Page 60 of A Forgery of Fate

“They’re here for me, not you,” said Elang through his teeth. “Clear your mind, and whatever you do, don’t fight the jellyfish.”

Jellyfish?

Then I saw them, their glowing heads bobbing across the misty sea. Their numbers were few, only five or six, and they seemed to be merely observing us from afar. Why did Elang sound more worried about jellyfish than sharks?

“Elangui Ta’ginan Yuwong,” spoke the sharks as one. Their voices were gratingly shrill, their eyes glassy and flat. “His Eternal Majesty, King Nazayun, has exiled you from these waters. You will be given only this one warning. Leave at once.”

Elang raised himself tall, his tail sweeping out from under his robes. “I have met my grandfather’s conditions for my return,” he said. “Behold, the one whose heart I value more than my own, whose light shines without equal. My beloved bride, Lady Saigas.”

The sharks regarded me, and I could have sworn they bared their teeth, just a little.

Make me magnificent,I had told Mailoh. I didn’t feel magnificent at all; I felt like shark food.

“She will have to be your match for you two to proceed,” they said.

Elang’s hand found the small of my back, and he brought me close. Holding me, shielding me, it didn’t matter which. This once, I was glad to have him at my side. I just hoped the jellyfish registered the sentiment as love, not terror.

Elang bowed his head. “You may administer the trial.”

Two jellyfish came forth. I’d seen drawings of such creatures before in Nomi’s books, even eaten one with Gaari, marinated in vinegar and sesame. But alive, they bloomed with soft smears of light and moved like flowers caught in the wind. It was mesmerizing, until I remembered they weren’t friendly.

They descended upon us, their tentacles ribboning down with the effortless grace of silk.

Clear your mind,Elang had said,and whatever you do, don’t fight.

For once, I listened to him. I went still, not daring to move as one of the smaller jellyfish swept a tentacle across my forehead. A second tentacle encircled my neck.

Who are you?it asked, in a voice that echoed eerily through my head.

“Truyan Saigas,” I replied. “A human from Gangsun.”

What is your business in Ai’long?

“I am newly wed to my love, the lord of the Westerly Seas. I return with him now to end his exile and begin our life inYonsar.”

The jellyfish leaned closer, its bulbous eyes mirroring my reflection.You will have to be the Heavenly Match for his exile to end.

I cringed as the pressure around my neck grew and the jellyfish wrapped its tentacles about my head, pressing firmly against my temples. Sharp pangs pulsed into my mind, like knives peeling layer after layer into my memories, my secrets.

My jaw went tight.

I fed the jellyfish memories of my wedding to Elang, of us exchanging indulgent stares and holding hands as we tied our red ribbon around each other’s wrists. But its tentacles probed deeper; it became harder to focus. I had to concentrate on something so I wouldn’t give away Elang’s plot to overthrow Nazayun—or my visions. That something became Baba.

Your baba?The jellyfish latched on to this new direction in my thoughts.Who is your baba?

He’s dead,I replied quickly.I was only wishing he could have come to my wedding.

The jellyfish tilted its head. Its skin flickered, and on its translucent surface, I saw the blurred contours of my father’s face. Gradually he came into focus, unearthing the last memory of us together.

“You are my treasure,”he said, kissing my forehead.“You and your sisters and your mother.”He touched my hair tenderly.“And this will be the last time I leave my treasures behind.”

Then Baba rose for the door. Here the jellyfish had dug into my deepest fears, for my memory became a nightmare. I saw my younger self run after him, trying to stop him,but the door closed and I couldn’t open it no matter how I tried.

I would never see him again.

“Stop,” I whispered, twisting, trying to get free. I wrestled the jellyfish’s tentacles away from my face, but I couldn’t get free. “Get away from me!”

Out of nowhere came a furious downward swipe of sharp black claws. That was all I saw before the jellyfish let out a high shriek and a clump of its tentacles floated into the abyss, separated from its body. The creature released me immediately.

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