by Caitlin Seal
Felicia smiled. “It’s been said once or twice. Now, I think you said you had a letter you wanted sent?”
Naya crossed to her desk and wrote a quick note for Mel, then handed it to Felicia. “Delence said he’d call for a carriage. Once you’ve delivered this, get together whatever you need and come meet me at the palace’s front steps.”
Delence didn’t waste any time keeping his promise. Barely an hour later, Naya received word from another servant that her carriage was ready. She tried to keep her head high and her expression calm as a squad of seven soldiers arrived to escort her out to the waiting carriage. With the clank of their weapons and the thump of their boots surrounding her, she almost didn’t hear Mel call out, “Naya, wait!”
Naya’s chest tightened. She turned and saw Mel standing just past the ring of soldiers, clutching a piece of paper in one hand. Baz, the older guard who’d been with them on their outing, stood behind her wearing a worried scowl.
“Hi,” Naya said. “I, uh, guess you got my letter?”
Mel smiled weakly. “Yeah. I tried to get up to see you earlier, but the guards on the Ceramoran wing wouldn’t let me through. They said it was too much of a risk.”
Naya winced. “I’m sorry.”
“I know.” Mel waved the slightly crumpled letter as evidence. “Pretty sure you wrote that about four times.”
“We should get going,” one of the soldiers escorting Naya said.
“Wait!” Mel’s brow furrowed. “I just…what’s really going on here? My mother’s been shut up with the Talmiran delegates since last night. Everyone’s talking about assassins and some of the delegates are already planning to leave. They’re saying the peace has been broken. Is it true?”
Naya tensed. Delence had said the Congress talks would be delayed, but Mel’s description seemed to imply a deeper fracture between the Powers. “I don’t know. Hopefully everything will calm down in a couple of days.”
Mel nodded, though she looked uncertain. “And you’re not leaving for good, right? You’ll send me a message when you get back?”
“If you want, but—”
“Good.” Mel smiled. “Dead or alive, we bastards have to stick together, right?”
Felicia arrived at the carriage a few minutes after Naya. Her cheeks were flushed and she sounded out of breath as she slid onto the seat across from Naya.
“Sorry,” she said. “At first the soldiers at the Talmiran delegation’s wing wouldn’t send anyone up to get Miss Jeden, and then everything was so hectic up in the servant’s hall, what with everyone still being so upset about the attack.”
“It’s okay,” Naya said. “Though you do realize we’ll only be at the ship for a day or two, right?” She nodded to the overstuffed bag Felicia was carrying.
Felicia blushed. “I know. But I couldn’t pick what to bring, so I decided it would be faster to just put it all in. Things being as strange as they are, you never know what might be useful.”
“Are you ready?” one of the three soldiers standing next to the carriage asked. They would be accompanying Naya and Felicia to the docks, presumably to ensure they arrived safely.
Or to ensure you disappear along the way.
Naya shivered and pushed the thought away. Still, she kept a part of her mind focused on the aether, alert for any sudden shifts in the soldiers’ emotions. “Yes, let’s get going.”
The ride to the lifts seemed to take an eternity. As they bounced along the crowded streets, Naya’s doubts grew. She imagined the note like a burning ember in her pocket. She knew she was taking a risk by seeking Celia out. If she got herself killed or captured, there would be no one to help Lucia find Corten’s soul. But she no longer had time for caution. Celia had worked closely with Valn. She would know his allies. Naya had to take this chance.
It was late afternoon when their carriage finally reached the cliffs. Naya and Felicia stepped out into the golden sunlight to find the streets above the docks still bustling. Sailors and merchants came and went from the taverns nearby, and a crowd gathered by the edge of the cliffs, waiting to use the lifts. Farther north along the curve of the cliff face, Naya knew those without spare coin would be descending one of the precarious stairways carved into the rock.
Naya reached into the aether, feeling the city’s pulse swell around her. Belavine had been a chaotic place of bright citrus and swirling colors. Its pulse beat time in children’s running footsteps and the rattle and shriek of the trams. Lith Lor’s pulse felt ponderous by comparison. The march of heavy boots on old stone vibrated in her chest, somehow harmonizing with a distant murmur of song and the sharp salt smell of the ocean breeze as it darted through the city streets.
“Hurry up,” one of the soldiers muttered.
Naya returned her attention to the physical world and realized they’d reached the front of the line for the lifts. Felicia already stood inside, peering down to the docks below. From this height the cargo being unloaded from the various ships looked tiny.
Naya stepped into the lift and felt the tug of the runes as it descended. Once they reached the shore, the soldiers escorted them to one of the smaller docks, where a rowboat waited to take them out to the Gallant.
The ship looked to be in good condition, but as Naya stepped aboard she felt sour unease wafting through the aether. Sailors lounged on deck, some working half-heartedly at small tasks, others throwing dice.
“Miss Garth,” Captain Cervacaro said as he strode across the deck. “Lord Delence sent a message this morning that we were to take young Francisco back to Belavine, but he didn’t say you’d be joining us.”
“I won’t,” Naya said, though it pained her to think of the Gallant sailing without her. “I’ll just be here for a day or two while Lucia fixes my bond.”
Captain Cervacaro ran his fingers through his scraggly beard. “And our Talmiran hosts won’t take issue with her performing necromancy in their waters?”
“It won’t be a problem,” Naya said, hoping she was right. At least nobody had balked when Lucia had gone to fix Francisco’s tattoos.
“Very well. I suppose you’ll be needing your cabin then?”
“I will.”
Cervacaro glanced around, then snapped at one of the sailors throwing dice nearby. “Jeverin, go clear out Miss Garth’s cabin.”
The sailor scowled, then nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Why would my cabin need to be cleared out?” Naya asked, trying to keep her tone light.
Cervacaro shrugged. “You know how it is. This Congress was supposed to last for weeks yet. It seemed a shame to leave such a pleasant room empty, so I’ve been using it.”
“I see.” Naya gritted her teeth. It wasn’t unreasonable. Still, it felt invasive that Cervacaro had so quickly moved into the space, as though he were the ship’s true master and she just a guest.
Cervacaro looked around the deck. “Truth be told, I’m glad we’re being sent back early. Never did much care for Talmir, and it seems things have gotten worse than usual with this Congress business going on. Half the taverns in dockside are refusing to serve anyone who’s got even so much as a hint of a Ceramoran accent. I’ll be glad to get back to friendlier waters.” His gaze settled on Naya. “Don’t suppose you’ve given any more thought to my offer?”
Naya shook her head. “I already told you, the Gallant isn’t for sale.”
“So you say. But once we reach Belavine, our contract with Lord Delence will be complete. Your ship will have no crew, and you’ll be stuck out here for who-knows-how-long dealing with this Congress business. You’ll have to find a proxy to hire you a new crew, or pay your docking fees. Either that or she’ll be scrapped.”
“I know,” Naya growled. “And she won’t be scrapped.”
Cervacaro’s expression softened. “Look, girl, I can tell you love this ship. She’s an easy ship to love. And Creator knows, if
it had been up to me, I would have given just about anything to keep the Arabella afloat. I’m not trying to take what’s yours out of spite. I’m trying to save you the sorrow of losing her to decay and port taxmen.”
Naya hesitated. In truth, the Gallant’s fate had weighed heavy on her mind ever since they’d set sail. And things had only gotten worse since then. Given the severity of Francisco’s injuries, she couldn’t deny him use of the ship to get home. And they couldn’t send the Lady back since the Gallant didn’t have enough space to get the rest of the delegates home once their business here was done.
But even though a part of her knew selling the ship would be the simplest option, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She shook her head. “I don’t have time to deal with this right now.”
Cervacaro scowled. “Well, you’d best find time soon. Once we get back to Belavine, me and my crew will have to find other work. My offer won’t stand forever.”
Naya and Felicia remained on deck for several tense minutes before the sailor Cervacaro had sent below returned to report the cabin was ready. Once inside, Naya shut the door and drew in aether to make sure nobody was lingering on the other side, or in the cabin next door.
“Well,” Felicia said. “What should we do while we wait? I brought my embroidery kit. I also have a couple of novels. I’ve heard cracked bones can be painful, and I always find reading about someone else’s troubles is an excellent distraction.”
Naya shook her head. “My bones aren’t actually cracked.”
“I—sorry?”
“I needed a reason to be out of the palace and away from all those soldiers for a while. I’m going out tonight.”
“I see.” Felicia’s expression brightened. “I’d hoped it was something like that but I didn’t dare ask back at the palace. How can I help?”
“I’m afraid it won’t be very exciting,” Naya said apologetically. “I’ll just need you to stay here with the door locked, and if anyone comes by tell them I’m resting and shouldn’t be disturbed.”
“You’re right, that isn’t very exciting.” Felicia sighed dramatically. “But in truth the sort of excitement you get involved in is probably too uncomfortable for my tastes. I will stay here and nobly defend the cabin. But in return I expect you to tell me tales of your grand adventure when you return.”
Naya smiled. “It’s a deal.”
* * *
Later, Naya opened the bag she’d brought from the palace and began sorting through the contents. Before she’d left, she’d cut out the oilcloth lining her sea chest. Now she spread the cloth out and set on it a change of clothes and a knife with a blade a little shorter than her hand. Last, she added the bag of coins she’d taken from the hidden compartment in her father’s cabin. She wasn’t sure if she’d need those, but it seemed better to have them than not. She wrapped the bundle tight and tied it with a pair of belts, trying not to think too hard about what she was about to do.
“Will you be leaving now?” Felicia asked.
Naya gave the belts a final tug, then examined her work. The bundle wouldn’t be completely waterproof, but it was better than nothing. “Not yet. I have to wait until nightfall.”
She stood and paced across the narrow cabin. Now that she had a plan, she itched to be going. Waiting only seemed to make her doubts scream louder. But there was no point in leaving now. In the daylight she’d almost certainly be spotted, and anyway Celia wouldn’t be at the meeting spot for hours yet.
Naya sat on the bunk. She glared at the patch of sunlight coming through the cabin windows. “You said something about a novel?” she asked Felicia.
Felicia grinned. “Oh, yes. I’m not sure if it will be to your tastes. My sister always used to make fun of me for reading them. But I’ve always loved them.”
“How many siblings do you have?” Naya asked, smiling as she remembered Felicia’s story of stealing her brother’s cake.
“Four—three brothers and one sister,” Felicia said as she dug a book from her bag. “My brother Lukan is the oldest, he works for the city guard in Belavine. Next is Jekorio, he helps my dad in one of the warehouses by the docks. My sister, Cerria, is a nursemaid for a nice family in Riorrica, and Olli, my little brother, is still living at home. What about you? Do you have any siblings?”
“No,” Naya said. “It was just me and my mother. After she died, I moved in with my father.”
“That sounds lonely,” Felicia said.
“It was,” Naya admitted. She took the book Felicia was holding to keep from having to say anything else. Her eyebrows rose as she read the title.
“The Count of Ceramor?” she asked. “What is it? Some sort of history?”
Felicia laughed. “Ah, no. It’s more of a romance. Though there are some very exciting sword fights too.”
Naya felt heat rising in her cheeks. “Oh. It sounds very, uh, distracting?” She’d loved stories when she was a little girl, but between her studies at the Merchants Academy and her work with her father, she’d had little time to read for pleasure. She couldn’t imagine the look her father would have given her if he’d found her wasting time with something like this. Somehow, trying to imagine his scowl made her all the more curious. She glanced out the window again at the sunny afternoon. Well, she did have hours before she could go anywhere. She ran her fingers over the cover, then flipped the book open. She would read a few pages, just to humor Felicia and give her mind a chance to rest. After that she would do something useful.
* * *
When Naya next looked up, the sky outside was dark. She snapped the book shut and jumped to her feet. At some point she’d curled up on the bunk. Felicia must have activated the cabin’s rune lamps, because the space was bathed in a soft blue-white glow. How had she not noticed that? “What time is it?” she asked Felicia.
Felicia looked up from her needlework. “A little before eight? Sorry, you looked like you were really enjoying the book and I didn’t want to interrupt.”
Naya relaxed slightly. For a moment she’d worried that she’d somehow missed the meeting. But no, she still had enough time to get there and look around before the appointed time. She ran her thumb along the corner of the pages. Without realizing it, she’d read through nearly the whole book. “I guess I do like it. Though I thought it was stupid how Julet killed herself just because she thought the Count died.”
Felicia smiled. “Really? But it’s so romantic. After all, he was the only necromancer who lived nearby. There wouldn’t have been anyone to bring him back, and she didn’t want to live without him.”
“She could have at least tried to find another way, or you know, checked to make sure he was actually dead?” Naya shook her head, then stood up. “Anyway, I should get going.”
Felicia followed Naya’s gaze to the darkened windows, nervous energy prickling through her aether. “You’re really going out there?”
Naya reached into her bag and pulled out her father’s logbook. “I have to.” She held the logbook out to Felicia. Inside were her notes on how to translate the cipher. In the end she hadn’t found anything more than the cryptic references to Resurgence. Maybe Delence and his scribes would have better luck. “If I’m not back by morning, I want you to give this to Francisco. Tell him I went after Celia and something went wrong.” Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that.
Felicia took the logbook hesitantly. “All right. But how do you intend to get off the ship without anyone noticing you?”
Naya smiled. “Watch.”
Naya stripped down to her shift and grabbed her bundle of clothes. She crossed the room and opened one of the panels in the cabin’s windows. The opening was too small for an ordinary person to squeeze through. But she wasn’t ordinary. She drew in aether, letting go of the idea of her body as something solid and unchangeable. Her limbs compressed as she squeezed through the window. It was an unpleasant sensation, and like cha
nging her features, she could feel the extra strain as the runes of her binding struggled to hold her soul to the less-familiar body.
Once through, she clung to the window’s ledge, her bare toes pressed against the ship’s side. She pulled her bundled clothes through next, then glanced up to see if anyone on the deck above had spotted her. The night was dark and so far it looked as though luck was on her side. Just to be sure, she extended her senses out into the aether. A moment later she felt the swirl of aether from the sailors standing watch above. Concentrating on it made her head feel suddenly too light. Perhaps Captain Cervacaro was using extra liquor rations to counter the cold reception they’d received on shore. Regardless, they didn’t seem to have noticed her. She glanced back into the cabin and saw Felicia watching her with wide eyes.
Naya smiled, but the expression quickly turned into a wince as the night breeze cut through her thin shift. She tried not to think about how exposed she was, dangling from the side of the ship. She glanced down at the water and nearly scrambled back to the warm safety of her cabin. The drop had to be fifteen feet, but in the dark it looked far longer. Naya licked her lips, then let go with one hand to shove her arm through a loop she’d made with one of the belts.
“I can do this,” she whispered. Then she let go of the ship.
Cold sea air whistled past as she fell. Naya clutched the bundle to her chest and pointed her toes straight down as her father had taught her. With a splash icy water enveloped her, sealing like a tomb over her head.
Naya’s eyes opened wide as the cold and dark pressed in all around her. Fear squeezed her chest like a vise, and she had to remind herself that she didn’t need to breathe. The dark waters couldn’t kill her. Still, it was hard to keep the panic from grabbing hold. She looked up, focusing on the wavering glow of a ship’s lantern where it reflected off the surface.
She tried to swim, but the lights might as well have been distant stars. The water felt heavy against her. It slid uselessly around her, and the surface grew no closer despite her frantic efforts. The ocean was a trap, gripping her stronger than death’s tides ever had.
