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“The point I was trying to make is I feel like Larsson had a power reminiscent of a Veri Ikuinen. But unlike Larsson, I think Veri folk can take any sort of power,” Sander went on. “Mesmer, sea voices, glamour, earth fury. Likely, even Skadi’s affinity.”
My stomach knotted. “Skadi, you should know we spoke of elven.”
“Watch yourself, Queen,” Tait told her. “They seemed rather thrilled to hear that elven clans exist.”
“Because elven are powerful,” Sander offered. “Skadi’s blood would likely bring a fruitful crop.”
“That is absolutely not what I want to hear,” Jonas snapped, his eyes spilling over with the inky shadows of his mesmer when he faced his wife. “Fire, you—”
“Don’t even think of telling me to do something like hide, Husband.” Skadi sat straighter. “I will take them to the Nothing before they ever touch me. We will need to protect Natthaven.”
Natthaven was a fading isle, the home of shadow elven who’d joined with the alver kingdom after Skadi and Jonas took vows. For the first time in centuries, elven folk had not drifted throughout the Far Seas. They would be at risk should Djur ever find their isle.
Jonas frowned but didn’t argue, merely tightened his grip on his wife’s hand.
Skadi’s dark mists could devour the whole of Eilifur, but if Sander’s theories that stronger power brought stronger life were right, then she would appeal to the mortals more than others.
“If they hunt fae, why have they never attacked the Ever before?” Erik asked.
“Oh, I think I have a reason for that.” Sander ruffled through some of the parchment until he found a small leather-bound book no larger than my palm. The prince opened a marked page. “It is actually good news. This was tricky to translate, but from what I gathered, when a Veri Ikuinen seeks blood, they cannot simply attack an unsuspecting victim. Another magic user must be willing to step into a Veri Ikuinen’s presence.”
I glanced at Tait. “The crewmen said they were welcomed to Eilifur and accepted their hospitality. As did we.”
Tait kissed my knuckles, a touch of somberness in his eyes. The kindness, the ruse of helping stranded sailors, all of it was Djur’s way of luring in the willing.
“But the mortals are not Veri folk,” said the Ever King. “They can kill without restrictions.”
“I actually don’t think they can,” Sander said. “If those on Eilifur have been consuming the spoils crafted through Veri blood, there are consequences. To kill would cause the mortals to take on attributes of Veri limitations. It’s as though the natural order of things recognized such a power could create a hunter that made all other magics prey. There had to be a fierce limitation to such a gift.”
My fingers tangled in my lap. “You don’t think they can follow us here, then?”
Sander rubbed the back of his neck. “If I’ve read this all correctly, yes. I’m confident your wicked mortal friends cannot simply cross borders into realms or snatch up Sea Folk, unless they are summoned or invited.”
“The Summons.” Tait closed his eyes.
I pressed a palm to my chest. “The words, the more I think of it, they are exactly what happened to the ship.” I recited each line in my mind.
One night in rain, three fishers began
A journey through tides, gentle and slow,
But at the sea’s end, black mists did descend
And swallowed these fishers below.
Fight they did through dark and din
Till appeared the riches foretold.
“What fortune,” they think, but upon the brink,
A blade kissed each on their throat.
“Dark tides.” Sewell nodded. “Songs with iron locks keep quiet for a grand purpose, reckless eel.”
Nightseer dropped his chin. “Aye, Sewell. You be right. Foolish of us to speak a forbidden song. Boneseer, he be tryin’ to impress our royal lovey with somethin’ haunted, is all.”
Bloodsinger dragged one palm down his face in frustration. “The shanty is officially forbidden. I’ll cut out your tongues if it slips over them again. Godsdammit. Thought the crew of the Ever Ship had more substance between your damn skulls, you fools.”
