But Ilryth interrupts him. “I doubt we will meet for long. Most of the details were discussed before I even collected the offering.”
“This offering you have brought us is truly fascinating…a human, with such zeal!” Sevin appraises me. The feeling that I am more of a thing than a person to these people returns. It is a sensation I haven’t felt since I first arrived and it is deeply uncomfortable yet, oddly familiar…I’ve known this feeling before,I think?“Perhaps there is something to be said for your unorthodox methods, Ilryth, after all.”
“I told you all, I was compelled in the water that night by an urge that hearkened to the old ones. Victoria will be the last offering ever to Lord Krokan. We will soon know peace in the Eversea once more. Now, regarding the remaining anointments…”
I’m not really a part of the conversation any longer, merely an observer. None of them address me, even though it’s clear they’re speaking about me. Ilryth’s eyes are the only ones that dart over to me, from time to time, offering a reassuring and somewhat worried look. I keep my face passive. The last thing I want is to be dismissed for acting out of turn and miss an opportunity to gather more information on what awaits me.
Ventris details the remaining anointments in quickly glossed-over terms. The rest of them nod and hum along, agreeing with seemingly everything the Duke of Faith has to say. Then they discuss the court—the lower nobility gathering for a great presentation, a final anointment, and then the final send-off. A grand affair that—so far as I can tell—is going to make up my last day on this plane of existence.
After somewhere between thirty minutes and an hour, they conclude their meeting with one final song. It is in perfect harmony. Ventris collects the shell at the center. It flashes brightly for a second as he picks it up.
“As always, lady and gentlemen, a pleasure.” Sevin straightens off his clam shell and starts for the exit, wasting no time.
“I’ll see you all in soon enough for the final court, blessing, and send-off.” Crowl smiles, gives each of them a nod—myself included—and leaves.
As Ilryth and Remni straighten, the elder swims over and clasps Ilryth’s shoulder.
“You did well with this one.” She motions to me. Yet again, I’m spoken about as if I’m not actually here. But I bite my tongue. “I know you have risked much for her. But sometimes the greatest risks are the greatest rewards.”
“That is my hope as well,” Ilryth says solemnly. His tone stills me. The anger and frustration I felt at how they’ve been talking to me abates some.
I’ve never seen Ilryth with such an earnest, delicate hope in his eyes. It’s something that he has kept hidden the entire, albeit brief, time I’ve known him. For a moment, he looks like the boy I saw in the vision—fragile and frightened.
“There is no way a human will be Krokan’s peace,” Ventris seethes quietly. “Especially not one found and cultivated outside the rules of the Duchy of Faith.”
“Ventris—” Remni tries to caution.
But the Duke of Faith leaves with little more than a glare over his shoulder. Those angry eyes are still aflame on his face as he swims past me. In his mind, I clearly share some blame for whatever wrong, or wound, he carries.
“I expect you to be in your anointing chambers shortly,” Ventris says curtly, right before he vanishes into the tunnel that connects this room to the greater castle. I can’t tell if it’s only to me or not.
“An honor to meet you, Your Holiness,” Remni says before departing as well.
Ilryth and I are alone.
“Well, what did you think of your first siren chorus?” he asks. His body language is casual, but his tone betrays a bit of nervousness.
“It was enlightening,” I say. “Was Remni elected as the leader?”
He nods. “No, the head of the chorus is the eldest among us. Before Remni, it was my mother.”
Mention of his mother reminds me…
“There’s something else I want to know but I feel it might be a bit personal,” I say delicately.
“There is nothing I won’t share with you, Victoria.” The sentiment stills me, warms me. It’s not a fiery passion trying to rile me to the point of agony if I don’t find release. Instead, this is a calmer heat. One that envelops me like sunshine on a cloudless day.
I work to keep focused. “It’s about Ventris.”
“Ah, I think I know what it is you want to ask.” Ilryth folds his hands behind his back.
I glance over my shoulder. The warriors are speaking with Remni, all looking in the other direction. I dare to reach out, touching his firm bicep. “Should we speak like this?”
He shakes his head, and I withdraw my hand before any can see and get us in trouble all over again. “It’s safe in the meeting hall; just focusing on each other will be enough. Even though this is in Ventris’s domain, parts of the castle belong to all the duchies. For him to have ways to listen in, or track, what happens in this room would be a grave error on his part, resulting in deep offense.”
“Would the offering’s quarters be a deep offense as well?”
Ilryth sees right through to the heart of my worries. “I believe so.”
