I wish I was certain. That he killed her and kept it as his prize? That he had access to her body after death? I don’t want to put these grisly thoughts in Delphie’s head, not after I’ve already shown her what a villain I can be, so I keep it purposefully vague. “That he knows something of her that I don’t, I suppose.”
“Then why give the necklace to me? He could have just given it to you.”
“I would have killed him on the spot.” So much for keeping things vague. How have I spent my adulthood as the best assassin in the Five Planets with this kind of discretion? Meeting my Alara has unmade me.
Delphie shakes her head. “He could have sent it to you on a transport, right? He could’ve been a million miles away when you received it.”
Frix.She’s right. Lyro gave it to her because she’s part of the message. Heknows. Knows what she means to me. Knows she’s my queen. Even if I send her away, she’ll still be in danger because of me. “What were his exact words to you? Do you remember?”
She chews her lower lip briefly, a mesmerizing dent-and-release of her blunt teeth. “He showed me a map. Said he’d found the signal of the personal ship of Lena’s Frathik friend on R’Hiza—”
“A lie,” I cut in. “He has no way of finding a Frathik ship. Not with Five Planets technology.”
“Are you sure the priests of the Eye haven’t secretly made a deal with someone else for better tech?” Delphie shoots back. “There’s a lot we don’t know. Believe me, I’m aware your little brother is a liar. He’s shady as hell. But I can’t figure out why he’d involve me in this bullshit except that he genuinely wants me to find Lena. He said that the Head Priest might kill her if they find her first. That hehasto tell them where she is if he finds her.”
I scoff at that, interrupting again. “He doesn’t have to do anything for them now that our father is dead. His obligation was always to the Emperor, not the Eye. There’s no reason for him to live with the priests unless hewantsto be there. They have his loyalty.”
“He must have a reason for helping them,” she says thoughtfully. “I don’t think he wants to, though. He seemed pressed about me finding Lena before he did. Like something was at stake. Something more important than Lena’s life, since he’s willing to kill her if he gets there first. I know, we’re not special. But killing an innocent person isn’t easy, even for someone like Lyro.”
“I don’t share your faith in him. You’re sure he didn’t say anything else?”
She stares meditatively, worrying her lip as she runs through memory. “When he handed me the necklace, he said it might help in my search. I thought maybe it was made of something special or was some kind of lens, so I had it tested on Olethia. It’s just glass, though. You probably know that already.”
I nod, touching it. “Very ancient glass, a type we called starglass. It forms naturally in certain regions on Irra. But just glass, yes. It has no special properties other than its bright color.”
She narrows her eyes, thoughtful. “So it helps because it’s a message. A message for you, delivered by me.”
I should have known she’d work it out. “A threat, yes.”
“I don’t understand. What’s the threat?”
“The last female I saw wearing this necklace disappeared.”
“So...find Lena, or he’ll disappear me?” She frowns, her skepticism clear. “I don’t buy it. Why would that motivate you? You’ve said it yourself. I’m nothing special. Lena’s the sister of the Empress. If you’re not motivated by that, I wouldn’t be any extracheez.”
My translator supplies an image of some kind of horrifying coagulated animal milk. That can’t be right. “Why wouldcheezentice anyone?”
She grins. “Don’t knock it till you try it.Cheezis pretty enticing. That’s not the point, though. Let’s say you’re right. The necklace is a threat against me. Lyro is counting on you to be so protective of a random terrakin that you will do anything to find another random terrakin.”
A growl tangles in my throat. She’s not some random terrakin, but I can’t say that, so I just nod.
“Well, aren’t you doing that already? Doing everything you can?” I nod, and she looks triumphant. “Then his message that it might be helpful in rescuing Lena doesn’t make sense. The necklace wouldn’t help at all.”
I nod. The more I think about it, the more I realize she’s correct. Lyro is an expert manipulator. If he intended the pendant as a threat, he’d have made it much clearer what outcome he desired. He would have made it simple. Unavoidable.
“Plus, there was no guarantee you’d even see the ‘message.’ He couldn’t have known that you’d invite me to Usuri and rip my clothes off.” She laughs at her own joke, but I don’t.
That’s the only part of this that is certain. Lyro definitely knew I’d see this necklace. Knew I’d be looking at Delphie, wanting to see every inch of her.
“What’s the first thing you think when you look at it?” she asks me suddenly. “Don’t think too hard. Just the first word. First emotion.”
“Mother,” I say instantly. “Family.”
“Good.” She climbs into the furs next to me and touches the pendant. “Remember when you said to me ‘You saw what he wanted you to see so you would do what he wanted you to do’? What does seeing the necklace make you want to do? Again, don’t think too hard. Your first instinct.”
My throat tightens, and I have to clear it to answer. “See her again. Just one more time.”
Delphie’s face is so close to mine, eyes so bright. She clutches my shoulder. “Nik, this might be crazy, but I think that’s the message. You need to see her again. Somehow, your mom has the key to saving Lena.”
