Page 97 of The Princesses of Ruin
The crystal floor and ceiling glimmer with blue, green, and pink, but the walls are covered in living coral. Creatures I recognize well flit about the oasis. Clover fish, soft crabs, and blue clownfish. The biome is rich in abundance.
I snap my attention back to the ga’hanoi in the room. Behind a massive coral structure at the center of the floor sit pillars of light that each opponent floats inside of. Their bodies flash with the colors projecting over the ceiling.
Vek’ihr floats above the coral at the center of the room and illuminates a brilliant orange color. The beams of light dissipate, and the ga’hanoi unfurl, revealing their soft bodies.
I could annihilate them all here and now. Take what we want. End the bloody feud stretching back centuries.
“That would be unwise,” Vek’ihr says.
I glare at the creature. My scent, of course. The tunnel is pouring water over us and pushing Reina’s and my scent into the space.
“This is the Conclave of Currents, our ever-shifting leadership.” He begins pointing to the other ga’hanoi in the room. “The delegate of procreation, the delegate of waste, the delegate of food resources, the delegate of ambassadors…”
On and on he goes, listing each one’s function. I size up every creature he points to, wrapping my magic around them, feeling them out. How dense they are, how big. If I were to strike first, could I survive the initial attack?
“And Jasper of the Opal Isle,” Vek’ihr says, snapping me back to attending the conversation.
“I am honored to be given an audience with the ga’hanoi,” Reina says.
Vek’ihr turns to his people and begins gesticulating with his many limbs, colors, and flashes of light coming from various tentacles and parts of his body.
One conclave member, maybe the delegate of population or some such, flashes brightly in return, moving several tentacles quickly.
“I have told them we will forgo the consumption of food, as it is not as necessary for negotiations as I’d believed. I hope you understand,” Vek’ihr says.
Perhaps all the talk about eatingpeopleset him off his appetite—or hers, and he’s doing his best to be considerate. My lip curls at the thought of him being decent.
Reina nods. “I think that’s best, as well. Thank you.”
Vek’ihr’s eyes swivel as another delegate communicates. “They are grateful for your presence and wish to know what has brought you both here.”
This is squid ink. Theyallknow why we’re here. They all know we need something from them.
What was it Vek’ihr had said? Any alliance to that end…
“Gracious hosts, we’ve come to ask a great favor. From what we know, your people have tamed the great sea serpent…”
The one that destroys her people’s ships if they get too close to the Deep.
“We’ve come to ask your permission to collect a sample of the creature’s bile.”
Vek’ihr gesticulates the message.
Many representatives reply at once, then seem to enter a discussion amongst themselves.
“My apologies, Reina. The delegates are…” He struggles for the word. “Arguing.”
Interesting. A disruption in their political hierarchy could be to our benefit. Or maybe arguing is frequent among them. I hope it serves us, either way.
Another few minutes of flashing lights and flailing limbs result in a slow calm that finally seems to come to a decision. Vek’ihr communicates back to one delegate, who then engages in what appears to be another “argument.”
Vek’ihr’s limbs get snappy and rigid. Irritated.
He turns to us.
“It is with my greatest sorrow, and displeasure, to inform you that the Conclave of Currents does not grant this permission.”
Reina scowls. “Surely there can be negotiation?”
