He eyeballs Malachi as he slides the sword into his belt. “And you have two jobs.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Malachi says. “Keep her safe.”
“And?” I wonder.
“Keep myself safe,” Malachi adds.
Gwyneth purses her lips as Genie creates a portal leading straight to the ocean. Here goes nothing. “Get three vials,” she instructs as I step through the odd, shimmering oval.
“Why three?”
“Diaster planning.”
Fair enough. I don’t want to have to go back because I accidentally swallowed some Idol essence.
Malachi grabs my hand, and I lead the way. “I’ll reopen the portal in this spot in two turns,” Genie says.
I nod, and a tempo later, we are beneath the ocean once more. Well, once more for me, first time for Malachi. He puffs out his cheeks and blinks at me.
“You can just speak and breathe as normal,” I tell him. “I find it best not to think about being beneath the ocean. This is just another diurnal where we beg an Idol for his blood.”
Malachi’s eye twitches. He better not pass out on me. I don’t have time to drag a knight around.
A tempo passes, and he finally gives in and risks breathing. Once, twice, and then he smiles. There we go.
I roll my eyes. “Told you. Just act normal.”
“Daphne,” a female voice cries out. “You have returned.”
I spin, noting that we’re on the outskirts of Poseidon’s palace. Linda, my funny and delightful seahorse, swims toward me.
“I am, for a short time.”
She glances at the sword at Malachi’s side. “You deemed him worthy, and yet you live?”
Malachi tenses. Sore topic.
“Long story. I died, then I came back.”
“I always knew you were different.”
Not sure if that’s a compliment, but I choose to take it as such.
“You know a seahorse?” Malachi mutters.
“Not a stretch given where we are,” I point out.
An army of tiny seahorses swarm toward us, with another adult at the back.
“Are these the kids?” I ask as a few of them bump into my skirts and bounce off while giggling.
“Yes, and that is Steve. Don’t mention our time together. He gets jealous that I have a life beyond him and the kids.”
Steve makes it to us, looking exhausted and like he needs a good annus of rest floating on a warm current or whatever they do down here for relaxation. “Hey, dude. I heard all about you and what a great parent you are.”
His lips ripple as he glares at Linda. “You talked about me to your buddies? Shared our personal information?”
“Just that you’re a good dad,” I say, trying to help.
