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My chest twisted so badly I thought I would vomit. Skies! What was I going to do? I didn't come here for a rescue mission. I came here to steal the stone. The stone that should be used in this rotting rite so she wouldn't have to die.
Rot.
I wrestled with myself, feeling lost.
"Move out of the way, fish brains."
An angel rammed into my shoulder, shoving me out of the way so more guests could swim into the palace.
"I've never been to the Atlanthyst Trench before. I can't wait to see it. And the pretty little princess that will be sacrificed in it."
Laughter swelled around me. I thought I was going to be sick. I didn't understand the ways of the sea. There was probably nothing to be done. For all I knew, she'd been prepared for this moment her entire life. It was probably the greatest honor of her life to do it. I forced down my queasiness. I had to concentrate.
Find the stone, get out of the palace, escape the sea.
I chanted the thoughts in my head over and over, despite feeling my body going numb. I couldn't help but see her two-toned blue eyes and her sweet smile. Hearing her laughter in my ears, I nearly doubled over again.
How was I going to do this?
How could I do this?
If I did, she would die!
But I had to.
I wanted to scream. Swallowing bile, I dashed down a separate hall from the partygoers. The hall was completely unguarded. I swam down its path, distancing myself from the angels in the palace. Soon I began noting details Aisha and Nyala had mentioned. I was currently in a corridor three halls away from where I would find the entry to the dungeons of the palace.
I briefly noted King Au'Pearl's wealth scattered throughout the halls. There were ornate tables, opulent tapestries, crystal carved chandeliers, and all kinds of fine details.
I swam with ease, thankful for all the lessons I'd been given. Too soon, I found myself before the door of pearls Nyala had once described. My pocket weighed heavily with the Atlanthyst Stone dupe. I looked around, making sure there was no one around to see me. The door was left unguarded. I looked around one more time, pried the pearl door open wide enough to fly through, and then slipped inside.
Chapter 23
Descent Into Deception
YAKOBBA
Darkness clung to the walls of the cavernous dungeon. The lights were dim. Small shell lamps littered the walls, helping with visibility. When I'd first spoken with Aisha, she'd shown me a map that was nothing short of marvelous. It was an intricate view of the underbelly of King Au'Pearl's palace. I would have to swim a long way forward, then swim downward, slipping through a narrow swimway that would bleed to a lightened corridor. From there, I would pass the dungeons themselves, which would lead out into the open cavern of the treasury. Swimming in this darkness felt like descending into the bowels of the Black Hells of Hayèl.
I swam languidly, noting every detail I could. There were an innumerable number of tridents hanging on the walls like unlit torches. Some paths led straight, while others curved back into darkness. I didn't plan on exploring. There was no sign of wear on the floors, which meant everyone who entered here only swam or floated.
As I began nearing the actual dungeon entry, closed off by another set of pearl doors, I heard three sets of shuffling.
"They'll be done with feasting and head to the Trench soon. We all have to go. King’s orders. You know the princess is performing the Rite this cycle. Bakari wants everyone to see it. Just a little more of watching Azizi's filth and then we can go. Isn't that right? Avarien scum."
I realized then, one of those guards had to be speaking to an imprisoned angel from Avari. A part of me thought I couldn't leave the Avarien behind, but breaking Azizi prisoners out would earn me no points.
I swallowed my shame and kept swimming, keeping to the shadows to remain unseen. As I swam to my right, was the door hanging ajar with guards there. I kept my eyes on them as I slipped further into that narrow corridor, letting it take me in perfect silence before any of the guards could spot me. Once I was further down the corridor, a sound rose. I heard groans and screams coming from the belly of the dungeon. My chest pounded hard. If I'd stayed close any longer, I would've done something stupid.
It was eerily quiet down here. I kept my ethèr humming, and a hand on the hilt of my cutlass, in case anything tried impeding me from getting into that treasury. I probably should have come with Engèli, but he was needed elsewhere.
Even down in the bowels of the palace, I could hear the hum of excitement as the angels above, sea and sky alike, enjoyed themselves in raucous celebration.
A small part of me wriggled in envy. As a High Prince, I should be up there. Drinking, dancing, putting on a princely display for Avari. I'm sure Hezron was making a good show of it, but it should be me. Still, had I gone, mamè and Alessayi may have convinced me otherwise. It's one thing to suggest nabbing the Atlanthyst Stone while still in the Avarien castle. It was something else entirely to see it through when inside of King Au'Pearl's palace.
I swam through a stony archway that bled out into a deep cavern. I pulled up short. The first thing I noticed was the vastness of it. As if the rock could be beaten back for miles, still. The cavern was enormous, with hardened walls, hanging lines of crystal above, and shimmery pool depths beneath. I kicked my feet, floating above the waters that were separate from the sea itself.
The next thing that caught my attention was the majestic gate. Aisha had said it was a door. Nyala had confirmed it. Both had been wrong. The door was a gate and would need a trident to open. The gate was wide as the Ashweaver, and so high it nearly scaled the length of the cavern. Through a crease below it, I saw an ethereal glow.
