The Deepest Blue(65)

“I want to be needed.” Garnah let out a little laugh. “Isn’t that amusing? Me, who doesn’t value anyone else, likes being essential. I learned that about myself with Queen Daleina of Aratay. I don’t particularly care who lives or dies, so long as I play a vital role.”

There was truth in her words. Maybe she isn’t trustworthy, not in the traditional sense. But I’m sick of “tradition.”

Taking a deep breath, Asana said, “They took my family. On the day I was crowned, the Families kidnapped my parents, my husband, and my daughter and took them ‘under their protection.’ If I try to free them or even try to see them . . . They had my husband murdered to prove their power and ensure my obedience, and they hold my other loved ones hostage.”

Garnah sat up straight, her eyes bright. “Where are they being held?”

“I don’t know.” Asana spread her hands. “I’m not even allowed to know which Family holds them or which island they’re on.”

“Then you need to find out.”

Asana shook her head. “Exactly what are you proposing?”

“We need to change the balance of power in Belene, and to do that, we need to free your family. To do that, we need to determine where they are.”

“If I try to find—”

“Not you. Me.”

“But everyone knows you’re my adviser. Any investigation you conduct will be traced back to me. I cannot take that risk.” As tempting as it was.

She’d tried before, though. And had paid the price. Since then, she had been docile, obeying the Families, chafing under their rule, hating them.

“Then we employ someone who isn’t known in the palace. Someone so earnest that no one will suspect him. Someone who will swear absolute obedience to you, if he knew his actions would lead to saving his beloved’s life.”

Asana felt a fluttering inside her as she realized what Garnah was saying. It felt an awful lot like hope. She picked up the artist’s masterpiece. “I can offer him a position as royal artist,” she mused. “He’d have permission then to roam through the palace. Perhaps I commission portraits of influential members of the ruling Families. They wouldn’t say no to that, not with their egos. The palace could use a portrait gallery, don’t you think?”

Smiling placidly, Garnah nodded. “It would greatly enhance the place.”

“Summon him back,” Asana said. “You will meet with him alone, so that his connection to me is minimized. Tell him what he needs to know. Realize, though, once he knows the truth about what the Families have done to my loved ones . . . if he doesn’t swear to cooperate, you will need to kill him.”

“Obviously.” Garnah was unperturbed by the idea of killing an innocent man. “I told you the truth. I don’t care who lives or dies, so long as I am useful.”

“Then go and be useful,” Asana ordered. She then leaned back in her thronelike chair, cradled the shell carving against her breasts, and thought of her daughter.





Chapter Sixteen

Mayara thought dismantling the snares all over the island was a terrible idea.

“But we can’t leave them out there,” Roe protested. “They could catch someone else, like they caught Palia. And like they caught me, remember?” The three of them were holed up in the cave, which was now quite cramped. Ever since returning with Palia, they’d been careful to leave only for absolute essentials—quick strikes for food and water and to relieve themselves.

She’s stir-crazy, Mayara thought. That’s why she’s making reckless suggestions.

“We know now to watch out for traps around trees,” Mayara said as she shifted, trying to find a better position between the coconut shells. “That’s good enough. We can simply avoid them.”

“But we shouldn’t have to,” Roe said. “They shouldn’t be there at all. It’s unfair, and it’s wrong. All we’re supposed to be worrying about is the spirits, not . . . sabotage!”

“I am worried about the spirits,” Mayara said. “It’s why I’m not interested in the traps. It’s unnecessary time out in the open.”

“It’s necessary if it saves a life.” Roe addressed Palia: “You wouldn’t have suffered if we’d destroyed the snares when we first found them. Tell Mayara you wish we’d removed the snares.”

Palia still looked terrible, her cheeks sunken and her lips cracked. They’d used up the majority of the angel seaweed on her many cuts, most of which she’d gotten before the snare. She’d been on the run ever since they’d landed on the island, and she hadn’t been as lucky as Mayara and Roe. “It would have been nice not to be caught.”

“See? I’ll do it,” Roe said. “We know where they are—it’ll be quick.”

“Roe, think for a minute, please! We’ve only stayed alive so far because we’ve been smart and careful.” She kept her voice low even though she wanted to shout. “This is reckless! We don’t even know that anyone else is still alive!”

“I said if I got another chance to help someone, I wouldn’t hesitate,” Roe reminded her. “And you promised you wouldn’t stop me. Mayara, I couldn’t do anything when the Families took us away from my mother, and I couldn’t help my father when they took him away from me. I can do something to save someone here—someone who might have a family they want to see again.”