Page 67 of Depths
Lizza glanced back at me and gave a brief nod. Did that mean she could treat him? That his injuries could be healed? He’d be okay? I sank to the sandy ocean floor in relief, settling on my knees, flaring my wings for balance, ready to sit in vigil as she worked her magic. But instead of treating him, Lizza snapped her fingers until Julian leaned back down to help her up. Then she turned and clomped back over to me.
Her face was as serious as a grave when she whispered, “Only one thing will save him.”
“Anything.”
She shook her head and reached into her pouch, pulling out a headless lizard.
Anything but that. Shite. Sard. Shite. I shoved my eyes shut. Squeezed them closed. Temptation danced like fire in my mind. Three days. I’d be giving up three more days. My heart shivered inside my chest, as if it knew and was scared.
“What about a spell to freeze him, preserve him—” Bloss had spoken of that sort of spell. It had been put on her castle and everyone within it.
Lizza barked out a rough laugh. “I’m no Donaloo. That crackpot had magic no other has ever had.”
My fingernails sliced into my palms, and I could feel the plunk of my pulse. All I’d wanted, since before I’d started this damn tournament, was more time. But time was up. I had to decide, make a choice. All the moments of this tournament strung together and flashed before my eyes, like I was walking through a gallery. And I came to a conclusion. Quickly, before personal greed could burn away my good sense, I spoke. “Do it.”
“Majesty. Are you sure?”
“Give it to him.”
I didn’t open my eyes until I heard the crunch of ocean sand under her feet, until I knew Lizza had turned back to follow my orders. But I couldn’t help cracking my lids to watch as the undead witch pulled the last undead lizard from her pouch—my last hope—and fed it into Keelan’s mouth.
* * *
Hours later,in my room inside the mayor’s palace, I paced restlessly. The tournament’s location had been moved to the open ocean, delayed until tomorrow for the all the remaining contestants. Sahar had nearly crushed me with a hug when Keelan had opened his eyes. The lizard brought him back. But his arm bone was shattered into so many pieces that I didn’t think there’s any healing it. Neither Lizza or Julian saw a way to restore it from the damage done.
Keelan’s swelling, internal bleeding, those things were solved. But, just like my heart, the lizard’s magic couldn’t fix anything that was too far broken. Not forever. Keelan might have a useless arm.
Better than a useless heart,the bitter thought surfaced as I paced, but I waved it aside like a pesky moth. Cruel thoughts wouldn’t make anything better. Though I had an idea of what would. And with that second lizard gone, a sense of urgency sprinted through my veins. My veins had nothingbuturgency left. I needed to make a decision. And I’d lost nearly half a day to overseeing that rescue, to giving out speeches and hugs afterward, to promising to pay for funerals for those who hadn’t made it. To checking on Keelan and a sobbing Sahar, who’d clutched my shoulders in gratitude.
“Your Majesty, I can’t even tell you what it means to me. You’ve given me my life back,” she’d cried.
I’d given her more than she’d ever know. More than I could ever admit. But I was trapped now, like a cornered animal. Time had me stuck in a corner, and my back was arched. My teeth were out.
Death crept nearer every moment. Unless I made a choice.
I’d had Sahar bring in the list of contestant names. I’d put it on the ground. I’d tossed a rock. But when the rock had landed on Mateo’s name, I’d shuddered. No. Fate clearly didn’t want me to choose one of them.
But who? Who could I give my heart to?
My mind shuffled through the events of the past few days again, trying to select someone.
A knock sounded at my door, and I called out, “Come in,” as I gathered up my list and slid it under my pillow. The door opened from outside, and Mayor Deacon swam inside hesitantly, an apologetic look on his face.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, Your Majesty.”
I shook my head. “It’s fine.”
Felipe pulled the door shut but remained out in the hall with Ugo. I’d banished them outside when I’d come in here to think, to decide.
Deacon knotted his fingers as he approached. “I wanted to let you know the City Guard has been asking around. But none of the typical protest groups, none of the known rebels, have been bragging about today’s incident.”
He didn’t know who was responsible. There was no one to grab, imprison, punish. I fought against clenching my fist, because whoever had done this deserved punishment. Whoever had done this deserved to rot. “And what do you think?”
He shrugged. “They could be playing this close to the chest; it could be the first move of many. Or … perhaps a lone actor with some agenda.” He shook his head. “It’s impossible to say really.”
I gave a brisk nod.
“If I hazard a guess, you won’t hold it against me, will you?” Deacon asked with a tilt of his head.
