Rogue Wave (Waterfire Saga #2)(47)

“My court is gone, Your Grace. My mother taken. My realm invaded,” she said.

The infanta’s eyes darkened. “Who has done this terrible thing?” she asked.

Serafina told her what had happened to Miromara and why. She told her of the monster in the Southern Sea and how the invaders were searching for the six talismans needed to free it.

“Your magnificent blue diamond is one of the talismans, Your Grace,” she said. “I believe it was given by my ancestor, Regina Merrow, to one of your forebearers. I’ve come to ask you for it. I need it to stop the invaders of my realm from unleashing a great evil upon the seas.”

“You ask a great deal. What are you willing to give in return?” the infanta said.

“Also a great deal,” Serafina replied.

“Sit with me awhile, Principessa. It has been so long since I’ve had company.” The infanta settled herself on the gunwale and gestured for Serafina to join her.

Serafina obeyed, leaving several feet of rail between them. She sat lightly, ready to spring away if need be. She knew she was dancing with death. If the infanta lunged at her, if she grabbed her and held on, Sera would never leave the ship.

“La Sirena Lácrima,” the infanta said wistfully. “The Mermaid’s Tear. That is what my family called the famous diamond. My mother gave it to me on the occasion of my sixteenth birthday.” Her smile faded. “You should be careful what you ask for, Principessa. That beautiful jewel cost me my life.”

She moved closer. “I was betrothed to a French prince,” she said. “The wedding was to be in Avignon. I sailed for France in the summer of my eighteenth year. We were heading for Saintes-Maries when the first mate raised the alarm. Amarrafe Mei Foo’s ship had been sighted. I knew that name. Everyone did. Mei Foo was ruthless and cruel, a murderer. His ship was called the Shāyú. It was known that the diamond was part of my dowry. I knew he would take it. And me with it.”

The infanta smoothed her skirts, then continued. “I vowed I would not be taken. I was a princess of Spain, meant to be wife to a French prince, not a wench to warm a pirate’s bed. Our captain tried his best to outrun Mei Foo, but it was futile. I knew what I had to do. I waited until the Shāyú came alongside of us, until Mei Foo could see me. Then I called for my hawk, Miha, to be brought to me. I took my necklace off and gave it to her. ‘Fly!’ I cried. Miha rose over the water with the diamond. Mei Foo had a bird too, a great black bird of prey. He sent it after my hawk. Miha was fast, but the pirate’s demon bird was faster. As it closed in, Miha dropped the necklace. Mei Foo’s bird tried to dive for it, but Miha fought it. She was killed, but she stopped the bird from getting the stone. It sank into the sea. The screams that evil bird made were nothing compared to the screams of Mei Foo. I mocked him, telling him an octopus would wear my diamond now, but at least it would not be in his filthy robber’s hands.”

The infanta stretched out a graceful arm, and rested her bloodless hand on the gunwale, only inches from Serafina’s. Spellbound by her story, Sera didn’t notice.

“I angered the pirate so greatly that he did not take me with him,” the infanta said. “He killed me instead. Which is what I wished. He boarded the Demeter and took the crew and my ladies to sell as slaves. Then he locked me in my cabin. He reboarded his ship and gave orders to bombard my vessel.”

The infanta’s voice faltered. The pain of her memories was written on her face. “I can still hear the cannonshot. I can smell the gunpowder. I faced death bravely, as a princess of Spain must. I had hoped Mei Foo would shoot me, that he would show me some small mercy, but he did not. Drowning is not an easy death.” She turned her dark, dead eyes on Serafina. “After hearing my story, do you still wish to have the jewel? The invaders you spoke of, they will surely try to take it from you, as Mei Foo tried to take it from me. It may cost you your life, too.”

“I still wish to have it. You told me where the diamond is—in the sea. Will you now tell me how far Miha flew? And in which direction? It will take me some time to find it, I think, and I don’t have much.”

The ghost laughed. “Oh, but Principessa, I didn’t tell you where the diamond is.”

“But you did, Your Grace,” Serafina said, confused. “You said Miha dropped it into the sea.”

“I told you that Miha dropped the necklace I gave her. That necklace was a fake. I’d hidden the real diamond. To safeguard it. It’s still aboard this ship.”

Sera’s heart leapt with excitement. The diamond was here. Merrow’s talisman was on board the Demeter!

“Will you allow me to take it?” she asked.

“For a price.”

“Whatever I can give you, I will.”

“Your life?” the infanta asked, reaching out to touch Serafina’s cheek. Her fingers stopped only inches away from it.

Serafina realized too late that she had allowed the infanta to come too close, but she did not flinch. She felt that the ghost was weighing her, testing her. She knew she must show no cowardice.

“Yes, Your Grace. If that’s what I must give to save my realm,” she replied.

The infanta nodded approvingly. She withdrew her hand. “You have a strong heart, Principessa. And a brave spirit,” she said. “You will need both, for I wish to go home, and I require that you take me there.”