Page 78 of The Rebel's Prize

There was silence before he replied. [Elarus could tell. We cannot.]

Chloe looked at Imogene, who was clearly having a similar conversation with Ikarus.

Lucien cleared his throat. "If someone could speak out loud, that would be helpful," he said in a calm tone.

Both the sanctii shot him a look, and he held up his hands. "I'm not saying the two of you should do anything forbidden, but I would like to know what's going on, if that's possible, please."

Imogene huffed out a breath. "They don't want to tell us, and they don't want to ask Elarus. I'm not entirely sure why." She looked at Ikarus.

He waved a hand at the walls. "Cannot speak to her here anyway."

Goddess damn it.They hadn't thought of that.

"We're traveling over land, not ocean," Imogene objected. "Can't you return to your realm? The sanctii help fly the navire, after all."

"Fly. Not talk," Octarus insisted.

"Very well," Imogene said after another silent exchange with Ikarus. "Thank you, anyway."

The sanctii disappeared again. Though Octarus said, [Talk,] in Chloe's head before he vanished. She didn't know whether he meant he wanted to talk to her or that she should continue talking to Imogene. But if it was the former, it was going to have to wait.

Lucien folded his arms. "It seems we need a different plan."

"Yes, there's clearly something more at play," Chloe said, crossing to the wardroom’s long table to sit, suddenly feeling exhausted. Imogene followed suit. "Though they didn't saywecouldn't ask Elarus. Only that they wouldn't."

"Their reluctance suggests that perhaps we're on the right path. If this is something the sanctii are nervous about discussing, then it's clearly something they don't tell us about. Which, admittedly, could be almost anything about them." He huffed in frustration but joined them at the table.

"The reveilé was discovered by a water mage," Chloe said. "That's what they taught us at the Academe."

"Yes. It makes you wonder whether it was the other way around. His sanctii taught him."

"We need to talk to my father. And the other venables. Maybe even some of the army's water mages. Though they tend to stick to the rules more," Chloe said. Then grinned and looked at Imogene. "Present company excepted, of course."

"Which is something else we can't do while we're on this ship." Imogene gestured vaguely at the walls. "We need to wait until we're back in Lumia."

"Then there's the small matter of Elarus being in Anglion with Sophie. The sanctii don't communicate over the sea, do they?" Chloe asked.

"No," Imogene said. "But the emperor has more than a few navires. Some travel to Anglion. Perhaps Sophie and Elarus would be willing to come talk to us."

"Cameron won't like that. Bringing Sophie back here, where people tried to harm her," Lucien replied.

He probably had a point. Chloe leaned back in her seat, considering. "People were plotting against her in Anglion, too. I think she would be as happy to get to the bottom of this as Aristides."

"Organizing a royal visit isn't something that just happens overnight," Imogene objected.

"It doesn't have to be anofficialroyal visit. Their Majesties can just come and talk to us, stay on the damn ship if they need to, though I can't imagine Elarus would appreciate that. And then they can go home again. Without anyone being the wiser," Chloe said.

Imogene looked skeptical. "I don't know about that, but if that's what you want to suggest, my vote is that you're the one who gets to tell Aristides."

Lucien barked a laugh. "I second that."

Chloe put her hands on her hips and stared at them. "Cowards."

"Think of it this way," Imogene said. "If Elarus comes and she can help us with the answer, it will go a long way to improving your reputation at court again."

Chloe narrowed her eyes. "You both keep telling me I have nothing to worry about in that respect."

"You don't," Imogene said airily. "But it still can't hurt that you're seen to be helpful. Is it helpful to propose something that's going to be difficult for the emperor?"

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