Page 61 of Surfaces
And then Keelan leaned down and swept me into a kiss that made my wings flutter and my phantom heart pound.
19
Midday came soonerthan I expected, though, once Keelan’s lips slanted over mine, the morning had passed in a bit of a blur. I was certain, however quickly the time had passed for me, it was gone in a blink for the anxious men waiting to prove themselves.
The twenty competitors remaining, with the exception of Keelan—who floated with Mr. Whelk at my side—lined the edge of Mayor Gorgono’s golden brick rooftop, floating slightly above the bricks stamped with the insignia of Rasle and Cheryn, even some crests that looked older—a dragon curled into a ball that I didn’t recognize was blazed into several of the older bars. The men studied the gold as I studied them while we all waited, impatiently, for the announcement of their next challenge. Felipe was among them, next to Mateo and Taft—the trio spoke quietly.
Behind them, the sea was a bright cornflower blue with the sun directly overhead. The chatter of spectators drifted lazily through the current as people gathered in the streets, on the rooftops, or just hanging out of windows to watch a bit of the spectacle. The current was soft and lazy, it felt like one of those summer breezes on land that gave up halfway through its journey and dawdled along the path so slowly that it wouldn’t even nudge a fly off course much less bring any relief.
I looked around at the buildings, wondering if there were pennants or any visual markers that might tell me what exactly today’s competition was—but I saw nothing. Only smiling faces, mermen waving, and shifter families playing catch appeared to populate Navagio. I watched a siren family struggle to create a makeshift rooftop tent so that the sun didn’t burn their golden skin. The little boy couldn’t stretch his corner far enough and kept making the thing collapse. Finally, his parents dismissed him from helping and did it themselves, while he laid back on the brick rooftop with a satisfied grin. His parents had foresight though, they would be cooler and more comfortable while they waited through the afternoon for the competition’s results.
Results of what though?
That was the question. And I wanted an answer.
I glanced over to the three chairs on the far side of the roof, which held three elder men from Navagio: a surgeon, a traditional healer, and a portly man with a mustache that hung to his shoulders—the local barber. They all reclined in their wicker chairs with goblets of chilled fermented bubble and chit-chatted randomly. Beside them sat a table with nothing on it, though it was set with a tablecloth so it clearly served some purpose.
Gah. Not knowing was driving me to madness. I wanted to pace but had to remain still and regal, smiling at the judges, who smiled back serenely.
They were the only ones on the roof who were relaxed. Soldiers were stiff and alert, the contestants spoke in low voices, even Keelan glanced from side to side, cracking the knuckles of his right hand as he asked, “Do you know what the battle of wits will be?”
“Your mother didn’t tell you?”
He snorted. “I’m the last person she’d ever tell.”
“Probably smart. I’ll make sure I keep state secrets from you.”
He poked playfully at my side until Mr. Whelk mistook the exposed finger for the start of a game and snapped at it. Keelan retracted his hand quickly.
“Good turtle,” I praised, petting the little creature on the head. He leaned into my hand and I could have sworn he purred in delight.
“Traitor,” Keelan muttered, but with affection in his amber eyes as he snatched the turtle out of the water and tucked him under his arm.
Gorgono floated over to a seat near where Keelan and I floated. He gave me a perfunctory bow of the head before he settled into it but didn’t greet me. I might have been annoyed by the brush off, but if he had said hello, I was quite certain I’d pointedly ask him if he’d made his coffin choice yet.Perhaps that isn’t the best way to start off the competition,I thought wryly, realizing I had a bit more of Bloss in me than I’d imagined.
Marea, his wife, trailed behind him as usual. At least she did bow and give me a hesitant smile, which I returned. I had hardly spoken with her, but I could only hope that she didn’t share her husband’s clear loathing for me.
I glanced around at the city one more time, scanning a multitude of colored glass rooftops: lime green, ruby, sapphire blue—wondering where Lizza and Posey had wandered. I knew that my guards and mages were posted around the town, on high alert, but suddenly, I wished they were closer—that this portion of the tournament was more closed off and contained because anything could happen to my competitors out there in the city.
The rebels could hide in alleyways, sneak up behind my men in a tavern, attack them in a shop—and I wouldn’t even know.
Protocol dictated that my mages would send up a column of steam if the rebels attacked so that everyone could congregate in the right spot.
But would they be able to see? And if they did, would we be fast enough?
I only had four castle mages plus Lizza. Posey was an undead soldier, but didn’t have magic. The rest of my guards…I didn’t discount them, but I didn’t exactly know how they’d fare. We’d had a hard enough time with the attack on the road.
I didn’t know how bad it could get today, but the fact that we were surrounded by thousands of innocent civilians troubled me. I couldn’t let the fight go on like it had with the whale…which would mean if something happened, I needed to use magic.
But what if I did? Would this time be the time that I finally slipped into madness?
Lizza had said we’d practice my magic once we reached Navagio, and I thought she’d originally intended for us to get together this morning before the main event. But with the possibility of an attack looming, she’d gone out to sweep the city with all the soldiers and discourage any sort of uprising.
But if there were rumors and whispers, could the soldiers actually stop the rebels who didn’t want the crown? Or those who used rebellion as an excuse for looting and pillaging?
Navagio was even more full of human wonders and gold than Reef City. It was definitely the more posh of the two—my quarters notwithstanding. It would make a tempting target.
I tapped my foot in the water nervously before realizing the old habit from humanity didn’t quite have the same effect in the water.
