Sea Spell (Waterfire Saga #4)(33)

SERA WATCHED as the death riders thundered out of Guldemar’s stables far below her. Each one was mounted on a powerful black hippokamp.

“They’re hunting us,” she said. “Mahdi sent them.”

“He had to,” said Yazeed. “If he didn’t, he’d have to explain why to Vallerio.”

Sera knew he was right, but it didn’t make the sight any less unnerving.

“They’re taking the direct route to the Kargjord,” she said, her eyes following the soldiers as they rode north out of Scaghaufen.

“We’ll have to take the long current back,” Des said. “At least the camp is on high alert now, after Vallerio’s last attack.”

Sera, Yazeed, and Desiderio were swimming up the wall of the west wing of Guldemar’s palace, searching for Mahdi’s room. Sera was certain he’d be there. When she, Yazeed, and some of her Black Fins had spent a night in the palace before their first audience with Guldemar, they’d stayed in the west wing.

“Two more minutes, Sera,” Yazeed said. “Then we’re gone. We’ve got to be out of Scaghaufen when the pearls wear off.”

Sera shot off, frantically swimming from window to window, peering in every one to see if she could spot Mahdi.

“I need to see him,” she’d said as they’d left Guldemar’s stateroom.

“That’s a very bad idea,” Desiderio had replied.

“Something’s wrong,” she said. “We have to find out what it is.”

The goblin guards who’d escorted them out of Guldemar’s stateroom had seen them out of the main doors to the palace’s front gates. The three mer had swum through them, then ducked into one of Scaghaufen’s winding streets. There they’d cast their transparensea pearls, and then they’d headed straight back to the palace.

Sera continued to search for Mahdi as time ran out. She saw goblins and death riders but couldn’t find Mahdi.

“That’s it, Sera,” Yaz said. “We’ve got to go.”

Sera shot up, desperately looking in one last window. “There he is!” she exclaimed. “Yaz, Des, where are you?”

“Right here,” the mermen answered in unison, swimming up behind her.

Mahdi was sitting at a desk, speaking into a conch. Sera’s heart swelled at the sight of him, but the love she felt was once again pushed aside by worry. He looked gray and exhausted.

She was just about to rap on the window when a death rider swam in with a sheaf of kelp parchments. Mahdi, still speaking into the conch, signaled for him to put the documents on the desk. The merman did so, then left the room. As soon as he’d closed the door, Sera knocked.

Mahdi’s head snapped up. An instant later, he was at the window, undoing the latch.

“Tell me it’s not you,” he said as he opened it. “Tell me you didn’t do this.”

“It is. And we did,” Yazeed said.

“Wait here,” Mahdi said. He swam to the door, opened it, and called for the soldier who’d delivered documents just a few moments ago.

“I’m not feeling well. Goblin delicacies don’t agree with me. I’m going to lie down for a few minutes. I’m not to be disturbed,” he instructed.

“Yes, Your Grace,” the death rider said.

Mahdi closed the door and locked it. Sera, Desiderio, and Yazeed swam inside. Sera sang a quick songspell to undo the effects of the transparensea pearl. She was in Mahdi’s arms as soon as he turned around. The two held each other for a few long seconds.

Then Mahdi released her. “How could you two let her do this?” he asked angrily.

“Have you ever tried to stop her from doing something she wants to do?” Desiderio asked.

Mahdi sighed. “Yeah, actually, I have,” he said. “No further explanation needed.”

“Mahdi, you look terrible. What’s going on?” Sera asked.

“Listen, Sera…I just—”

“Don’t give me any Listen, Sera silt. We don’t have much time. I want the truth.”

Mahdi hesitated, then said, “Lucia moved our wedding date up. It’s going to take place at the next syzygy.”

“My gods, that’s…that’s less than a moon away!” Sera said, stunned. “Why didn’t you get word to us?”

“I didn’t have time,” Mahdi explained. “I planned to send you a conch from here.”

“This changes things,” Desiderio said grimly. “We’ll need to get you out of there a lot sooner than we thought, and we don’t have an escape plan set up yet.”

Yaz ran a hand through his hair. “We’ll need to line up safe houses; stash food, clothing, and currensea for you.”

“Forget an escape plan,” Sera said. “You’re coming with us, Mahdi. Right now. We’ll all cast transparensea pearls and make wake for the Karg.”

“No,” Mahdi said.

“No? What do you mean no? It’s over. If you sing the marriage vows, they’ll know you Promised yourself to me. They’ll kill you.”

“I’m not hightailing it. Not yet. Not until I find out the identity of the spy in your camp. I’ve still got time.”

“Mahdi, listen to me,” Sera begged.