But somewhere to the north, Kye waited. And though I was slightly terrified of subjecting myself to the interrogation I knew was coming, I was even more afraid of what would happen to him if I waited any longer.
“Hide that well,” Nori said, copper eyes lingering over the Breath of Safiro. “Do not let him find it.”
“Could he use it if he did?”
Nori frowned. “It offers breath to its wearer. But it is more important than just that. This stone was made for the Queen of the Juile Sea. It is a vessel of power that in six months, Queen Sidra was only beginning to awaken. You are Queen of the JuileSea, you will proceed where she left off. He abandoned these waters a thousand years ago. The stone will not heed him. But he won’t hesitate to take your power from you. Do not let him find it.”
My fingers found the hard lump under my dress. “I won’t.”
“And do not miss the moon. Your leg is still mending, and you emptied your reservoirs of energy in your fight with the Queen. Your abilities will grow as her power continues to transfer to you. It will take weeks, maybe even months. Make certain your vessel for her strength grows large enough to hold it all. Do not miss a moon.”
I sighed. “The full moon is tonight. It will be night by the time I’m there, I’ll be sitting underMihauna’slight in only a few hours.”
“And do not be alarmed when the tattoos come.”
That made me pause. “Tattoos?”
Nori smiled. “NewVidereswill know their power is fully transferred when their tattoos are stark against their skin. Queens will have white, male monarchs will have black. They fade with age, but Queen Sidra had them, too.”
“Alright,” I said, glancing at the blue prism.
Olinne took my hand, squeezing. “My Queen. We will be here, awaiting your return.” Nori nodded in sober agreement. I returned the pressure, wondering if I would ever grow accustomed to hearingqueenfrom them rather thancreature.
They bowed their heads and closed their eyes. I filled my lungs with colony air, potent from the spiky green plants that lined the walls, and slid into the water, watching as their faces turned blurry. A moment later, Aitne flitted down beside me, radiant in fins of steely-blue.
The muscular base of my tail where my spine met my flukes ached as I swam. I sagged to the left, the right side of my tail lame. We stopped more often than I’d have liked for Aitne tomend the work I’d destroyed, and by the time we reached the coastline of the palace, I’m uncertain which of us proved sorer and more exhausted.
“I hope you’re not intending to climb one of those towers, my Queen,” Aitne murmured.
“I am,” I said, pointing in the dark. “That one there.”
Aitne shook her head. “You will not make it up those stairs by yourself.”
Mihaunaalive, her words made me even more tired. “I’ll be fine.”
“Is there a place you can bathe in the moonlight for a few hours—”
“I’ll be fine, Aitne,” I said, placing my hand on her shoulder, though my voice carried a firm order that the subject had ended.
Aitne gave a small nod, chin dipping into the water. It was night, andMihaunahung full and heavy in the sky, casting soft light over the red cliffs. She eyed the vertical walls of the shore with distaste. “How will we get you up?”
I rubbed an eye, my voice thick with a desire for sleep. “The sea will carry me. I’ll leave you here.”
She treaded backwards as I pulled the water together, drawing it up, up, up, as tall as one of the towers above, and deposited myself onto the edge of the cliff. The water fell away, and I turned to offer Aitne a wave.
Down below, she waved back. Then slipped under the surface. The last hours of the full moon lay ahead, and I needed all the power it could give me. But nothing would keep me from checking on Kye first.
I called the water off my figure, surprised at the sea silk gown I still wore. In the humid warmth of the colony, it had been cool. But here, in the misty bite of Calderian winter, it was even warmer than my quilted riding dress. Too tired and sore to bear thought of romping around the heather in search of the clothesI’d left for myself, I made for the palace doors to find the nearest entrance, and the guard I knew would be waiting just outside.
Except the first step had me almost crying in pain.
My leg buckled under my weight, sending me falling to my knee, where waves of white-hot knives sliced over my bone. I clenched my teeth, shoving upright, and two steps later, fell again.
An arsenal of curses left my mouth that would have made Kye proud. I stood again, angry tears invading my eyes. Aitne was right. I wouldn’t make it up the tower steps. I wasn’t even certain I could make it to the palace doors. Heaving a shaking breath, I straightened as much as I could and sang.
My melody wavered a little, my notes broken with the need for sleep and the weakness in my body. I sang longer than I usually did, nervous I wouldn’t overtake my victim as quickly as the times I’d sang at full strength. My song ended in the hollow air. Everything surrounding me suddenly became still.
“Come,” I said, hoping someone had been close enough to hear.
