“The Harbinger of the Underworld uses something like this,” Silas said quietly. “If that’s what it’s for, then no, it’s not great.”
“Harbinger.” I parroted another word I’d heard before, but never actually understood.
“The forerunner,” Silas said. “Usually in warning.”
“It’s not a good thing,” Ranger X said. “It’s usually pretty bad news.”
“The good news is that’s not surprising,” I said. “We’ve already seen a crimson lycanthrope, a kraken, and now a capsized boat. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out something nefarious is at play.”
Ranger X gave a short laugh. “Well, I suppose that’s true. Not a bad attitude, if you ask me. Better to be realistic.”
“Where did the fishermen go?” I asked, guilt gnawing at my stomach.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe my presence here had something to do with all this death and destruction—the curse, the lycanthrope, the Furies, the kraken, and now the missing fishermen. Even if it wasn’t directly my fault, I felt like if I had mastered my powers sooner, maybe I could have prevented some of this disaster.
“We don’t know,” X said. “No bodies have been recovered.”
“Could that be a good thing?” I asked. “Maybe they’re alive?”
“Maybe,” Ranger X agreed, but his tone told me he didn’t believe that at all. “We’ll find them if they’re out there.”
“The kraken, the lycanthrope, the fishermen…” I said slowly. “Do you think all these incidents are related to the harbinger?”
“I think that’s very likely,” X said. “Quite probable, in fact.”
I stood there for a moment longer, welcoming Silas’s touch as he sidled close to me, curling against me like he could sense I needed a boost of strength. He threw an arm around my shoulder, let me lean against him as we watched the Rangers work.
After some time, Silas murmured, “We should think about taking off. There’s nothing left for us to do here.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Hey, you!” A welcome voice chirped from behind, just as I was about to turn and head home with Silas. “You heard the news already?”
I found Lily strolling up the path, a picnic basket folded over one arm like she was out for a casual stroll, even though I knew better. I noted that the travel belt around her waist was fully stocked—overlystocked—with vials. She knew better too.
“I wasn’t too far away and saw the commotion,” I said, but Lily narrowed her eyes at me, unconvinced. I heaved a sigh. “Istarted my training with Seer Goddard this morning. I sensed there was an issue, so I came to investigate.”
“You started your training!” Lily gave a gleeful little smile. She hugged me as Silas slipped out of my grasp, heading over to speak in low tones with Ranger X. “I knew you would convince Seer Goddard. It didn’t even take all that long.”
“I’m relieved, even though it didn’t go well. He kind of launched a rock at me.”
“Hewhat?”
“I accidentally shot one at him too, so I guess we’re even?”
Lily winced. “Yikes. I just mostly had to read a lot of books for my training.”
“I’m doing that too. Gus’s books have been really great so far, even though I’m not understanding nearly as much as I want to yet.”
“You’ll get there. It takes time. You literally just got here. I’m not even sure I was convinced magic is real at the stage you’re at.”
“True, but with all the incidents happening…” I waved a limp arm at the abandoned boat. “It’s hard not to feel a sense of urgency.”
“The fact that several bad things have happened isnotyour fault. Also, it’s not your job to fix things all by yourself. There is a whole island of people here, a whole army of Rangers and others at work too.”
“But—”
“Yeah, yeah, you’re the mystical Fae Queen and all that jazz,” Lily said with a playful eye roll that had me grinning. “But we managed to keep the island going before you got here just fine. Mostly fine, minus a few close calls with total destruction. Anyway, just remember, you’re not alone. It’s all of our responsibility, not just yours.”
