“After all we’ve been through, won’t you help me just this once to test the power you’ll have with the trident?”
That curved a wild smile on her face.
“What do you have in mind?”
“There’s a temple underwater beneath the Sterling Mountains; we’ll need your help to get inside it once we have the trident.”
“Ahh yes, they speak of the cursed temple under the sea. My kind wouldn’t dare try to enter such an ancient place. Fortunately for you, angering gods sounds delightful to me.”
“Good. Once I’ve retrieved the trident, we’ll meet you there.”
Fedora smiled, baring serrated teeth, which was more frightening than endearing. She cupped both my and Astraea’s cheeks.
“It’s so precious seeing the star and the night together,” she doted. Then her eyes flicked up, and her expression turned dark on the approaching ship. “I could take you to shore instead.”
“We wouldn’t last in these waters for that long,” I told her.
She pouted. “Leaving me so soon?”
“How will I call for you when I have the trident?” I asked.
Fedora held such adoring eyes on Astraea, stroking her cheek like a pet. Then before I could stop her, a long sharp nail cut her cheek, making her bleed, and Astraea’s grip tightened on me.
My teeth gritted, suppressing my instinct to kill as I watched Fedora bring Astraea’s blood, beaded on her nail, to her tongue.
“A drop into the water you’re near and I’ll be the first to find you,” she said, eyes flaring wildly as she sucked her crimson-tipped finger into her mouth. “Like tasting the stars.”
Fedora giggled, an eerie sound. “Don’t keep me waiting long!” she sang; then she dove sideways, disappearing under the dark water and splashing us with her tail, which surfaced, then plunged back under.
“She’s… terrifying,” Astraea said through chittering breaths.
I stroked a thumb under her bleeding cheek. “She’s a thorn in my side.”
“I didn’t really feel it. My face is quite numb.”
The boat was near, and from the actions of the crew preparing a rope ladderover the side, I knew they’d seen us. Glancing skyward, Eltanin fought my inner command for him to leave, but eventually he began soaring away.
I helped Astraea climb onto the ladder first, following right behind until we both felt the bliss of solid wood beneath our feet. Pulling Astraea to me, I surveyed the crew, who watched us warily, like we were unidentified creatures pulled up in their nets.
“There’s no other who can claim they caught a star in their waters.” A low, gruff voice broke the stiff silence. The deck creaked, giving me their direction to find a tall, broad, middle-aged man with dark hair curling under his tricorn. The captain, I presumed from his confident demeanor.
I anticipated those on board would recognize Astraea, but I could wipe their memories before we got to shore, so I wasn’t too concerned.
“We need passage to Volanis and can pay well,” I said to the captain.
“We have no coin,”Astraea countered through our bond.
“They won’t remember.”
The captain said, “It was not my intended destination, but I’m intrigued as to what the Maiden and the notorious Nightsdeath would be after on such a prized island.”
“It’s merely a political endeavor.”
“I see. Gathering allies to stand against the High Celestials after killing Auster Nova, I presume? We’re not cut off from affairs out at sea.”
If only the threats brewing were as simple as that. A war with only two sides. Us and them. The whole world was oblivious to the scale of what threatened their peace.
“Something like that, yes,” I said.
