Page 114 of Song of the Abyss

And then Maketes. She had a soft spot for that yellow finned brother. He laughed all the time, but she noticed that laugh wasn’t reaching his eyes as much as she thought it should. When she’d asked, he just shrugged and gestured around him as though that was an explanation.

If she had to guess, it was starting to sting that he was the only one without someone here. So many mated pairs. Well, two of them. And here he was, still the odd one out.

At least he had Fortis. As much as anyone had Fortis.

“Anya!” Mira called out. “Let’s go inside!”

She nodded, wanting nothing more than to do that. But then a message flashed on her lens and she froze.

She read it over three times, barely noticing that Mira and all the others were giving her an odd look. Then she shook her head, took Bitsy off, and handed her to Daios.

He frowned at the words as well, and then she watched him read over it again.

“Anya?” Mira asked, her tone a little more serious now. “What’s going on?”

“I...” She didn’t know what to say.

“Spit it out. We’ve already had more go wrong in our lives than most people do in a century. How bad is it?”

“It’s not bad.” She took Bitsy back when Daios offered it, looking up at him as though he might be able to answer for her. “It’s just... Ace.”

Maketes reacted like he’d been struck by lightning. He stiffened, his entire body lighting up with a sharp glow before he quickly asked, “What’s wrong with Ace?”

“Nothing, brother.” Daios expelled water from his throat gills, hard enough that it stirred Anya’s hair. “Ace has been speaking with the leaders of Gamma and they would like an audience.”

“Here?” Arges gestured around them. “Where would we host achromos?”

“No, they wish for us to send an ambassador to their city. To Gamma.”

Mira was already shaking her head. “No, that’s a trap. None of us are going until we know more about that. I know Ace is your friend, Anya, but we can’t trust anyone who claims that they can fix everything by?—”

“I’ll go.”

The words interrupted all of them. Anya turned with the others to see Maketes floating by himself, his hands twisting at his waist. He sighed before repeating, “I’ll go.”

“Go where?” Mira blurted.

“I’ll go to Gamma.” He grinned, that smile never quite reaching his eyes. “I’m the only one with nothing to lose now, don’t you think? Besides. I’d like to meet Ace in person, if possible.”

Anya focused on her lens to see Bitsy had already sent that message to Ace. All that remained was one more message from her friend, hovering in the air like everyone could see it.

I can’t wait to meet him.

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