The Shoreless Sea

by J. Scott Coatsworth

The world of her childhood. Agartha.

  She stood at the edge of the vast cavern under the mountain, her head upturned, as the waterfall poured down before her like rain. She stepped into its cool onslaught and was washed clean.

  “Delancy.” Her mother took her hand and pulled her along, out of the waterfall and back into the golden light of the cavern. “It’s dinnertime.” Her mother’s eyes were dull, unseeing….

  “Della!”

  She opened her eyes, staring blankly at the face that floated before her. Slowly it resolved into Arnold’s weak visage. He looked like he had just awoken, too, wearing a sleeping cap and crumpled clothing.

  “What? Why are you bothering me in the middle of the night? I was having the most wonderful dream….”

  “I’m sorry, ma’am.” He fidgeted. “It’s just… something’s happening in the square.”

  “Can’t it wait for tomorrow?” She closed her eyes, feeling the rain from the waterfall cascading over her skin again.

  “It’s… no, it can’t wait.”

  She frowned. “If you woke me from a sound sleep for nothing, I’ll cut off your fingers.”

  Arnold shivered. “Yes, ma’am. Please. Come quickly.”

  She sat up and climbed out of bed. At sixty-three, she was a lot less limber than she’d once been.

  With a grunt, she pulled on a shirt and a pair of pants, not really caring how she looked. Looks could wait for morning. She laced up her boots and followed Arnold downstairs and outside into the darkness.

  A crowd had gathered in the square, unusual at four in the morning, or whatever gawdawful hour it was in the middle of the night.

  Then it registered.

  Everyone was looking up.

  They were staring at the Earth sculpture. The one she had burned to the ground.

  She turned on Arnold. “How did this happen?”

  “I don’t know. They caught someone standing before the old sculpture, holding their hands out, and then the ground shook and this happened.”

  Aine. “Where is this person?”

  “Being held at the station.”

  “Bring them to me.”

  “I’m not sure they’ve finished the processing yet.”

  Della frowned. She wasn’t used to Arnold telling her no. “Well, have this… person brought to me as soon as they are ready.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He headed off toward the guards’ station at a run.

  Della snapped her fingers at one of the guards.

  He looked at her and turned away. Then his head snapped back. “Sorry, ma’am, I didn’t recognize you at first.”

  She laughed. “It’s all right. I don’t look like myself. They pulled me out of bed for this.”

  “You look just fine, ma’am.”

  She nodded. “Right answer. Now bring me a torch.”

  She waited while he ran off, staring up at the reborn sculpture. It seemed even larger than before. Someone had gone to a lot of trouble to make her look like a fool.

  She would deal with them appropriately. Sometimes an example had to be made.

  The guard returned with a burning brand.

  She held it high and advanced through the crowd. “This is what happens to anyone or anything who defies me.” She reached the new Earth and held the flame to the wood. “They burn!”

  The flames licked the wood of the new sculpture, but nothing happened. She shoved the torch at the offending wood and was showered with sparks, burning her hand.

  She shrieked and dropped the torch.

  There was scattered laughter from the gathered crowd. She glared at them, and they went silent. Eyes narrowed, she stared at the sculpture. She shoved the torch at it again, but it would not catch fire.

  She tried to light the base, but the damned thing seemed nonflammable.

  She threw the torch down in disgust. “Cut it down!”

  She was aware of more snickers around her as she pushed her way through the crowd. “Shut up. Shut up!”

  The laughter just got louder.

  She stormed back off to the Residence. She would show them.

  No one laughed at Della Deveraux.

  BELYNN GLANCED back at Destiny. The guards were closing in cautiously, but se stood there, stock-still, making no effort to fight them. Little did they know that se had nothing to fight them with.

  It was all misdirection. Distraction.

  Se’d insisted that se’d be okay, but Belynn was still worried.

  “Come on!” Thierry pulled at her arm.

  She had a hard time believing she was invisible to all these people. She could still see herself and the little thief, but no one else could see them.

  Thierry’s gift might just save them all.

  They kept to the edge of the square, avoiding the crowd. Even this early in the morning, a sizable bunch of people were milling about, many staring in wonder at the new sculpture in the heart of the square.

  A woman brushed past her and stopped, staring right at Belynn. Then she shook her head and made the sign of the infinite and hurried on.

  Amazing. They continued on toward the Mayor’s Residence, where Della was holding Andy.

  The Residence was a two-story wooden structure, likely built in the early days of Darlith’s history, long before Belynn was born. Its facade took up half the block, its mallowood exterior graying with age.

  The huge double doors burst open, and Belynn pulled Thierry back against the stucco wall.

  It was Della herself, looking like she’d just been dragged out of bed. Belynn laughed softly. She probably had.

  The woman swept past them, just inches from Belynn’s nose.

  As soon as Della had passed, Thierry was pulling Belynn inside through the quickly closing doors. They slammed shut with a resounding thunk, catching her shirt between them. Belynn tugged at it until it ripped, letting her loose to fly backward onto the floor.

  She lost contact with Thierry, who faded out of sight. Fortunately there was no one else in the entryway to see.

  “Thierry!” she hissed, standing and rubbing her hindquarters. Stupid.

  She felt him touch her shoulder, and he reappeared in the dim light of the single luthiel lantern mounted by the door. “Am I invisible again?” She spoke quietly close to his ear.

  He nodded. “To everyone else.”

  “Look for stairs.”

  They crept deeper into the Residence, past the entryway. Several large rooms looked out onto darkness, spanned by panes of glass.

  Belynn whistled. Expensive. Few houses these days had glass, or even needed it.

  Thierry tugged her to the left into a wide hallway. A flight of stairs at one side led up into darkness. They climbed the stairs in silence.

  She wondered who had built this house and when. She could have asked Aine… but that seemed frivolous in the midst of the crisis they faced.

  One of the steps creaked loudly under her foot.

  Belynn pulled Thierry to a halt and listened.

  The house was silent.

  After a moment, she urged him on, and they continued their ascent.

  The place was huge, easily ten times the size of the place where she and Destiny lived. The interior walls were all made of mallowood, which meant they were also incredibly strong. The Residence had probably survived the Great Storm Davian had unleashed on the world that Andy had so often told her about.

  Her mother had lived here in this world almost since its beginning. It was hard to accept it, but soon enough Andy’s time on Forever would be over.

  Belynn sighed.

  “Shhhh.” Thierry held his finger up to his lips. They had reached the top of the stairs, where a long hallway extended to their left and right. Lamps every three meters provided pools of golden light.

  “Stay here,” Thierry whispered in her ear.

  She nodded and shrank down into the darkness of the stairwell.

  He let go of her hand and faded into nothingness.

  Belynn waited while h
e explored the second floor. He was quiet as a mouse.

  She reached out for Kiryn. You awake?

  Hey, sis. What’s happening?

  We’re almost to Andy. Destiny made a distraction, but now se’s being held by the city guard.

  Wow, kind of a lateral move, no?

  She laughed softly. Maybe so. One thing at a time.

  We are all ready for you. Dax and I will be there soon.

  You’re coming? But I said—

  Aine countermanded your order.

  Belynn grinned. Good. I’m glad you are coming. She could use her brother by her side, regardless of what she had told him earlier.

  Love you, sis.

  You too.

  Belynn opened her eyes. She hoped Andy was okay. That Della hadn’t treated her roughly. If you hurt her….

  A touch on her arm and Thierry was with her again. “Did you find her?”

  He nodded. “I think so. There’s a guard down that way….” He pointed left. “The other rooms are empty, except for a big one. I think that’s Della’s.”

  “A guard?”

  “Yeah, but I think he’s asleep.”

  “Good. I was afraid we’d have to figure out how to distract him. Take me there.”

  “Come on.” He led her into the darkness of the hallway.

  Lanterns were lit between doors every three meters or so. They passed five before the guard came into sight.

  He was sitting on a chair beside a door, under the golden glow of a luthiel lantern.

  Unfortunately, he was now wide-awake.

  Thierry whispered in her ear. “What do we do now?”

  DELLA TRUDGED back down the street toward her new home, frustrated that she’d been rousted out of a deep sleep and very unhappy that the other Liminals had managed to undo her handiwork in the plaza. Soon the city would reawaken, and everyone would think she was a weak leader, unable to deliver on her promises. Worse, they’d think they could defy her and get away with it.

  It would give those feckless members of the city council license to defy her disbanding too.

  She’d have to make an example of someone, and the person who’d openly defied her would be perfect for the role.

  First, she needed answers.

  Arnold caught up to her on her way home. “I found the person we discussed earlier, ma’am. Her… ser name is Destiny.”

  “Ser?”

  “Destiny prefers se and ser.”

  Della frowned. “Where is… se?”

  “The guard said they will bring ser here first thing in the morning. Right now, se’s being interrogated.”

  “Bring this ‘Destiny’ here now.”

  “As soon as they’re done—”

  “Now!”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He turned tail and ran like a scolded puppy.

  She would talk to Destiny. Find out what se knew. Although Della no longer had her abilities, she had other resources. Other ways to get what she wanted.

  Then she’d have the guard prepare for the city’s first hanging. It was harsh and graphic and brutal—just the sort of thing to convince anyone else who might oppose her that they ought to think twice. Besides, she already had the platform built.

  She reached the Residence, nodding at the guard on duty. He stood up straight and saluted her. “As you were.”

  He relaxed back into his usual alert posture.

  Where was Galen? He’d been absent all night. In fact he’d been moody and withdrawn at dinner and had said little to her all afternoon.

  Men were so difficult.

  Della sighed and let the door slam behind her. She’d get no more sleep this night. She headed to the kitchen to brew a pot of embrew, before remembering that she had people to do that sort of thing for her now.

  “Lisbeth!” She banged on the woman’s door. “I need you.” Then she sat down at the kitchen table to await her service.

  DESTINY WIPED blood from ser lip and glared at ser attacker.

  The guardsman was twice ser size, both in width and height. He’d smacked ser twice now when he’d deemed ser too uncooperative.

  They were alone in a sparsely furnished, dark room, lit only by a single luthiel lamp. The chair se was tied to was the room’s only piece of furniture.

  “Just answer the damned question.” It came out as a growl. “Who else is helping you, and where can we find them?”

  Se stared at him for a moment. “Technically that’s two questions.”

  He raised his hand again. “I can hit you harder.”

  “Go ahead. I have thick skin.” Se spit out blood.

  The door burst open. “That’s enough.”

  Destiny looked up. The new arrival wore a slightly different uniform, with bands on his shoulder showing a captain’s rank.

  Ser guard, the one who had been glad-handling ser, growled. “This one’s not talking. I was just trying to knock some sense into—”

  “Doesn’t matter.” The captain shook his head. “The mayor wants to see them.”

  “We were going to take ser over in the morning.”

  The captain took the guard by his collar and pushed him up against the wall. “Pitt, are you arguing with me?”

  The man paled. “No, Captain.”

  The captain let him go. “Leave this with me. I will escort them to the mayor.”

  Destiny noticed his use of the nonspecific pronoun. Maybe he was okay.

  Pitt grumbled but nodded. “Yes, sir.” He shifted his bulk past the captain and out of the room.

  The captain untied Destiny, winding the rope that had bound ser up in a loop over his shoulder. “Come with me, please.”

  Se stood and followed. Se moved ser jaw back and forth—nothing actually seemed broken, though the cut on ser lip stung. Se licked it and tasted the unmistakable iron tang of blood.

  He led ser through an open room of mostly empty desks. Pitt glared at ser from one of the desks, filling out some kind of paperwork, but said nothing.

  The captain opened a door at the back of the room. “All clear?”

  No one responded.

  He gestured for ser to enter.

  Destiny slipped past him into the small room. It was a bathroom. Se forced serself to take a deep breath. It seemed ser situation had just improved marginally.

  “Wash up. I’m sorry you were treated so harshly. I just got word about what happened.”

  “Thank you.” Se went to the sink and ran the water. Se splashed ser face and looked up at serself in the mirror. Se had a shiner of a welt on ser left cheek in addition to a cut lip, but other than that, se was in good shape. Ser father had done much worse to ser, once upon a time.

  “You’re Destiny?”

  Se nodded. “And you?”

  He handed ser a clean towel to dry ser face. “Hart. Galen Hart.”

  Destiny felt the blood drain from ser face. Hart was rumored to be Della’s lover. Out of the river and into the deep blue sea…. “Nice to meet you.” Se held out ser hand.

  “Likewise.” His grip was firm and dry. “I’m sorry… I don’t like to see anyone treated like that. Especially by the guard.”

  Even Liminals? “I figured that was standard procedure these days.”

  “Not on my watch. You… ‘she’ or ‘he’ isn’t right, is it?”

  “No, ‘se’ and ‘ser,’ please.” Destiny’s respect for the man went up a notch.

  “You… know I’m seeing the mayor?” He searched ser face.

  Se nodded, watching him through narrowed eyes.

  “It doesn’t mean I agree with everything she thinks or does.”

  “Good to know.” Not that it mattered, if he supported her anyway. “Are you in favor of rounding up all the Liminals?”

  His brown eyes narrowed. “People with too much power can be dangerous,” he said at last.

  “On that much at least, we agree.” Se handed him back the towel. “Shall we go?”

  He grunted, surprised. “Why the hurry?”

  “
I’ve found it’s better to face my fears head-on than to wait around for them to come find me.”

  “Wise words.” He pulled the loops of rope off his shoulder. “I’m sorry. I have to bind your arms again.”

  Destiny could have fought him, tried to run. Se might even have made it. Se was an accomplished fighter, as many had found out to their own detriment.

  But it suited ser to go along with him. They’d planned to get the four of them—Andy, Belynn, Thierry, and Destiny—back together, and this was the most direct way to do it.

  Se held out her wrists.

  “Behind your back, please.”

  Se complied. “Captain Hart?”

  “Yes?” He wrapped the rope around ser wrists.

  “Thank you for your kindness.”

  Se felt him stop and then start again. “You’re welcome.”

  It was easier to catch a thief with gold than garnets.

  Chapter Eleven: Whatever May Come

  A LOUD grunt and thump woke Andy from a restless dream.

  She’d been floating alone through space, untethered to anything, as Forever receded into the distance.

  Not so hard to figure that one out.

  She sat up, staring at the door. After a minute it swung open and a small form crept inside, lit by the silver glow from outside.

  “Thierry?”

  The shadowy form started. “Andy?” He ran to her bed and jumped up on it, throwing himself into her arms. “I found them! Destiny and Belynn!”

  “Careful. My arm’s broken.” She hugged him with one arm.

  Belynn strolled into the room behind him. “He sure did. What a mess you’ve gotten yourself into, Mom.”

  Andy let go of Thierry and climbed off the bed carefully, then took Belynn into her arms. “I’m so glad to see you’re safe.” She stared at the door. “What happened to poor Lor? You didn’t hurt him, did you?”

  “You’re on a first-name basis with your guard?” Belynn laughed. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Belynn squeezed her and let go. “He’ll be fine. Can’t say the same for the vase I smashed over his head.”

  “Come on. Let’s get you out of here before Della notices you’re missing.”

  Andy shook her head. “I’m not leaving.”

  “What do you mean?” Belynn was using her “you’re being unreasonable” voice. “We came to break you out. Now come on. Time’s short.”