Page 46 of A Kingdom Restored

Reka looked like he was going to give a literal answer, but Heath once again jumped in.

“Did you come with a message, Reka? I know you don’t especially like the capital, so I doubt you came just to chat.”

“You are correct,” Reka acknowledged. “I wished to report to you that I returned to my colony and spoke with the elders as we discussed.”

“And?” Heath asked eagerly, hope sprouting inside him.

“And they did not accept my testimony concerning the origins of the settlement we once observed off the coast near your home. As I feared, in the absence of tangible evidence, they were not swayed by our speculation that the more advanced abominations were separate creatures entirely, not returning to the place of their origin, but visiting from a distant home.”

Heath slumped back in his chair, the small shoot of hope withering away into nothing. He could sense his grandmother’s curiosity beside him, but he didn’t have the heart to explain at that moment.

If it came to that, a guilty part of him was relieved by Rekavidur’s interruption. Left alone with his grandmother much longer, his conscience would probably have compelled him to tell her what he’d discovered about the possible connection between Merletta’s kind and the attacks in Valoria.

“I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that our feeble attempt to stop disaster achieved nothing,” he said bitterly.

“I did not say it achieved nothing,” Rekavidur said. “In fact, I believe it did spark a reaction, although it certainly wasn’t the one we were hoping for.”

“What do you mean?” Heath asked ominously.

“The elders did not share their intentions with me,” explained Reka. “But I formed the impression that by raising the matter, I may have redirected their focus to the underwater civilization. I expect they will send scouts to hunt for Merletta’s home within the week.”

Heath let out a groan, his fingers twisting despairingly in his hair. The situation was worse than hopeless.

Chapter Fourteen

“You’re very quiet.”

Merletta looked up at Andre’s comment, slowing to let a trio of first years speed past them, eager to reach the dining hall for lunch.

Andre’s eyes were narrowed in suspicion. “What are you plotting?”

Merletta restrained a smile. Her friends knew her well. But she didn’t intend to share her plans with Andre on this occasion.

“I’m thinking about yesterday,” she said instead. “It didn’t go how I expected.”

“I don’t think any of us expected to just swim out of there,” agreed Andre. “Or for the Record Master to be so unperturbed. Do you think he didn’t believe you?”

“He believed me,” said Merletta grimly. She shook her head. “I should have learned by now, but it never fails to surprise me how measured the Center’s responses are.”

It was true. Knowing the unscrupulous lengths to which they were willing to go, she always expected a swift and decisive attack each time she drifted out of line. But they were more careful than that, especially since she’d turned their battle into a public display.

They’d reached the dining hall by this time, and Merletta scanned the room for Sage and Emil. They were both there, sitting at a table with other record holders, but apart a little way, their heads bent together. They had the look of being marked. Merletta found herself hoping the Center would act soon. It had only been a day, and the strain was already unsustainable.

When they all rose from the meal, Emil and Andre drifted out first, deep in conversation about their best guesses as to the Center’s next move. Sage lingered behind, swimming more slowly with Merletta.

“Have you been to see your family?” Merletta asked her friend softly. “Given we don’t know how much time we have?” She was fairly sure she knew the answer.

Sure enough, Sage shook her head. “I don’t have anything to say to my parents, or any interest in anything they might say to me.”

“Sage…” Merletta hesitated. “I don’t want to be the reason you aren’t speaking to your mother.”

“You’re not,” Sage said shortly, her tail flicking. “Her actions are the reason.”

“You know what I mean,” Merletta said, unimpressed. She followed Sage from the dining hall. “Her actions toward me.”

“It wasn’t just toward you,” Sage said. “She was using me as well, you know. She encouraged me to believe that she was inviting you to stay with us because she wanted to show kindness to my closest friend. And all along she was following orders to spy on you.” Sage scowled. “She even put my little sister up to watching you—remember how she used to hang around, and let herself into your room randomly?”

Merletta winced a little as she nodded. She’d already drawn that connection in her mind.

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