“But Mee—”
She addressed Nestor. “I have the information he wants. Take me to Adaro and I’ll let you live.”
“Done,” said Nestor.
I grabbed Meela’s arm. “Mee, think. Even if he doesn’t kill you right away, you’re still in danger.”
“Not if I time it right. I’ll make sure I get to him as the tide is pulling.”
Spio looked between us, evidently unsure what the best option was.
“Lysi, this is how I can get close enough to kill him,” said Meela. “It’s worth it.”
I tried to understand her desperation. This was her chance to end the life that had caused her so much suffering. I thought of her people, and Nilus, and the stress of the Massacre. It was a tempting plan. But that didn’t mean it was smart, or safe.
“Take us both, then,” I said to Nestor.
“Am I chopped sardines over here?” said Spio. “Make it three.”
Nestor made a gagging sound. Meela relaxed her hold, not looking at all sorry that she kept managing to choke him.
“When you’ve finished deciding how noble you all are,” said Nestor, “I’d like to breach.”
Meela glared at me, and then at Spio. “Fine. All of us.”
Spio nodded once, jaw set.
“All right,” I said, turning to Nestor. “Take us to Adaro.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - Meela
Back in the Bering
While I tied Nestor around the neck and wrists, Lysi and Spio wrapped our unconscious victims snugly in the fishing net and left them to drift.
My insides fluttered at our good luck. Finally, we had an inside source to take us to Adaro. Yes, there were risks if we got close to the king. At the same time, he had not ordered Lysi dead. He’d wanted her alive so he could question her, which meant what I knew about Kori Maru and the serpent would be my protection. Not that I would tell him about either.
“If you try anything, you’ll get your ass kicked by all three of us,” I said, pressing the blade against Nestor’s throat for emphasis.
He gave a pathetic squeak.
I returned the black longblade to Lysi, and we each took an end of rope.
“Lead the way, Nestor,” said Lysi.
With a sour glance at this reversal of fortune, he led us south.
Now, to figure out the timing. We had to get to Adaro before it was too late—but we couldn’t be early, because every moment we were near him while he was a merman, we would be in danger. We had to get this right.
“Thanks for saving me,” said Lysi.
“Yeah,” I said distractedly. “Hey, what day is it?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know? Can’t you track the tides and moon?”
“It’s harder up north.”
