“Surely,Silverwill be safe at the conservatory.”
She shrugged. It felt safe, but was it? They had no real idea what was happening inside the building, if peace was actually restored, if the provisional government had any clue what they were doing. The librarian hadn’t filled her with a whole lot of confidence in the competence of the new administration. Likely, they were overwhelmed and would be uninterested in the theft of a sailboat from a random supply runner.
Ree wrapped his branches around the mast. “I’ll stay and guardSilver.”
That was adorable, but—
The sea serpent flipped his tail out of the water, spraying the dock and the tunnel walls. A clear message:Stop being ridiculous and go.
He was right. She was making excuses. It was just… that stairwell looked like the kind of deep, dark cave you shouldn’t venture into.
His hand still extended, Dax said, “Perri and Ree will protect the boat.”
Marin raised her eyebrows. “You’ve gotten better at understanding him.”
“I’ve always been a quick learner. Are you coming?”
She saw the hope in his eyes. She couldn’t crush that, especially when she couldn’t even articulate why she felt so much foreboding. Coming here was a very sensible next step. The grandmasters could help. It didn’t necessarily mean goodbye just yet.
Without another word, Marin took Dax’s hand. His face lit up into a smile, and he tugged her toward the stairs with all the enthusiasm of a kid about to show off his collection of favorite toys, and then took the steps two at a time. A laugh burst out of her. It was sweet how excited he was to show her.Or how excited he is to be home.Her laugh faded as she realized that was the more probable truth. He’d been away from home for the first time. Of course he was happy to be back. He’d missed it.
This is where he belongs.
She’d known it, but now seeing it… Of course it was true. This was his home, and he wanted to be here. Her heart twisted at the thought.Thiswas what the ache under her breastbone was trying to tell her.
He pulled her down a hallway with marble floors, stained glass windows, and walls covered in silver-and-gold mosaics. Everything gleamed, but she barely had a chance to look.
“The fountain is my favorite spot in the conservatory,” Dax said.“It was carved by… oh I don’t remember her name, a famous sculptor from a couple centuries ago. Gifted by the emperor on the summer solstice and enchanted by a trio of sorcerers. If you toss in a scroll of music, it will play it, regardless of what it is.”
“That must make for a lot of soggy paper,” Marin said.
“Well, yes, there’s a man whose job it is to dredge the dissolved paper out of the fountain every other day. During exam times, students use the fountain to help them study, and it gets clogged with paper. I don’t think the sorcerers thought it through entirely, but the music!” He led her through a doorway and then halted. “Oh. That’s… Oh no.”
Vast and opulent, the atrium looked like what Marin imagined a palace throne room would be like: vaulted stained glass ceilings, ornate golden pillars, pristine marble floor. In the center was a larger-than-life sculpture shaped into musicians: men and women playing a variety of instruments. Their faces were streaked with rust-colored stains, as well as blue and green.Water stains,she realized. This was Dax’s favorite fountain—or it had been.
“It’s beautiful,” she offered.
“It’s dry,” he said, distressed. “It’s never been dry.”
A voice called from across the atrium, echoing in the vastness. “Daxicend? Is that you?” An older man appeared in an archway—he wore a long blue robe and had a braided beard and a bald head that was tattooed with a circlet of musical notes. “Oh thank the sea! We didn’t know what happened to you!” His footsteps rang out on the marble as he hurried toward them.
Dax bowed slightly. “Grandmaster Harvo. The conservatory—is everyone all right?”
Panting, the grandmaster reached them. “Where have you been?” he scolded. “Searches went out for you. We’ve been monitoring the lists of the dead. You’re on the list of the missing!” He looked as if he wanted to shake Dax, but he didn’t touch him. Instead, he flapped his hands as impotently as a flightless bird.
“I didn’t mean to worry anyone,” Dax said. “Shiare must have told—”
“Yes, yes, she said you went off with some sailor.” His eyes fixed on Marin. He raised both his eyebrows expectantly and disapprovingly.
Marin tried not to scowl.Some sailor.Not the sailor who’d rescued all of them and transported them for free. She’d been reduced to just “some sailor.” How fun.
Dax laid his hand on Marin’s arm. “Grandmaster Harvo, may I introduce Captain Mariner of Flicker. She saved my life, as well as the lives of my colleagues, transporting us to safety during the chaos of the revolution.”
“All the others returned,” Grandmaster Harvo fussed. “You did not.” Belatedly, he added to Marin, “I thank you for your service. I will see you are granted a season pass to any and all concerts you desire.” He then looped his arm around Dax’s and began to lead him across the atrium. “You must be checked by our healers, and we must inform Grandmaster Vorac. He has been most concerned with your absence, especially with the winter solstice concert only days away! Your opus must be performed, and he has no idea of your progress.”
Unsure of what she was supposed to do, Marin followed. She wished she’d stayed onSilverwith Ree and Perri. She’d never felt so much like she didn’t belong. She wanted to grab Dax and flee as far as she could. The magnificent Music Conservatory of Alyssium felt so… opulent yet empty…
This place is like a venomous jellyfish, luring you in. Or warding you off.
