“There are three. One for you, one for Lord Vann, and one for Master Thorne.”
I look up at Flova who is wearing a look of supreme pride.
“May I touch them?”
Flova dips out of the way with his hands behind his backand the wrinkles on his face deepening. “Of course, My King. I think you’ll like what you find.”
The closer I get to the suit, the louder a dull note pierces my ears. I wince.
“That is… unpleasant.”
Liana nods. “Yes, but it is the best we can do. Perhaps with many more months to explore frequencies, we could find something more palatable. But we are on a strict timeline.”
When I reach down and pick up one of the crystal gloves melded into a sleeve, it flexes in my hands, as soft as the finest leather. My surprise must be obvious because Thorne comes over and picks up a piece of a different suit.
“Impossible,” he breathes.
Flova tuts.
“Not so, blood cousin. My benders have spent weeks perfecting this design. The magic is thanks to Mother Liana, and you will find that they are extremely durable against the pressures of the ocean.”
I nod. “It will not crack when we dive deep.”
“Precisely,” Liana says.
Thorne looks up at her. “How does it provide air for us?”
Her lips flatten, but she answers him far more graciously than I would have.
“You will put this on, and you will spend time where there is an abundance of air.” She gestures around her exaggeratedly. “It will create a bubble that will go with you into the water. Similar to the gills of a fish, it will filter the breathable elements from the sea. I don’t think you should spend more than a few days in the water, but it will have to be enough to explore the ruins.”
My mind wanders to Iravida. It was a massive city, far beyond the capacity of Enduvida.
“Are you sure? The capital was once one of the largest citiesknown to mankind. I can’t imagine that a few days will be enough?—”
“Not much is left. I have seen the ruins through my Fuegorra—Estela is coming by later to see what she can scry. I may know where the artifact is but it is clouded from my vision. I am preparing a map for you to look at.” She eyes Thorne once more as he squeezes the glass-like crystal.
It makes a high-pitched noise as it flexes.
“When can we test this?” Thorne asks.
Liana looks at Flova, who crosses his arms and surveys the three suits.
“I need to make a few minor adjustments, but I think that you could do it as early as tomorrow. In fact, I think we must insist. The sooner…”
“Eager to be rid of me?” Thorne asks, interpreting the silence.
“Yes,” Liana says without hesitation.
A part of me wants to deny that, to say that everything isn’t so bad, but the desire to laugh wins out.
Thorne doesn’t find it quite as humorous.
“Tomorrow it is then.” I turn to Flova, “And while we are here, there is another matter I’d like to discuss. I will need another set of metal armor for the queen, one that matches mine.”
It’s Thorne’s turn to chortle.
“Armor? How romantic.”
