“I don’t have my father’s beard so you must hold on tightly.” Mekos casually left the house, but when he was out of sight, he bent forward and moved very quickly. His steps were light and utterly silent. Ian held on to Mekos’s shirt but twice he was thrown off and had to fly back. A couple of times pain shot through him, but he kept going. Mekos would stop to sniff the air, then he’d turn sharply. At last, he halted and sat down under a tree.
Ian flew upward to a low-hanging branch. “I’ve not been near a Lely before.” He was trying to catch his breath. “Does Aradella know you can move like that?”
“She’s seen hints of it.” Mekos sat very still. “Stay where you are. Don’t come down.” In the next moment, three little fox kitscame tumbling through the forest. They stopped beside Mekos and looked up at him. “Did Mamá send you to check on me?” he asked as the cute little creatures climbed onto his lap. “They aren’t answering,” he said over his shoulder to Ian. “This is just like her. She sent kits that are too young to tell me what she’s up to.” He stroked their fur as they curled up and went to sleep. “But it’s good to know that she’s nearby.” He turned his head to look at Ian. “You said there’s only one way to kill Valona. What is it?”
Ian looked surprised that he’d been heard, but then he hesitated, seemingly trying to figure out what to say. It was dangerous to reveal what he knew.
“There’s no use trying to make me believe you’re a Never who doesn’t listen at doors,” Mekos said. “I grew up with my father and Arit. I often saw her skulking around him with her light off. What do you know about Valona?”
“She can only be killed with a special knife. She keeps it where she sleeps.”
“Then I must go get it.”
“How can you? That room is under an enchantment. The only person allowed in there besides Valona is her maid.”
“Then I shall be her maid.”
“You think that mask will protect you?” Ian asked. “You didn’t listen to the princess. She’s right that Valona is very powerful. She’s over a hundred years old and she’s taken the life of a pretty girl every year since she was twenty. I’ve heard her laugh about how many people have tried to get that knife. She’s killed them all.” He took a breath. “There’s a woman named Reena who might be able to help you. She can—”
“I know Reena and there’s no time to contact her,” Mekos said calmly, being careful not to disturb the kits. “I know that Valona spends hours riding her horse so I’ll go when she’s away.” He looked at Ian. “I would imagine that such a knife is under lock and key.”
“Yes.” Ian knew what he was asking. “If I go with you, will you help me free my sister?”
“Of course. I’ll do that even if you don’t go with me. If I live, that is.”
Ian gave a small smile. “No pressure on me, then, is there?”
“On neither of us.” Mekos glanced at the missing half of Ian’s leg. “How are you doing?”
“All right. The spider’s web stopped the bleeding, and Arit gave me something to eat that makes me almost not feel the pain. I think that if I were still, I might feel rather awful. What about you?”
“A big part of me wants to go to my father and ask him to take over all of this. I can see myself crying to him. He would tell me to stay with the women, then he would go fix it.”
“He’d have to fight against magic so he’d probably end up dead,” Ian said. “Then the essence of Aradella would be put in a silver pot, the Selkan men will not be allowed to come to Pithan, and next year another girl would be murdered. But Valona and Queen Olina would be very happy.”
“That’s my biggest fear,” Mekos said, “that evil will win. Come, we must go and watch.”
4
Mekos was on his stomach in the tall grass, so flattened and still that he could hardly be seen. He watched Valona mount her horse and ride away.
Ian flew to land near him, but Mekos didn’t move. “How are they?”
“Arit gave the princess a drink that calmed her. They’re planning dresses for both of them.”
“Good,” Mekos said. “I don’t want Aradella worrying. She—” He became alert. “There she goes!” The maid was leaving for her daily trip to the market. “Are you ready?”
“I’ve said my prayers and written a note of apology to my sister. Yes, I’m ready.”
Mekos gave a half smile. “Kaley told me that in her stories, Nevers are always happy.”
“My sister is a prisoner, I work for two evil women, and a lizard found my leg so delicious that he’s stalking me so he can get more. My apologizes for not being full of joy.”
“Kaley would love to hear your story.” Mekos rolled to his back and slipped on the mask. He closed his eyes and concentrated on looking like the maid. When he opened them, he looked at Ian. “Did I do it?”
“You are extraordinarily ugly.”
Mekos lifted his hand to feel the wrinkled skin. “Indeed, I am.” He got up and in spite of how he looked, he fluidly moved toward the big house. That Valona had no human guards stationed about showed her true power. No one dared threaten her. But he was sure that if he tried to enter as himself, it would be the last thing he ever did.
