Page 73 of The Kraken's Queen

“You expect me to sleep in this?” I counter.

“A seasoned seafarer could,” she says, and I just stare at her. If my lack of —shipping? Boating? Pirate-ing?—wasn’t obvious before, it is now.

“Right, forgot this is new to you. When I first started, I don’t think I slept for weeks. It gets easier,” she says.

I believe her, but I don’t want to stay on the ship for that long. Ideally, I don’t want to be on a ship after this for a long time. I’m starting to feel sea sickness on this rocking vessel.

“Where are we?” I ask in her general direction because, once again, it’s pitch-black out here. A lightning strike shows Atina looking at a small gold compass.

“We are…here. I think,” she says, and I suck in a breath.

“Here? Like here as in the prison holding the Leviathan?” I ask, as if we were looking for anything else.

Atina nods, but my confusion only grows. “Wouldn’t we be able to hear them?”

“We did the last time we were close, but I think the thunderstorm is a blessing in disguise. It’s blocking out the sounds,” she says. “Their song is also not continuous. They have to break.”

Well, yay for small miracles.

“And you are certain this is it? That we are above them?” I don’t mean to sound condescending, but we are working on borrowed time. Every second counts.

“This should be it. It’s the coordinates I’ve written down,” Atina assures. “We need to get you ready.”

I’m already wearing leggings and a form-fitting shirt, ready to be back in the ocean. “No, I’m ready. Are you going with me?”

Allarick told me Atina didn’t go into the ocean because of the judgment of their people. However, none of the merpeople judged her while we made our rounds the other day, checking to see if everyone had what they needed.

I think her fear lies within the ocean itself and her ability to navigate an unfamiliar world. To feel like a stranger in one's own body. It’s a feeling I know well and one that’s hard to overcome.

But this is her brother’s life.

Another flash of lightning illuminates the indecision on Atina’s face. I know her answer before she speaks, but it still disappoints me to hear. “No, I’ll find someoneelse.”

“I will go with the queen,” a new voice sounds from behind us, startling me. Next to me, Atina sighs.

“I suppose he works as good as anyone,” Atina mumbles as Delmare approaches us. She feigns annoyance, but there’s also an undercurrent of relief.

I want to tell Atina that she doesn’t get to be picky about who accompanies me when she is refusing to come, but I hold my tongue. Besides, I hoped it would be my guard.

“Delmare, what are you doing up? Is Iris okay?” His wife seemed uncomfortable sleeping on a ship earlier this evening.

“Iris is fine. Asleep finally. But I couldn’t. I thought I heard something above deck and came to check it out. I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. Most of it, anyway,” he says.

“Shouldn’t you at least tell Iris that you plan on accompanying me?” I think of my maid waking up in the morning only to find her husband is gone.

“She will understand, my queen.” He doesn’t elaborate, and I don’t get a chance to ask.

“Can you get her to the prison site from here? It’s straight down, but I’ll give you the exact coordinates,” Atina says.

“I can.”

Having Delmare by my side makes the tension ease inside of me. He’s strong and capable and knows these waters better than most. “Do you have something to block out the noise once we get down?”

“I do. Carry them with me everywhere these days.” Ever the faithful guard.

“Good. Then I’m ready to go,” I say.

“You’ll need your harp. I’ll carry it down,” Delmare says.

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