“Prophet,” he said, gaze lingering on Samson’s glowing armband. “What do you think? You know the seas better than all of us.”
“I have not sailed past the pit,” Samson said as the Ayoni rose and began to walk around the panel.
“But you have been in it, yes?”
“I have,” Samson said, remembering the lone lantern fighting against the suffocating darkness as his mother guided their boat. He had been seized with terror as he thought about the bottomless pit yawning beneath, and the thin wood separating him from its maw. “The rumors are true. All sensors and lights fail within the pit. Except for fire.”
“It’s like in the stories,” Chandi said. “‘Sorceress of the water, son of the sea. Give up your fire, and the pit responds to thee.’”
“Old wives’ tales,” Rhumia snorted.
“Most ships skirt around it, but we don’t have time. We need to cut through,” Daz said, throwing his grandniece a look. “Do you know a way?”
“Sorceress of the water, son of the sea.” His mother tipped the dead Jantari soldier overboard, and Samson recoiled as he heard the body slam into the water. Their boat shook upon its impact, and then began to vibrate as the sea heard their call. “Feast upon the enemies of thee.”
“Fire can help guide you, along with the stars,” he said. It was not a lie, but neither was it the whole truth. The sea was always hungry. The Great Serpent desired Her sacrifices, and he did not have the heart to give one. But fire? He glanced at Elena. The Great Serpent would allow them passage if a fire bound their ships. It would require him to summon for a prolonged period, but he was still too weak to wield. Unless he drew on Elena’s own Agni.
Samson vacillated, looking between Elena and the blue holo of the pit. If he siphoned her Agni, he’d reveal their connection. She could just as easily draw on him then—if she knew how. But he could not give her this power over him. Even if she gave him soft smiles. Even if his name on her lips sounded like an utterance of faith, borne on the truths they had surrendered to each other.
The Ayoni slipped behind him. It was only then that Samson noticed that his and Chandi’s bands were glowing, but not Elena’s or Jaya’s. He began to question their host when Jaya threw up her hands with a cry.
“I know!”
She quickly tuned the panel in a flurry of limbs and curses. Samson watched, transfixed, as the holomaps blurred, Jaya’s voice quickening.
“The killdoms won’t sail straight from Rysanti to Tsuana like we think. If they head straight east, they’ll inevitably run into the merchant and carrier ships sailing north of Seshar. Everyone will see them. Sesharians will gossip about the infamous flesh crawlers seen heading east of Seshar. Word will spread to Tsuana of foreign ships bearing down upon her waters. Farin can’t risk that.”
“So they head south,” Samson mused, tracing a finger along the map. “Curving along the islands and out back, where no one can see.”
“Exactly.”
He saw it now, clear as day. “So we ambush—”
“Exactly,” Jaya chattered excitedly.
“—before they turn around the islands—”
“Yes. It’s a straight shot. If we sail through the pit, we’ll cut right through their path. Take the battle on open seas.”
“‘Everything is settled on the open waters,’” he intoned. “‘If it is not, then laugh, son of sea. For you have died and your enemy has lived longer than thee.’”
The Ayoni spoke up then. He approached the panel, pointing to the two Yumi ships and making pincer cuts with two fingers.
“He says that with Sesharians on board, we’ll win on the open sea, so long as—” Afira halted then as the Ayoni continued. He finally stopped and looked at Afira, but she stood stiffly, eyes skittering away. Her sister fidgeted. Even Daz looked uncomfortable as he suddenly focused on the edge of the panel. Samson had the distinct sensation that whatever else the Ayoni had said was something caustic, an insult directed toward Seshar. He knew as soon as the Ayoni glanced at him. There was derision in his eyes, tinged with distrust. He knew the Ayoni were often unfriendly hosts, but he had not known of their prejudice against Sesharians. His skin crawled, and had he had the strength, he would have summoned an inferno so hot it would have dried the insults on the small man’s tongue. The Ayoni spoke again, and this time, Daz recovered quickly.
“Apologies, friend.” He rose, beckoning the Ayoni to take a seat again. “Our host cautions us to be careful about… treacherous force waves. There have been more winter storms around Seshar than we’ve seen before. Please, continue.”
Samson slowly turned back to the panel. “I can lead a ship,” he began.
The Ayoni sneered, and suddenly, he was a young boy again, filled with the gnawing desire to prove himself and rub his victories in all the naysayers’ faces. They could not disrespect him once they feared him. “I know this part of the sea better thananyonehere. Elena, once we’re in the open sea, you peel off to trap in the first killdom.”
She nodded, though he noticed panic creasing the corners of her eyes.I’m afraid of the sea.He touched her hand and bent close so that only she could hear.
“I’m with you, remember?”
She was so close that he could see her top lip quiver as her eyes caught his. A flash again, that fleeting emotion he could not name, before she nodded.
“I’ll do it,” she murmured.
