Chapter 13
Varum stared down at the human sprawled on his sofa, her arms above her head, one leg out of the blanket, and those dark, wild curls spread around her like roots trying to find purchase.
Her face was turned away from him, giving him a view of her neck and her ear.
Once again, there was no sign of the gills he had seen in the water.
He drew in a breath and lifted his gaze, wondering if she had the ability to hide them.
It was the only explanation he could come up with.
He wanted to shake her awake and demand that she tell him, but he knew it would be futile.
She’d only agreed to tell him about the Masters.
Besides, he didn’t need her to tell him again that his promise wasn’t worth anything.
There was also the fact that he couldn’t keep her here forever. Eventually, she would be found.
His night had been plagued with nightmares about Tanira or someone else discovering the female.
He hadn’t exaggerated about what his people would do to her—and him.
His death would be slow and agonizing. Everything he’d worked for, all he had sacrificed, would be for nothing.
He needed to get Kalyani out of the trench as soon as possible.
It would be difficult, but he was good at finding ways out of impossible situations. He had no choice but to do it now.
Varum turned and headed toward the door to leave.
As he did, Kalyani turned in her sleep. He spun around the moment he realized she was about to roll off the sofa and caught her with his magic.
His hip cramped at the odd angle he found himself in, lunging on the floor.
He carefully lifted her back to the cushions and gently turned her so her back was to him.
It was only then that he let out the breath he’d been holding.
He shook his head and covered her with the blanket once more.
As he turned, he looked down at the coffee table she had missed smashing her head against by a hair’s breadth.
He liked that table. It was an irreplaceable gift.
He took the time to move it closer to the other sofa to give the human room to fall if she rolled off again.
After he straightened, he looked around his home.
The lattice was in place, there was plenty of food, and he would bind the lock when he left, so he and Nirav were the only ones who could open the door.
Not only would that keep Kalyani shut away, but he also wouldn’t have to worry about anyone else stopping by and getting in. No one had ever done that in the past, but he hadn’t ever hidden a human before. There was a lot at stake, and if he had to take extra measures, then he would.
There were perks to living away from the crowd. He was glad he had chosen this location for his home. Few came his way—just the way he liked it. Varum walked out without another look at Kalyani and closed the main door behind him before using magic to bind the lock.
After a short walk down a coral-columned walkway, he dove into one of the numerous canals that wove through the city, connecting the air-filled districts to the submerged ones.
He glanced toward the Residential Arches.
Once, long ago, his family had carved their own dwelling out of the trench wall to grow their family coral.
He swam past it toward the Assembly Hall, where he was expected—and also where he would find Nirav.
Varum swam up to a nehras and stepped through.
The magical membrane dried him immediately, without even a single drop of water falling.
He looked around him as he stood in the busy corridor.
No suspicious looks were cast his way, and no whispers met his ears. It looked as if his secret was safe.
For the time being, at least.
The only way to get through the day was to put Kalyani out of his mind and act as if nothing that was happening was out of the ordinary.
He adjusted the sleeves of his tunic and headed to his office.
It was small, and he was rarely there, but it was also the place he was expected to visit after missing work the day before.
He opened the door to find a stack of files on his desk.
Varum sighed and closed the door before walking to the front of the desk and shifting through the files.
Most were requests from citizens, which were delegated to all Currentspeakers, but since he hadn’t been here yesterday, he’d been given more than his share.
Varum tossed the files back onto his desk and walked around to sit.
It was better to get these looked over than to leave them.
He got comfortable and opened the top file.
Except it wasn’t words he saw, it was dark curls.
He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.
The next time he looked, there were words once more.
“She needs to tame that mess of hair,” he murmured as he began reading.
One after another, he read the requests, complaints, and applications for each file. It took him all day, but he got through them before handing the files—and his decisions—off to one of the clerks to put into motion. Varum rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.
“I know that look well.”
His head jerked to the side at the sound of Nirav’s voice. He smiled at the sight of his friend. “Are you telling me I look how I feel?”
“Only if you’ve been in your office all day going through files,” Nirav answered with a grin.
“You know that because you’ve been in my shoes.”
Nirav threw his head back and let out a booming laugh that caused others to look their way. “And I don’t miss it. Come,” he said, motioning for Varum. “Let us get some dinner.”
Varum’s smile slipped. “That sounds good, but I should get back.”
“We won’t be long,” Nirav replied. “You look like you need to talk. Would you rather go to my place or somewhere else?”
There were too many servants at Nirav’s. They couldn’t take the chance of one of them overhearing. Same with any restaurant. However, they couldn’t go to Varum’s either.
“Come on. I know just the place,” Nirav said.
He fell into step with the man he had grown up calling uncle. Varum trusted Nirav. And if anyone could help, it was him. Varum would have to be diligent in making sure nothing could ever be tracked back to his friend.
As usual, Nirav kept idle banter going as they walked. It wasn’t until they sat down in a secluded room at an out-of-the-way eatery that Varum had never been to before that all pretenses fell away.
“How are things going with your guest?” Nirav asked, shooting him a pointed look.
Answering about Kalyani was difficult. “So far, so good right now.”
“I’m too old for you to be worrying me in such a way,” Nirav chastised.
“Please. You’re going to outlive us all.”
It was usually a jest that brought a smile to Nirav’s face, but not that day. His silvery white eyes were locked on Varum. “I’m worried,” Nirav whispered.
“I know.”
“Your parents left you in my care. I’m responsible for you.”
Varum adjusted in his seat and nodded. Out of all the people his parents could’ve chosen to step into that role, Nirav had been the best. “I’m not that little kid anymore.”
“Believe me, I’m well aware of that. Tell me what’s going on. Did you get anything?”
“A lot, actually.”
They were interrupted by a discreet knock at the door. Nirav bade them to enter, and a man came in, carrying a tray. Once the two glasses and a bottle of tidewine were placed on the table, the man bowed and left the room, closing Nirav and Varum within.
Nirav poured some of the tidewine for each of them. Varum took a drink of the soft green liquid. The fermented sea fruits sealed in coral pods slid smoothly down his throat. When he looked up, Nirav’s eyes were on him once more.
“How are her wounds? Is our medicine working on her?” Nirav asked.
“It seems to be. She’s healing faster than I expected.”
Nirav’s eyes lit up as he sat straighter in his chair. “Have you spoken to her, then?”
“I have.”
“What did she tell you?”
Varum relayed what he had learned about the Masters and those fighting against them. The bottle of tidewine was empty by the time he finished.
“I’ve never heard of this Gita, but that doesn’t surprise me. She would’ve moved in different circles than I did when I was on land,” Nirav said.
Varum took another longer drink. He was disappointed but not surprised. “It was a long shot that you’d know her, but I needed to ask.”
“Do you think Kalyani knows anything else?”
“Without a doubt.”
Nirav reclined in his chair. “You gave her a promise.”
“That’s part of the reason I’m here.”
“You want my help getting her out.”
A grin pulled at Varum’s lips. “You always were smart.”
Nirav snorted as he smiled. “And you were always cheeky.”
“I’ll be the one to take her out,” Varum said, growing serious.
“You barely got her into the city and your home. You said it yourself. It nearly killed both of you.”
Varum rubbed the back of his neck. “I need help in finding a way out so we won’t be discovered. I took a longer route to get inside, and when it became too painful, I headed straight for my house. I’m amazed we weren’t seen.”
“I am, as well. Let me think this over and get back to you. You’ll need to get her out soon.”
Varum nodded. “I’m aware.”
“I didn’t say this the other day, but you could’ve taken her anywhere to tend her wounds and talk to her. Why bring her here? You’ve never done anything reckless like this in your life.”
“I’ve been asking myself that. And I wish I had an answer. All I can tell you is that Tarangarh seemed the best place.”
Nirav drank the last bit of tidewine from his glass. “We have some new intel on the Masters, which is good. I’m not sure it’s enough to take to the Assembly, though.”
“I don’t think so either. They’ll want to know how I got it, and I won’t be able to provide that without revealing that Kalyani was in the city.”
“They don’t need to know she was here. Say you took her ashore and spoke then.”
That was a possibility—and one Varum should’ve thought of. What was it about having the human around that clouded his judgment? “That’s what I need to do if I’m to protect our people.”
“And yourself.”
Varum shook his head as he thought about the Assembly. “I wonder if they’ll believe anything I tell them. They’ll want proof, and they know I can’t give them anything.”
“You saw the two Sea Elves.”
“I only saw one’s face, though. And without recognizing them or having their names, it’s only my word.”
Nirav crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m wondering if you’re purposely not speaking about the gills because you don’t want to discuss it, or because you don’t know anything.”
“Perceptive, as usual. I have tried to nudge Kalyani in that direction, but she doesn’t want to talk about it. Even when I stated how deep she had been in the water, she disregarded it. Yet I have to wonder if she knows.”
“Knows what?” Nirav asked.
Varum scratched his jaw. “She claims to be able to hold her breath for a long time.”
“That’s when you told her you saw the truth, right?”
“That’s the thing. When I checked after seeing to her injuries, the gills weren’t there.”
Surprise flashed over Nirav’s face. “Isn’t that interesting? This is why you believe she doesn’t know?”
“It is.”
“You need to press her.”
Varum twisted his lips. “The deal we made was for the Masters.”
“I think you need to make a new deal.”
“I can try, but what good will it do for her to admit she can breathe underwater like us?”
Nirav lowered his arms and sat up. “For one, we need to know if there are others like her. Tarangarh is hidden, even from other Sea Elves. From what I remember about humans during my time on land, they go where they shouldn’t.”
“I don’t think there are others like her in the village.”
“She’s proof that it’s possible. And if there is one, there are more.”
Varum had to agree. “I was hoping to get her out tonight.”
“I’ll need at least tonight to find you the best and shortest route. Use the time to pry into who she is.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
Nirav rubbed his hands on his thighs. “Perhaps I should meet her.”
A jolt of shock ran through Varum. “Is that wise?”
“I already know about her.”
“Even so, there’s nothing specifically linking her to you.”
A brow arched on Nirav’s forehead. “Do you not want me to meet her?”
“It isn’t that. I’m trying to keep anything from blowing back on you.”
Nirav rose to his feet. “Let it. I can handle whatever comes.”
“Not if she’s discovered. You know what they’ll do to her. And me.”
“Then we make sure that doesn’t happen.” Nirav slapped him on the shoulder. “However, if you would rather I didn’t, I’ll accept that.”
Varum stood and let out a sigh. “I would never turn you away.”
“Good. I’m curious to speak to this human.”
“You may regret it. She’s not what you would expect.”
Nirav chuckled as he grinned. “Oh? Why is that?”
“She’s stubborn.”
“A female with a mind of her own,” Nirav murmured in amusement. “That isn’t a rare thing. Just uncommon around you.”
Now Varum was offended. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Never mind. Let’s go,” Nirav said as he tossed some coins onto the table.
He was out the door a moment later. Varum lengthened his strides to catch up to Nirav. “Please explain your comment.”
“Must I? Surely, you know.”
“If I knew, would I be asking?”
Nirav tsked as he cut a quick look at Varum. “As I said earlier, you always follow the rules.”
“They’re there for a reason.” Yet he had broken one. And not just any rule.
“Other youths pushed against them to see how far they could go. But you, my dear boy, never bothered.”
Varum grunted. “What good does it do to act in such a way?”
“Perhaps you should ask yourself that.”
Nirav had never scolded or shouted. He had merely laid things out and waited for Varum to step into the ruse before revealing some wisdom. It seemed that he had yet to learn, because he’d plowed straight into this latest one.
“Shouldn’t you tell me all the ways I’ve mucked this up?” Varum asked.
The older man shook his head. “You’re doing enough of that for both of us. And before you ask, I know because it’s all over your face. Stop worrying. We’ll get this sorted and come out the other side better for it.”
“You really think so?”
“I’ve not let you down before. I won’t now.”
Of all the people in his life, Nirav had been the only one who hadn’t disappointed him. The weight on Varum’s shoulders lightened a little. And he knew it wouldn’t dissipate until Kalyani was far from the city.
“In case you’re wondering, I probably would’ve made the same decision regarding her,” Nirav said.