Sea Spell (Waterfire Saga #4)(48)

“How’s your love life?” she asked her brother.

“What love life?” he asked, trying to sound innocent. “I don’t have one.”

“Really, Des?” she teased. “Is that why you’re blushing?”

“I am not,” Des scoffed.

“Now you’re blushing even more,” Sera said, nudging him with her tail. “I saw how she looked at you. And how you looked at her. The night you both arrived here.”

“Who?”

“Ha. So funny,” Sera said, rolling her eyes. “Like there are a hundred mermaids in love with you?”

“At least.”

“Oh, please.”

Des smiled. “It’s that obvious, huh?”

“To me. But I know you pretty well.”

Des’s smile dimmed. “I wish she’d send a message, Sera. A little conch shell, something.” He was quiet for a moment, then he said, “What if she’s gone over?”

Sera’s face took on a stony look. “Never,” she said. “Not her. No way.”

“She’s suffered, Sera. A lot. All because she can’t sing. It’s going to be a battle of wills between her and Orfeo, and I’m scared he’ll win.”

“He won’t. You know her, Des. You know how strong she is.”

“But Orfeo can give her something no one else can.”

“Her magic?”

“Her pride,” Des said. “Astrid doesn’t believe in herself. She doesn’t believe she’s worth anything. For most of her life, she wanted her father’s approval and never got it. She still doesn’t realize that there’s only one person’s approval she needs: her own.”

“She won’t turn, Des. She’ll get the pearl, and then she’ll get it to us. I know she will.”

The two mer stopped swimming. They’d arrived where the current split in two directions. One led to the barracks for male goblin and mer fighters, the other to the barracks for females.

“I hope you’re right,” Des said.

“Of course I am. I’m always right.”

Des rolled his eyes. “You sound just like Mom.” He kissed his sister’s forehead. “Get some sleep. You’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

Sera kissed him back and headed for her barracks. She was looking forward to her bed. Becca and Ling had turned in hours ago.

Just before she swam into the cave, she heard something—a small, chittering voice.

“Regina Serafina,” it said.

Sera turned around, but no one was there.

“Over here.”

The voice was coming from a shadowy hollow to the left of the cave. Serafina peered in its direction, but still saw nothing. Instinctively, her hand went to the dagger at her hip.

As she was about to pull the blade from its sheath, a large black sea scorpion crawled out of the shadows. He looked around fearfully, then raised one of his claws. Sera saw that he was holding a small conch. “For you, Regina. A message.”

“Who sent it?” Sera asked warily.

“One who cares a great deal for you. There is much trouble.”

Sera’s heart lurched. “Mah—” she started to say.

The scorpion shook its head. It held its other claw to its mouth, then said, “No names! The sea has many ears. For you alone. No one else can know. It’s too dangerous.”

“How do I know that this is safe?” Sera asked. “That it’s not some kind of a trick?”

The scorpion poked one of his slender legs into the shell, to show that it wasn’t booby-trapped.

Sera looked at the barracks. She thought about getting Ling or Becca. It would be safer to deal with the scorpion, and his message, when accompanied by another Black Fin. But they were all asleep and she hated to wake them.

As if reading her mind, the scorpion said, “Only for you. I am to crush the shell if another tries to listen.”

“Just my friend. For safety…” Sera ventured.

“I will crush it,” the creature insisted, tightening his grip on the conch.

Sera bent down. She couldn’t take the chance of not hearing the message Mahdi had sent. She held out her hand, and the scorpion placed the shell on her palm. Hesitantly, she brought it up to her ear. Mahdi started speaking immediately. It was his voice; there was no doubt about it. And the fear Sera heard in it raised the scales on the back of her tail.

Sera, it’s Mahdi. I’m near the Karg, in the Darktide Shallows. I couldn’t send this news with Allegra. We’ve got big trouble. Vallerio’s heading for the Karg. He’s got twenty thousand soldiers with him. He’s going to attack. There’s more to tell you, but I can’t come into the camp. There’s a spy in your midst, and I don’t want to be seen. Come to the Shallows alone. Hurry, Sera. Please.

Sera lowered the conch, her heart racing. Vallerio had made a countermove. He wasn’t waiting for her to attack Cerulea; he was going to attack first. How close was he? Did she have time to get everyone out of camp and elude the death riders? They could do it; they were already provisioned and packed for the Southern Sea. If need be, they could take a different route than the one they’d planned in order to escape Vallerio. Or was it better to stay here and fight? The fortified camp offered them a defensible position. In the open water, they’d be vulnerable.