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The noise is coming from a tent in the middle of the ship, marked by bright orange lanterns and a line of servant girls carrying platters of curried vegetables and spiced rice. The smells make my belly stir.

“There,” I murmur. “Meguh must be there.”

What exactly is your plan? Ukar asks.

I grind my teeth. Attack Meguh. Hold him hostage until someone gives me the key to my collar.

Then swim to Tai’yanan? Ukar says dryly.

It’s a terrible plan, but I can’t think of anything better. Except maybe killing Meguh instead of holding him hostage. Yes, that would be better.

I slink close to the tent, keeping away from the pools of torchlight. My face blends with the green banners hanging over the canvas. When a snake hunts, it is an invisible predator, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike, and that is the method I take now. I seek my targets—three guards standing ten yards away. Ukar is already slithering behind one…gliding up his spine…and silently smothering him with his tail.

Before the other two notice, I sweep behind them and knock their heads together. I don’t bother watching as they crumple to their knees. Holding my chain close, I climb up a stack of crates for a better vantage. I almost have a clear view of Meguh when I hear Ukar cry out, and my blood goes cold.

Below, guards spill out of the tent. I should stay hidden, shouldn’t make a sound. But it’s impossible.

Because Meguh has Ukar.

“What a spectacular snake,” the king purrs, admiring my friend. Ukar’s color shifts uncontrollably—the way it does when he is afraid. “I’ve never seen one like him.”

I vault down, launching myself at Meguh. The guards quickly protect him, and I swing my chain at them, aiming at their blocky knees and ankles. While they fall, I raise my dagger, about to send it flying at Meguh’s heart.

I never get to throw it.

To my horror, two black wings form a shield in front of the king. Hokzuh alights on the deck.

I jab at his throat, but he grabs my chain and chokes the dagger out of my hand. He flips it neatly in his grasp, pointing it at my throat.

Defeated, again.

“So much fire,” Meguh says, seating himself on his throne. “You’re sturdier than you look, girl. Very different from the fragile creature that is your sister.” He leans back against a surfeit of silk cushions. “You’ll do for now.”

I spit in his face.

With a laugh, Meguh wipes his cheek with a silk scarf, which he then stuffs into my mouth. I try to bite down on his thick fingers, but I barely taste the metal of his rings before his hand is back at the platter of longans beside his cushioned throne.

The guards pull me by the arms. Something in my shoulder pops, and I roar with pain.

For the second time, Hokzuh strikes me in the head.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

A splash of cold water jolts me awake.

“Get up,” a guard grumbles, kicking my shins. Under his arm is a wooden bucket. “Up.”

I barely make out his wide nose and dirty knuckles before he tosses the rest of the bucket at my face. A pile of clothes lands at my feet.

“Get changed,” he says before scuttling out of my cell, eager to leave as quickly as possible. Snickers sound outside the door, and I guess that the guards drew sticks to see who’d have to wake me.

Cowards. I shiver as the water drips, muddying the dirt under my feet.

Dirt…meaning I’m not on a ship anymore.

Sunlight slants through a narrow window, drawing a yellow stripe over my lap. I press my cheek against the window, but I can’t see much other than the outline of Mount Hanum’anya, far in the distance under a mantle of clouds.

Mount Hanum’anya, the cradle of demons. Its shape is that of a dragon’s head, jaws snapping at the clouds. The sight is a stab to my gut.