Page 70 of Seas the Reckoning

“I will need water from the nearest lake, creek, or river,” I say.

“I—. Why?” one of the maids asks.

Starla pulls herself up to her full height. Admittedly not much, but her eyes glow.

“Because she is a naiad, and we will be honoring her customs. Or should I tell my father and cousin that you refused his bride?”

The last two ladies scamper out of the room.

“Now it’s just our four pals out there,” she says as the door begins to slide closed.

“Five,” I correct, seeing another man at the doorway, talking to Dennis and the others.

Starla sighs, pretending to roll up her sleeves.

“Well, what’s one more?”

“What are you planning exactly?”

“You won’t like it,” she warns. “But don’t even think of singing. A tired witch is better than a dying naiad.”

“Starla, you can’t possibly be thinking of⁠—”

“Carry me. Library, remember?”

I have just a few moments to recall the passageway out, and start thinking of how far we are from that room, when Starla lifts her hands.

“Yet again, I’m thinking it’s a good thing I spent time studying spells, even though I’m rubbish at them,” she mutters before unleashing light from her hands.

There are several hard thumps outside the door, and one in our room.

“Starla!”

The witch has managed to place herself in front of a dressing table, so at least she’s fallen into a chair. Her eyes are fluttering, and she’s losing consciousness.

“I hope Dennis has a black eye when he wakes up,” she says before passing out.

I leave the witch for only a moment, checking the door. All five men are passed out. But who knows for how long, or how fast the maids will return. They might even send more people to monitor us while they’re getting the food Starla asked for.

I have no idea how I’ll make it, but I have to try.

First, I kick off my heels. They won’t do me any good. I put the shell necklace back on, so I don’t have to worry about keeping track of it while holding the witch. I can’t carry our bags, but I do stuff both our phones down the front of my dress. Uncomfortable but effective.

I scoop Starla into my arms, step over an unconscious Dennis, and run down toward the stairs.

27

FOR THE BIRDS

We hit the landing at the bottom of the stairs, and I turn from the foyer to the hall with the library.

It’s a miracle we haven’t run into anyone so far. I did spot a few individuals outside the front windows, and it looks as if the councilman has much of the staff busy preparing things for the ceremony and a dinner afterward.

Hoisting Starla against me, I reach for the library doors.

“Yes, that will be fine. I’ll meet you around front in just a moment.” I recognize the speaker, Arloc.

On the one hand, I would like his help with the necklace, but I don’t think he’s going to miss the fact that we’re obviously running out on our own weddings.