The Deepest Blue(28)

“You could have everything again if you survive.”

“Except my husband.”

Lord Maarte shrugged, then squinted at the horizon. “Perhaps even him, if you still want him. You won’t know that unless you survive.”

His words hit her so hard that for a moment she couldn’t breathe. “He’s dead. You told me they killed him.”

“How would I know either way? I wasn’t there, and the Silent Ones aren’t exactly forthcoming about their activities.” He flashed her a smile. “Your beloved may yet live.”

Mayara felt as if she’d been swallowed by a tsunami. She lost all sense of what was up and what was down. Staggering backward, she clutched at the ship’s railing. “You said . . . Why would you . . . ?”

“Because you were about to make the wrong choice,” Lord Maarte said. “I was performing my duty, looking out for the interests of Belene. If our strongest women choose to become Silent Ones, their power is wasted. Silent Ones don’t receive the same level of training, and they don’t perform the same duties—controlling spirits already claimed by the queen is vastly different from fighting wild spirits that aren’t bonded to anyone. You stopped the spirit storm—that’s strength. And we need our strongest to become heirs, to defend our islands and protect our future!”

Could it be true?

Her knees felt weak. She wanted to collapse. I can’t collapse. I have to get off this ship! Back to Kelo! They’d already sailed several miles from the island, but she was a strong swimmer, and it was a clear day—

A spirit shaped like a pale-blue human rose out of the water and bared its shark teeth. A wave curled around it, in defiance of the current.

She pivoted and met the eyes of a Silent One. “You’re doing that?”

The Silent One did not respond, but she didn’t have to.

Mayara spun back to face Lord Maarte again. “If he lives, I must change my choice. I made a promise!” She was aware that her voice was spiraling higher. She felt as if her thoughts and feelings were caught in a whirlpool.

“You did make a promise—to your country and its people. Your choice cannot be changed. It was made, witnessed, and recorded.” Shaking his head, he clucked his tongue disapprovingly. “Come now, second thoughts don’t become a woman on her way to transforming into a hero of the islands. I am disappointed.”

“I only chose the test because I believed my husband was dead! Murdered by the Silent Ones. If he wasn’t, then I need to do what I meant to do and become a Silent One. Please, my lord, if there’s any mercy in you . . .” She dropped to her knees. She’d beg if she had to. Whatever it took to get back to Kelo.

He raised his eyebrows. “As much as you talk, you’d have made a poor Silent One. As for your artist husband . . . all you need to do is survive the test, and then you can find out for yourself whether he lives. If he does, you’ll be reunited. Unlike Silent Ones, heirs are allowed private lives, so long as they perform their duty when needed.” Lord Maarte flashed his “charming” smile once more. “Of course, if you survive the test, you may decide to do better than a common craftsman. I’d be honored if you would allow me to get to know you better.”

She stared at him.

She wasn’t often struck wordless, but Lord Maarte had succeeded.

“There’s no point in that now, of course, because there’s no guarantee you won’t die.” He dismissed his offer with a wave of his jeweled hand. “I try not to form attachments to anyone with a potentially short life span. But I predict I will be seeing you again, spirit sister.” He then glanced over her head and nodded.

Mayara felt a hand on her elbow, drawing her away—it was the young sailor. She looked back at Lord Maarte. “You are vile.”

“I do what I must for the good of Belene. With power comes the responsibility of making difficult choices. You will learn that someday.” He flashed her another smile that she wanted to claw off his face before he added, “If you don’t die first.”

She didn’t resist as the sailor pulled her away, and he released her as soon as she was across the deck from the ruler of Olaku Island. Numbly, she stumbled over to where Roe was leaning against the railing.

“He likes you,” Roe observed when Mayara had reached her. “Creepy.”

She couldn’t argue with that. It was worse than “creepy.” It was disgusting.

I don’t want him to like me. I want him to let me go home!

But she knew that was impossible, not without Lord Maarte defying the law, which he was clearly not willing to do. In fact, he seemed to take a weird satisfaction in transporting them to their probable deaths—there was absolutely no reason he needed to be helming this ship himself. But here he was, and in his eyes and the eyes of the law, she’d made her choice, and now she was bound to it, whether she wanted to be or not. And whether or not I was tricked into that choice. She would have broken that law, though, if she could, just as she had when they’d run. I’d swim out of here, if the Silent Ones with their pet sea monsters would let me.

Mayara squeezed her eyes closed. If Kelo is alive . . .

She tried not to think about how hurt he must have been when he found out about her choice. It would break me, he’d said.

“What did he say?” Roe asked.