Page 55 of Seas the Reckoning

“That wasn’t our deal!” Seymour cries.

The Ender takes a menacing step forward.

“You’re not a very good listener, are you, Seymour? Although, perhaps that’s my fault. I shouldn’t have expected you’d take a woman’s word that seriously.”

“Leena! There you are! Are you all right?” Feral barrels into the dead-end section of the hall, crowding the area. He comes to a sudden stop as the Ender whips around to face him.

He looks at her, the sword, and then the rest of us. His eyes flash, and for a brief moment I get a small hint of what the others said he was capable of.

Fear freezes me in place. A cold wind that has nothing to do with the temperature leaves a chill deep in my bones. As a naiad I cannot drown, but still I feel that I’m fighting for air. I want to flee, but my body won’t move. My heart is speeding like a rabbit’s, trying to run even though my legs refuse to respond.

“Let her go,” he tells the Ender.

Her muscles are tensed; I can see the outline of her biceps bulge as she clutches the sword tighter. The fire flickers but doesn’t go out. Her whole form is trembling, but she doesn’t give in.

“I’m only here for Seymour, and he’s earned it,” she grits out.

Feral looks down at me, and he must see the answer in my eyes.

He blinks, eyes going dim again.

I gasp, clawing at my throat like I’m a stranger to air.

“She wasn’t trying to hurt me,” I manage.

“I’m sorry, Leena. I saw the sword and I was trying to help.”

I scramble away from Seymour, duck under the Ender’s sword, and make my way to Feral.

“It’s all right. I need to get to Starla,” I tell him.

There’s a shout, and we both spin. The Ender and Seymour are gone, but Seymour’s fourth wife is still on the floor, mouth agape.

The interaction is one of the strangest I’ve ever had, and I wish I could thank the woman for helping me gather another clue.

Even if it’s one that I dread sharing with my best friend.

22

FRIENDS FOREVER

Feral agrees to help the injured woman make her way downstairs.

“I’ll get her some assistance. Actually, I’ll refer her to Never’s vampsion.”

I agree. The Were hosts plenty of self-defense courses similar to what Starla and I went through a few months ago. No doubt my own fighting skills would be better if we’d stayed longer.

Overall, a good plan. Even if I fear the Were may come on a bit strong.

We part ways as I head down the correct hallway for the office.

I’m not even sure what to do. We have a lot of answers now. Does that mean we can confront the councilman, or at least be more direct in our attempts to get clarification?

My best guess is that Claude’s family has been aligned with Councilman Taylor’s, if not now then in the past. Maybe there was an alliance at some point, and that’s why both families use the crest.

I stand down the hall from the office, straining to hear anything.

I have half-decided to pound on the door, claiming I was directed to the office by a member of staff, when the door creaks as the handle is depressed. I hear Starla’s voice as a crack appears in the door, breaking the seal and the magic.