Page 62 of A Forgery of Fate

Public displays of affection were distasteful among A’landi’s upper classes, but if his grandfather was so obsessive about proof, I’d play my part. Besides, I never promised I’d be a lady.

“May you have luck of the dragons, Bride of the Westerly Seas,” replied the Dragon King, dissolving into the water as he spoke. “Enjoy this wedding gift in celebration of your homecoming.”

In a puff, he disappeared. And as our “gift,” every shark and jellyfish in our vicinity was turned into stone.

The change happened suddenly, brutally, as though someone had slashed a knife through the water. My entire bodyjerked in alarm, and numbly I watched the sharks and jellyfish sink, the hollowed rounds of their eyes turned cold and lifeless.

At my side, Elang barely flinched. He let go of my hand. “Are you hurt?”

My head hurt, but not the rest of me. “No. Why…why did he destroy his own patrols?”

“Because he can,” replied Elang grimly. “Because he’s the god of dragons, and the entire sea is at his whim. Because he knew it would upset you.”

Upset mewas an understatement. Twenty living creatures turned into stone—all to make some lurid demonstration of power. It sickened me.

I bit the insides of my cheeks, my nostrils flaring. Gods help me, if I found Baba this way…I turned to Elang. “I’m not upset,” I said, giving him a hard look. “I’m inspired.”

The barest flicker of surprise crossed his face. He gave me a nod. “Good.”

Then he shook his sword, and it transformed into the umbrella he always carried.

I watched, transfixed. “You did the same thing with my headdress.” I wheeled my hands, unsure how to describe such magic. “After you touched it.”

“I have a talent for transformation. I can change objects, so long as they’re not alive.”

“Could you do it on land too?”

“The water amplifies my powers,” he responded. “Particularly, these waters.” His arms fell to his sides, a slip of the red string around his wrist peeking past his sleeve. “The Westerly Seas listen to me, and now, as their lady, they will listen to you.”

“You mean, I can turn umbrellas into swords?” I asked. More cheekily: “What about pebbles into diamonds?”

“You’ll see in time.” He didn’t explain. Two turtles were approaching to escort us to the castle.

Before he needed to ask, I took Elang’s arm and put on my brightest, most adoring smile. I was getting the hang of this. As regally as I could, I lifted my chin and adjusted my skirt to show off the embroidered phoenixes. Then I beamed at the turtles, ready for my entrance.

This was going to be my greatest role. I wouldn’t mess itup.

Chapter Seventeen

The entrance to Elang’s home was carved between two cliffs, camouflaged by rock and shadow. I would never have seen it, if not for one detail. Under the foggy mist, round stones studded the mountainsides, each splotchy and dull. Not stones at all, I soon realized, but turtle carapaces!

“The Gate of a Thousand Shells,” said Elang, preempting my question. “One of the great marvels of Ai’long. It has long been the stronghold of Yonsar, impenetrable since the First Era.”

“It’s impressive,” I allowed, for there was no other word to describe it. What I’d taken to be a wall was actually rows of turtle shells stacked atop one another, so precisely that not a glimmer of light shone through their shells.

Before I could express more admiration, a low horn blew from within.

An orderly line of turtles rolled out to greet us. They stood to attention, necks craning in uniform stature, their heads bent respectfully low. I tried to smile at them as I passed, but not one smiled back. I doubted they even saw me.

Elang could have brought back a toad for a wife and no one would have noticed,I thought dryly.

“My lieutenants,” said Elang, the only introduction he made. I nodded politely.

It felt more like a military procession than a marriage celebration. As we proceeded past the turtles, they raised their spears—crystal-forged weapons thrice my height, with forked tips that looked sharp enough to pierce through stone.

By this point, I’d amended my expectations of Yonsar. Originally I’d imagined a grand marble castle, with whales, dolphins, merfolk, and all manner of fish swimming to and fro across jade and marble tunnels and archways. But now I wouldn’t be surprised if I’d be sleeping in a trench the next few weeks. Ahead, I spied no castle, not even a gate. Instead we advanced to the mountain itself, where Elang pressed his palm to the pewter-veined wall. He motioned for me to do the same, and when I laid my hand upon the rock, a door shimmered into existence.

“Welcome to your new home,” Elang said, gesturing forward.

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