Sea Spell (Waterfire Saga #4)(32)

Goblin courtiers clapped their hands and pumped their fists. There was nothing the Meerteufel loved more than violence. Shouts of “Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!” rose in the water.

Guldemar himself watched, but said nothing.

Sera was the first to speak. “I did not expect such treachery from the Meerteufel,” she declared.

“No treachery,” Stickstoff countered. “You wish to strengthen your alliance with the Meerteufel. The emperor wishes to end that same alliance and establish one of his own. This poses a problem for the Meerteufel, but a fight will solve it. Fighting is the way to solve all problems,” he added sagely.

“I will not fight,” Sera said. She unbuckled the scabbard that held her sword and threw it to the floor. Then, in her most regal voice, she addressed the court. “Under Regina Isabella, my mother, Miromara was not governed by the sword, but by the rule of law. And so it shall be by me. The traitors who now lead the realm—my uncle Vallerio, his wife, Portia, their daughter, Lucia…and this turncoat”—she spat the word at Mahdi—“will be tried in court when I retake my throne. If found guilty, they will be executed by the state, not by me.”

Boos went up from the courtiers. Guldemar raised an eyebrow but remained silent. Sera had the feeling that he was weighing her response.

Sera…troops…

The voice was crackly and loud, and it was inside her head.

Sera startled at it, then fervently hoped no one had noticed. It was Mahdi. He must’ve cast a convoca under his breath, she thought. It would be a weak one because of all the iron in the stateroom—in Guldemar’s throne, the many weapons, the very walls.

Mahdi, she called back, is that you? There was no answer. What did you mean by troops? Are death riders nearby?

“Principessa, what are you saying?” Mahdi asked, feigning shock. “I’m not a turncoat. And I certainly don’t want to fight you. I want to take you home.”

Mahdi, what’s wrong? Sera asked urgently.

Danger…capture you…

Sera laughed contemptuously. “If my cousin’s not a traitor, why has she taken my throne?”

“Lucia has graciously agreed to rule—at her father’s request—because she thought you were dead. We all did, Principessa. How wonderful to discover we were wrong,” Mahdi said.

There’s something going on with you, Mahdi. I know there is. I can feel it!

Nothing…you, Des, Yaz…out of here…

“That is a lie,” Sera countered. “My uncle knows I’m alive. He wants me, and my Black Fins, dead.”

“Indeed!” Stickstoff interjected, trying to fan the waterfire. “Isn’t that why Vallerio seeks our help, Mahdi? And our troops? To slaughter Serafina and her fighters?”

Mahdi chose his next words carefully. “Vallerio wants to defeat the Black Fins, yes, but only because they threaten the stability of the realm,” he protested. “He never had any idea that Serafina was with them. None of us did.”

“Another lie,” Sera said.

Whispers went up from the courtiers. “When will the fight start?” “Someone bring the mermaid another sword!” “Somebody throw something at them!”

“Principessa, you must allow me and my soldiers to take you home,” Mahdi said. “Your uncle, your cousin…they’ll be overjoyed to see you back in Cerulea.” As he spoke, he casually slid one hand into his jacket pocket.

“Yes, they will,” Sera retorted. “Because it’ll make it so much easier for them to kill me.” She moved slightly to her right as she spoke, trying to position herself so that she could receive the convoca better. It worked.

Sera, go! Get out of here! Mahdi said. My soldiers have orders to kill you on sight. They won’t do it here. Too many witnesses. But they’ll follow you.

Sera traded glances with her brother. A quick nod from him told her that he’d heard Mahdi, too.

Still playing his part, Mahdi swam up to her. “Principessa,” he said, sweeping a bow. He took her hand in both of his. “I hope you’ll reconsider and allow me to escort you back to Cerulea.”

As he spoke, Sera felt him press something into her palm. She curled her fingers around it, then pretended to snatch her hand away.

“Your Grace,” she said, turning to Guldemar, “I’ll take my leave now. Should you wish to help me instead of my enemies, you’ll have my gratitude. Should you choose to do the opposite, you’ll have my sympathy.”

With that, she swam out of Guldemar’s stateroom, followed by Yazeed and Desiderio. As the doors closed behind them, Sera opened her hand and looked down at what was in it.

A tiny sea-silk sack. As she opened it, she saw that it contained transparensea pearls. Three of them.

She handed one to Yazeed and one to Desiderio.

“As soon as we’re out of the palace, we cast them—” she stared to stay.

“And haul tail back to the Karg,” Yaz finished.

Sera shook her head. “No. We stay here. And find Mahdi.”

“What? Sera, we can’t. You heard him. We’ve got to go. We’ve got trouble,” Desiderio said, glancing around nervously.

“I know, Des,” Sera said. “But Mahdi’s got more.”