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"Thank you," she said again, with a bit more confidence. "For allowing us to roam freely. I know Terfitti hasn't been the easiest to deal with..."
I snorted.
That was a rotting understatement. The bloody angel had been storming around like she owned my ship. It was all I could do to keep my crew from wrapping her in spike chains and throwing her overboard in shrark infested sea.
"Thank you. Your grace doesn't go unnoticed."
I nodded at Corellis.
There was nothing else to say. Besides. Some of my crew were lingering to hear what was said, so they could be the first to spread foolish gossip. I wouldn't have it.
Corellis curtsied before floating away. She stumbled a bit, her wings unused to the weight of the sôls, but she floated all the way to the front of the ship before settling to her feet with her Seaveillers.
I leaned on the railing close to me, looking out at the sea. Engèli led us across smooth waters. The journey had been peaceful, except for the tantrums of the Seaveiller, Terfitti. Aisha worked with Engèli for us to find the fastest waterway to Azizi... when he let her. Nyala kept busy, playing with all sorts of materials that could replicate the Atlanthyst Stone. We were making good progress, crossing the Mistwind Seas with no issues. If we kept this up, we'd reach Azizi in no time.
The sounds of the crew shuffling back and forth, handling the needs of the ship, turned into a familiar hum in my ears. I watched the sea, and the life swimming beneath. Every now and again, dolfinis would swim to the surface, then burst through, singing their melodies as they flipped over themselves in the air, before diving back into the waters. The sight was breathtaking. Calming. As we continued sailing, I noticed a dark tint deep below the water’s surface.
"What the rot?" I murmured.
"That's not new," Engèli called down from above. "It's been growing. Remember when we passed through the Anthuraen channel a few mekàd ago? Even then, I caught it. It goes deep."
"It looks like some kind of taint," I said, squinting to see better.
"Maybe it's a curse," Jabari called from his perch by the cannons.
Murmurs spread across the ship when they spotted the dark sludge below the waters.
The Aziziens were none too happy about it.
Corellis stared at the waters of the sea, riddled with sorrow and something akin to guilt. Her shoulders bent inward, as if she carried a heavy weight. But she had nothing to worry about. Azizi had the Atlanthyst Stone which would heal their waters and keep anything poisonous from hurting their kingdom.
My face crumpled. Rot. They wouldn't have the stone for long. Once I stole it, Azizi would have no defense. I buried the thoughts and focused outward.
I looked back to Corellis. Her eyes never left the sea. As if she could see all the way to Azizi and the Pearl Palace. A knot of guilt twisted in my gut. I buried that, too. It was her fault for eavesdropping.
My attention kept snagging on the Ayella-in-waiting. Something about her was alluring. She was quiet, usually letting her Seaveillers do most of the talking. But in her eyes, I saw a world of intelligence and curiosity. I wondered if all the sea angels were like her.
We Avariens were a chatty, rowdy, exuberant bunch. The sea angels were not the same. They talked amongst each other, and even that was done with a regal quiet. Alessayi would have a hard time with them. She liked to talk and loved it even more when the angel talked back.
Rolling up my sleeves, I floated up to the cloumàk I had Jakran and Ifu set up for me between the masts. It was the perfect spot to catch the soft breeze of the wind, while swaying as if sleeping on clouds, and getting the best view of the Mistwind Seas. I flew to the hammock, laid inside, and crossed my legs, folding my arms over my chest. I stared at the sea until it lulled me to sleep.
My eyes snapped open when a heavy thud sounded below.
"What in the rot?"
I blinked, realizing the sôlsunes had descended, and it was full-blown dusk now. I rolled over in the cloumàk, looking down, but only seeing shadows.
"Engèli," I called. "What's the word?"
"Serène," Engèli barked, his voice strained.
I laughed. That had to be a joke. The Serène hadn't bothered to show themselves in several millethium. They were practically myths. Besides, it wasn't like we'd sailed into the Serène Bergs. There was no way Engèli could be serious.
Another heavy thud rocked the ship.
A cold flutter skipped in my chest.
I hadn't been to a Temple in a hellishly long time, but I threw a fleeting prayer up to the Alpha, anyway. If there ever was a time to ask him for help, I figured now was it. We couldn't be dealing with Serène for real. We just couldn't.
