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In the next breath, she raised her gaze to the queen, stepping forward.

“I am Princess Mevlida of Aetheria,” she shouted, loud enough to be heard above the buzz of the crowd. “Together with my husband,” Mev continued, “Prince Kael of Gyoria, we have come to witness the challenge which I am told is held in long tradition with Thalassarian law.”

That she bowed to Nerys, but not Queen Lirael, was something all would have noticed.

“A challenge,” the queen replied, clearly uneasy at this second surprising turn of events, “in question.”

“You have two royal representatives, along with a highly respected human who I count as a personal friend, as does my father, before you, standing witness. All three clans of Elydor represented. Perhaps you should think carefully on your answer.”

The queen raised her chin. “What is the question?”

“One not addressed to you.” She tilted her head slightly, toward the council. “But to you, the council which governs such affairs. I am new to your world but am told the Thalassarian council is a sacred charge, meant to keep the power of your king or queen in check. If I am not mistaken?”

I took a step toward Mev. “Top left. Veylin. He’s been bribed by the queen.”

“Lord Veylin,” she called, not missing a beat. I tried not to smile at how far Mev had come since I’d left Aetheria. And how similar her mannerisms were becoming to her father, though something about Mev had reminded me of King Galfrid from the start, even before the two had met. “You seem to me the sort of man who might be the council’s leader?”

“Is he?” I whispered to Nerys.

“Yes. How did she know that?”

“She senses emotion, like me, but more than feelings alone. Mev can detect intention, though I’m unsure how that translates here. Good guess, maybe?”

Either way, it took him by surprise.

Mev’s next words were lost in a vision so sudden, so vivid, that I was forced to redirect my attention to it. I’d seen Nerys battling Lirael and was confident this challenge would take place. But this time, instead of being on the periphery, seeing the entire battle, I was on the ship, facing the queen, as if I were Nerys. A subtle movement, the queen’s hand moving to her belt and remaining there before whipping out, caught my attention. By now, I was able to focus within my visions, and I did so on the queen’s belt. What may have been imperceptible by Nerys in the moment was evident to me, as if the belt were now invisible. A small, black gemstone glowing faintly red.

As quickly as it came, the vision was gone.

I missed what Mev had said to Veylin, but it seemed the council now huddled together as the queen watched them. She was furious, her council members alternately scared, confused, and resolute. But I was less concerned with their emotions than I was with that gem.

“Kael,” I whispered.

He spun toward me.

“A small, black gem, glowing red from its inside. What is it?”

Most gemstones that could be found in Elydor were mined in Gyoria. Sure enough, though he seemed confused by my question, I sensed a confidence in him as he spoke. “A shard of the abyss. A forbidden bit of gemstone that, like the Stone of Mor’Vallis that has the potential to kill its user.”

“If it were used by the queen, against Nerys?”

I had no time to decide how to explain my knowledge to Kael. That would have to come later. For now, if the queen planned to cheat, I needed to know how Nerys could combat it.

“It would amplify her power, not unlike the Tidal Pearl but on a smaller scale and in a much different way. But I’m thinking you don’t need a history lesson at the moment?”

By now, both Mev and Nerys were listening.

“No, I don’t. But I do need to know how Nerys would combat such a thing.”

“Why does it matter?” Nerys asked.

I had no choice but to respond, truthfully. “She has a piece of it, beneath her belt. Or will, if not already, before you begin.”

To say all three looked at me as if I were mad would be an understatement.

“Have her searched first,” Mev supplied.

“How would we explain such a request?” Nerys asked. Realizing she was trying to protect me, despite such secrets holding us apart, made my resolve about the future role of The Keeper even stronger. But that was another problem for another day.