Page 9 of Depths
As I wrestled my breasts back into the gown, I said softly, “No, she didn’t. I asked for it,” hoping with every fiber of my being that Felipe was not overhearing this conversation. Otherwise, I might just find one of those volcanic crevices and shove my own head in instead of melting that coin dress.
I heard Sahar rush to my rescue once more. “So, Declan, how was your journey here?”
“Uneventful. Rode a gargoyle.”
“You have any saddle sores from it?” Sahar asked. “Her Majesty wants to ride that Pony character throughout the tournament, but as we’ll be touring the kingdom, I worry about the stone rubbing against her—”
“STOP! No more talking. Nobody in this room gets to talk!” I shouted as I strode out from behind the dressing room, breasts thankfully covered. “By all that is or ever was, are you all attempting to drive memad? No talk of myareas.” I gestured wildly at my body.
Sahar, ever the stateswoman, maintained a calm face, but I noticed Felipe had to raise a hand to cover his snicker.
Wonderful. Great. Guess I’d be the talk of the guard room tonight. I needed a map. It looked like a trip to a volcanic crevice was in my near future. That would solve all the stupid heart problems and tournament worries in one.
Sahar cleared her throat and changed the subject, turning to Declan where he reclined on the couch. She moved to sit in a chair opposite him, a move she’d taught me about breaking difficult news. She believed it was more effective to remain on the same physical level as the other person, not to float above them when they were sitting or vice versa. She thought it important to be on the same physical wavelength, equal footing … or was it finning? “Even if Her Majesty wanted your help, I’d have to advise her against it. Her position here under the sea is already tenuous. She needs to prove her loyalty to her people and our ways.”
“By marrying strangers!”
“By selecting suitors who represent the interests of the various groups here. Marriage can be delayed … for a time,” she amended. Sahar glanced at me, looking gorgeous, having changed for the ball while I’d ranted at Declan. She had pink sea stars clinging to her chest, with a bright purple sarong floating down from her hips. As a siren, she was preternaturally beautiful, even with the streaks of silver in her hair, which she chose not to magic away. Unlike many of the sirens that I’d met thus far, Sahar didn’t seem to revel in her looks or use them to her advantage. She was far more concerned with educating me on the politics of Okeanos. Sun up to well after moonrise, she was at my side, teaching me about the various towns. Reef City, a bright bustling metropolis full of fun but also a bit of violence. Navagio, a town composed entirely of the recycled bits from shipwrecks … and others. I couldn’t wait to see them all.
In fact, the plan was for the tournament to visit each of the major towns under the ocean. One competition would be hosted at each. It was going to be my tour of the country, my introduction to the people. Letting them watch their hometown heroes compete for my hand would soften them toward me, or so Sahar had advised.
I didn’t mind the competition,exceptfor the part related to my hand …
I blew out a breath.
No wonder Bloss had run.
Declan smacked his lips, running his tongue over them. “Tastes of fear in here.”
“It’s going to taste of blood if you don’t shut up.”
A knock came at my door just then, and Felipe answered, allowing a page to swim inside. The boy, who couldn’t have been more than twelve, had the red hair of a hermit shifter, and a small ornamental shield shell at his back. He was bright-eyed and brimming with excitement when he said, “The contestants are ready, Your Majesty.”
I gave a nod and tried not to fist my hands or give any indication that my skin suddenly felt as chilled as if I’d been dropped onto an iceberg.
Declan stood and walked over to me. He held out an arm. “Don’t worry. Bloss and I have already figured out a solution.”
My fear melted as though by magic. Instead of taking Declan’s arm, I strode past him and then used my wing-like fins to launch myself down the hall. Because no one was going to solve my problems but me.
3
Beauty is a trick of the eye, designed to fool the mind into complacency. It’s been the start of many a great deception.
—Sultan Raj of Cheryn
* * *
I took a deep,completely unhelpful breath that did absolutely nothing to calm my nerves as I stood outside the grand ballroom. I slid my hands nervously down the sides of the new gown I was wearing, which had been cut like kelp to flutter gracefully around my legs as I swam. I adjusted the necklace that Bloss had sent me as a gift, the thick gold chain studded every so often with an etched bead that pictured the seahorse that was the symbol of Okeanos. Etched on the back of the seahorse pendant that dangled from the front was the rose of Evaness. That shite Declan had only just given it to me when that should have been his first order of business. I was even angrier with him because the sight had brought tears to my eyes, and that longing for my sister that I’d been fighting pierced my hollow armor.
I’d punched Dec and then made him put the necklace on me.
“It’s got a bit of elven chain in there,” Declan had whispered when he’d closed the clasp. “That will protect you from a lot of spells.”
I glared at him. “More protection?”
He shook his head seriously. “Raj is still out there. We’ll find him. But until we do, it’s best to be cautious. Besides, Bloss said you always admired your mother’s necklaces.” I didn’t bother to correct him, didn’t tell him I’d started to call the woman Gela in my head. That wouldn’t do any good.
I tried to accept the gift for what it was, a symbol that Bloss still cared, still wanted to be there for me, still thought of me as a sister. And that bolstered me. It gave me the courage to face what came next, to be as fearless as the woman I still considered my sister, blood or no. I might not want her adviceat all, but I needed her support.
