Page 124 of The Queens and the Kings
What in the?—
Pedr dropped the papers and leaned closer. He closed his eyes, exhaled until the last element of breath left his lungs, and stopped. The arcane activated, swirling at the bottom of his chest. He didn’t need the breath, necessarily. Minutes could pass without any sense of urgency for his life, but it did give him access.
His eyes opened.
The world changed, altering into swirling green lines. Currents in the sea. The ocean created layers at any given moment. Life teemed at the bottom, where deeper, nefarious places populated. Within and swirling through the marine life were silvery, brilliant currents and schools of fish.
A new current sprang up, far stronger than last time. In fact, it was twice as wide, three times as fast, based on his connection with the arcane. The sheer power behind it forced Pedr to stop, inspect.
Instead of popping up on the spot like last time, the current originated in the east and shoved them farther west. Originating in the Wyvern King on board the merchant ship of the line, undoubtedly. It made no sense for the Siren Queens to conjure a current that brought their enemies closer. Asundoubtedly,said Wyvern King had gained immense power in the gap between Britt’s last journey with a wyvern.
Immense.
His stomach clenched. What had once been blue sky dimmed while clouds stacked in billowing slate stacks.
As expected.
He left the otherworld and re-entered the normal. Britt chattered to Denerfen, listing out all the rules she expected him to abide by, oblivious to the building tempest. Pedr abandonedthe secretaire and shot outside again. His usual vision returned as he stepped into the fresh air.
Indeed, a current pulled. The merchant ship of the line fell to its command and didn’t appear to be fighting. No problem. His ship, immune to anything not under his command, would listen to him. They’d cross the current and?—
His thought stopped when the ship wheel spun a slow turn to the west. He bounded across the helm and grabbed the turning spokes, using all his arm power to slow it down. No matter how quickly he righted the wheel, it didn’t matter. The current took them west, not under his command.
“Himmel!” he shouted. “You and I need to talk.”
A crack of thunder replied.
“No!” he shouted. “This can’t wait!”
Lightning streaked from north to south. “Fine!” Pedr waved a hand at the storm they barreled toward. “I’ll borrow your arcane without your help, but you’re making it a lot more complicated! I’m just fighting for our?—”
The curse stopped him from finishing.
Snarling, Pedr slipped a rope over the wheel to hold it in place. Not that it mattered. The current that bore the ship of the line to the west carried them. The merchant vessel could easily spot them with an eyeglass as they barreled toward the heart of the storm, but that wouldn’t matter. They’d be fighting to stay alive once that storm hit.
This wouldn’t be an easy ride.
Britt appeared, breathless and wide-eyed in the maid’s uniform. Wrinkled, but it would do. Arms spread, she declared, “I’m ready!” Her gaze slid over his shoulder, and her mouth dropped open. She gestured to the storm. “It’s been less than ten minutes! How didthatget there?”
Pedr surveyed her, jaw locked. He couldn’t ask her to invade an enemy ship, but he couldn’t do it himself, either. Couldn’tleave the Rosenvatten to figure out what the mainland meant to do, whether the wyvern commanded this current. He struggled with the curse, but it was useless. If he wasted his energy fighting a losing battle, he’d never be able to carry Britt to the ship of the line.
Britt’s expression began to fall. Distrust clouded her eyes.
“Don’t you dare take this away from m?—”
“Go,” he wrenched out. As he expired all breath, the arcane filled him. Colors gathered in his fingertips. An array of violet, fuchsia, brilliant orange, and yellow. Pedr slapped his glowing hand onto Britt’s back. A rush of energy tripled through her, the colors dissipating.
Himmel couldn’t help, so he’d have to send Britt himself. Water splashed onto the ship, snatching Britt off her feet. With a cry, the wave formed around her in a glimmering, translucent sea shell. Pedr watched, uneasy.
“Be safe,” he whispered.
Britt’s eyes widened. Denerfen’s tail tightened around her neck.
And she was gone.
Chapter Thirty Five
HENRIK
