Page 26 of A Kingdom Restored

“They’re not exactly parading down the streets,” Andre said, shoveling food inconspicuously into his mouth for appearance’s sake. “They came the long way around, entered through the oyster farms in the south, and they’re hiding out at the home of some old allies of August’s among the guards.”

“What’s their news?” Merletta asked.

“I don’t know yet,” said Andre. “But my father asked me to tell you they want to see you tonight. In the coral garden near my parents’ house. I think the idea is for you to pretend you’re coming to visit my family with me.”

Merletta couldn’t finish her food fast enough. She’d been waiting two weeks for August and Eloise to return. Now she knew how close they were, dinner was the last thing on her mind.

She and Andre made what she hoped was a passable attempt at cheerful conversation as they swam from the dining hall a short time later. They traveled through the Center by a roundabout route, and by the time they crossed the drop off, Merletta was reasonably confident they weren’t being tailed. Hopefully it wasn’t just that she’d become immune to the sensation—she reflected that it was the first time since starting fourth year that she’d left the Center without feeling that inexplicable conviction that she was being followed.

She’d been surprised that August had picked a public location, but when she reached the coral garden, she realized he’d been wise. There was nothing notable about them entering it, and nothing to tie Andre’s family to the situation if August and Eloise were detected.

The older couple wasted no time on pleasantries. It was clear they wanted to impart their information and return to whatever safe haven they’d found within the city.

“We made it to Heath’s kingdom,” August told her curtly.

“Is he all right?” Merletta asked, alarmed by his grave expression.

“I have no reason to think he isn’t,” August assured her. “But we didn’t see him. We spoke with the dragon, Rekavidur.”

“Did he have any new information about when the attack might come?” Merletta pressed.

August ran a hand over his chin. “He had no certain information. But he told us his leaders had just met, and he doesn’t share your optimism that it will be years before they act. He said the matter is of grave significance to them, and once they decide to act, they will do so quickly. Although he acknowledged that there was no way to be sure when they would make that decision.”

“Is there any good news?” Andre demanded, his crimson tail twitching. “What about the barrier?”

“He is of the opinion that the barrier could only have been formed by dragons,” August answered. “And that it will therefore be entirely ineffective at keeping them out.”

“Formed by dragons?” Merletta repeated, staring at the guard. “Reka said that?”

August nodded, and Merletta fell silent, trying to make sense of the suggestion.

“Did he give you nothing useful?” Andre asked, his voice strained.

August’s face was grim. “He didn’t give us any reason to hope for the survival of our civilization. His advice was that we scatter across the ocean, make it harder to track us down, with the view that some individuals may survive.”

“We can’t do that,” Merletta protested. “Even if the Center would allow it, most of the triple kingdoms are too afraid of the open ocean.”

“I know,” August agreed simply. “Neither the Center nor the populace would countenance the idea unless they were aware of—and actually believed—the nature and extent of the threat.”

Merletta let his words roll back and forth in her mind, like seaweed tumbled by the waves on Vazula’s beach. Her stomach dropped as she grasped the truth behind the simple statement. She’d hidden her indiscretions too long already. Too many lives were at stake for her to think of her own safety, even from the insidious enemies hidden inside the Center. It was time to give those in power the information they needed to have a fighting chance of surviving the coming attack, and bear the personal consequences that would follow.

“I don’t know if it’s in my power to make them believe it, but it is in my power to make them aware,” she said quietly.

“Merletta,” Andre started warningly, but she just shook her head.

August’s gaze was shrewd as he studied her face. “I also feel it is time to make that stroke,” he told her. “And I’m willing to be the one to carry the news. I believe I can get access through my connections to senior—”

“No.” Merletta cut him off uncompromisingly. “This mess is not of your making, and I won’t even consider letting anyone else do this.”

August was silent for a moment. “It is a one way street, Merletta,” he told her quietly.

“I know.” She met his eyes calmly. “But I’ve been living on borrowed time here for a long time already. I think I’d actually rather take decisive action than keep waiting for the blow to fall.”

August nodded gravely. “I can respect that. Will you speak to your instructors about the dragons, then?”

Merletta shook her head. “I don’t trust the chain of communication. I need to go straight to the top.”

“You’re going to try to speak to the regents of the cities?” Andre said blankly. “How will you get access to any of them? Well,” he amended, “maybe the Tilssted one, since you’re sort of famous there, but the others—”

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