In Deeper Waters F.T. Lukens (acx book reading txt) 📖

we return to the castle, I’ll show you the finest beds in the whole kingdom. Then you’ll understand.”

Athlen laughed again. The sound echoed off the walls, and Tal would gladly have drowned in it.

“Well, until then, rest and heal.”

Tal closed his eyes and, for the first time in days, fell into a deep, restful sleep.

Tal recovered in Athlen’s cove for the next several days. His fever finally broke and his wounds slowly healed. His knee didn’t ache as badly as before, though it twinged if he stepped the wrong way. His food stayed down. The periods between his rests grew longer. And his magic came back to him, as strong and as hot as before.

In his lucid moments he came to terms with his death and with the implications of it. He ruminated over the information he had—the things he knew, the pieces that he didn’t—and came to the same conclusion again and again: Prince Emerick wanted a war with Mysten, and he had used Tal and Isa to get one. And that made Tal angry.

He also thought about the way Athlen made him feel. The shivers that started in his belly and worked their way down his limbs and into his throat. The jump of his pulse when Athlen tucked close to him at night. They hadn’t engaged in any more sessions of kisses, because Tal was distracted and Athlen was satisfied with curling next to him at night in the pile of blankets.

Standing in a shaft of sunlight, Tal flexed his hands as he and Athlen waited for Dara to return. Fire danced along his fingertips while Athlen splashed in the water nearby. Dara was reluctant to declare Tal fit for travel, and although Tal was under no obligation to follow her advice, she was integral to their plan. Neither Tal nor Athlen could leave the cavern, especially with the steep bounty Tal’s family had placed on information. They needed her to procure supplies and a horse.

Before Tal could burst from impatience, Dara squeezed through the opening, cursing as she stumbled into a pile of Athlen’s things. Tal snuffed out the flames and crossed his arms, wincing as the movement strained his injured shoulder.

“I have news,” Dara said.

Athlen swam over, tail flapping in the water. He crossed his arms on the ledge, water droplets beading along his shoulders, his copper hair flat on his head.

“Hello, Dara. How are you?”

She rolled her eyes. “Great. Here is your food.” She passed over a parcel. Tal sat on the floor and spread it out between himself and Athlen.

“This morning we heard rumors from the next town over about a procession. I went to see, and there were kingdom knights riding in a line, followed by a group of marching soldiers.”

Tal shoved a biscuit into his mouth. “Knights?”

“Yeah, and instead of flying Harth’s banner flags, they had black ones.”

“Oh. It’s a funeral procession,” Tal said around a mouthful of food. His shoulders slumped. “Though I don’t know why they’d be way out here. Custom dictates services be held wherever the person was born.”

“Could one of your brothers or sisters be with them?” Athlen asked. “We could take you to them.”

“Doubtful. But I don’t know. I was so small when my father died, and that was the last funeral I attended. I don’t much remember what happened, other than traveling to the town of his birth for his rites.” Tal bit his lip. “Did the knights give any indication as to what they were doing?”

“I don’t know. No one stopped them to ask. But I did see something you might be interested in.”

Tal lifted an eyebrow. “What?”

“Your scary bodyguard was at the head of the line.”

11

What?” Tal straightened from his slouch. “Shay? Here?”

“I think? She has the brown skin and the long brown hair. She was leading the retinue, wearing armor and riding a white horse.”

“With a braided mane?”

“I guess so.”

“That’s Shay!” Tal jumped to his feet in his excitement. “Where are they now?”

“Camped a little bit out of town. They’re heading east.”

Tal paced. “You have to contact her for me.”

Dara raised her hands. “No.”

“Yes! Tell her you have information about me. Tell her you know the boy who was on the derelict in the Great Bay. Lure her here.”

“Not here,” Athlen said. He crossed his arms over his chest as he bobbed in the water, though not defensively, protectively—as if he was hugging himself. “Not my home.”

“No, you’re right. I’m sorry. Is there somewhere nearby we can meet her? Somewhere discreet?”

“There’s an inlet not far that’s hidden by large dunes.”

Dara nodded. “I know it. But I’m not doing it! What if she skewers me?”

“She’ll recognize you,” Tal said. “She saw you when we came to your house. She has an excellent memory for detail, and she’ll follow you.”

“And if she doesn’t?”

“She will.” Tal put his hands on his hips and spun on his heel to face her. “But if she doesn’t, tell her that you know about her crush on the second prince.”

Dara’s eyes widened. “I’m not saying that!” She threw her hands in the air. “In fact, I’m not doing any of it.”

“Fine. I’ll do it.” Tal crossed his arms. “Lead me to them and I’ll lure her away. I know how.”

“Great. She won’t know it’s you, and you’ll antagonize her, and she’ll stick the pointy end of her sword through you. Then you’ll really be dead.”

Athlen’s tail slapped the water. “I’ll do it.”

“No,” they said in unison.

“I think we established what happens when you try to order me around, my prince.”

Tal dropped his arms and his shoulders slumped. He knew better than to argue. “Fine.” He raised a finger. “But we’ll do it smart and you’ll be careful.”

Athlen sprinted around the dune, legs churning, sand kicking up as he skidded in the turn. His shirt flapped behind him, and one hand held his large hat down on his head, while the other clutched a woven bag of apples. His eyes were wide, but