Page 33 of Ballad of Sea and Sky

“The stones tell all, boy. You want her help to get something, yes?”

“Yes,” I agreed as she put down the first stone.

I wasn’t sure why I still asked Theia for readings. They were usually vague enough that they could apply to anything, but I was nothing if not compassionate, and she needed the coin.

She would also skin me alive if she heard I’d been in town without visiting.

“I see turmoil,” she said, fingering the second stone. “A storm. A beach. I see the girl there as well.”

I rolled my eyes at this arguably vague pronouncement. Storms were as common as beaches in the Whispering Sea.

“There is a darkness she will face,” she said, frowning as she felt the third stone.“You will face it together.”

My heart leapt in unexpected panic, but Theia continued, pursing her lips. “And a bond to be forged. Only with it will you get what you want.”

She placed the stones back on the table, sitting back as if extremely pleased with herself.

“Incoherent as usual,” I sighed, trying to hide my concern as I frowned at her across the table. “But I thank you for the service.”

I placed three gold coins before her—a small fortune, but one I could part with—and made to stand. The old sightseer grabbed my wrist with sharp taloned fingers, preventing me from leaving.

“Don’t let the girl die,” she warned, face pointed slightly to my right. “Or more than justyourplans shall be lost.”

“I have no intention of doing so,” I said, my voice clipped with irritation as I tore my wrist from her unnaturally strong grip. Maybe coming here had been a fool’s errand.

“Only by repeating the past can it be undone,” she added, her voice unusually grave as I made for the door. “What has been done cannot be undone.”

“Duly noted,” I drawled, rolling my eyes at her attempt to get me to stay and pay her more money for more questions. “Good day, Theia.” I opened the door and let the dim light of the alley in.

Theia hissed as if the sun burned, pointing a gnarled finger at me. “Heed my warning, boy. Or your future will be my past.”

Thoroughly unsettled, I left the dim room and made for the main street, shaking off the sense that some curse had just been placed upon me.

Theia’s past was one that no one should repeat. One I was actively trying to prevent, and one I wished I could just sit Marina down and explain in detail.Marella had broken the ice, but there was more Marina would want to know. More sheshouldknow.

But I needed her to trust me first, and the first step toward trust was letting her explore alone, no matter how terrified it made me.

I fluttered my wings agitatedly. Now I definitely needed a drink.

Chapter 12

“DidCaspiansendyoufor me already?” I asked, glancing up at the sky to try to make out the position of the sun. The clouds still hung low over the bay, and I had no idea what time it was.

“Call it a happy coincidence that I’m passing your way,” Astraios answered, giving me a wink as he fell into step beside me. “And not Caspian having me keep tabs on you in case you do something stupid. Like try to escape on one of those ships you were eying.”

“I would never,” I lied, finding it difficult to maintain my scowl with his infectious grin shining on me. These damned attractive siren males and their smiles. “And I don’t need a nanny.”

“And yet you have such a handsome one,” Astraios replied, steering me back toward the docks. “How lucky you are, Princess, that I found you before you made any poor life decisions.”

“Are we leaving already?” I asked, glancing toward where the Argo was docked. It didn’t look like there was much movement on deck, but we were far enough away to make it hard to tell.

“Soon,” Astraios replied. “But not too soon for a drink. My treat, your Highness. I won’t even tell Cas about your ill-planned escape attempt.”

“It will have to be your treat, since I have no money,” I grumbled, letting Astraios lead me. I was about to tell him there was no escape attempt to hide, when a melody floated toward us on the wind. It was a familiar tune, and it took me a moment to remember it as the song that Caspian had been singing atop the mast the other night. “Is that Caspian?”

“What, the song?” Astraios asked, his smile turning suggestive. “Why, do youlikeit?”

“Nevermind,” I said, rolling my eyes at his teasing. I didn’t want to admit that Ididlike it, and that I was very curious how the rest of the song went. I had heard something about dancing and day and night, and the melody had a strange hold on me I couldn’t explain.