Crest (Ondine Quartet Book 3) (50 page)

"Amber, I —"

"Dylan's mom thanked me. How could she thank me?"

She rested her forehead against the glass, gazing out at the ocean and horizon. Her reflection revealed a numbness that had nothing to do with physical pain.

I wearily rubbed my face. "I don't know."

"I froze, Kendra." Her voice was tired, as if she'd been running the words through her head for a long time. "For a fraction of a second. Dylan told me to run and jumped in front of me before I could move. The Aquidae..." She stopped. "When Dylan dropped, it was like my mind could finally function and my Virtue reached for the first thing it could find."

The ground.

By the time gardinels found them, hardened mud encased the demon up to its chest. Her magic had liquified the earth, directed its flow upward, and dried it into place.

"His father was screaming so much shit at him. When the Aquidae came, Dylan didn't blink when it went after his father. But when it came after me...he protected me." Her voice filled with bewilderment. "Why did he do that?"

Her shoulders trembled as war sunk its teeth into her for the first time. My chest hurt.

"Because he wasn't his father. Or his mother." I sat beside her. "Is there anything else you remember? Did the Aquidae say anything?"

"I've been trying but my memory is all over the place. It happened so fast..."

"It's okay."

On the smaller promontory, a familiar figure walked to the edge for her daily afternoon swim.

Yahaira's slender form soared through the air and a burst of white magic surrounded her. Compact seal with a light grey pelt plunged into the sea.

A group of young selkies frolicked in the waters below. They remained in human form, movements joyous and carefree in the glistening waters.

They reminded me of Robby.

If I had to do it all over again, I wondered if I'd still share with my mother what I sensed about the mailman.

If I hadn't said anything to her, we would've stayed. I could've continued to protect him. Figured out a way to tell his mother. Come up with a plausible story to warn a human adult.

Maybe what happened to him could've been prevented.

With Jason, it'd been the opposite. I'd chosen to not know. If I'd simply reached into him, been willing to see what some part of me already sensed, I could've avoided so much emotional grief.

Knowledge was a double-edged sword. Remaining ignorant was often easier than accepting the cut of the blade.

"Do you regret it?" I asked.

Did she regret reaching for something beyond what she could have with Dylan?
 

Do you regret following me? Do you regret knowing?

She shook her head. "I got the monster, Kendra."

I wasn't sure if she was talking about Marquis Rosamund or the Aquidae.

Her eyes brimmed with guilt. It was the ultimate irony.

Pride of survival could only be forged from the death of another.

We silently watched the sky war with itself, infinite canvas darkening purple as the blood-red orange sun made its way to the sea.

IRIDESCENT VIOLET AND GREEN VINES lazily wound over tangled roots and stretched up thick tree trunks.

Dank air held a touch of rancidness as though the edges were beginning to spoil. Trees appeared murkier, branches twisted like bony, desiccated arms.

I climbed up the rock face behind the waterfall and the rich scent of animal and metallic magic struck my nose.

Unpleasant growl touched my mind. "Do not bother me."

"Hello to you, too." I sauntered into the cave, refusing to let him dictate our meeting this time around. "Hey, do you have a name? Something I can call you other than Armicant?"

No answer.

Shadows shifted and brilliant topaz eyes peered at me from the gloom.

Like the fauna outside, its magic felt different today. Darkened, almost pained. Another subtle layer drifted between the humid mix of magic and silver. It was the faint scent of rotting flowers.

The Armicant shuffled forward, gait slower than I remembered. Silver scales that sparkled the first time we met had dulled to a waxy sheen.

Could an immortal beast get sick? I didn't want to offend it by asking.

"Are you okay?"

Jaw snapped open, revealing a gaping maw of teeth and fire. A primal roar crushed my insides.

Wincing, I staggered back a few steps. "You need to work on your indoor voice."

"You don't feel it?"

The snarl clawed through my skin. Monstrous head neared, ragged rows of razor-sharp teeth inches away from my face. Fetid breath rushed against my cheek and I almost gagged.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"It's here."

The phrase repeated over and over, obsessively bouncing around in my mind like a record on loop.

Clutching my head, I dropped to my knees.

Excruciating pressure built, a vise clamping around my skull.

It's hereIt's hereIt's hereIt's hereIt's hereIt's hereIt's hereIt's here

It stopped.

Dizziness drowned me and I shook my head, trying to clear the residual echo.

The Armicant turned and melted back into the darkness.

Gritting my teeth, I slowly stood. It wasn't getting rid of me that easily.

I followed the rasp of swishing tail deeper into the cave. With each step, the stench of rot and sickness grew.

"What's here?"

No response.

Faint glimmer of silver scales veering right. I tracked it into a cavern the size of half a football field.

The Armicant settled, enormous claws tucked underneath its torso like a strange, mutated cat.

Good. Nowhere to run.

I placed my blade on the ground before it.

"You made my weapon."

Instinct told me I was right. After discussing weapons with Adrian in the armory, I knew no one on the planet could construct a dagger that similar to a
kouperet.

Unless it was created by the same maker.

A nervous, shuffling noise in my head.

"If you know the answer, why do you ask?"

"You told me you'd already provided the weapons each side needs." Eyes narrowed. "Why did you make another one? Why did you make my blade?"

"Because I was asked to."

Irony, thy name is Kendra.

I bit back my impatience. "So why don't you listen to my requests?"

"Because I do not owe you a debt like I did him."

"Who?"

"Ansel Irisavie."

I stilled. "My father?"

When I received it on my thirteenth birthday, I'd assumed my mother had it made.

But looking back on it, she'd never said that. She'd simply explained the dagger was mine.

The Armicant stretched, a shudder racing along its spine.

"I knew his family." Its voice was softer. Weaker.

If what the Armicant said was true, my father must've come here sometime after I was born and before he died.

Tristan would've told me if he'd known about it.

Realization dawned.

I once did a favor for you.

The Selkie Kingdom had been closed off for years. Upon Rhian's request, Ancelin gave my father permission to visit the Armicant.

"What kind of debt did you owe him?"

"A wrong was done a long time ago. He came to call upon it."

"What kind of wrong?"

Silence answered me.

I tried another angle. "Why an onyx handle? Why not the same handle as a
kouperet
?"

A tired sigh. "What is dark... but the absence of light?"

As Head Chevalier, my father was a strong demillir who'd earned respect and loyalty from both chevaliers and gardinels.

Why did he come all the way here to ask the Armicant for a weapon? Did it have something to do with how I was to hunt the Shadow?

I picked up the dagger. Thumb lightly traced the engraved silver diamond on the handle.

"So the only way you'll build another weapon is if you're coerced? If you owe someone something?"

An irritated rumble in my mind.

"I do not bind myself to another in the way you do with your mates, children, and friends. I exist alone both within and without elementals. What do I care? It is not my battle."

Rhian said I needed to convince the Armicant. Tristan also believed it'd listen to me because I required nothing from it.

It was about negotiating a trust.

The Armicant was tired. Its life was about meeting elementals' constant needs. As long as this war continued, it would have to make
kouperets
and brand gardinels.

It hid in the caves, wishing to remove itself from us, because we offered it nothing.

We only took.

So I asked it the one thing no one ever did.

"What do you need?"

Ragged breathing slowly deepened into a growly hum.

Answer echoed in my head. "Proof."

I threw out my hands. "Tell me what kind of proof and I'll bring it to you."

Topaz eyes blinked. "You wish to make an agreement."

A bet. One in which I knew none of the odds and the consequences placed the future of the war at risk.

There was no other choice.

Time to go big or go home. Fly or die trying.

"Yes."

It spoke in a whisper.

"Show me something that exists without cost and I will make your weapons,
sondaleur
."

***

The land had fallen silent.

Night rapidly approached and purple haze streaked across the sky. Lights winked on throughout the palace as guests prepared for tonight's ball.

Mind replayed the Armicant's words. What was it asking for?

Everything came at a price and consequences accompanied every choice.

Frustration stirred. Whatever it was, I had three days to figure it out.

"Kendra!"

A tall figure emerged from the north woods. Sian joined me, her long, easy strides quickly covering the distance.

"What are you doing out here?"

She usually remained inside the palace working with delegates and the Advisory Council.

"I checked the residual damage left by the wave." She sighed and smoothed a few strands of hair off her forehead. "Rebuilding the school is our first priority as soon as this conference is over."

"Are the children all right?"

She nodded. "For the most part. You're known as the scary ondine."

"What?" I asked, outraged.

"You picked up two girls, threw them into a tree, ignored their tears, and screamed at them to climb harder."

"That's not what happened!"

Well, not exactly.

She laughed, the warm sound ringing through the air. I couldn't help smiling a little.

"Don't worry. They're all suitably impressed." She glanced at me. "I thought you'd be getting ready for the ball by now."

"I don't even know what I'm wearing yet."

"I take it you're not a fan of these events, either?"

We made our way up the slope toward the palace entrance. A soft wind blew, carrying the ocean's tangy scent.

"I'd do anything to get out of it."

"It's so boring, isn't it?" She rolled her eyes. "Usually, I shift and take a leisurely night swim until the event is over. That way no one can find me in the palace."

Smart.

"I might join you," I muttered. "But I think your mother knows you're planning to get out of it."

She wrinkled her nose. "If she asks at the ball, will you tell her I'm catching up on work and I'll meet her at her apartment later?"

"I don't know. Lying is so hard —"

She gave a mock sigh. "Do you want the cookies or the meatloaf?"

"Cookies."

"I'll bring it over tomorrow. Where are you coming from anyway? The lagoon?"

I shook my head. "Armicant."

Surprised briefly flitted across her face. "I didn't realize you'd met it."

"I needed to ask it a few questions."

Worry flickered. The Armicant really didn't look great today. The way it moved, body shuddering as though in pain.

"Is it possible for the Armicant to get sick?"

She abruptly stopped. "What are you talking about?"

"Just something I sensed. It said a few things and moved slower...." I hesitated, suddenly feeling rather alarmist at mentioning it. "It's probably nothing, but the magic around him was weaker. And the fauna outside its cave seemed different. I caught...hey!"

Sian half-walked, half-ran up the slope, her body tensed.

I ran to catch up. "What is it?"

"The Armicant is not supposed to get ill. I must inform the Advisory Council so we can bring him to the palace for observation."

Her taut, serious face made the situation's gravity apparent.

Without the Armicant, our only instrument for eliminating Aquidae would disappear.

My heart pounded faster. "Why isn't he supposed to get sick? Because he's the weapons maker?"

"Because he is bound to the best of us," she said sharply.

A familiar head of black hair stood in the entrance hall. Sian kept moving, her long stride quickly taking her to the east corridor.

I gave up trying to follow. Someone would let me know what happened.

This was more important right now.

I quietly joined him. The provocative, spicy scent of his cologne wrapped around me and I realized I'd missed him. A lot.

He studied the Matisse Renee examined the day we arrived.

"Something about it..." Julian murmured.

"Renee said the same thing."

He shook his head. "It'll come to me."

His coat meant he was heading outside the wards again.

"Going somewhere?"

He turned to me and smiled. "Want to come?"

Easiness settled between us. It'd been so long since things felt this normal and I wished I could say yes.

"Gotta go to the ball."

It was as if I'd thrown ice water at his face. Expression cooled. "Then you better get ready, sweet iris."

"Wait." I awkwardly shifted in front of him, wishing I knew how to do this better. "Where are you going?"

"I have to fix the mess your royal selkie made."

The easiness came to a screeching halt. "What are you talking about?"

"The strike yesterday. The one where you came up empty-handed."