“Mei Mei?”
For a moment, she doubted what her ears were telling her. That couldn’t possibly be…no. But the gruff sound of the voice, with that gravelly edge to it, she’d only ever met one person who sounded quite like that. Turning her head by degrees, she looked behind her.
And saw him.
“Abe?”
Her mentor, father, and friend’s face lit up with a smile, barely discernible under his thick beard. He looked a little thinner, a little paler, his usual dusky skin more cream now. His clothes were the same he’d worn when she’d last seen him, two years ago, now more tattered and faded. But those blue eyes were just as sharp as they’d always been.
In four giant strides, he reached her, hauling her in for a tight hug. She returned it just as fiercely, tears of relief and joy leaking from the corners of her eyes. It felt like her heart would beat its way out of her chest out of pure happiness. The man she’d all but given up for lost, for dead, was right here with her.
He pulled back and gave her a watery smile, tears running over his creased cheeks unchecked. “You look well, Mei Li. I’m so relieved to see that. Even if you’re caught in the same trap as me.”
“You’re looking well, too. How long have you—I thought you were—have you been here the whole time?”
“Not here, here. I’ve been moved around on the sea floor quite a bit. Bored out of my skull. Maybe a little stir crazy from sitting around for so long. Mad that I’m locked up without any cause. But yes, I’m well.”
She was relieved to hear it, relieved right down to her bones. Another shiver wracked her, and she reached for the pack still strapped to her waist. She really had to do something about this before she froze to death like a popsicle.
“I’m not sure if I want to ask or not, but I feel compelled to, anyway…what trap?”
Abe sighed, a century’s worth of sighs all at once, and shot the surrounding water a disgruntled look. He was angry, but the anger was so old now that it was worn along the edges, and he didn’t have the energy to do much with it.
“Do you remember mention of a water deity that had gone mad in Thibault—Tanguay, as it’s known now—and how he was sealed by a Tomes?”
“I remember vividly, since I was there.” Mei Li dragged her pouch around to her front, rummaging inside it. Fortunately, the pouch had water-resistance and preservation spells on it, so even after being dunked in the ocean, the paper was still dry. She pulled out a sheet, a drying charm, and used it on herself so she wasn’t sitting there in sopping wet clothes. It also warmed her up a little, so she could speak without her teeth chattering.
Abe blinked at her. “What?”
Waving this away, she urged him, “Continue. Gong was the deity. Why?”
“Oh. Yes, do explain that bit later. But Gong carries quite the grudge, it seems. He felt my presence when I hit the water—my ship was in a bad storm, and I was swept overboard. He immediately kidnapped me and has been carting me about the continent in this air bubble for the past…how long have I been here?”
“A little over two years.” Mei Li cast her own dark look at the surrounding waters. “Gong, eh? Always such a troublemaker. Has he been collecting any mages in the waters, or just Tomes?”
“I don’t know how he’d know the difference.”
“Well, he must be able to. Because I’ve had groups of mages in and out of the ocean for weeks, now, as we worked on different projects. And none of them were kidnapped. Just me and you.”
“Huh.” Abe pondered that for a second. “It’s true, that’s too coincidental to dismiss. I do wonder how he’s doing it, though. Now, go back and explain that comment. You were there?”
“Well, Abe, I can answer that question. But it’ll be easier if I start from the beginning.”
“You might as well catch me up,” he encouraged with a sad smile. “We’ve got nothing but time. In the two years I’ve been down here, I haven’t found a way to escape him.”
And that said something. Abe’s intellect was one of the sharper ones, compared to the other Tomes. He’d been picked for a very good reason. Mei Li would have been dismayed by this, except that she had an ace up her sleeve. She picked up Abe’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“We have something going for us. A group of people saw me dragged down here. They’ll know it was unnatural. The water was being held back to begin with—that’s why I was there investigating. And Shunlei will not rest until he’s gotten me back safely.”
“Shunlei the Black?” Abe’s head canted slightly. “You think so?”
“Again,” she repeated, amused, “let me start from the beginning. It’ll be far easier to explain that way. But don’t lose hope. Rather, my appearance might well save you.”
“Let me sit down,” he said. “I have a feeling it’ll be a whopper of a story. Alright, and where is the beginning?”
“When I left Overlook. Because I, too, was shipwrecked. But I can catch you up later. Let’s get out of here first.”
Abe gave a fervent nod. “Yes, please. I am deathly tired of being down here. I’m not entirely sure how to manage it, however. Am I off the shore of Horvath?”
Mei Li shook her head. “Kovel. I came down immediately after Odom to deal with Kovel Below. The city is in terrible shape right now, Abe. We’ve lost about half of it.”
He winced, looking pained. “That’s truly not good. No wonder you were an easy target, though. The sea channels need work, so you were down at sea level.”
“Got it in one. I felt like I was tricked into coming down to sea level, in fact.” Mei Li glared suspiciously at the water around her. She had a feeling that was precisely what had happened. It was all too suspicious.
She really wanted to sit down and properly talk with Abe. Not get to business like this. But part of her mind gibbered in warning. Shunlei had no idea she was alright. He’d been fighting the fallen deity just out of sight of the docks, so he hadn’t seen her fall in, but she had no doubt someone had instantly reported to him when she failed to come back up. Part of her insisted on getting out of here, immediately—before Shunlei suffered heart failure and did something rash trying to find her.
“That’s quite possibly the case. Now, go back for a moment with me,” said Abe. “We started this conversation because you mentioned that you were there when the water deity was defeated.”
“Gong was mad, even then,” she explained, still glaring at the ocean forming a perfect bubble over her head. “They’d stopped worshipping him in Thibault, for whatever reason, and it drove him over the edge. We tried to seal him. Tried being the operative word. It wasn’t going very well when his brother, an earth deity of that region, popped up and demanded to know what we were doing. When we explained, he took Gong with him to Mother, to let her straighten him out.”
“Ah. Hence why the record was so slim on the details. You didn’t really seal him.”
“We made a hash of it, in fact. Turns out sealing a water deity is something of a trick.”
Abe snorted. “As I’ve learned. I thought, at first, he was a demon of some sort. I tried sealing him with the talismans I had on me. I very quickly failed. I didn’t dare use my blood or clothing until I could figure out where I had gone wrong. I’ve spent months thinking about it without coming up with an answer. Of course, now it makes sense. I wasn’t dealing with a demon at all. My approach was all wrong. Did you call on the earth deity? Or he just appeared?”
“He appeared on his own.” Mei Li looked around consideringly. She was starting to see what Abe was driving at. “You think we should do the same thing here?”
“It worked the first time, didn’t it? And we know for a fact this is outside the limits of our power.”
“That’s true, but I don’t remember his name. I don’t think it was ever said.” Mei Li pondered for a moment. “And I don’t think it would be useful here, anyway. Surely there is another earth deity in this region. Isn’t it Veles?”
“Indeed, it is.�
� Abe rubbed his hands together, that light in his eye meaning he’d just found a good way to stir up some mischief—and would enjoy every second thoroughly. “Mei Li, do you happen to have any blank talismans on you?”
She grinned, ready to join him in mischief. “I do, indeed. I have a plethora. How do you plan to call Veles?”
“I’ll ask nicely, the first time. If we don’t get a response in a half hour or so, I say we repeatedly hit the earth with a strong, concussive force.”
“Wake him up, one way or another, eh? I’m alright with this tactic.” Mei Li pulled out the talismans and handed several over to him, along with ink and a pen.
Abe took them reverently, a wistful nostalgia on his face. “I haven’t had paper in so long. It’s been so incredibly boring down here. Although I’ve gotten quite good at building sandcastles.”
Mei Li grimaced in sympathy. “The village that first rescued me, they wouldn’t let me have paper or do anything constructive for the two years I was stuck there. I understand precisely what you mean. It was deathly boring. And you’re probably starved for real conversation, too.”
“Oh yes, no question on that. Gong came by regularly to drop off food and fresh water. And to gloat, but all he did was rant at me. It wasn’t what one would call a stimulating conversation. And I definitely want something to eat that isn’t fish or kelp.” Abe’s expression and tone turned flat. “I will never eat tuna again in my life.”
She laughed outright. “I don’t blame you. Let’s get you out of here. I’ll find you a steak with all the trimmings.”
“I’m truly blessed by my apprentice.” Cracking his neck to either side like a fighter getting ready to go into the ring, Abe put pen to paper. “Mei Li, do you by chance remember that Veles rules over more than the earth in this area?”
It took a second, but the light dawned. “Doesn’t he rule over the waters, too? Wait, does that mean the oceans are under his control in this area?”
“I believe so. And if that’s the case, Gong is encroaching on another god’s territory.”
Mei Li let out a low whistle. “Do you know, I’m really delighted to hear that?”
“I thought you might be. Personally, I’d pit a sane god against a mad one any day of the week.” Abe finished the talisman with a flourish, the smile on his face truly ferocious. Like a feral wolf that had spotted prey. “Let’s see how Veles feels about another god encroaching on his territory, shall we?”
“Oh, by all means, let’s.”
With matching smiles, they looked at each other.
And then Abe put the talisman flat on the ground, activating it with his power, and called.
All they had to do was wait. Hopefully Veles would answer, and quickly.
“Well, my apprentice, while we wait, tell me more about what’s going on above the surface. I’m dying for any and all news.”
Mei Li saw no problem with getting him up to speed. After being stuck under the ocean for two years, he was very out-of-date and probably dying for something to do. In his shoes, Mei Li had actively reached for the first activity she could think of. Doing something constructive had eased the frustration of sitting around pointlessly for over two years. Abe would be no different. Well, he’d probably be hungrier for the work.
And heaven knew, there was plenty of that to go around.
Veles answered, alright.
He walked out of the water and onto their dry bubble of land with a distinct stomp. The god of earth and water was not having a good day, apparently. He looked vaguely human, but his head was wet, wooly, and bearded with a sort of deerish shape to it. He dressed like a farmer, in fact.
Then again, one of the other things he ruled over was harvest.
“Why would you invade my waters and then summon me down here?” Veles demanded.
Abe stepped a half foot forward, hands spread. “It’s not that we invaded your territory, Veles. We were kidnapped by Gong and imprisoned here. We have no way of escaping and plead with you for aid.”
The god stopped short, eyeing them again with more interest. “Kidnapped by Gong…who is Gong?”
“A mad water god from farther north,” Mei Li explained. She decided not to get into the whole explanation of why Gong had a grudge against them just yet.
“Ah!” Veles shook a fist above his head. “You know the one who has been terrorizing my area? I’ve been chasing him for days now, never quite able to catch him. He’s disturbed my tides, scared off all the fish in the area, and now you tell me he’s kidnapping people and placing them on my land? Unforgivable. I’ll have his head for this!”
Mei Li liked Veles. A lot.
Proving that more than two years of lounging about hadn’t dulled Abe’s wits, he immediately offered, “If you’re chasing him, I’m sure you’re frustrated. Why don’t you use us for bait? He checks on me once a day, providing food and water, so he’s somewhere nearby. Make enough of a disturbance here and he’s bound to come.”
“You speak wisdom, mage. I think this plan will work. I will wrap you in an air bubble separate from his so that even if this area is destroyed, you can safely rise to the top. There are people who will aid you once you reach the surface?”
“There are,” Mei Li assured him. “My dragon-husband will be quick to fetch us.”
Veles stopped and really looked at her again. “You speak of Shunlei?”
“I do.”
His eyes nearly bulged out of his head. “You’re Shunlei’s bride?!”
“I am, yes. You know Shunlei well, I take it?”
“He helped tremendously when Kovel encountered trouble, the Below rising into the Above. I was very pleased with his help.”
Mei Li chose to take a page out of her master’s playbook and quickly capitalized on this. “You’re not aware that Kovel Below has risen once again?”
Veles took in a deep breath. Let it out. His voice was flat with disbelief as he demanded, “What?”
“Some months ago, it rose again. It’s why the two of us are here; we’re trying to put Below back…well, below. Half the city is overtaken by Below right now.”
“Half…” Veles repeated in despair. “I’ve been so busy chasing this benighted god in my territory, I didn’t even notice. Let us first catch Gong. Then I will go up with you and help my city however I can.”
Mei Li beamed at him. This whole kidnapping thing was definitely turning out to her advantage. “I’m sure your people will be delighted to see you.”
“Half,” Veles repeated, expression growing disturbed. “But normally the Tomes are quick to step in and stop it from happening. I wonder why they’re not here?”
Both she and Abe raised their hands.
“We’re the Tomes,” Abe explained. “Gong kidnapped me over two years ago. Mei Li, he took today, while she was here trying to restore Kovel.”
Veles drew in a very deep breath. He did not look happy. And that was saying something, as he hadn’t looked happy before.
“So, you are here. And trying to aid my city. And this mad god, for whatever petty reason, has stopped you in your work. It was a petty reason, I trust, as the Tomes are not the type to start conflict with the gods.”
“He was flooding his own area because the people had stopped worshipping him,” Mei Li quickly explained. “I stepped in to try and stop him. He didn’t take that well.”
“Ah. Much is now explained. I will attend to this myself, but let me take you to the surface, first. It’s all well to offer yourself as bait, Tomes, but we cannot afford to take chances with you. Especially the two of you. I will take you up, then lay in wait here for Gong to trap him.”
That sounded fair to Mei Li and would probably work just as well. Gong didn’t have the wherewithal to pay attention to the details. He might not realize they were missing from this place until he was right on top of it. And Veles would be quick to react.
Veles gestured them in closer, and they came to stand at his side. Putting an arm around their shoulders, he lift
ed them swiftly past the bubble, through the water, although not a single drop touched them. He made sure a bubble of air stayed around them at all times until they broke through the water’s surface.
It disturbed Mei Li just how long that took. She counted a full minute before they hit the surface of the water. Just how far down…you know what, she wasn’t going to calculate that. No way, no sir, some questions needed to remain rhetorical.
Once upon the surface, Veles stayed upright with boots on top of the water, and then used it like a surfboard, gliding along the top with ease. Mei Li had to admit, this part was fun—the breeze whipping her hair out behind her—even if it was very cold. She was so relieved to see dry land that she didn’t care about the cold as much as she had earlier. She was bundled up for this kind of weather, after all.
They weren’t far from the docks. Gong hadn’t taken her too far away from the shore, just deep. (Not that Mei Li was thinking about the depth. Nope, not at all.) She could see people roving about the shoreline. Shunlei stood in full dragon form, looking ready to dive right into the water himself.
A dragon’s eyes were keen, indeed, built to see across great distances. He spotted them before anyone else and let out a low cry of relief.
“MEI!”
She waved a hand over her head in response. No way she had the lung power to shout above the wind. In a second, Veles had them back on the rocks, and Shunlei only needed that second to shift back to human form, quickly scrambling across the distance before catching her in a strong embrace.
Mei Li hugged him just as hard, felt him shaking, and rubbed a hand along his back soothingly. Against his chilled skin, she whispered, “I’m alright. I’m perfectly fine, in fact. Breathe, beloved.”
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