“I didn’t—”
He raised a finger.
“For consorting with surface-born pirates,” he said, “inviting violence and corruption into protected waters.”
Another finger.
“For leading poachers directly to Thalassia—creatures who now stalk our reefs, butcher our kin, and harvest what they please.”
My chest constricted. “That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it?” Calder asked pleasantly. “You vanish. You return with a cursed pirate in tow. And suddenly our borders are breached.”
He turned to the chamber. “She fled her duties,” he proclaimed, “abandoned her sacred role, and returned bearing chaos.”
My gaze snapped to Meris. “You know this isn’t true.”
Calder followed my look—and smiled.
“The Sea Mother grieves,” he said solemnly. “But even she cannot deny the consequences of her… indulgence.”
I waited for her to stop him. For the sea to rise at her command. For her crown to mean something. Meris’s hand lifted—just slightly. The water around her tightened, the ocean itself leaned toward her word. I thought she would choose me. Then her fingers curled.
Her hand lowered. And the current loosened again, like a throat swallowing down a scream. She didn’t look at Calder. She looked atme—and let it happen. “This is not punishment,” she said quietly. “It is precaution.” I was only a storm to be contained. My blood turned to ice. Calder lifted his staff. Its crystal flared bright and cruel.
“By the will of the Tidekeepers,” Calder declared, “you are to be taken into custody—your magic bound, your movements restricted until the Council decides your fate.”
Bindings snapped around my wrists. Cold. Draining. I gasped as my magic recoiled, torn from me. The light under my skin stuttered. Calder leaned close, lowering his voice so only I could hear. “Do you know how long it took,” Calder said softly, “to teach you to sing away your own power?” The corner of his mouth lifted. “You should have stayed obedient,” he murmured. “You were so much more useful that way.”
Rage flooded me—hot, blinding.
As the sentinels seized my arms, I twisted toward Meris. Her eyes glistened—
—but she did not move.
Calder straightened, satisfied. “Take her.”
“Stop.” The word rang out—urgent and desperate. Maleia surged forward, voice breaking as she reached for Meris. “You can’t let them do this.”
A Tidekeeper moved to block her, but she twisted past him, eyes wild, fixed on Meris alone.
“She’s done nothing wrong,” Maleia cried. “You know that.”
The chamber murmured, uneasy.
“Please, Mother,” Maleia whispered, pride shattering. “You can stop this.”
For one heartbeat—just one—I saw it. Conflict in Meris’s face. Grief. Guilt.
Calder scoffed softly, placing his hand over his heart. “How touching.”
Meris closed her eyes. When she opened them, they were calm. Distant. “This is not your place, Maleia,” she said gently. “Stand down.”
Maleia’s face crumpled. “You’re choosing them,” she said, disbelief choking her voice. “You’re choosing the Council over your own daughter.”
A Sentinel seized Maleia’s arm and hauled her back as she fought. “Nerina!” she cried. “I’m sorry—”
Her voice dissolved into sobs as she was dragged away. The bindings snapped tighter around my wrists.
