Page 17 of The Ocean's Heart
“Meting out a little justice. But he will find you at shore, have no doubt.” She smiled, showcasing a row of neat, pointy teeth that made my blood run cold. “Let us get you to land where you belong.”
The rowboat turned until it was aimed for the isle and began to move, drawn by these merwomen. I had to trust and take her at her word, but I kept a tight grip on my sword, just in case.
ChapterTen
THALIA
The merwomen drew my rowboat steadily across the water for several long minutes in silence that seemed to press down on us.
I decided to fill it with a question. “What justice is the king meting out?”
“I understand that your ship was attacked, no?” Meredith said.
A weight settled on my chest. “Yes.”
“King Vaarin came across a few members of the faction responsible for the attack and is dispensing justice.”
My hand went to my sword, and she tracked the motion. “You wish you were with him? Meting out justice?”
“Those things are responsible for the death of my crew and…my best friend.” Had the scavengers been responsible for Bryony’s rowboat’s collapse? Had they killed her?
“You have seen much death, it seems,” Meredith said. “But you bring life to the northern realm. This alliance gives us hope. Hope of stopping the Obsidian Pearl and preventing the abyss from opening.”
“The abyss? Yes, the king mentioned it.”
“There are ancient beasts trapped within, and the Obsidian Pearl seek to free them. The Obsidian Pearl worship the monsters as gods and believe that the seas belong to them.”
“But not all believe the stories of monsters beyond the abyss,” one of the other merwomen said in a sibilant tone. “Some believe the Obsidian Pearl to be misguided. Mad even. The faction has taken many females as sacrifices to their trapped gods in the hope of opening the abyss. Our people are in constant danger, and waters that were once safe are now lethal.”
“The Obsidian Pearl would not want the sea fae numbers to swell,” Meredith continued, “because then we will have the forces required to bring them to heel, which is why you, dear princess, are a threat to them.”
“Great.” But I wasn’t the princess. I wasn’t a threat to anyone. I was a lie, and these people…they were banking on me to stop the Obsidian Pearl threat.
Guilt wrapped icy fingers around my throat, but I shook off its punishing grip.
I couldn’t let the sea faes’ plight overshadow mine. My people must come first. I’d do what needed to be done to ensure their safety.
Land drew closer, rushing up to meet us, mountainous terrain beyond a sandy inlet.
“The water is becoming shallow,” Meredith said. “We will leave you here with King Vaarin’s strict instructions that you remain on the beach. Do not venture inland. It is not safe. Do you understand?”
“I understand.”
They shoved the boat forward into the shallows, and I searched for an anchor, finding none. Shit. Once I got out of the boat, there would be no going back to sea. But the king was on his way. All I needed to do was wait. He obviously had a plan.
I climbed out into water that was calf deep, then reached for the rope attached to the inside of the boat, my instinct to drag the boat with me to shore, then decided against it. King Vaarin had used the natural storm to hide us from the Obsidian Pearl, and if I brought the boat to shore with me, then the Obsidian Pearl’s aerial spies might see it and report back to them.
Best to let the boat drift out to sea.
I hurried toward shore before too much water could make it into my boots. I hated having wet feet.
Once on sand, I looked back at sea, at the rowboat already being carried away by the current. Meredith and her companions bobbed in the water for a moment before vanishing beneath the waves.
I was alone.
At least, I hoped so.
The inland was surrounded by trees, and one side was a sheer cliff face. Thalor had wrangled himself free of the clouds now, blessing the inlet with silvery light, enough to chase back the unsettling shadows. A chill swept over me, reminding me of my wet boots and the risk of catching a serious cold. I couldn’t risk my health, not now.
