Page 70 of Tides of Shadows

Voices swelled around me. Footsteps echoed. Cassandra approached in a flurry of advisors, her face drawn tight with fury and disbelief.

“What has happened here?” she demanded.

I told her everything.

Whether she believed me or not didn’t matter to me. The black bracelets on the medic’s arms were proof enough. This was dark magic.

Her advisors erupted into arguments, voices rising, chaos reigned. I didn’t want to listen to this. I stood up and slowly began dragging my feet to get out of here.

As I walked through the Inner Court, everyone stared at me with terror. This was surely the last thing Cassandra wanted. For the entire palace to hear of healers murdering noble heirs. But perhaps it was time she set herself to work and ceased hiding the Plague from everyone.

When I entered my chambers, Mirabel began to scream, beyond all control. Brenn burst into the room, not knowing what had happened. I calmed them both, but Mirabel could not collect herself. First Cedric, now me covered in blood, it was all too much for her.

Brenn took her away while I prepared myself a bath. I peeled off the bloodstained clothes. Half my hair was matted with dried gore. I sank into the scalding water and heard only the echo of my mother’s words. Maybe she had not been so mad after all.

The next day I woke up in pain, my body protested every movement. My neck was covered in bruises like cruel adornments I couldn’t hide.

Cassandra had called a Gathering at first light. The Inner Court was already seething. Every lord in the palace seemed agitated with anger or fear, their voices carrying through the corridors.

I was on my way when an uproar rose near the main gate.

Voices, shouts, the clash of armor. A delegation. Nobles. Guards forcing back the crowd. And then, familiar colors and emblems.

“Father?” The word tore from me in disbelief.

Victor Veymaris swung down from his horse and, before I could move, folded me into an iron embrace. He smelled of sea, ships and wood; he smelled of home.

“Nerissa,” he said hoarsely and I cried out in pain from his hug.

He drew back at once, his hands gripping my shoulders as his gaze swept over me, sharp and searching.

“You are alive,” he said. “Gods be praised. You are in danger, Nerissa.”

I could only stare at him, my thoughts struggling to keep pace with his words.

His eyes dropped to my neck. The color drained from his face.

“What happened?” he demanded.

I told him everything. The infirmary. The medic. The knife. The black Elementars. He listened without interruption, his jaw tightening, his hands curling into fists at his sides. But our conversation was quickly interrupted.

“Victor Veymaris,” Cassandra said, her voice laced with contempt. “To what do we owe this honor?”

Father didn’t even move.

“Cassandra. I missed you as well. But this is no time for palace games. Time is the one thing we do not have.”

Her gaze found my neck filled with bruises. She met my father’s eyes and color fled her face. The ice queen cracked.

“Call the Small Gathering,” father said, his tone like iron. “And I would see Nicolas before we begin.”

Cassandra inclined her head without a word, which for her was most uncommon, and strode for the palace.

“Father, why are you here?” I asked.

Victor looked at me with care.

“Your mother said they would come for you. She said they are looking for you.” he said holding my face like a child. “My little girl, I didn’t wish you to hear this. But there is no road back.” He drew a long breath. “Let me change after the voyage. We sailed as swiftly as the wind would bear us. You will come with me to the Small Gathering.”