Page 41 of A Sea of Fate and Starfire

A weapon. That’s what I was. To Thaan. To Aegir. To Selena. A knife made to kill. An army assembled to destroy. A token collected to gamble with Fate. They’d each pointed my needle in the direction of their own wind, aiming me like an arrow without ever telling me why.

“I have six hundred Naiads in Rivean uniform pretending to march after the Calderians now,” Sindri said, unfolding a map and tracing the topography with a finger. One of the Naiads behind him raised his torch, offering a dose of firelight. “We can blow cover and fight them off, though we don’t have the numbers to gain the upper hand. Exactly how many Naiads did you bring?” He glanced at me and Aegir’s gaze followed.

Back straight as a bolt, I studied them both, unsure how to answer.

The only time I’d met Aegir, Selena had been afraid of him. And then he’d hired pirates to take me from the beach at Cynthus Castle. The idea of offering him details of my colony raised my hackles.

“Why would Venusians pose as Riveans?” I said instead. “Why would Naiads care about a human war?”

“Human war?” Sindri echoed, blinking at me. “Do you not understand who started this war? Who steals Naiads from these mountains?”

Ah. Thaan.

“Am I a prisoner?” I asked, my voice a hardened line.

The side of Aegir’s mouth twitched under his clipped beard. His whirls of tattoos disappeared beneath his silk cloak, so dark they drank the flickering light as he cocked his head up at me in humor. “No.”

I raised my hand, the silver over my wrist glinting. “Why am I still wearing these?”

“Because I can sense the static between your fingers.” Aegir’s shoulders were slack, his hips loose as he leaned into one foot and crossed his arms. “And there’s nothing more dangerous than a fresh Naiad monarch with unchecked power.”

I suppose his words were true, but I bristled anyway, opening my mouth to fire back when Nori slid into my thoughts again. I have Selena.

She knows Aegir is here?

Yes.

There are a few hundred of them with me and probably as many disguised as Rivean soldiers waiting to meet you. I murmured into both Kye and Nori’s heads, failing to suffocate the sting of electricity caged in the veins of my hands. I don’t know if this is a trap.

We can’t stop now to assess, Kye broke in. They’re on our heels.

“How many Naiads do you have?” Aegir asked again. Patience marked his tone, though the question was more demand than request.

“A hundred,” I answered, deciding they could have guessed the number whether or not I supplied it.

“A hundred against ten thousand?” He aimed a sideways glance at Sindri.

My nostrils flared. “We had a plan. It went awry.”

“Indeed.” Stroking the short length of his beard, Aegir’s attention dropped to the map, wind kicking at its edges. The low flames of annoyance seeded into my stomach. “Fight or flee, Sindri?” The prompt rolled so easily from his lips. As though either option were easy, as painless as choosing whether to spread jelly or honey on his morning toast.

Sindri tucked his jaw to the side, scanning the map as though it offered answers. “Fighting might cost us in numbers. We could create a diversion that would lead to Juilean’s escape. Cut down at least some Rivean forces.” He nocked his chin toward me. “It’s unclear why the Queen led her Naiads here.”

“I suppose it depends on what the Queen wants,” Aegir answered. His hunter eyes locked firmly onto mine.

Torchlight flashed and sputtered. The soft wind died, leaving the corners of the map in Sindri’s hand to droop. No one uttered a sound.

“My choice?” I blinked. “You’re leaving me to decide what to do with your own soldiers?”

Aegir tilted his head. “Juile and Venus have always been allies. I don’t know why you came to Rivea, but you must have had a reason. If you need us, we’re at your disposal.”

The cold of the silver clamps bit into my wrists. I narrowed my eyes. Nori.

I’m here.

Unease wormed its way into my belly like an eel tunneling under rock. Ask Selena if I can trust Aegir.

I waited for Nori to relay the question, ignoring the weight of hundreds of silent eyes over my face. Seconds ticked, my guard only raised as they passed, my suspicion surrounding Aegir at odds with the mistrust I’d gained for Selena.