Breakwater (12 page)

I took it and smoothed the paper against the wall. There had to be a way to say things were going wrong. That we were in trouble. The message would go through Ash first; at least, that was what I was counting on. If Father truly was against us, he would ignore the message, but Ash said he would come for us. And I was banking on that. No matter how badly I wanted to prove myself capable of taking care of Belladonna and this assignment, we were in over our heads.

Our boat is sideways and taking on water.

The words were thick and dark, the lines scratched in with more than a little aggression. I folded the paper and slipped it into the carrier on the seagull’s leg. The gull gave a squawk as I took it from Urchin and strode to our balcony. Flinging the windows open, I tossed the gull high into the air. It flapped its wings, settled into the air currents and flew to the west. At least it was going the right way.

Belladonna raised one eyebrow at me. I stared at her, keeping my face carefully blank. “Princess, I do believe they are waiting for you.”

A tip of her head at me, she clapped her hands together sharply. “Boy, we’re ready.”

The doors creaked open and the boy stuck his head in, color rising in his cheeks. “I said my name is Urchin, and I am an Ender in training.”

“Fine, fine.” Belladonna waved a hand at him. “Take us to dinner, I’m starving.”

Another awkward bow from Urchin as a glower shimmered over his face, and then he led the way through the long halls. They stretched in seemingly endless lengths, the ceilings so far above our heads I could barely make them out.

The palace was built with soft pastels, pinks, blues, creamy whites, and yellows. Like a dream, gauzy and surreal. I drew in a deep breath through my mouth, tasting salt and the night air cool against my tongue. Tiny orbs of water filled with weird fish that glowed were strung along the pathways, seemingly flickering in the ocean breeze. Their light dimmed suddenly with a particular hard snap of wind; an impossibility, yet there it was. Shadows and light danced across our path and the fish globes struggled to stay lit, and I knew the moment for what it was.

An omen of things to come.

Urchin cleared his throat, his long fingers tapping against his thighs. He stopped at a large doorway, stepping in front of us. “My father wanted me to give you this. But asked that you burn it after you read it.”

Belladonna took the note, read it, and handed it to me. “Does it mean anything to you?”

I skimmed the note, frowning as I read.

Let nothing pass the gates to your home, for you will not see the dawn if you do.

Lifting the note, I held it to one of the candles. The paper caught quickly and burned down to my fingers. I flipped the remaining ashes to the ground. “No, but that doesn’t mean we won’t understand it when the time comes.” At least that was what I was hoping.

Urchin nodded, pushed the doors open. Made of sandstone and engraved with scenes of battle, I only caught a glimpse of the images—tentacles reaching from the depths of the ocean—before my eyes were drawn forward.

Though the room was fairly well decorated, my eyes could only see one thing—a single table a hundred feet long stretched the length of the room and laden with food and drink. The smell was overwhelming, and my stomach growled, urging me forward.

Belladonna put her hands to her stomach. “Do not let me make a pig of myself, Lark. I fear I will if allowed free rein.”

I fought the grin that wanted to spread across my face. “I might let you, just so I can say that I saw you stuff your face.”

Her shoulders shook with repressed laughter, something I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen. I knew why, though. We were giddy with hunger and thirst, our bodies making us fools.

Urchin led us through the room and I struggled not to stare at the lay out. Above our heads hung a massive kelp bed held aloft by something I couldn’t see, lit with tiny lights and strung with pearls and starfish. I froze as something moved within the swirling plant’s beds. A sea otter swam through the kelp as if it were water over our heads and not air. That display would take a lot of power, but I didn’t see any Sylph’s—air elementals—around holding it together.

The tiny creature grabbed at a fish that shot past and swirled in a circle as it played. A second otter joined, and they twinned around one another in a dance that should have been impossible.

“They don’t know they aren’t in water. The Sylph ambassador set it up before she . . . left.”

I turned to see Ayu staring at the otter with me. “
Left
. Is that what we’re calling it now?”

“For now, yes. You’d best hurry. Your ambassador is ahead of you, and I doubt you want to let her out of arm’s length.”

She was right, Belladonna was sitting at her assigned chair. Her hands trembled as she reached for the goblet at her place setting.

Lifted it to her mouth.

Tipped her head as her lips parted. The gates to the home of her body opened.

A cold shot of fear lanced my heart.

“Belladonna! Manners!” I yelled across the room at her, making everyone stop and stare at us. I strode forward. “You know better. Are you the ambassador or am I?”

Her eyes widened and then narrowed. “Ender, you overstep.” She lifted the goblet again as I reached her.

I slapped it out of her hands.

“Your father would be embarrassed.”

She shot to her feet.

Requiem stood behind her. “Ladies, please. There is no need to be so formal. Of course, let your ambassador dig into the meal. It was especially prepared with her in mind.”

“Of course, it was.” I reached out and grabbed Bella’s wrist, gripping it until the bones under my hands ground together. She whimpered, but I didn’t look at her, I kept my eyes on Requiem. “Perhaps you would like to share a goblet with my ambassador, in a show of good faith?”

Belladonna looked at me and I glanced at her, softening my hold on her wrist. I saw the understanding hit her and she relaxed. “I think that is a wonderful idea.” I let go, knowing she understood as well as I did.

Let nothing pass the gates to your home, for you will not see the dawn.
The food and drink were poisoned. We were no more safe now than we had been when we first stepped foot into the Deep.

Requiem shook his head and patted his belly. “Alas, I have already eaten my fill, but here, I will drink to your . . . health.” He scooped up the goblet and downed it in a single gulp.

How, how could he do that if it was poisoned? I was sure I was right though and was staking our lives on it.

“So much for manners,” Belladonna muttered under her breath. Louder, she said. “Shall we sit and converse then?” She didn’t touch the food, and relief swept through me.

Requiem gave her a nod and they sat side-by-side launching into a discussion about the best ways to rule. By force, bribery, fear, or adoration. I stepped back to give them room. Not because they needed it, really. More because it was what was expected of me.

The night dragged, the smell of food made my mouth fill with saliva and my mind wander. Undines began to leave in twos and threes before Requiem stood. “Lovely speaking with you, Belladonna. You are a creature of fascinating contradictions. Ambassador, princess, lady of culture, and yet there is so much power in you.”

She tipped her head slightly. “A woman no matter how plain she seems is always a sea of mystery, Requiem. Surely at your advanced age you must know that by now?”

Oh snap. I had to bite the inside of my mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

Requiem’s eyes darkened. “You play a dangerous game.”

I stepped forward. “And you aren’t?”

He raised his eyes to mine and I realized we were pretty much alone, the three of us at the head of the table. “You two are free to roam wherever you like for the remainder of your stay. Just be warned that not all of my people welcome you as I do, so I cannot guarantee your safety outside your rooms.”

I didn’t stop the snort that escaped me. Requiem ignored me and dropped his eyes to Belladonna. “Your mother, is she well?”

Belladonna stiffened, her whole body suddenly vibrating with tension. “She’s quite well, thank you.”

A slow smile spread across his lips. “I do believe it has been years since I spoke with her. Perhaps I should send her a message, invite her to see me crowned.” He rubbed his hand over his jaw.

Belladonna stood, pushing her chair back. “I am tired. It has been a long two days. Goodnight, Requiem.”

She took a measured pace, not hurrying but not dawdling either. I walked at her side, glancing back to Requiem. His smile only widened as our eyes met. He lifted a hand and waved.

The walk to our room was silent. Belladonna went straight in and began to pace. I stood in the doorway. “Stay here, I’m going to see about some food.”

“Everything will be poisoned, Lark.” Her gray eyes were clouded with frustration and more than a little fear.

“How can that be? They all ate. Even Requiem downed a goblet.”

She rolled her eyes at me. “I forget you didn’t take the schooling we did. Every family has things they are resistant to. Things they can ingest or be infected with, with no affect.”

I gripped the edge of the door. “And the Undines?”

“Puffer fish.”

Hands on my hips, I knew our options were not good. As much as we were a long-lived people and could handle a lot of injuries, and even go a for a good length of time without food, we couldn’t go forever without eating and drinking. “I’m going to go see what I can find. You get a fire going so we can cook if I manage to find a fish or two.” I pointed at the blackened and cracked fireplace that probably hadn’t seen a flame in years. She nodded, not arguing.

“Bella . . .”

“Why do you keep calling me that?” she whispered. “No one calls me that anymore.”

I shrugged. “Because right now, you are the sister I remember. Not the one Cassava created, and I am hoping you see that. Lock the door behind me.” Backing up, I waited until she shut the door in my face and I heard the lock slide into place. I put a hand on the door, wondering just how changed my sister was. Or was it all a ruse to suck me under the belief I could trust her?

I dropped my hand and backed away. Only time would tell.

Not something either of us had.

assing Undines here and there, I kept my pace brisk. As if I knew where I was going and was allowed to do whatever I was doing. No one stopped me; they hardly even looked up as I walked through the palace.

There were more important things than food. Like answers to my questions, and there was only one place I could think to start.

I found the healers’ room with relative ease and let myself in. “I’ll be with you in a moment,” a voice called out.

I didn’t answer, just wandered deeper into the room. Looking at the things laid out. Tools of the trade. Scalpels, pincers, vials, and potions, a mortar and pestle with something shiny and red half ground in it. The shiny red bits moved, and I jumped back, bumping into one of the tables.