Broken Veil (Harbinger #5)(71)

Caulton approached them and clapped a hand on Trevon’s shoulder. He’d tucked the orb into his pocket as he arrived. “How are you feeling, my lord?”

“Most grateful,” he replied, although he didn’t look it. “Which mirror gate do we cross?”

Caulton shook his head. “There is an open rift between the worlds now. Her Majesty opened it. They call it a prism cloud. You’ll see it soon. We’re heading there now.”

“Sera did what?” Trevon asked, just as Cettie put her own question to Caulton. “Did you find her?”

Caulton’s eyes narrowed. “She’s in the Fells.”

Why would Lady Corinne have taken Sera there?

“Do you mean Sera?” Trevon asked. “How could you know that?”

“It’s one of the Mysteries, so I cannot divulge it.”

“I’m sick to death of being left in ignorance!” Trevon said. “Your religion is too secretive.”

Cettie worried that Caulton would be offended, but he didn’t appear to be. “I’m afraid I agree with you, but this is also a state secret. Julie wants to know if we should go directly there.”

“Durrant wouldn’t like that,” Cettie said. “What of the fleet?”

“What fleet?” Trevon asked again, growing more agitated.

Cettie put her hand on his knee to soothe him. “Montpensier has brought a fleet of underwater ships to attack Lockhaven. He’s come in person. Lockhaven cannot move without Sera.”

Trevon looked confused, but he must have decided to leave his questions about Sera’s power and accomplishments for a later time because he asked, “But what can they hope to do? Our ships cannot fly.”

“Montpensier has something planned. We don’t know what it is.” She glanced back at Caulton. “Where is the fleet now?”

“It has already crossed over,” Caulton said. “We have tried communicating with Lockhaven, but it is as if they cannot hear us. The zephyrs are having the same trouble. It’s night on the other side of the rift, but I doubt they are all abed.”

Cettie felt a growing sense of dread. “So we have a choice to make. Do we go to the Fells or try to reestablish contact with Lockhaven? Maybe we’ll have an easier time of contacting them once we cross back to our world.”

Caulton shrugged. “It shouldn’t make a difference. We’ve used Leerings to speak between worlds before.”

“Our first priority must be Sera,” Trevon interjected. He may have missed the pivotal events of the last year, but his loyalty clearly remained with his wife. “If she’s in the Fells, we must go there first. The Fells are enormous, though. How will we find her?”

“Trust me, Prince Trevon. It will be much easier now,” Caulton said with a smile.



A hand lightly touched Cettie’s shoulder, rousing her from a dream. She blinked, disoriented, and saw Adam crouching over her. The dream had been strange and dark, but she felt comforted by the hum of the sky ship’s magic. The short rest had done much to restore her body—and her connection to the Mysteries.

“We’re nearly at the prism cloud,” he said. “I didn’t want to wake you, but I thought you’d want to know.”

“No, thank you. I’m grateful you did.” She sat up on the bed and brought her legs down to the floor, shaking off the disorientation.

The door to the chamber stood open. Aunt Juliana had told Cettie to use her own quarters for a rest.

She gazed up, a little surprised to see Adam still standing there. “Has there been any word from Lockhaven?” she asked.

He shook his head no. “Concerning, isn’t it?”

Cettie massaged the edge of her nose. “It wouldn’t surprise me if Lady Corinne can intercept messages. Or block them.”

“How are you feeling?” Adam asked, folding his arms. He looked thoughtful, but also wary.

“A little bruised, I think,” she said, stroking her forearm. “But I’ve been through worse.”

He shook his head. “That’s not what I meant. Your father was killed in front of you.” He took a step closer, his eyes full of compassion. “He was trying to speak to you. How are you handling that?”

Now she understood. His concern for her feelings struck a deep chord inside her.

“I haven’t let myself think very much about it,” she said. “I share his blood, but he was not my true father.” The memory of his dead eyes struck her forcibly. It brought back a cascade of other memories, crisp from the Dryad’s kiss. Training with him. Wanting to earn a curt nod from him, a look of respect. She shuddered at those sentiments now. Her memories were so sharp they cut her.

“I didn’t want to cry,” Cettie said, the words coming out in shaky gasps.

“Grief comes and goes in waves,” Adam said. “Sorry to have burdened you. I was worried about you.”

She shook her head slowly. “It’s not your fault. It’s his. He may not have been wicked once, but he made his decisions.” She licked her lips, her heart a mixture of mostly unpleasant feelings. “Thank you for asking. That was kind of you.”

He shrugged. “We’d best get up on deck,” he said. Then a small quirk of a smile tugged at his mouth. “I have a hospital in the Fells now.”