Hours fly by, and the ocean has grown dark. Flecks of gold dance across the surface, casting weak beams of light that no longer quite reach the castle through the gloom and the rot. Night is already settling.
Ilryth is working his way through the food they brought not long ago. It was all for him, really. I still have no hunger and clearly no need to eat. But, despite that, he still offers me some. I politely refuse and my lack of interest elicits a brief, strange look from him that I can’t decipher.
“I can’t believe we’ve spent the entire day doing nothing but talking.” I grip the railing and lean back, pushing up my hips and suspending myself in the water in an odd balance of tension and relaxation. “I can’t think of the last time I spent so much time doing so little.”
“Little? Speak for yourself.” Ilryth snorts softly. “I’ve spent the entire day learning about the Natural World and its peoples. That is a day well spent under any circumstances. But the company has made it exceptional—learning about you has made it exceptional.”
I settle back on the railing with a smile. “You’re being polite.”
Ilryth shakes his head. “I’ve decided I enjoy your company, Victoria. Is that really so hard to believe?”
“I admit I wasn’t sure at first.”
“You are a complicated individual for me.”
“Complicated?”
“There have been times when you frustrated me and there have been times when…” He sighs quietly and I think he’s not going to continue. When he does, it’s so soft I can barely hear. “When you make my soul sing with notes I never thought possible.”
I smile faintly. “I’m going to do my best to keep all of the Eversea singing.” That wasn’t what he meant, and I know it. He knows it; I can almost feel as much. But neither of us say anything more. We are both trying, with all our might, not to cross the line that is right before us.
“I believe in you. If anyone could, it’s you. You’ve already overcome so much.”
I shrug. “I merely carry on, as anyone does.”
“And you make it look easy.” He flashes me a brilliant smile, as dazzling as the sunset.
“Today was an early morning; you should get some rest.” I don’t know why I say that so suddenly. I don’t want him to leave.
“I should, especially since I have plans for us tomorrow.”
“Another day of sitting with me on the balcony?” I can imagine worse fates.
“No, we are venturing out.” Ilryth smirks slightly.
“I thought I had to commune with the Abyss?”
“This is an excursion as important as that.”
“Where to?” I tilt my head. He’s piqued my interest.
“Where’s the fun in my telling you?”
I roll my eyes. Ilryth is getting too much enjoyment out of teasing me. “Fine, keep your secrets.”
He leaves the balcony, taking the remaining food and containers with him. I remain at the edge of the Abyss, alone. I’m immediately aware of his absence after having his company for almost the entire day. It’s a solemn reminder that I’m going to have to face this vast unknown without him.
There’s a shift in the currents. A rush of cool water sweeps up from the depths. It carries on it the whisper of death. I push away from the railing, kicking off it and pressing back against the castle wall right as Ilryth returns.
“What is it?” He looks at me, halfway up the wall, as flat and white as parchment.
“Krokan has returned.”
Ilryth swims up, looking down, squinting in the same direction I’m looking. There’s a flash of green in the abyss deep below. I rush over to him, grabbing his hand with both of mine, and pull him back over the balcony.
“What the—”
“You were swimming too far into the open water. You were almost out of the anamnesis’s protection.” I look up at him. My heart is hammering in my chest. “Krokan had turned his sights on you.”
