Waterfire Saga, Book Three: Dark Tide: A Deep Blue Novel (28 page)

Nights were the hardest. That was when thoughts and memories crowded in. She and Des would untack Elskan, allow her to hunt—as they’d done just now—and give her a rubdown when
she returned. Then they’d set up camp, eat, and sleep.

Except that Astrid usually couldn’t sleep. She’d sit up and watch fish swim to the surface to feed, let a little blue crab crawl up her arm, or gaze at a lion’s mane jellyfish
drifting by, all the while thinking about Kolfinn and how Rylka had murdered him. And her heart would ache with sorrow and burn with fury.

She admired Des—he was Des to her now—and respected him, and wished to the gods she could tell him her secret. It was hard to keep trying to hide it. She had to constantly invent
excuses to explain why she didn’t songcast an illuminata or a camo spell when they needed one.

But she was afraid to reveal the truth. She knew the day was coming when she’d
have
to tell him—and Sera, Neela, and everyone else—and she dreaded it. What if Kolfinn
had been right? What if
no one
wanted a mermaid without magic?

“Elskan’s hungry tonight,” Des said now, pulling Astrid out of her thoughts.

“So am I,” Astrid said. “We only have a few bunches of squid eggs left. I hope the foraging’s decent here.”

About half an hour ago, they’d found a large metal shipping container lying on the seafloor broken in two, its colorful but inedible contents spilling out, and had decided to shelter
inside it for the night. Sunken containers weren’t uncommon. Rough seas sometimes knocked them off the decks of ships.

Tomorrow morning they’d resume their journey to the Kargjord. Only they were making one stop on the way—at the Qanikkaaq. Sera had asked her to get the black pearl, hoping that
Vallerio or Mfeme hadn’t beaten them to it, and Astrid had refused. But that was before Kolfinn had been murdered. Before she’d become an outlaw. Before Des. Before she’d decided
to follow the current Vr
ă
ja had set out for her.

Without the black pearl there was no defeating Abbadon. And Astrid knew now that killing the monster, and besting those who were trying to free it, was the only way to save Ondalina. She’d
told Des what she wanted to do and he’d immediately offered to help.

“I saw what I think was a water apple orchard a little ways back. Just before we stopped to untack Elskan,” he said now. “Want to go see if I’m right?”

Astrid nodded. She started to follow him, then halted and frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

“I—I don’t know. Do you hear something?”

Des listened, then shook his head. “Do you?”

“It sounds like a voice.”

Des’s hand went to the hilt of his sword. He turned in a slow circle, a wary look on his face. “I don’t see anyone,” he said.

“I don’t, either,” said Astrid. She heard the noise again. “I think it’s in my head, Des.”

“Is it a convoca?”

“I think so. This happened to me once before, when I was with Becca. I thought I was losing my mind, but it turned out to be your sister. That might be what I’m hearing
now.”

“Where were you the last time it happened?

“In Atlantica.”

“No, I mean were you near anything that enhances magic? On the surface, in moonlight? Near whalefall?”

Astrid snapped her fingers. “Yes, I was! I was in a whale cemetery.”

“Maybe we’re close to one,” Des said, looking around. “Forget the water apples for now.” He nodded at a hill ahead. “Let’s see what’s behind
that.”

“Hang on a sec,” Astrid said. “Speaking of whales…where did Elskan go?”

Des pointed up above them. The orca was breaching. As she hit the water, then dove, Astrid cupped her hands around her mouth.

“Elskan!” she shouted. “ELSKAN!”

The orca rolled over like a big black-and-white barrel. With her belly facing the surface, she peered down at Astrid.

“Don’t. Go.
Far!
”

Elskan snorted. She righted herself, flipped her tail, and sped off.

“Unbelievable,” Astrid said, shaking her head.

“She’ll be back,” Des said.

The two mer swam toward the craggy seamount, crested the top, and dove down.

“Look,” Des said, pointing to his right. “Over there.”

“Good eyes,” Astrid said. About seventy yards away was the corpse of a large humpback. Scavengers—fish, crabs, and worms—were picking it clean.

Astrid and Des sped toward the whalefall, but as they drew close, Astrid realized that something else was crouched over the carcass—something pale and wraithlike.

Her heart lurched. She grabbed Des’s arm, stopping him short.

“Why are we—” he started to say.

Astrid shook her head. She held a finger to her lips and tried to back away quietly, pulling him with her. But it was too late.

The creature looked up. Its white eyes fastened on them. Using its long, clawed hands, it scrabbled over the rotting whale toward them. Ragged seaweed ropes that were entangled with the bodies
of dead mer and drowned terragoggs trailed after it.

“What the—” Des started to say.

“It’s an EisGeist,” Astrid replied, pulling her sword from its scabbard. “Get ready for a fight.”

T
HE SPECTER SCUTTLED closer. Its gray hair floated crazily around its head. Its white lips curled into a snarl, revealing teeth as jagged and sharp
as shards of glass.

“Don’t let it near you, Des!”

“As if!” Des said, holding his sword out in front of him.

“It strangles its victims and drags them around until they rot. It eats bones.”

“Astrid, I
so
don’t care! Just tell me how to kill it!” Des shouted, saucer-eyed.

“You
can’t
kill it! It’s a spirit,” Astrid shouted back.

“Great! That’s just
great
! What do I do?”

“I’ll draw it to me. When I do, cut the seaweed. Make like you’re going to steal its swag.”

Des eyed a dead gogg in a wetsuit. “Ugh, really?”

“It’ll try to knot the ropes back together. When it does, we bolt.”

Astrid advanced on the EisGeist. It crouched low, ready to spring at her.

Astrid…

That wasn’t Des. It was another voice. Inside Astrid’s head. It was stronger now, because she was so close to whalebones.

“You have
got
to be joking,” she said.

Astrid, it’s me
…

“Yeah, I
know
. Not now, Sera, okay? I’m right in the middle of something!”

“What did you say?” Des shouted. He was close to the EisGeist now.

“Nothing. Cut the ropes!”

The EisGeist, clever and quick, wheeled around and advanced on Des. It had purposely let him come close so it could attack him.

“Hey! HEY!” Astrid shouted. She rushed at the creature, hacking at it with her sword. The blade went right through it, but the ghost must’ve felt something because it turned,
growling, and rushed at her.

“The
ropes
, Des! Cut the ropes,” Astrid shouted.

“I can’t! I think they’re enchanted!” Des yelled.

Astrid…are you there?

“Not NOW, Sera,” Astrid said, through gritted teeth.

The EisGeist wheeled around and moved toward Des. Astrid saw her opening and attacked, but the ghost was only feinting. It turned suddenly, wrapped its hands around the hilt of Astrid’s
sword, and wrenched it away from her. Then it thrust the blade at her, missing her head by a hairsbreadth.

Astrid tried to get away from it, but the ghost had forced her up against an outcropping of rock. She had nowhere to go.

The EisGeist raised the sword over its head, ready to bring the blade down on Astrid, but before it could, there was a black-and-white blur in the water. Elskan slammed into the specter,
knocking the sword out of its hands.

The ghost screeched and spun around. It swiped at Elskan. Its long claws raked gashes in the orca’s side. She roared in pain, turned in the water, and charged again.

“Elskan, the ropes!” Astrid shouted.

At the last second, Elskan swerved from the ghost to the seaweed. She opened her mouth wide and bit down hard on the thick ropes, cutting them in two. The EisGeist’s enchantment was no
match for the whale’s magic and her lethally sharp teeth.

Des was right behind the whale. He grabbed the ends of the ropes that were attached to the treasure, twisted them together, and whistled for Elskan. She turned and sped back.

The EisGeist, unaware it had been separated from its hoard, was scurrying toward Astrid once again.

“Go, Elskan! Fast as you can, girl! Dump it and come back!” Des told the whale.

The ghost lunged at Astrid, ready to grab her by the throat, but Elskan shook the ropes, rattling the bones caught up in it.

The EisGeist turned and snarled. Elskan backed up slowly, luring the specter away from Astrid. The orca shook the ropes again, then streaked away.

Shrieking with rage, the EisGeist rushed after the whale. It was fast, but Elskan was faster.

“Is it gone?” Astrid asked Des, panting.

ASTRID!

Astrid winced. Her hands went to her ears. “Do you
always
have to be so loud?”

Desiderio blinked. “I didn’t even say anything.”

“Not you….”

What’s happening? Are you all right?
Sera asked anxiously.

“We just fought off an EisGeist,” Astrid replied.

“Yeah, I know that. I was here,” Des said.

Are you all right? Is there someone with you?

“I’m…uh…I’m not familiar with the songspell for convocas,” Astrid said, desperately hoping Sera wouldn’t ask her to songcast. “Is there some way of
including a mer who’s nearby?” She glanced at Des.

Take her hands. Sometimes that works,
Sera advised.

“It’s a he.”

She offered her hands to Des. He gave her a quizzical look, but took them. A warmth flooded through her at his touch.

She told herself it was just the convoca and closed her eyes. Des did the same. They immediately saw each other in the convoca. So did Sera.

“Des!” Sera cried. Her hands flew to her mouth. Neela and Yazeed flickered and faded. Sera quickly grabbed for them again.

“Hey, little sister. Is that you?” Des said. He was trying to sound cool, but Astrid could hear the emotion in his voice.

Sera tried to answer him, but she was overcome by tears. When she could finally speak again, she said, “I was so worried, Des.”

“Astrid got me out of the Citadel’s dungeons. She saved my life.”

“Th-thank you, Astrid,” Sera said, her voice hitching. “Thank you so much.”

“Her own life’s in danger now,” said Desiderio. “She can’t go home. Rylka wants her dead.”

“That’s wonderful!” said Sera.

“Yeah, it…Wait—
what?
” Astrid said, scowling.

“Since you can’t stay in Ondalina, you’ll have to come here. Join us, Astrid,” Sera urged.

“It just so happens that I’m on my way,” Astrid said, pleased that Sera still wanted her. “Des and I both.”

“I’m so happy to hear that!” Sera said. “Where are you? When will you be here?”

“We’re in the Greenland Sea. We should be there in three or four days. We’re going to the Qanikkaaq first.”

Sera’s smile dropped away. “No! Don’t! Just come to the Karg,” she pleaded.

Astrid blinked. “Did I just hear you correctly?” she asked. “The last time we talked, you
begged
me to go to the Qanikkaaq!”

“Now I’m begging you not to. Vallerio’s sent death riders to the Mississippi and Cape Horn. That’s why I convoca’d you. In case you changed your mind about the
Qanikkaaq. I’m scared he might send death riders to the maelstrom, too. You and Des could be taken.”

“What else is new, Sera?” Astrid said.

“We’ll be okay,” Des assured his sister. “We’ll keep an eye out for Vallerio’s soldiers. Astrid told me about the talismans and everything else. We’re
close to the Qanikkaaq now. We might not get another chance to see if the pearl’s still there.”

Sera nodded unhappily. “Be careful, both of you. Please,” she said. “Astrid, I know how good you are with your sword, but use your magic, too, okay? You’re going to need
everything you’ve got.”

Astrid looked away.
Tell her,
a voice inside her urged.
Tell her now before you get yourself killed. And Des, too.

But Astrid couldn’t make the words come. She was too afraid. And even if she could, it was too late. The convoca was over. Sera was gone. Astrid released Des’s hands.

“Sera’s right,” Des said thoughtfully. “We’ll need every bit of magic we can muster to deal with the Qanikkaaq,” Des said. “It’s the biggest,
ugliest maelstrom in all the waters. How’s your stilo spell? Can you throw a decent frag?”

“I’ve got to find Elskan,” Astrid said briskly.

“I’ll go with you.”

“It’s okay. I’ve got it.”

Des looked puzzled by her suddenly curt tone. “Hey, Astrid, what’s up?”

“Nothing. I’m cool.”

“Yeah, I’ll say. Like, icy cool.” Des gave her a look, but then softened. “Are you worried about the maelstrom? Is that it? I’m not going to let you do this alone.
I’ll help you. We’re in this together.”

Astrid couldn’t look at him. “Sure, Des,” she said. “Thanks.”