“Sure, I can summon the palace from here.” In the movie of my life, that statement comes out as bold and badass. In reality, my voice squeaks with worry.
Really slick, Lianna.
Namare told me all about the Water Palace, but I’ve never been there. As a thrax, they wouldn’t let me through the doors. I’ve never met most of the Water Valta, either. Now, I need to summon the palace and announce myself to the Valta. With their energy, I can claim my crown. This is what I’ve been training for years to do, so why do I want to run for cover?
Maxon gives my hand a squeeze. “Want to come back later?” His voice steadies me.
“No, I’ll do this now.” I give him a shaky smile. “Just don’t let go of my hand.”
“You got it, beautiful.”
My mouth starts moving on its own. “It’s not what you think.”
He raises his brows.
“Well, it is but…” I blush something fierce. “I mean, you’ll drown if you let go. Unless you can walk on water, I mean.”
“Not one of my powers, no.” He gives me one of his dimple smiles.
“Okay, then.” I inhale a steadying breath. “We’re off.”
Closing my eyes, I change into my monarkki form and raise my free arm, just like Namare taught me. Instantly, a light rain pours onto the nearby surf. Within seconds, the droplets stream into the shape of two Palace Wardens. Their clear bodies are visible as shimmering streaks of water, like rain on a windowpane. From what I can tell, these guards wear heavy armor and spiked helmets. They’re not easy to see, but that’s all part of the elemental plan. We excel at hiding.
“Who summons us?” asks the first guard.
“Lianna, Namare’s chosen apprentice.” I summon blue light to shimmer across my skin, just to make the point clear. “I wish to visit the Water Palace.”
The second guard glares at Maxon. “What is this human doing here?”
“He’s my guest.”
“I’m also far from human.” Maxon snaps his fingers and a half dozen lightning bolts strike the ground around us in rapid fire. The guards outright gasp, which is mighty encouraging. I straighten my shoulders with newfound confidence. Maxon gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. I can’t help but smile.
Together, we head toward the open ocean, our feet suspended on the water’s surface with every step. This is another trick I learned from Namare.
Once we’re well away from shore, I raise my free arm high.
“Open the gates,” I command.
Before us, the water bubbles and churns. The first thing to rise from the ocean is a spire of blue stone. After that, the rest of the castle follows. It’s a cone-shaped structure with ridged lines of rock that end in a single peak. It reminds me of a huge conch shell pointed toward the sky. A large arched doorway opens before us.
“Nice place you got here,” says Maxon.
“Wait until we get past the door. I’ve only seen pictures. It’s supposed to be mighty fancy.”
“You’ve never been inside before?”
“No, elementals keep to themselves. Like I said before, it’s one of the first things I plan to change once I’m officially crowned.”
As we step through the main doorway, Maxon keeps up the steady rhythm of his thumb over my knuckles. It still gets my stomach flipping.
“So you know,” I say. “You don’t have to hold my hand once we’re inside the palace.”
“Not letting go, beautiful.” He gives me the barest of winks. “Safety reasons, you know.”
I smile from ear to ear. “Right.”
We stroll into a large reception arcade made of blue crystal. The space is massive and cone-shaped, with a huge base that ends in a tiny, far-off peak. A wide walkway corkscrews along the walls. Water elementals of all kinds roam up and down this winding path. Some look like humanoid fish, while others are little more than swirls of sentient liquid with faces. They’re all beautiful.
A ripple of awareness moves through the crowd. One by one, the elementals stop whatever they’re doing. All turn to stare at me with amazement. Some whisper ‘Your Eminence’ in reverent tones. Their blue skin glows with joy. My heart warms as their happiness becomes my own.
They’ve been waiting for me.
A small figure races across the floor. It’s a boy with pale skin, cropped green hair, and ocean-blue eyes. He wears a miniature set of the scaled armor worn by all Valta. I smile.
It’s Esau.
He stops before me. “Hey.”
I kneel down before him. “Hey.”
“You’re the lady in the waterfall.”
“I am.”
Up close, I can see dark marks on his skin. My voice lowers with concern. “What happened to your arm?”
Esau quickly hides his arm behind his back. “It’s fine. Namare will come around to heal me.”
“Let me see,” I say, gently coaxing him to move his arm forward again. He does. What I see brings the sour taste of dismay to my mouth. The marks are small, striated, and gray.
“Were you playing in the Dark Lands?” The waters of the ghoul kingdom carry all sorts of disease for our kind, even when Namare was cleansing them regularly.
Esau cringes with fear. “I won’t do it again, I swear.”
“What is it?” asks Maxon.
I take care to keep my voice low. I don’t want to frighten Esau any more than he is already. “River Pox.”
“Is it…” Maxon pauses. He doesn’t need to say the word ‘deadly.’
I nod, my eyes stinging with grief. In the first stages of River Pox, Esau will feel fine, apart from his rash. It’s only in the later phases that the rash turns into angry, painful welts. And then?
I shudder, forcing the image of the last stages of River Pox from my mind.
That won’t happen to Esau. I won’t allow it.
Esau lowers his voice to a whisper. “Everyone says that Namare is gone. They don’t know anything. She’s coming to help me. She promised.”
A voice booms across the quiet arcade. “Esau! Come here!”
Rising to stand, I survey the crowd. On instinct, my hand finds Maxon’s again. Water Valta now surround Maxon and me. Their fish-like faces all look grim.
They’re ready for a fight.
“Sorry, Dad!” calls Esau. He runs toward the line of soldiers, hiding behind one of the Water Valta, a spindly guy with a tentacle moustache. That must be Esau’s father.
“He’s sick,” I say. “I can heal him.”
Fisk steps out from the group, his handsome face lined with rage. His gaze moves between Maxon and me. For a long time, he glares hot daggers at our entwined fingers.
I shift my weight nervously from foot to foot before turning to Maxon. “Maybe you should go,” I whisper.
“You want me to leave?”
“No.”
“Then, I’m staying.” He fixes me with a look of stony resolve. “Just tell me how you want to play it here. This is about getting your crown, Lianna.”
Under Maxon’s gaze, my shoulders straighten. He’s right. Why send him away just because it makes Fisk uncomfortable? I’m the monarkki. Setting my fists on my hips, I scan the arcade in a way that I hope looks regal.
Fisk still stands across from us, immobile as if he were carved from stone. He wears his Valta armor with its blue metal scales. Signets of office mark his shoulders, holding a long, sapphire-colored cape down his back. He marches forward and pauses before us. His handsome face is twisted into an angry snarl. “You were holding his hand.”
“I’m alive, Fisk. Nice to see you, too.”
And there goes the regal act, right out the window.
Fisk rounds on Maxon. “And who are you?”
I raise my hand palm forward, in the universal sign for ‘stop right there.’ “It’s my role to make introductions, Fisk.” Even so, I decide to go through everything at double-speed. Something tells me I don’t want these two spending lots of quality time together. “Fisk, Maxon. Maxon, Fisk.
”
Fisk’s skin glimmers with blue light. He’s really getting himself worked up. “Why do you bring a mortal among us? His presence defiles this sacred place.”
Great. Fisk goes pompous and nasty, right off the bat.
Maxon hitches his thumbs into the pockets of his body armor. He’s the picture of cool menace.
It’s an effort to keep my voice calm. “Maxon isn’t just any mortal. He’s the High Prince of the thrax, the Scala Heir and…” I turn to him. “What else am I missing?”
Maxon shrugs, and even that movement is somehow threatening. “I’m second in line to the throne of Furonium.” He does one of his chin-nods toward Fisk. “And you are?”
“General of the Valta,” replies Fisk. “It’s my job to rule the water elementals until a new monarkki is crowned.” His mouth thins to an angry line. “And Lianna is my girl.”
All the elementals gasp. Maxon’s brows lift ever so slightly. At this point, I’d really like a do-over on the whole Fisk relationship. What was I thinking again?
Oh, yeah. Stupid hormones.
Somehow, I manage to speak in a very calm and badass voice. “That’s not true, Fisk. We’ve talked about this. Many times.”
Fisk ignores me. It’s what he always does when I’m saying something inconvenient. “She’s my girl, so back off.” He and Maxon start a full-blown staring contest.
I groan. “Fisk.”
“Make no mistake,” says Fisk. “She is mine. I took her virginity.”
Now, I outright gasp. “Fisk!”
Maxon’s tail whips behind him in a menacing rhythm. “Disrespect Lianna again like that, and I don’t care who you are. You’ll regret it.”
Fisk fingers the dagger at his waistline. “I’m not afraid of you.”
Maxon’s voice comes out as a low growl. “You should be.”
The crowd gasps again, and that’s when I decide that enough is enough.
I step closer to Fisk, taking care to block his line of sight to Maxon. “Are these Valta here to meet me?” My voice takes on a leading tone. “A casual ‘get to know you’ type thing. That’s what we discussed, right?”
“Valta don’t do casual when there are outsiders in the Palace,” says Fisk.
“It doesn’t matter who he is,” I counter. “I’m here to meet the Valta and Maxon will be present as my guest.”
“No,” growls Fisk, and his skin flares even brighter. I’ve never seen him like this.
Time for Plan B.
I turn to the Water Valta. “I am Lianna, the chosen apprentice of Namare.” Once again, I make my skin flare with blue light. “She gave her powers to me. I can wield the Kristalli.”
“Can you?” asks Fisk. “Try to summon it.”
Something in his tone sets my teeth on edge. Raising my arm, I recite the incantation to call the Kristalli. Nothing happens.
I round on Fisk. “What did you do to my stone?”
“Your stone?” asks Fisk. “Namare gave it to me for safekeeping. I’ll award it to whoever I deem worthy.” A muscle twitches along his jawline. “Whoever I deem faithful.”
“Faithful to who?” I ask. “I’ve been a faithful servant to Namare. That’s all that should matter here.”
“Zephyr said the same words to his Valta before he was crowned, and what has happened to them? All the men killed. All the boys placed in battle before they’re ready.”
“How dare you compare me to Zephyr?” Now, it’s my turn to glow a brighter shade of blue.
“Who should I liken you to?” Fisk’s voice takes on a hysterical edge. “You’re not acting like yourself. This—” He gestures between Maxon and me “Whatever it is, this pairing is insane.”
“It’s not what you think,” says Maxon.
“We were only holding hands,” I add. “You’re acting crazy.”
“Crazy? I saw the way you looked at him. The energy between you two. You never looked at me…” He shakes his head. “You’re not trustworthy and that’s all there is to it. My Valta won’t take the chance.”
A grumble of agreement passes through the Valta.
Fisk turns to face his men. “No crowning ceremony will take place today. Namare is gone. I don’t know when we will have a new monarkki.”
Rumbles of dissent instantly move through the Valta. A pang of shock twists up my throat. They all agree with him. The Valta would really rather have no monarkki than one who might treat them like Zephyr.
My surprise quickly hardens into anger. “And what the Valta want, they do, regardless of the other elementals?”
“It’s our role to ensure the right monarkki is crowned.”
“At what expense?” I gesture to the civilian water elementals who stand assembled behind the Valta. “Our people need healing. Their waters require fresh energy. Who are you to deny them?” The crowd quickly takes up the call.
“My father needs a cure,” says one voice.
“The Lake of Dreams must be cleansed,” adds another.
Esau’s voice gets added to the mix. He peeps out from behind his father’s leg and pulls on the Valta’s armor. “But Namare is coming. She said that she’d heal me.”
His father’s moustache droops in sadness. “Stay back, son.”
The crowd’s rumbling grows louder. Excitement zings across my skin. Even if Fisk has his issues, the people want me as their monarkki.
“Silence!” calls Fisk.
The voices grow louder. I see my chance and take it.
“You mourned Namare,” I say. “Respect her wishes and make me your monarkki.” I turn to the Valta. “Adjourn to the Hall of Fountains. The ceremony begins now.”
The time for meet-and-greet is over. These are soldiers. They understand two things: Orders and strength.
A muscle twitches by Fisk’s eye. “No one commands the Valta but me.” He raises his arms. “Valta, take formation!”
Soldiers appear along the winding pathway to the castle’s peak. They hold crossbows. All the bolts point at my chest.
Fisk rounds on me. “Now, you go.”
Deadly silence hangs in the air. I run through my options. I have Namare’s power, sure. Somehow, I doubt that taking down the Water Valta in front of a crowd won’t win me any points. I can’t settle this with death.
So what can I do?
Quiet cries echo through the vast space. Looking over, I see Esau’s face buried in his father’s leg. His shoulders quake with sobs.
Suddenly, I know exactly how to handle this. Not with death, but with life.
“Cover me,” I say to Maxon.
“You got it.”
Leaning down, I set my hand on the crystal floor. I need to try and heal Esau. Blue light flows out from my fingertips and across the stone. The elemental power makes a straight path to the boy. There it stops.
The room seems to pause as well. Everyone stares at the sick child. My healing energy is only inches away from him. Since I’m not yet connected to my people, I can’t heal him without touching him.
“See this?” I say. “I can’t help this child because of the Water Valta.” I fix Esau’s father with a glare. “You can link me to your child right now, just as all the Water Valta could link me to my people by supporting my coronation. How can you stand there?”
Still, no one in the chamber seems to move, maybe even breathe. The energy’s turning my way. A rush of excitement swirls through my mind.
“Connect me to Esau. Connect me to our people.”
Esau slips his hand into his father’s. “Please, Daddy?”
That does it. Esau’s father sets his palm onto the floor, where my elemental power waits. Instantly, the blue light crawls into Esau’s father body. His armor glows bright as the energy moves across him and into Esau. The child’s skin also glows sapphire-bright.
Soft gasps echo through the crowd. Everyone watches as the dark marks on Esau’s skin disappear. And for a moment, a rush of energy moves through my soul. It’s the power that comes from being linked t
o another elemental. The truth rises from the depths of my consciousness.
Being together makes us all stronger.
I rise to stand. For someone who hates speeches, I know exactly what to say.
“We’re already connected,” I declare. “My energy is your energy. Your pain strikes my heart as well. We can be separated and weak, or we can join together and become strong. Fearing Zephyr will not bring you a good ruler. Linking together will. Whenever you’re ready to take that step, I’m ready, too.”
With that, I take Maxon’s hand and head toward the door. No one moves to stop us, and I suppose that’s the most I can expect at this point. We step outside. Moonlight glints off the ocean as we walk across the water. Behind us, the Water Palace disappears into the sea once again.
The calm evening waters reflect starlight and moonlight. Their beauty should be soothing. Instead, hot rage burns through my belly.
“How can the Valta be so bullheaded?” I bellow. “I will not turn into another Zephyr.”
My fingers itch to do something, anything. On reflex, I conjure columns of waterspouts. They surround Maxon and me in a great circle. The liquid shoots high into the air, holds weightless for a moment, and then crashes down onto the dark ocean.
Maxon stands beside me, still holding my hand, still the image of cool. “That helping?”
“Not enough.”
Giving up on the waterspouts, I summon a line of liquid bombs to explode high in the air. After that, I create a great curling wave that crashes across the ocean in a huge rolling line. The sight reminds me of the element’s ultimate power. Water is eternal. And that’s a very calming thought. Finally, I get my head together and return my focus to Maxon.
I hadn’t been paying him much attention—okay, I hadn’t paid him any—and now I’m wondering if he thinks I’m a psycho.
“So.” I rock on my heels, making my toes splash in the water. “You probably have a lot of questions about that, uh, display.”
Maxon tilts his head. It’s like he walks on water all the time with strange women who create waterspouts and have stalker ex-boyfriends who happen to be elementals.
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