Page 18 of Tide of Waves and Secrets

She knew already. The queen did not appear a bit surprised.

“He has pledged his support to King Galfrid’s cause, which is, as it has been for these past years, to reopen the Gate.”

The queen’s brows raised. “Is it not reopened?”

“No, it does not appear to be so. Princess Mevlida, it seems, is an anomaly.”

The queen did not react to that news.

Rowan hesitated for the first time since we’d entered the throne room. He looked at me and then back up to the queen.

“As you and very few others in Elydor are aware, the Gate was both opened, and closed, with the use of each clan’s most revered artifacts.”

What did he just say?

I tried not to react, but struggled.

For her part, the queen’s nose flared in annoyance.

“King Galfrid formally requests use of, when it becomes necessary, the Tidal Pearl in reopening the Aetherian Gate.”

Impossible.How could the Tidal Pearl have been used to open the Gate? The queen would never have allowed its use by anyone but her. Even if she had, it was well known King Balthor closed the Gate, and the only way he could have gotten it…

“No king in Elydor will ever again make use of our Tidal Pearl,” she said, the queen’s voice as steely firm as I’d ever heard it. Her gaze darted toward me, her eyes narrowing. “It was stolen from us once. It will never be taken again.”

Stolen.

King Balthor stole the Tidal Pearl to close the Gate.

It explained everything. Including my parents’ death.

A rage like I’d never felt before consumed me. I could not see. Or think. Or even breathe.

The Pearl had been stolen which was why, when the seaquake struck, Queen Lirael was not able to quell it. All sensed it had been coming, yet she couldn’t stop it. At least, not without the Tidal Pearl amplifying her power. But instead of telling her people it had been stolen, she claimed to have used it, to no avail.

I cannot stay here.

Before thinking it through, my feet had begun a forward motion and even my queen’s command did not stop them. I fled the throne room, pushing open one of the two heavy doors, and ran and ran. Ignoring curious stares and my name being called, I ran until I was outside of the palace. Only then did I stop, contemplating my direction, and bolted toward the sea.

Once on the beach, I continued to run toward a spot that few visited. On the other side of a rocky outcropping, it had been a haven of mine for many years. Sitting in its entrance, I didn’t dare allow my mind to consider what I had just done. Fled the palace. Ignored the queen’s command. Suddenly, I was no longer the daughter of two nobles, a Stormcaller who had received an appointment in the palace. I was Nerys, the woman who lost her parents and had difficulty controlling her magic. An orphan, afraid of her own skills.

I stood, walked slowly to the water’s edge, and lifted my hand.

9

ROWAN

“Your majesty. I’ve spent my life bridging worlds: between those who wield power and those who serve it, between duty and what’s right. Galfrid sent me here because he knows I fight for something larger than myself. My people have suffered for many years and still hold out hope that they will one day be fully accepted as Elydorians.”

“I am not without compassion for the humans,” she said. “Which is why you were granted an audience.”

I was granted an audience because the queen wished for information about Mevlida, but I smartly kept that thought to myself.

“A fact that is much appreciated,” I said instead.

“But I cannot help you. The Tidal Pearl will never again be used by anyone but the queen, or king, of Thalassaria.”

I was prepared for such a statement.

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