Chapter 11
RAINIER
It was exhausting work swimming after the merrow. Its long green tail was all I could see as it raced away, moving far faster than I could have dreamed. I was already worn out—between the physicality this endeavor demanded and the divinity I’d had to use. I couldn’t lend more to my cause. As it was, I’d had to reduce the size of the airy armor around my body, only keeping a small pocket at my mouth to breathe. Soon, I’d have to open a rift and leave.
But the merrow stopped abruptly, and I caught up to him. I’d never seen one of the seaborn in this form so close. His green tail transitioned to navy blue skin, appearing almost black underwater. His hair was long; light blue locs were bound at his nape. He turned to face me, hissing something I didn’t quite catch through sharp teeth. Behind him, I saw Shade, stuck between the base of a pillar and a large stone. Though it was only pinning her leg, she floated lifelessly. Blood floated from a wound on her head, and I surged toward her.
“No heartbeat,” the merrow repeated, his tongue stumbling over the sounds, and I reached out with Em’s divinity to be certain. Though our bond was weak, I could hear the merrow’s and my own heart racing.
I swore, ignoring the flashes of light in my vision. This brave soldier was dead, and there wasn’t anything I could do. The healing divinity which belonged to my wife didn’t reach out to Shade, and my frustration only grew. I knew I wouldn’t make it if my divinity ran out, so I had to hurry.
“Help me?” I asked, pointing toward the stone, certain my words were muffled by the water. The merrow nodded before he grabbed me by the wrist and dragged me closer. We pulled on the rock, the weight of it more than enough to kill someone. I wondered what had possessed Shade to go after Edwina. Had she not trusted me to keep them safe? Finally, the merrow and I successfully rolled the stone off the small woman.
I hauled her body toward mine, ready to open my final rift of the day. Turning, I wanted to thank the seaborn who’d come to my aid. My stomach twisted, thinking of my missing sister. Had she ever made it to the seaborn kingdom? I wouldn’t entertain the possibility that she was dead—a sturdy weight sunk to the bottom of the ocean like the woman in my arms. Swallowing, I cleared my throat. But before I could speak, ready to ask him if he knew anything, the merrow grasped my arm. Sharp-taloned fingertips nicked my skin, and his black-shaded eyes were wide as he screamed.
“GO!”
The pillar beside us shook violently, and I opened my rift.
I’d forgotten just how ferocious the flow of water would be when it spat us out onto the beach. Shade’s body was ripped from my hands, and she landed in a wet heap on the ground.
The merrow slammed into me, his long tail whipping viciously against the current. Debris from the falling bridge came through behind us, and the seaborn groaned in pain as a large rock slammed into his hand.
My own pained grunt answered as my body skidded across the sand. My vision blurred as the remainder of my divinity left me; I reached for the bond with Em, and I could barely feel a glimmer. I needed to get back to her soon, or I’d be useless. Deep, gasping breaths were all I could manage as I fought against the push of water flowing out from the three of us. Thankfully, the rift had closed, but that hadn’t stopped the press of water that had also come through.
The merrow coughed, rolling over onto his stomach, and I stared as the fragile gills on the side of his neck seemed to close. Before my eyes, he shifted. His green tail and twilight skin changed to a dark brown and split down the center before starting to transform into legs. I rolled onto my back, staring at the stars. I somehow managed to form my rift far enough away from my waiting soldiers that I had a moment to gather my bearings. The shoreline curved, making it nearly impossible to see the Aesiron bridge, but as I turned my head, I could make out smoke.
If we hadn’t succeeded, my soldier’s death would have been for naught.
Shade had been one of a kind—she’d been on the ship we’d rescued Thyra from. Brought over from the scattered islands south of Skos, she’d barely spoken any of the common tongue. But she’d been grateful and sharp, and keen with a blade. I’d offered her a place alongside Thyra, and she’d gladly taken it. Em’s Second would be devastated by this loss.
Pulling myself to my feet, I stumbled over to where Shade’s body laid crumpled on the sand. Her small stature only added to her skillset, but cold and unmoving, she seemed so fucking small. Like so many times before, when I’d lost someone in my care, a piece of my heart hardened to stone. I couldn’t allow myself to feel every loss, or there’d be nothing warm and soft for the living. Carefully, I knelt and pulled her silky locks from her face. The water had washed all the blood away, leaving a horrifying dent at her temple. The wound had stopped bleeding, thankfully, and I attempted to brush her hair over it before taking her to my soldiers.
“A friend?”
The merrow’s deep voice took me by surprise. He stood behind me and I rose to meet him. Though his tail had been quite long in his merrow form, he only stood slightly taller than Emma in this one. His hair had shifted to a dark bluish black, and I averted my eyes from his nude form.
“Yes. A good one,” I replied. “Thank you for helping me.”
“The water called,” he answered simply, as if there was no other explanation. “I am certain there are more seaborn on their way.”
“What do you mean?” I asked as he walked toward the shoreline. “I need to ask you some questions.”
“You may be royalty, but it is not you whom I answer to, King Rainier,” the man said as he waded into the water. I had half a mind to stop him. How had he known me? If I hadn’t been so exhausted, I wouldn’t have allowed him to walk away from me like that. “I suspect we will meet again.”
“My sister,” I said. “I just want to know if she made it. Did the Sea Queen send you?” I needed this one thing. Knowing Hy?e was dead and hearing nothing from Lavenia or Brenna had allowed my mind to run wild. If she was dead, I didn’t know what I would do.
“The water called me,” he repeated, brows furrowing. “You are asking if the sun sent warmth.”
My skin prickled, relief flooding me. “My sister is all right?”
“I don’t know of whom you speak,” he replied. “If the Sea Queen chose to aid you, well...” He shook his head. “I would assume your sister is rather persuasive. But that doesn’t mean she is still alive.”
Before I could question him further, he began his transformation before slipping beneath the water.
“Fuck,” I murmured, rubbing my hand over my mouth. Surely, the Sea Queen hadn’t killed my sister. There would be no sense in it. Why send aid while ensuring any political alliance with Vesta would never stand?
But nothing I’d heard about the fickle ruler had ever made much sense, had it? I needed to prepare myself for either outcome. If the Sea Queen killed my sister, what could I do? Starting a war against the ancient seaborn would only serve to destroy Vesta even faster. I convinced myself in that moment that Ven was alive. Because the alternative meant it was all my fault.
I walked along the tree line, keeping an eye out for any approaching boats. With grim satisfaction, I couldn’t keep my eyes off the Aesiron Bridge. The center had collapsed in its entirety, and the smoke from the obsidian bombs still hadn’t cleared. The far-off shouts of Nythyrian soldiers echoed across the water. It was possible they were trying to salvage the stone, but I’d been strategic. The portion of the bridge we’d ruined stood in deep water. Everything would sink to the bottom, not allowing for any kind of haphazard trail through the sea.
Shade’s body was far too light in my arms, and, despite her closed eyes, I heard her silently chastising me. She’d known the risks when she left her post, and she would have been furious if she knew I went after her. Stomping on my foot and cursing in a language I hadn’t learned were customary for Shade when she didn’t get her way. But I couldn’t help feeling angry with myself that I’d failed her. The only explanation I could understand for her leaving her post was that she didn’t trust me.
Noticing the large, barren tree that had served as our landmark, I veered inland. Navigating through tall evergreens and thorny bushes, I listened for my soldiers. Rocks shifted beneath my feet in the dark, and I was glad I didn’t have much farther to go. Finally, I made out the clearing I’d been depositing them into, lit by the soft glow of the moon.
“Be ready,” a soft voice warned from ahead. “Someone is coming.”
I saw Aurelia first, and my throat closed up. Sword drawn, she was ready to skewer any enemy. Behind her, Lasu paced in front of the others. His weapon was also drawn; the two of them made a formidable pair. Though it had grown cold after sunset and they all wore sopping wet clothes, no one had risked a fire. Instead, they’d gathered together for warmth.
“It’s me,” I said, keeping my voice low.
Aurelia relaxed, and Lasu stomped past her as he sheathed his blade. Drawing short when he saw who I carried in my arms, his gaze shot to mine. His jaw clamped shut, and his fists clenched at his side.
“Dead?” he asked, and his wife peered around his shoulder.
“Blessed goddess,” Aurelia whispered.
Lasu swallowed, and his single eye went glassy. “I’ll take her.”
I closed my eyes, pushing down the guilt, the sorrow, the frustration, and let him take my loyal soldier. When he stepped into the clearing, I followed behind. There was no bracing myself for the questions that would follow, and the grief I knew would be etched upon the others’ faces. They’d all known each other for so long. Even Maurice had served alongside Shade for a year or so.
“Oh, gods. Please, no,” Edwina gasped as Lasu stepped closer, lifting her once-injured arm to cover her gasp. I was grateful to see Maurice had healed her, and I didn’t want to cause her any mental anguish about Shade’s death. But questions plagued me.
“What happened?” Anton asked.
I debated holding my tongue, but the ache of confusion swept over me. Perhaps a reason could help me understand. A cloud moved over the moon, making the clearing grow darker. Edwina leaned in closer to Anton, who wrapped his arm around the woman. He held her tight, and my gut twisted, wishing Em was beside me.
“Maurice said she heard a scream, and it made her leave her post. I went after her, but the bridge started to collapse. She was knocked out, and then she drowned.” I swore under my breath, frustrated that I sounded so angry. But I was angry, wasn’t I? How could we survive this war, let alone win it, if no one did as I told them?
Edwina’s mouth dropped open. Silently, tears rolled down her cheeks. “Why?”
“I don’t know. She’s never disobeyed an order before. Do you have any idea why?”
At this, Edwina began to sob. The clearing brightened, and I frowned as she collapsed against Anton. She whispered something I couldn’t make out, and the man’s eyes widened.
“What?” he asked as he pulled away from Edwina.
“I’m with child,” she said, this time loud enough for everyone to hear. “Shade realized before me—yesterday. Our cycles were…” she trailed off, leaning forward to rest her head in her hands. Anton stared at her, shock etching his features. This was likely the first time he had heard of it.
“She was worried about you,” I murmured. What other reason would Shade have had to disobey than to help a friend?
This loss was monumental, and it was only the first. There was bound to be more death.
As we trudged through the forest, making our way back to the Northport retinue, helplessness filled me. Despite the fact we had accomplished what we’d come to do, I felt no relief. When Maurice asked about the bridge, even his excitement over a successful mission was subdued. I’d hand-selected each of them for this, and returning without Shade would desperately impact morale.
By the time we made it back to the camp, dawn wasn’t far off. And yet, when I went into my tent, it was not empty.
“This came for you. Seemed urgent, so I took the liberty of opening it,” Ashmont said. The former general to my father was a good man—more or less. But rather conservative. He didn’t appreciate many of my tactics. But judging by the worry creasing his brows, I knew whatever news the scroll contained wasn’t good.
“Well, hand it over or speak now.”
“The Queen is missing. Her guard escorted her to the palace last night, but no one has seen her since.”