Page 112 of Daughter of the Dark Sea

Theron.

She glanced at the brass key hovering by the lock. After a moment’s hesitation, she pocketed the key and followed the sound of their voices. Keeping her steps quiet on the runners, she clung to the shadowy walls, hiding from the light of dotted lanterns. She paused when she reached a door slightly ajar, a thin beam of warm light cutting through the tunnel.

“I know, I know.” Erick’s sigh was familiar. Kora was sure he’d be pinching his nose.

“I have connections with Shannara,” Theron’s voice was hushed. “I can request them to—”

“No, no,” Erick cut him off. “We cannot get the witches involved, not with the war looming.”

She bit the inside of her cheek. It wasn’t uncommon for the empire to offer contracts and resources to the witches in return for their services. Surely, that’s what they meant. She desperately hewed to the idea that their connection with the witches was purely contractual, and in respect of the Shannara Accord Treaty.

Even if witches were allying with pirates . . .

“There’s someone else we can ask, but you may not like it.”

A thick pause.

“Who?”

“The Skytors.”

Almighty Thanos.Had she heard that right?

Kora’s hands shook. Her mind roaring. Cold shock swept over her, and she leaned against the wall for support as her world tilted.The gods damned Skytors.

“Absolutely not,” Erick snapped.

“They will be able to do it undetected.”

“No.If they get caught, it’ll be catastrophic. We cannot risk it. It’ll jeopardise too much. If they discover my name, they will turn against us.”

We?Us?Her vision swayed. ErickandTheron knew the Skytors—knew what they were,whothey were. Had he known Finlay, or John? What was Erick doing, working with rebels? Was he aware of the mages they harboured? Or the exiles they’d enlisted to capture her in the desert? And how did Theron know them?

Just when she thought she’d escaped the Skytors,they still followed her.

She collapsed against the wall, her legs unable to offer support. She placed a hand over her mouth, muffling her ragged breathing.

“We have to do something,” Theron’s dark tone levelled, his words so sharp they could slice flesh. “The kraken is close to escaping. My king does not need a creature capsizing and killing every sailor in the seas. Not with a war at stake.”

What?

A kraken was a myth . . . wasn’t it?

“It won’t do that,” Erick murmured casually.

Apparently, they’re real.She shuddered.A fucking kraken.

“What? It’s a kraken. Of course, it will.”

“Trust me,” Erick exhaled, followed by the sound of a stein placed on a table. “Itis under control.”

“By who?”

“Davy Jones.”

Theron scoffed. “That’s just legend.”

“The Black Abyss appeared ten years ago, Theron. It started as a normal trench, that’d been there forthousandsof years, completely harmless. Then one day, it grew. The waters turning so black and so deep no creature could survive it. But one did—the kraken.” Erick’s voice turned solemn.