anywhere in one of these until you’re much older and a lot of things have changed- We’re staying on our island where it’s safe. Well.” She reached the top of the stairs and frowned as she climbed through the ship’s door. “Safer than most places. Which isn’t saying much, really.” She looked down at the baby, who was staring back up at her. “Stop it, Harriet! You don’t need to look so unimpressed about everything.” She re-adjusted her grasp on the bandages to allow herself access to kiss her daughter on the forehead. “I’m doing my best, all right?” she adds, softly.
“No harm in having a look around though, right darling? We might get the chance to say a last-minute good-bye to Auntie Saskia and Auntie Sameera. We’ll have to be quick, though, the ship’s leaving soon. Let’s just find the infirmary and put these down, and then we’ll go see who’s about.”