“Bones wherever you look. Scavengers, worms. Places like that draw EisGeists, you know,” Astrid said darkly.
EisGeists were murderous spirits that dwelled in cold waters. Legend had it that Morsa had created them when she was practicing necromancy and trying to unlock the secret of immortality. They were botches—tormented, half-souled specters, neither alive nor dead. Morsa had thrown them into the Arctic Ocean hoping the frigid water would destroy them, but the EisGeists had endured, roaming down into the northern reaches of the Atlantic.
Becca had seen one once and never wanted to see another. It was pale and wraithlike, with long limbs, clawed hands, and white irises. EisGeists fed on bones. They tangled their victims in ropes woven from seaweed and dragged the bodies behind them until the flesh had rotted away.
“Did you see any EisGeists?” Becca asked, trying her best to remain patient with Astrid.
“No,” Astrid admitted grudgingly.
“So what are you worried about?”
“They might’ve seen us. They might be following us. I have this feeling. Like we’re not alone. I keep hearing something, Becca.”
“What?”
“Weird noises…voices…I don’t know.”
“Instead of worrying about nonexistent EisGeists, you should’ve taken a piece of whalebone for yourself while we were in the whalefall. It augments magic, you know.”
Astrid snorted. “Like that matters?” she said.
Becca sighed. She was learning that it was not easy to be Astrid’s friend. One needed a high tolerance for sarcasm and the ability to resist getting drawn into arguments. She understood now why Astrid was the way she was, but that didn’t make it any easier to deal with her.
Returning her attention to her work, Becca squeezed the barnacle she’d chosen. A drop of thick, sticky liquid fell from it onto the whalebone. She quickly pressed a shell into the glue and held it in place for a few seconds. Barnacle glue was fast acting and super strong.
For the past few days, Becca had been working diligently to implement her plan to help Astrid—gathering bits of sea glass and polished shells, and carving the piece of whalebone at night after Astrid was asleep.
Becca glued another shell onto the whalebone. She had made a beautiful design of shells and sea glass, and she was nearly done with her project.
Astrid, watching her, said, “What are you doing? Why are you still up? You’re keeping me up. What is that thing, anyway?”
“A murder weapon.” Becca said this through gritted teeth, but she would have shouted it, if she was the shouting type.
“Ha. So funny,” Astrid said. She picked up her sword from where it lay on the seafloor beside her and got out of bed.
“You only just settled down. Why can’t you relax?”
“Because I hear it again…a voice,” Astrid replied.
She swam to the mouth of the cave and looked out into the night waters. As she did, Becca glued the last piece of sea glass into place.
“Becca?”
“Hmmm?” Becca said, inspecting her work.
“Becca?”
“Yes?”
“Becca!”
“Astrid, what do you want?” Becca snapped. “I’m right here. Stop shouting!”
“I didn’t shout!” Astrid shouted. “You did! You shouted my name.”
Becca put the whalebone down. “No,” she said slowly, her fins flaring. “You shouted my name.”
Please…can you hear me? Talk to me! Say something! a voice called out.
Astrid raised her sword, ready to attack whoever, or whatever, was outside the cave. Becca swam to her side.
Astrid, is that you? Becca?
Becca gasped. She knew that voice. “Sera?” she called out. “Is that you? Where are you? I can’t see you. It’s too dark!”
“I’m in your head! I’ve been songcasting for days…trying to get you…”
“What is this? What’s happening?” Astrid asked uncertainly, her sword still raised.
“It’s a convoca!” Becca said excitedly. “Sit down, Astrid. Close your eyes. It’s easier without any distractions.”
“But…but how is this happening? I can’t songcast,” Astrid said, looking bewildered.
“You don’t need to. Sera’s doing the casting. All you have to do is listen. Sit down before we lose her!” Becca ordered. She grabbed Astrid’s free hand and pulled her to the cave floor.
“No way. I’m not part of this. I left, remember?” Astrid said, breaking free of Becca’s grasp. “I’m useless to them.”
Sera was still calling, but her voice had started to fade. Becca panicked. She couldn’t lose her.
“Astrid, can it not be about you for once? I need to see if Sera’s okay. And the others, too. You’re part of this convoca, whether you want to be or not, so stop telling me you’re useless and start being useful. If this spell gets messed up because you won’t participate, I’m going to be really, really angry!”
By the time she finished, Becca was shouting at the top of her lungs.
Astrid blinked and sat down. Then both mermaids closed their eyes.