I aimed an impatient stare at her. “Senna, it might take weeks otherwise. We’ll go one way, and Aegir and Pheolix can go another.”
The grip on her own shoulders tightened again. “It might take weeks anyway. We might not even find it.”
I glanced up at the dark ceiling. It might take weeks, but we’d find it. I knew we’d find it.
I just didn’t know if we’dreachit.
“I’d rather the gnat and I separate with one of you.” Aegir sighed. Selena closed her eyes, lips thinning at the offensive word, but an entertained smile shadowed Pheolix’s mouth. Aegir didn’t seem to notice. “You’ve both roamed these tunnels. We haven’t.”
I tossed an idle hand. “It’s been ten years, and it was never this dark when we were held here. We’re as blind as you.”
Selena shook her head. “I don’t want to leave Ceba.”
Pheolix drew his knife and twirled it around his hand in boredom. “I agree with the fish king.”
I sighed, unamused.
“The fish king could kill you,” Aegir said casually.
Pheolix twisted his knife over a knuckle. “Or I could kill him.”
Through her lashes, Selena’s eyes flicked to mine, annoyance embedded deep enough to shake the rock we stood on. “No one is killing anyone. And there’s no one here to impress but us, so the cock fight isn’t necessary.”
Pheolix’s knife stopped. He craned his neck, a small frown between his brows. “What did you say?”
“The cock fight. It isn't necessary.”
“The what fight?”
“Cock, Pheolix. The moon-damned cock.”
He bit his lip, battling a grin. “Still didn't hear you.”
“Take a spool, Senna.” I held the twine out to her, ignoring him. “You and Pheolix can try the left-most passage. We’ll take the right. Then we’ll come back tomorrow and work our way to the center.”
“Fine.” She snatched the spool from my palm like a viper striking a mouse. “Don’t dawdle. When you hit fifteen minutes, turn around and come back. I’ll see you in half an hour.”
I nodded, turning to the right.
“And be careful,” she growled behind me.
The deep tunnels drank us into the dark.
17
Cebrinne
The first exploration of the Parian tunnels yielded little more than still air, stunted vision, and more bones than I cared to rationalize. The second as well. And the third.
When we crested the surface of the cavern on the final night, Selena immediately sank against the inner wall where we’d made our beds, arms slung over her knees.
“We’re not going deep enough,” Aegir said, calling the water off himself. “We’re only finding pools of water. Rooms where the Naiads lived. Theia said the Scale of Safiro would be in an underwater cavern? Where is the room where the Parians dined?”
“We don’t know.” I quirked my mouth, intolerant of the memory, and sat down beside my sister. “Thaan had Ursa’s body carried here to the surface. This is where he drank her blood wine.”
“There should be a passage that leads to the ocean floor.” Selena lifted her head to look at us. “Maybe we’re searching in the wrong place. Maybe we need to dive down outside the island. Search its perimeter.”
Wind crept in, less forceful than it had been the day we’d arrived, brushing us with cold fingers. Selena shivered.
