Page 29

Chapter Twenty-Six

MER

The freefall was fast and the impact hard.

Mer stumbled backward, her spine hitting the rail as she tumbled.

She clutched at the balister, her nails scraping against the stone.

Her vision dipped in and out at the height. Mer threw herself away from the handrail, her whole body shaking.

That had been terrifying.

An incredulous laugh escaped her. For the first time since the duke’s attack, she felt something other than anger and fear.

She edged to the glass door, opened it, and stepped inside, praying she wasn’t going to scare some unsuspecting victim. She froze as an old Methian woman stared back at her, blinking slowly.

Mer wrung some of the water from her linen trousers. The old woman didn’t scream or demand who she was but continued to stare at her with pale silver eyes. Eyes that were eerily familiar.

She released her clothing and gave a little wave. She smiled for good measure. “Hello.” Might as well be friendly.

“Have you come to steal from me?” the old woman asked, her voice raspy and low, her tawny forehead creased with age and suspicion.

“No,” Mer replied.

“And yet you came through the window like a thief.”

“Well, technically, I came through your door. Don’t all riders visit through the balconies?”

The old woman snorted. “You came from the mountainside in the rain. I smell no fiilee .”

“I like climbing in the rain,” Mer offered. A lie. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way.”

The woman tsked, pushing a heavy lock of wiry white hair from her grizzled face. “Don’t run off so fast. Come here so I can look at you properly.”

A demand that brooked no argument, and for some reason, she listened.

Mer sighed and shuffled to stand in front of the old woman, feeling time slip away from her. She flinched when the crone, quick as lightning, grabbed her hand and hauled her close so she was bent over almost nose to nose with the old woman.

She gaped at the woman and then shut her mouth when gnarled fingers traced over Mer’s face, exploring.

The old woman was blind.

“I knew you were different,” the old woman whispered, brushing her fingers lightly over the scales on Mer’s shoulders. “I could smell the sea on you.”

Mer didn’t know what to say to that. She hadn’t been in the ocean since the day they left Laos. “Thank you?”

The woman sighed and released Mer, leaning back in her chair and tugging her blanket up further on her lap. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“Finally?”

“I’ve always wanted to meet a Sirenidae in person, and now I have.” Her gaze was unfocused, and she pursed her lips. “So, what is the queen doing here? Skulking about my rooms?”

Mer blinked down at the old woman. How did she know she was the queen?

As if the crone could hear her thoughts, she said, “Dear girl, do you really think there are any other Sirenidae in the palace?”

“There are healers.” Or there could be servants like Phia of mixed heritage.

“True, but what would one be doing in my room when they should be in the plague camps? They wouldn’t be sulking around the palace running away from their duties, would they?”

Plague camps? Interesting. Everyone had been pretty close-lipped about the sickness. Even young Duchess Keventin had been scared to speak of it, as if mentioning it would bring the disease upon you.

“It seems like you have me at a disadvantage. What is your name?” Mer redirected, feeling altogether more seen than she would have liked.

“You may call me Ravielle or Ravi for short. Now, what are you doing here?”

For a brief second, Mer debated telling her a lie but ultimately decided to be honest. “I’m in search of the nests. I’ve been cooped up too long in my room with nothing to occupy my mind.”

“So Raziel has you tied to his bed, does he?”

For some reason, Mer blushed. Hard. “No, he doesn’t want to see me.”

“I see. A lover’s spat. It will be over soon, pet.”

“It’s nothing like that.”

“Then tell me what it’s like.”

“He doesn’t trust me.” Why was she telling the old woman this? “And he shouldn’t.”

Ravi’s white eyebrows arched high. “And so, you’re seeking a bond for yourself?”

“Your culture surrounds the fiilee . I figured it would be a good way to start my new life. I must fit in.” A lie. One she truly felt guilty over.

“I don’t think so,” Ravi retorted with a chuckle.

“I can sense the wildness about you. You crave freedom, and our fiilee offer that. I’ll humor you, little Sirenidae.

There’s a set of stairs outside my rooms right across the hall.

Take them down five levels and turn left.

You’ll smell the nests before you see them. ”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. This knowledge is not free.”

Mer shifted on her feet. “What do you want of me?”

“Another interesting visit.”

That was easy. “I can do that.”

“With you and the king.”

That would be harder. “I will do my best.”

“I’m sure you will.” Ravi grinned. “And remember one thing.”

Mer nodded and then rolled her eyes at herself. The bloody woman couldn’t see. “What is that?”

“Don’t get eaten, little fish. Bonding with a fiilee is more difficult than you can imagine.”

“I’ll try not to.”

“We shall see.”

Mer walked to the door, leaving wet footsteps behind on the carpets. She eyed the cloak hanging near the door and threw it over her shoulders. She’d return it. Eventually.

“You don’t happen to know where the library is?” she called over her shoulder, clasping the cloak at her throat. That was her next project. She needed more information on the legends of Methi and on the fishing villages. They were the key to finding the Pernicious. She could feel it in her bones.

“I’ll tell you on your next visit.”

Wily old woman.

As she reached for the handle, Ravi called from her chair. “Come back and see me soon , my dear. I enjoyed our talk.”

“Only if I survive.” She pulled the hood over her head.

Ravielle cackled. “Something tells me you will.”