Page 63 of Rebel in the Deep

One of the Yothians in the middle, one slightly shorter and rounder than the rest, steps forward on silent paws. “Nox. Captain Nox, I hear. Congratulations on your promotion.” They rise. “Ask your boon.”

“I would offer the supplies we currently have, as well as a selection of gifts I think your people may enjoy.” Nox draws a deep breath. Their tone is perfectly even, but there’s tension in their shoulders. “In return, I would ask for a small ship to get us to Lyari. And for you to house my crew for a short period of time. Two weeks, perhaps three. They will abide by your laws and won’t cause any trouble.”

Tia’s ears flick back and forth, but they don’t otherwise move. “You know we don’t often welcome strangers into our midst.”

“I know.” Nox doesn’t bend in the least. “But I think you have a vested interest in hearingwhywe need this boon from you.”

Tia studies Nox for a long moment. “Walk with me.”

Nox easily falls into step with Tia, walking down the beach away from us. Both groups eye each other warily but make no move to cause any trouble. A short while later, the leaders have made their way back to us.

Tia steps forward and spreads their short arms. “You’re welcome within our community.” Their ears flick. “However, if any of you breaks our laws, you will be held accountable by the same laws.”

Nox motions the crew forward. “All right, darlings, gather round. Here’s the lay of the land.” They quickly go through the laws the crew needs to know about. It’s pretty standard stuff—don’t fuck with the locals, don’t damage property, don’t make asses of themselves—with a few interesting caveats. All visitors are barred from the center of the island, which is apparently holy ground to the Yothians.

Nox gets agreements all around and then we’re off, filing after the Yothians into the deep green foliage. Each island in Threshold reflects a portion of the world in the realm its portal leads to, right down to the climate—in this case, a heat sticky and dense enough to swipe your fingers through. Insects drone in a buzz I swear I can feel in my bones. The trees around us are alive with small animals and movement that suggests much larger predators exist just out of sight.

I shiver and glance to where Bowen walks next to me. “I prefer wide-open spaces to this.”

He shrugs, expression carefully locked down the way it so often is. “If something comes at us, I’ll stop it.”

What must it be like to move through the world so sure of your power and its ability to protect? My glamour is incredibly useful when I dare to use it, but I can’t stop acid rain or a giant monster or do anything actually helpful. I’ve worked hard to ensure I’m not a liability in a fight, but I’ll never be as good as Bowen or the other heavy hitters on the crew of theAudacity.

We reach the village before too long. At first glance, thereisno village, but as I stare, the details start to emerge. The buildings are built into the trees in a seamless way that means I can’t tell if the inhabitants carved into the trees themselves or did some kind of magic to shift things to make room. The escortYothians break off, each leading a small group of crew members in a different direction to where they’ll be staying as guests of various households.

Nox waits until they’re all gone before bowing deeply to Tia. “Thank you for your hospitality.”

“Thank you for your sacrifice.” Tia bows just as deeply this time. “Will you share a meal with us before you leave?”

Nox shakes their head slowly. “I wish we could, Tia. Unfortunately, we need to move as quickly as possible. We don’t want to bring the Cwn Annwn down upon you and your community.”

“Let them come.” Tia smiles, revealing the sharp teeth of a predator. “They have tried before. They will try again. Still, we maintain.”

“If we’re successful, they will never try again.”

Tia waves that away. “Someone will. Someone always does. We still see and honor your plans. You’ll find a small ship on the west side of the island.” They click their claws together several times in a fast pattern, and two smaller Yothians melt out of the bushes on either side of us. “These are Dao and Cye. They will guide you.”

Nox turns to the small group still left. “Let’s go.” I expected myself and Siobhan, of course, but Bowen and Evelyn remain, as well as Maeve and a put-upon-looking Lizzie. The future of Threshold rests on the shoulders of seven people.

There’s nothing more to say.

We file after the youngsters—and theyareyoungsters; that boundless energy of youth is consistent across all peoples—and into an even deeper greenery than we experienced on our way to the village.

Behind me, Lizzie sneezes. Without missing a beat, she snarls, “Not a single word.”

“I didn’t say anything,” Maeve says sweetly.

I can’t help looking over my shoulder to see a mask of innocence on Maeve’s face that doesn’t quite conceal the mischief in her green eyes. She catches me watching and winks. I fight down a shudder and turn back to keep my eyes on the path ahead of me. Lizzie may be useful, but I can hardly comprehend the bravery Maeve must possess to go to bed with the vicious vampire.

It’s none of my business. But thinking about bed has me looking up ahead to where Siobhan trudges silently in front of me, her cloak covering her head despite the sticky heat, her shoulders tight in a clear message that she’s not interested in talking. Things have been too rushed for Nox to notice something is wrong yet, and there will be little time or privacy after this.

With that in mind, I veer around Siobhan and pick up my pace until I come even with Nox. “We have to talk,” I say softly. “Now.”

Chapter31

Nox

“Bastian, this has to wait,”I say softly. There’s nothing resembling privacy here. Not with the Yothians’ superior hearing ahead of us and Siobhan’s behind us. “We can’t stop.”

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