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NERYS

“It isn’t necessary to stay here, dear,” Aneri said to Caelum. “She can defend herself, if it comes to that. Though I do not believe the queen would be so bold as that.”

I’d been about to climb up the stairs to bed. Taking a few steps back down, I waited for Caelum’s predictable answer. Marek had refused to leave us, and I knew Caelum would too.

“Although I agree, it is a fact word is spreading. That Nerys will challenge her is no longer a secret.”

Another fact. Yesterday, when I left for the cove to train, I was inundated with inquiries. Enough that I’d had to turn back, not willing to lead anyone to my private spot at the palace. Instead, I spoke with everyone who stopped me. And though I never confirmed it, neither did I deny my challenge, replying with things like, “I look forward to seeing you at the festival.” At times, Marek, who refused to leave my side, had to step in and use his gilded tongue to say everything, and nothing, all at once.

“In addition,” Caelum added, clearly reluctant, “I am not convinced that the queen hasn’t already begun to send warnings her way.”

I came down from the stairs completely. “What do you mean?”

Aneri and I both waited but Caelum simply frowned.

“Caelum?” I prompted.

He sighed. “There was an incident in the village yesterday,” he said, folding his arms. “A young woman—some claim bore a striking resemblance to you—was found near the square. She had been hit with a whip of water. Though she wasn’t grievously harmed, it did leave a mark on her arm. When she woke, she had no memory of what happened, but…”

“But what?” Aneri asked, her tone sharp.

“She didn’t see her attacker, only felt the whip and fell to her knees. A voice whispered, ‘Know your place,’ but she did not see where it came from.”

My hands clenched at my sides. “Why did no one tell me?”

“I can’t speak for Marek, but I didn’t want to cause you, or Aneri, any alarm.”

“Caelum—”

Aneri cut me off. “We are both aware of such threats. Who is the girl? I will tend to her.”

I barely listened, instead imagining a young one being injured on account of me. I honestly had not believed the queen would go to such lengths. If her antics were discovered, they would be frowned upon. Challenges were meant to be a natural part of our clan’s system of rule. Undermining it would not be received well by the majority of Thalassarians.

“Will be back by morn from the Deep Archives,” Caelum was saying.

My head snapped up.

“Marek is at the Deep Archives? At this hour?”

For the second time that night, Caelum appeared more sheepish than usual. Than ever, actually. It was not his typical modus operandi.

“He is escorting Rowan there.”

Rowan.

I’d attempted to put him from my thoughts, to concentrate on my training and the upcoming challenge, but my attempts were futile.

“Why is Marek escorting Rowan to the Deep Archives at night?”

Caelum shrugged. “I know only he requested to be taken there and the request made its way to me. Marek offered to smuggle him from the palace instead so as not to draw suspicion.”

Unbelievable. “Smuggle him from the palace? At night? Is that not more suspicious?”

“Not if they aren’t caught. And they won’t be. It’s Marek.”

Marek and my human spy. But I didn’t say that out loud. Instead, I marched toward the door. “I will return, Aneri—no need to wait up.”

And before anyone could stop me, I whipped the door open and strode outside. I was fairly certain I heard Aneri chuckle, but Caelum was doing anything but when he caught up with me.

“You cannot think to go there now?”

“I am not thinking of it,” I said, not stopping, “but actually making it happen. I want to know why Rowan requested to be taken there and why Marek thought it wise to smuggle him from the palace as a way to not draw suspicion.”

“Nerys.” Caelum grabbed my arm. “Stop. Please.”

It was the kind of tone my father would use. Sometimes, I forgot how close the two were, but other times, I was easily reminded of it. Times like right now.

He looked at me with a mixture of admiration and concern. “Did you not hear what I told you earlier? That attack was either meant for you or meant as a warning for you. Queen Lirael is now quietly accepting your challenge.”

“I heard you,” I said, Caelum’s hand dropping. “And will admit my surprise at her stance and cunning. But I will not cower and hide, now or ever. It is Lirael’s desire to hide herself in the palace. For Thalassaria to tighten its borders. Not mine.”

He may not be pleased, but neither would Caelum stop me. “Will you at least have an escort when you are not cowering or hiding?”

“I have you, do I not?”

“You do. And Marek. And if you’ll have him, the human too.”

I’d begun to walk toward the canal but stopped again at that.

“What do you mean?”

Caelum looked at me as if I were a young one. “He is in love with you, Nerys.”

My eyes widened. “Did he tell you that?”

“I have been alive for centuries, Nerys. And do not need to be told when a man is in love with a woman.”

So he didn’t tell Caelum he loved me. Of course he didn’t. Why would he?

“He is a human.”

“So?”

“So?” I cocked my head to the side, incredulous.

Caelum simply looked at me, waiting.

“You, of all Elydorians, should know the implications of partnering with a human.” No more needed to be said. Though it happened many, many years ago, when Caelum’s father took his own life, the grief of living without his mother too great, it was a shock to all.

Except Caelum.

His father was never the same, and in some ways, Caelum once admitted to me, it was a blessing not to see his father suffer any longer.

“My father had scars that ran deeper than most, many unrelated to my mother,” he said quietly. “Heartbreak is both tragic and inevitable, but avoiding love for the sake of protecting yourself is not the answer. Though I do not disagree; partnering with a human, for an immortal, is not an easy path. Especially if that immortal is destined to become queen.”

Biting back tears, I blurted, “But why a human? Why do I have to love a human?”

“The question itself assumes love is logical, and you know it is not. Why Rowan?” He shrugged. “He is an honorable man with the same beliefs as you. He embodies qualities you admire: adaptability, optimism. And I do not believe it hurts that he is charming and pleasing to the eye,” Caelum teased. “You could have chosen a worse man to love. Like Marek.”

“Goddess forbid such a thing.”

But he was right. Rowan was all of those things, and more. It had been as easy to fall in love with him as it had been, when I finally got out of my own way, to decide to challenge Lirael. Unfortunately, the consequences of both were far-reaching.

“Come,” he said as we continued toward the canal. “If I cannot convince you to remain in the safety of Aneri’s home, at least let us be done with this quest.”

Changing topics, I asked Caelum about the Tidal Veil Marek had used on Aneri’s house. “Do you believe Marek’s Veil will work, if needed? I’ll admit I thought him being overly cautious to perform it, but after that horrific attack…” I let my voice trail.

“I’ve no reason to believe it will not work. With luck, it is an unnecessary precaution.”

Few knew of the Tidal Veil, and even fewer could perform it. I’d never even come across the protection in my studies in the Deep Archives. When Marek suggested it, both Caelum and I were taken aback. Where had he learned such a skill? Why was it not well known?

There were parts of Marek’s life he didn’t reveal, even to me. And this particular ability to transform the nearly invisible mist into a raging torrent, trapping potential intruders in a sphere of water until they retreat, was apparently one of those hidden talents.

We spoke of Marek and his sometimes-mysterious nature, and of what the coming days might bring, as Caelum and I traveled by canal toward Ventara. Finally, as we stood at the massive, intricately carved door serving as the Archive’s entrance, its runes glowing faintly, I wondered how Marek and Rowan planned to enter this place. Few knew the magic required to open this door, and it was only after years of studying here that I was entrusted with such knowledge.

Summing a small stream of water from a nearby fountain and watching as it spiraled on my open palm, I allowed it to stream gently into the door’s runes, watching as each glowed bright blue. It had always reminded me of the runes on the Gate, when someone was entering through from the human realm, as if the same magic was used to create both.

It was not the first time Caelum had seen me perform this ritual, but his eyes widened nonetheless. It was a tricky bit of magic, and one I was proud to have mastered knowing only those who worked in the Deep Archives, along with a few others including myself and Thalon, had been granted such knowledge.

Finally, the door clicked.

Caelum pushed it open.