“Some of us have wondered if the humans would respond,” said Galene. “They’ve been less friendly to us over the last few years.”
“Meela knew the Americans would get involved as soon as Adaro broke the Aleutian treaty,” I said. “It was a matter of time.”
Galene wrinkled her brow, examining me. “Think there’s a chance they’ll be able to get rid of the serpent?”
I considered how humans had wiped out cities in wars among themselves. But the serpent had apparently just stopped something designed to destroy all of Utopia.
“I think they’ll obliterate half the Pacific before they put a bruise on that serpent.”
Galene kept studying my face like I was a foreign object.
I said, “I’m only relaying what Meela’s told me about humans and the serpent. Adaro’s unwise to—”
“I know. I believe you.”
My gaze drifted over to Meela, still chatting with Nilus, the children hovering at their tails. I fleetingly marvelled that such well-behaved children could possibly be related to Meela.
“This’ll get the king more supporters,” said Galene, drawing my attention back.
I nodded. Adaro would seem the hero for stopping the explosives.
“The humans will look like the bigger evil,” I said.
“Maybe. But I like to think most Northerners are aware of what Adaro’s doing. The labour camp and all.”
“What was the Pacific like before he took Queen Evagore?”
Galene’s lips turned up in a half-smile. Something in her aura softened at the mention of her queen.
Before she could answer, Ephyra appeared beside us.
“May I borrow Lysithea for a moment?”
Galene nodded and backed away. “Later, sugarkelp.”
Ephyra motioned for me to follow. “I want to show you something.”
The canyon was deserted except for a few children left playing. We passed empty caves and mounds of coral.
The scar at my waist burned, the pain intensifying as we crossed into the shadow below the wreck. I dug my nails into my palms, forcing my attention elsewhere.
“I’m glad you made it here,” I said to Ephyra.
I couldn’t help remembering the last time I’d seen her, when she tried to capture me on Adaro’s orders, and I tried to bite her face.
She offered a slight smile. “Same to you.”
We turned into the same cavern as earlier, where the map was chiselled into the stone.
“We have been tracing King Adaro’s whereabouts,” said Ephyra.
“I’ve seen this. Dione showed me and Meela.”
“Did she tell you the significance of the gemstones?”
“Attack sites?”
Ephyra placed a forefinger on the ruby at Eriana Kwai.
