“We left for but a moment, and it was an absolutely necessary venture,” Ilryth says tersely.
The man seems to ignore the statement. “If you don’t care about the rest of us, that’s all well and good, but think of your poor sisters. I don’t think they could handle another disappointment due to their older brother.”
Ilryth lurches forward. I’m so startled by the sudden movement that he rips himself from my grasp. I’m left hovering in the sea as he grips the man by his necklaces, twisting his fists in them as if he intends to choke him.
“Keep my sisters out of your thoughts, Ventris,” he growls.
“Assaulting the Duke of Faith? Three crimes wasn’t enough? You want to add another?” Ventris remains calm, even though the chains are beginning to dig into his neck.
There’s movement in the water in the distance. Like sea turtles emerging from the sand, seven other sirens pop up, shaking off the seabed. They wear serious and intense expressions.
“Ilryth—” I try to caution.
“I suspected you might be prone to rashness, so I brought support,” Ventris continues, ignoring me entirely. “Guards, take him into custody.”
“You would use the men my mother and I trained against me?” Ilryth balks, finally seeing the warriors coming our way.
“You might have trained them but they are not ‘yours.’ They serve the will of the old gods and the Lifetree above all else. A model I suggest you follow sooner rather than later.”
Ilryth releases Ventris as the warriors approach. The men and women circle Ilryth, whose arms are now limp at his sides. He doesn’t put up a fight. His chin dips toward his chest, but I can see his shoulders quivering with the barely contained anger still pulsing through his muscles.
“Wait, no, this isn’t—”I need to do something!“—He went because of me. Iforcedhim to. This isn’t his fault.”
“Your Holiness.” Ventris approaches me, leaving Ilryth to his men. But Ilryth is all I can focus on. They’re not manhandling him in any way. But seeing so many around him, armed with spears and intense stares, has my throat tightening with anxiety. “Do not fret for him. He is still a Duke of the Eversea; he will be treated with the respect that is deserving of his station…when he rejoins the chorus in song, assuring us that he still has a firm grasp of the laws of our people.”
Laws I still hardly understand. So I know I’m playing with fire when I say, “If you and the chorus want to speak with someone, speak with me.”
“That will also happen.” He grabs my wrist.
“Unhand me!”
Ilryth spins in place, a flash of deadly rage in his eyes. “Let her go, Ventris.”
“Suddenly you care about who touches the offering?” He tilts his head at Ilryth and smiles a thin, serpentine smile. “I am merely bringing her to the castle. It is well past time the Duchy of Faith took over her anointing—look at how much blank skin she still has.” Ventris rakes his eyes over me, sending a chill down my spine. “Don’t worry a moment more for yourlittle experiment, Ilryth. I will personally take over her preparation from here.”
“I said,let her go,” Ilryth growls.
“I can speak for myself,” I remind all of them sharply and rip my wrist from Ventris’s grasp. That brings his attention back to me. I level my eyes with his, looking down my nose, squinting slightly with all the disapproval I can muster. “I am the sacrifice, already anointed, in part, for Lord Krokan. Youwillrespect my severing connection to this world and will not manhandle me. I understand how the traveler’s pools work now, and will go willingly.”
It is odd to throw authority around, especially when that authority comes from the fact that I’m about to be sacrificed. But, in this moment, I don’t care.No…not just now. I am Lord Krokan’s sacrifice. I am the one who will end this terrible cycle the Eversea is trapped within. It is not wrong of me to command the respect of my station.
The waters are still. Silent. All the warriors are focused solely on the two of us. In my periphery I can see even Ilryth’s lips part slightly in shock. I wonder if anyone has ever spoken to Ventris like this before. He clearly has a high opinion of himself, so I doubt it. But that makes me want to push the limits even more.
“Very well, Your Holiness.” He brings the offending hand to his chest and bows slightly. “Then if you will, please follow me.”
I look back to Ilryth, who gives me a slight nod. Ventris notices me deferring to the other duke and it draws a line between his brows as he obviously fights a scowl.
“I will indulge you.” I muster all the airs I ever saw the lords and ladies put on at the Applegate parties as I speak to Ventris once more. “Lead on, Your Grace.”
Ventris leans forward slightly to encroach on my space, Ilryth’s expression grows more shadowed and intense as he draws near. The next words he says are just for me to hear.
“You are new to our world so you are ignorant, and you are marked for the old gods, highest of holies, deserving of reverence…but I will not tolerate disrespect, especially from a human. Youwillshow me appropriate decorum.”
I narrow my eyes slightly. “We’ll see about that, Ventris.” I intentionally avoid his proper titles, and it has the desired effect and then some.
He spins in place and swims down. I follow behind, glad Ilryth never delayed on my behalf when we moved about. My swimming has become stronger and more confident. I don’t look like I’m scrambling to keep up with the siren any longer. Weeks in the Eversea have completely transformed my movements in the water.
Ilryth and the warriors are behind me. I glance over my shoulder, meeting the duke’s brown eyes once more. They’re filled with worry and…sorrow?
