“What do you mean?”
“Your Binder is my best friend. She’s on my ship with one other of your Valtrue members.”
His mouth falls open as he sinks to the stone. “Where are the other two?”
I shake my head. “We don’t know yet. We haven’t really had time to look or even discuss this.”
“What are their names? My Binder and my Valtrue member?”
“Yemi and Sevryn.”
He repeats their names like he’s been waiting his whole life to speak them. A pit of worry forms in my stomach. I’ve only known him for five seconds, but he seems like a sweet soul and what he’s about to enter is putting him smack-dab in the middle of what he ran from.
His face grows serious once he meets my gaze again. “Will you do me a favor, Thayla Godrun?”
“Sure.”
“When you return to your ship, tell them I’m going to find our two missing members, then the three of us will join them.”
Oh my…
“Yeah, I can do that for you.”
He bows his head and places his hand to his heart. “I’m forever in your debt.”
“No, no, you’re not. We’re not the kind of people to give a favor, then expect something in return. You’re going to have to learn that once you join our odd little group we’ve got formed up there.”
His smile returns, and it’s the biggest I’ve seen so far.
“A group of gods who don’t demand repayment. Who would’ve thought I’d see the day?” His eyes cast behind me and at the same moment the water ripples. “Time to go. I’m happy to say this isn’t goodbye.”
“I’m sorry, you expect me to get back in there?”
“Oh no. I didn’t really think that through, did I? I’m so sorry. We’re in an underground cavern that the Valmareri have warded, Thayla. The only way back up is through the water or if they allow you to starshoot out. Seeing as you couldn’t starshoot the items…”
“Can my companion starshoot in and get me?”
His worried eyes flash behind me once again and I swear tears fill mine. The last thing I want to do is get into that water.
“I am sorry, Thayla Godrun. Your Vedarya will not be able to pass through our ward. We as a familia group placed these barriers long ago in a time when creatures did not see eye to eye and our numbers began to dwindle. It has the power of a hundred Valmareri behind it. It is not that we do not trust your connection, but to bring the ward down for him leaves us at risk of others in the sea getting to us. Especially now that our numbers are not what they once were.”
Fuck me.
I completely understand her reasoning for wanting to protect her family, but gods, I’m so cold.
“I-I understand.” I tremble and sniffle as true fear grips me.
“I’m sorry. I really didn’t think about this or how being pulled into the Lost Sea was going to affect you.”
“It’s okay.”
“Come, young Thayla. Your starwoven is waiting for you.”
“My what?”
Her freezing tentacle wraps around my waist, and I sob as she lifts me off the stone.
“I’ll see you soon,” Doren calls in a mournful tone that I can’t quite care about at the moment.
