“Then what do you want?” I asked, trying to make it sound aloof. Instead, it came out as a whimper.
“I want you to come here, Nadar.” He patted the bench beside him.
I got up into a crouch and shuffled across the carriage to his bench. Jucai put his arm around me as I settled, and I looked over to find his expression gone tender.
“I haven't thanked you for proving my innocence. Thank you, Nadar. You have done my kingdom and me an incredible service.” He set something in my hand and kissed my cheek. “You will always be welcome in Ilshi.”
“Thank you.” I opened my hand and looked down. It was a little gold nautilus shell strung on a chain. “It's lovely.”
“Here, allow me.” Jucai fastened the chain around my neck. “This is a summoning shell.” He took my hand. “Should you ever need me, crush this shell, and I will come to your aid.”
I touched the shell and met his gaze. “Jucai, this is . . . thank you.”
“It will give me a chance to repay you.”
“You don't have to repay me.”
“I want to.”
The carriage pulled to the side of the road and stopped.
I glanced out the window and then back at Jucai. “I hope I never have to use this.”
“I don't.”
Chuckling, I got out of the carriage. The Sea King climbed out after me, and his guards got out of the carriages behind ours. They joined us, two going ahead of us into the Hall of Talons. The others watched the street until we were inside. Their caution was warranted. We still didn't know why someone had targeted Ilshi.
But I was about to find out.
Chapter Nineteen
Claw Mahdred joined us to speak with the survivors. Throughout the carriage ride, Jucai glared at Diaya, Diaya ignored him, and I tried to breathe through the testosterone soaking the air. I had sat next to Jucai to alleviate some of the tension, but it did little good. The Sea King spent the ride with his hand gripping my thigh and his stare locked on the Claw.
Diaya exclaimed, “Ah, here we are!”
The carriage stopped before a tall building in a residential neighborhood near the wharf. People eyed us as we exited the carriage, their stares going round when they spotted the Sea King (wearing his crown) and his entourage. Yeah, that whole waiting in the carriage thing wasn't happening. Not with Diaya present.
A glance up gave me a view of multiple balconies with railings used as clotheslines, and faces jerking out of sight. We went inside, and the heat of Erimbar abated. The Sea Dragons sighed. Even Jucai's annoyance eased, and his grip on my hand softened. A stairway waited at the end of the hallway. Sounds of people going about their days filtered out to us through closed doors.
Diaya led us upstairs, glancing back to grin at me. “I guess they're not acclimated yet.”
“It's warm in Kansu, but not like this,” I said.
“I keep my city at a moderate temperature, and the air is moist.” Jucai met Diaya's gaze as if in challenge.
Diaya shuddered and turned around to continue up the stairs. “I hate that word.”
Chuckling, I asked, “Which word? Moderate?”
Diaya laughed. “You know which word.”
“I don't know which word,” Jucai said in a tone of demand.
“Moist,” I whispered to him.
Daiya shuddered again. “Eww.”
“What's wrong with moist?” Jucai asked.
