The EisGeist wheeled around and moved toward Des. Astrid saw her opening and attacked, but the ghost was only feinting. It turned suddenly, wrapped its hands around the hilt of Astrid’s sword, and wrenched it away from her. Then it thrust the blade at her, missing her head by a hairsbreadth.
Astrid tried to get away from it, but the ghost had forced her up against an outcropping of rock. She had nowhere to go.
The EisGeist raised the sword over its head, ready to bring the blade down on Astrid, but before it could, there was a black-and-white blur in the water. Elskan slammed into the specter, knocking the sword out of its hands.
The ghost screeched and spun around. It swiped at Elskan. Its long claws raked gashes in the orca’s side. She roared in pain, turned in the water, and charged again.
“Elskan, the ropes!” Astrid shouted.
At the last second, Elskan swerved from the ghost to the seaweed. She opened her mouth wide and bit down hard on the thick ropes, cutting them in two. The EisGeist’s enchantment was no match for the whale’s magic and her lethally sharp teeth.
Des was right behind the whale. He grabbed the ends of the ropes that were attached to the treasure, twisted them together, and whistled for Elskan. She turned and sped back.
The EisGeist, unaware it had been separated from its hoard, was scurrying toward Astrid once again.
“Go, Elskan! Fast as you can, girl! Dump it and come back!” Des told the whale.
The ghost lunged at Astrid, ready to grab her by the throat, but Elskan shook the ropes, rattling the bones caught up in it.
The EisGeist turned and snarled. Elskan backed up slowly, luring the specter away from Astrid. The orca shook the ropes again, then streaked away.
Shrieking with rage, the EisGeist rushed after the whale. It was fast, but Elskan was faster.
“Is it gone?” Astrid asked Des, panting.
ASTRID!
Astrid winced. Her hands went to her ears. “Do you always have to be so loud?”
Desiderio blinked. “I didn’t even say anything.”
“Not you….”
What’s happening? Are you all right? Sera asked anxiously.
“We just fought off an EisGeist,” Astrid replied.
“Yeah, I know that. I was here,” Des said.
Are you all right? Is there someone with you?
“I’m…uh…I’m not familiar with the songspell for convocas,” Astrid said, desperately hoping Sera wouldn’t ask her to songcast. “Is there some way of including a mer who’s nearby?” She glanced at Des.
Take her hands. Sometimes that works, Sera advised.
“It’s a he.”
She offered her hands to Des. He gave her a quizzical look, but took them. A warmth flooded through her at his touch.
She told herself it was just the convoca and closed her eyes. Des did the same. They immediately saw each other in the convoca. So did Sera.
“Des!” Sera cried. Her hands flew to her mouth. Neela and Yazeed flickered and faded. Sera quickly grabbed for them again.
“Hey, little sister. Is that you?” Des said. He was trying to sound cool, but Astrid could hear the emotion in his voice.
Sera tried to answer him, but she was overcome by tears. When she could finally speak again, she said, “I was so worried, Des.”
“Astrid got me out of the Citadel’s dungeons. She saved my life.”
“Th-thank you, Astrid,” Sera said, her voice hitching. “Thank you so much.”
“Her own life’s in danger now,” said Desiderio. “She can’t go home. Rylka wants her dead.”
“That’s wonderful!” said Sera.
“Yeah, it…Wait—what?” Astrid said, scowling.
“Since you can’t stay in Ondalina, you’ll have to come here. Join us, Astrid,” Sera urged.
“It just so happens that I’m on my way,” Astrid said, pleased that Sera still wanted her. “Des and I both.”
“I’m so happy to hear that!” Sera said. “Where are you? When will you be here?”
“We’re in the Greenland Sea. We should be there in three or four days. We’re going to the Qanikkaaq first.”
Sera’s smile dropped away. “No! Don’t! Just come to the Karg,” she pleaded.
Astrid blinked. “Did I just hear you correctly?” she asked. “The last time we talked, you begged me to go to the Qanikkaaq!”
“Now I’m begging you not to. Vallerio’s sent death riders to the Mississippi and Cape Horn. That’s why I convoca’d you. In case you changed your mind about the Qanikkaaq. I’m scared he might send death riders to the maelstrom, too. You and Des could be taken.”
“What else is new, Sera?” Astrid said.
“We’ll be okay,” Des assured his sister. “We’ll keep an eye out for Vallerio’s soldiers. Astrid told me about the talismans and everything else. We’re close to the Qanikkaaq now. We might not get another chance to see if the pearl’s still there.”
Sera nodded unhappily. “Be careful, both of you. Please,” she said. “Astrid, I know how good you are with your sword, but use your magic, too, okay? You’re going to need everything you’ve got.”
Astrid looked away. Tell her, a voice inside her urged. Tell her now before you get yourself killed. And Des, too.