by Ashley Capes
When it ended, he knocked before entering.
Lavinia, Stefano and Fiore were all smiling where they sat around Lavinia’s small table. Her children were obviously sleeping, since they were no-where to be seen, but an adjoining door lay half-open.
“Your Majesty,” Lavinia said. “Is something wrong?”
“Perhaps. We have learnt more about Vipera and it seems there is someone directing her.” That would have to suffice for the present; it wouldn’t do to burden Fiore with the knowledge of more adversity. Though when the time came, and it would be soon, she would probably handle it well enough, considering her overall demeanour so far.
“Troubling news,” Stefano said. Like Lavinia, his voice was rich and pleasant to the ear.
“Yes. But lighten my night. What has you all smiling?”
Lavinia put an arm on Fiore’s shoulder. “Fi is trying to teach us a Song of Seeking, she wrote it herself to help her little brother find his pet ferret. We have finally learned the first few words; it’s in her own language.”
Seto raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Impressive, Fiore.”
“Thank you, sire,” she said with a little smile. “It’s really useful but it only seems to work if I know who or what I’m looking for. It’s never led me to treasure, or anything.”
He chuckled. “I may have to call upon you the next time I lose my patience.”
“Deal,” she said.
“What of Abrensi?” he asked.
“Still no progress.” Lavinia said with a sigh. “We tried singing the Song of Stone backward, both the whole song and the word order itself, along with two dozen other chants but nothing works yet.”
“We won’t give up,” Stefano added.
“Good. What of Abrensi’s own library? Or any other archive?”
“We’ve tried that too, Seto,” Lavinia said, giving him a look. “Let us worry about this. You get some rest.”
He shook his head, but he found himself smiling. “There must truly be some conspiracy here in the palace – are you all competing for the honour of nursemaid to the king?”
“Yes. Now go seek your rest so that I might win,” Lavinia said.
He raised his hands in mock-defeat. “Very well, until tomorrow.”
By the time Seto returned to his chambers, dismissed his servants, drank a tall glass of water – despite the way it would wake him too soon – and collapsed into bed, he could barely turn his head and force his eyes open to check the balcony window. Was it open? No, he’d closed it earlier.
The haze of sleep fell over him and his thoughts drifted.
Fiore was full of surprises.
A Song of Seeking.
Written by the girl in a language she created. Impressive. Very practical, too. A shame it only worked for things she already knew. Which meant there was no way to use it to find lost Sea Beast bones then – something even Argeon could not do thus far. Nor had it been possible for Metti or Danillo to seek out Vipera earlier, since neither had met or even interacted with the woman.
Seto sat upright, drowsiness banished.
Things or people she already knew.
Fiore had already interacted with Vipera, via the green lights.
“She can find Vipera.”
34. Fiore
Fi hummed her song softly as she followed the Lord Protector and Bethana along the moon-lit street. The slap of waves against the harbour was barely audible beneath the shouting, singing and music from the taverns and inns – so much louder than back home. And the words to the songs! If Father Canto heard them he’d likely set fire to the whole street in a pious rage.
Or at least, say he would.
The clink of steel on steel echoed from behind. It was Giovan and his men, only five of the Royal Guard, since King Seto had insisted that Lord Danillo take some at least. His words had been pretty heated, yet he hadn’t shouted. If you all insist on coddling me like some wretched child, then you will certainly not undertake your little snake-hunt without additional eyes. Take Giovan and some of his men.
And the Lord Protector had bowed and done as he was told, Giovan pulling her after the red-robed man, while Lavinia stayed back to speak with the king, whose sour expression hadn’t been too different from those made when her little brother would throw a tantrum.
“Anything new, Fiore?” the Lord Protector asked.
“Not yet. We’re still going the right way.” She resumed her song, still humming to herself as they walked. Somehow, finding Vipera hadn’t been as tough as she’d been expecting. Like when looking for Sedda’s ferret, she simply thought of the green wisps of light and the sound of Vipera’s voice as she imagined it, and a little echoing hum appeared.
So far the echo had led her all the way from the palace, down through the tiers and now to the harbour – where the echo was strongest, and it grew even clearer when they started across the enormous wooden planks that made up the docks. There were so many ships, and all so huge, that she lost her place in the song several times.
Some of the dark shapes were just giants ‒ three masts, so much sailcloth! And some bore pretty stained-glass cabin windows, warm light glowing within. At one boat, with a giant naked woman on the front, she saw a man smoking a pipe. When he caught sight of the little group, led by the Lord Protector, the fellow turned and slipped away.
Maybe he had the right idea. Her heart was beating fast and she didn’t know whether it was a deep anger, excitement or worry. Probably all of them. Who knew what would happen? She might get to see some real magic from the Greatmask.
On the other hand, she might only see more death and pain.
Hopefully it would all be for Vipera – the woman was evil; she hurt and killed people. And she’d used Fi as part of it.
King Seto and Lord Danillo had not concealed their purpose. When they found her, they were going to “put a stop to her”. Fi had heard that before. And she knew who was responsible – her song would lead them to Vipera.
Fi frowned as the echo grew clearer. It wasn’t a good feeling, really. The song wasn’t supposed to hurt people, it was supposed to help. But the woman had killed a lot of Ecsoli and who knew how many others. There was no forgetting that; Fi had seen Bethana’s face when they set out.
She remembered Lord Abrensi’s face too.
And the way it felt to have accidently done that to him, to have been used.
“We’re running short on timber, Fiore,” the Lord Protector said as the boats began to thin out near the end of the wharf, where posts stood wrapped in rope. “Is she in one of these ships?”
Fi shook her head. “Not that close. More like...” She pointed across the dark water. “Out there.” No boats, big or small, were visible on the water. Just ripples of moonlight. Barely even a hint of a breeze either and the ships nearby were quiet, not so much as a creak coming from any of them.
Giovan stared across the harbour. “Can she hide on the water?”
“Let us find out,” the Lord Protector said. Argeon began to glow, the soft blue casting shadows. He was quiet a moment, then he nodded. “There is a ship out there, she’s concealing it somehow, but I have it.”
“Can you break the spell?” Bethana asked.
“I believe so but if I do, she will know. She may flee again.”
“She probably already knows we are here and she hasn’t fled yet,” the tall woman replied.
He shook his head. “Argeon is taking steps to shield us. We need a boat; she is alone out there.”
“You’re sure?” Giovan said.
“Yes. Come, we will borrow a boat from nearby,” he said.
Giovan glanced down at Fi with a grin. “Looks like you’re rowing, Beanpole.”
She stuck her tongue out at him before hurrying after the Lord Protector, who was already untying a much smaller boat than the big ones around them, yet it looked like it would easily fit everyone.
“Won’t they mind?” she asked the Lord Protector.
“It will be returned,” he
said.
“The real question is, will it be returned in one piece?” Bethana said.
Lord Danillo ignored her, motioning for everyone to get in. Fi hesitated, her hand outstretched for the rail, half-leaning, half-falling to grip it, then stepping in carefully. The boat rocked beneath her, a little sharp when the others followed, but she found something to cling to toward the back – a barrel. Good, something solid. Something that didn’t seem to move all by itself. Not like the boat... or the deep, dark, endless water. What if she fell in? How fast would she sink? Ana, what was down there? Fi swallowed a tiny groan as the boat started toward the open water.
She clenched her teeth. Forget all that, stay calm – back to the song.
Fi resumed her humming, holding onto the pattern of words until her fear receded enough that she could focus on the echo once more.
Despite his little joke, Giovan rowed first and then another man while Fi gave information to Lord Danillo. By the third rower – Bethana – they were very close, even though there was nothing visible.
“We’ll hit her ship if we don’t slow down now,” she told Lord Danillo.
He signalled to Bethana, who moved her oars around and started rowing the other way, slowing their progress. “How do we board her?” Giovan asked, keeping his voice low.
Lord Danillo rose. “I will reveal her ship. Once I do, I want you after me – just make sure someone stays with Fiore.” The mask turned to face her. “Use the Song of Sleep if you need to.”
She nodded.
Giovan leant in close to talk to one of his men, then waved the fellow onward. He gripped the boat as they clambered forward, then paused.
“Shield your eyes,” Danillo instructed.
Fi covered her eyes with her hands.
Blue light flashed, so powerful that she caught glimpses of it at the edges of her hands. She pulled them away in time to see the Lord Protector and one of the guards halfway up a rope ladder that hung from a bigger boat.
Bethana and the other soldiers were close behind and Giovan was watching them, hands on his hips. He sighed when they disappeared from view, lost beyond the rail, with only the dark sails above.
“Thank you for staying with me,” she said.
He nodded with a smile, but motioned for quiet. Fi crept forward to listen.
A strange silence filled the night.
She swallowed. Shouldn’t there have been footsteps, crashing, shouts or something? Instead, there was only the water lapping against the sides of each boat.
It stretched on.
“Something is wrong,” Giovan said. “Stay close.” He drew a knife and held it between his teeth. Then he moved carefully toward the ladder and started climbing. Fi did as she was told, the rope thick and coarse beneath her hands.
Giovan climbed over the rail first.
She hurried the last few steps, pulling herself onto the wooden floor.
And there was movement but no sound.
A guard lay on the floor, face twisted in pain, one of his fellows dragging him away from the two struggling figures; the Lord Protector, mask blazing blue, and a woman in her own mask – this one of silver, a mask that perfectly moulded to her fine features. She was beautiful, slender, her frame braced against whatever onslaught the Greatmask Argeon sent her way.
When she shifted, falling back, her silver robe slid open to reveal dark body-wrappings. Was she meant to be some sort of assassin? Fi glared at the woman from where she crouched. Giovan waved for Fi to flee, his mouth open but no sounds coming out. Nearby, Bethana was shouting at the woman – who had to be Vipera – but held no weapon.
Blue flashed again and Vipera stumbled.
A blur of red followed as Lord Danillo flashed forward, swinging his arm. His blow knocked her to the ground. He stood over her, hand raised, fingers splayed. She struggled, but it seemed his hand kept her in place.
Vipera beat her fist against the wood, her rage silent.
And then the rasp of heavy breathing filled the air.
“Who is your master?” Danillo’s voice was firm, commanding, in a different way to the way Father’s had been, or Lord Abrensi or Lavinia. It did not encourage agreement; it demanded obedience. It promised pain.
“Who is yours?” Vipera replied. Her voice was soft and somehow soothing.
“I think we both know the answer to that.”
“Then you know mine – and I gain nothing by speaking to you.”
“You might gain your life.”
“It is already ruined and what’s left is hers,” Vipera replied. “And I do not begrudge her that final piece.”
“Then tell Chelona that I and Argeon stand in her way.”
“So you think,” Vipera replied, but now her voice did not seem so confident. “We hold more cards than you imagine.”
“What do you do here in the harbour?”
“You will learn soon enough.”
“And your fellow members of House Nemo? Why betray them?” he asked next.
Vipera hissed at him.
“Why?” Danillo repeated the word and the sense of power was immense; somehow, he was forcing Vipera to respond.
And though the woman tossed her head, the mask now splintered but still beautiful where it caught the moonlight, she did not seem able to resist. “A curse upon you! It was they who betrayed me, fool.” Her mask jerked up to gaze directly at Bethana. “And Lady Nemo is here. How fitting that you might see the final nail driven home.”
“Alani? Is that you?” Bethana asked. There was shock and something else in her voice – hurt.
“Of course it’s me, bitch!”
Bethana fell back half a step at the venom in Vipera’s voice. “What are you saying? We never betrayed you? How can you think that?”
“Must everything be spelled out for you, Lady? You left me in the city to burn!”
“What?”
“No-one came for me – not a single one of you,” Vipera screamed, her chest heaving now as she thrashed against Lord Danillo’s hold. Yet he was too strong.
Bethana’s voice was choked with tears. “Alani... We didn’t know. I didn’t realise –”
“You didn’t care enough to search,” Vipera snapped. She composed herself somewhat. “But that doesn’t matter now. I have someone who does care. And perhaps my revenge is incomplete, but it will be finished soon. Watch for me, Bethana. I will find you.”
Vipera lay back, her body relaxing into the wood.
And then her clothing seemed to empty all by itself, leaving only her mask atop the robe and black wrappings.
And I will see you again, too, Fiore.
Fi flinched.
“Where did she go?” one of the soldiers asked, his sword held ready.
Lord Danillo shook his head. “I cannot trace her – she is clearly receiving help from her mistress.”
“And did so with this boat,” Giovan added. “It was hidden and there was some sort of silence forced upon us once we were here.”
“Part of her plan, no doubt. She obviously wanted time here on the water without being interrupted.”
“For what?”
Lord Danillo motioned to a dark hole in the floor. “Perhaps an answer lies below decks.” To one of the other men, the guard who wasn’t bandaging up one of the other’s arms, he said, “Watch over her.”
Fi nearly asked permission to follow anyway, only to realise the Lord Protector meant Bethana, who was leaning against a rail, an empty expression on her face. Fi crept after Giovan as he followed Lord Danillo down a steep ladder.
Below the top floor – or what had Lord Danillo called it? A deck – she found them standing around a strange creation.
A single glowing lantern had been arranged to rest above a steel rack with wheels. The lantern cast light upon a row of skulls. Each had holes cut out of their backs and then someone had lined them up so that the light passed through the eye-sockets.
That was disturbing enough, but it was the large glass bottom that
had her inching back toward the nearest wall. Giovan was kneeling by it while Lord Danillo lifted one of the skulls.
“It’s water-tight, My Lord,” Giovan said. Then he chuckled. “Which is probably no surprise.”
“Look at this,” Lord Danillo said. He lifted the skull. “Good, clean work here. Someone who knows Carving.” Fi shrank even further into the shadows. Why would Vipera do such a thing? And to people from her own family? A queasiness rose up in her stomach.
“How are they connected then?” Giovan asked.
The Lord Protector replaced the skull, leaving his hand atop it a moment. He rocked the rack; it slid smoothly where it spanned the glass bottom. “Perhaps if I line it up...” he slid the rack with its row of skulls further, until the skulls rested directly beneath the lantern.
Light beamed down from the sets of eyes, spearing deep into the water below.
Fi gasped.
Giovan spun, and Lord Danillo’s mask snapped around to face her. “I’m sorry,” she said, stepping into the light. “It’s only me.”
“Fiore, it is not wise to surprise us,” Lord Danillo said.
She lowered her eyes. “I didn’t realise I could do that, My Lord.”
He was silent a moment, and then laughter echoed from the mask. “Well said. Come, you might as well see properly.”
She knelt near – not too near – the edge of the glass, which seemed awfully thick at least, and peered beneath the water to the very depths of the harbour. The beams of light, twin sets somehow strengthened by the skulls, revealed the wreck of a ship. Most of it was still covered in shadow, but the biggest mast and parts of the deck were clear. Big holes covered the ship.
“She’s looking for treasure?” Fi asked. “That doesn’t seem right.”
“Perhaps it is only half-right,” Lord Danillo said. “There might be very valuable – and dangerous – material down there.”
“Acor?” Giovan said. It sounded like a guess to Fi, but Lord Danillo nodded.
“Can we be sure?” Giovan said. “What if it’s something else down there? I mean, how long has she been out here searching with her stolen skulls, did it really take her so long to find one wreck?” He gestured to the rack and then some shelves, they too lined with skulls. “There are many more skulls here than the number of Ecsoli that went missing.”