“And Merrow had no idea,” Sera said.
“Not a clue,” Astrid said. “She took the pearl from his body, never knowing his soul was inside it, and chucked it into the Qaanikaaq. Then the tuna swam into the maelstrom and ate the pearl. The fisherman caught it, found the pearl, and sold it to the Viking warrior, who wore it on his body. As he did, Orfeo’s soul flowed into him, possessing him. That’s why he changed his name. And how he became so formidable so quickly.”
“Because he wasn’t a simple warrior anymore, he was the most powerful mage who’d ever lived,” Becca said.
“And when his body wore out, Orfeo’s soul flowed back into the pearl, only to be worn by a different host, and so on,” said Ling.
“He would’ve had to know when his host body was dying, and make sure he had another host in place,” Neela said.
“Which isn’t impossible,” Ling added. “I’ve seen Orfeo’s tactics. He’d think nothing of having his thugs string the pearl around a new victim’s neck.”
It was perfectly quiet in the cave as the mer digested this.
Sera was the first to speak. “If we’re right, it explains everything,” she said. “It explains how Traho was always one stroke ahead of us. How he knew what the talismans were when even the Iele didn’t. Because Orfeo told him. It explains who the mysterious he is that Vallerio and Portia talked about after Lucia’s Dokimí, the he who helped fund Vallerio’s army, who wanted the talismans.”
“We are right, Sera,” said Astrid. “Orfeo said he would do it, didn’t he?”
Sera nodded. “He did. Thalia said he vowed to take Alma back from the underworld if it took him a thousand lifetimes.”
Sophia, who’d been quietly listening this whole time, spoke up now. “We’ve got to get the black pearl.”
Becca raised an eyebrow. “And how will we do that? Just ask Orfeo politely? Astrid’s right. This is impossible. There’s no way to get it.”
Astrid stared into the waterfire, as if gazing at something only she could see. “No, I was wrong. There is a way,” she said solemnly.
“What is it?”
“We kill Orfeo for real this time.”
“How, Astrid?” Ling asked.
She didn’t answer.
Ling turned away, sighing with frustration. Neela made a plate of food for her, and as she ate, the others’ conversation became even more animated.
But Astrid, Sera noticed, didn’t join in. She just kept staring into the waterfire, wearing a grim, and determined, expression.
“REGINA SERAFINA!” a harsh voice shouted. “Wake up! There’s trouble.”
Astrid’s eyes flew open. In a heartbeat, she was up off the cave floor and reaching for her sword. Sera, one stroke ahead of her, was already rushing to the cave’s entrance.
Three goblins stood there, illuminated by lava torches. As Astrid’s eyes adjusted, she realized she knew two of them: Dreck and Totschl?ger. They were supporting another goblin between them—a young female. She had a ragged bandage on one leg, another on her head. Blood stained her uniform.
“This is Mulmig,” Totschl?ger explained to Sera. “She was part of the force you sent to the Mississippi to look for the mermaid Ava.”
Astrid joined Sera, the better to hear the goblins. Neela, Ling, and Becca did the same. The five mermaids had only bedded down for the night about an hour ago. They’d stayed up so late talking, they’d decided it was easier to just sleep in the cave where they were, on patches of seaweed. The other Black Fins had left for their barracks, with Des joining Yazeed in his.
“We made it into the swamps,” Mulmig said wearily. “We picked up Ava’s trail.”
“You found her? Is she okay?” Sera asked urgently.
Mulmig shook her head. “We didn’t find her. The death riders found us. It—” Her voice broke. She tried again. “It was a bloodbath. We fought hard, but they outnumbered us four to one. I took a spear to my leg. And then I got knocked out. When I came to, it was like I was lying in a cemetery. Everyone in my unit was dead. And the death riders were gone.”
Sera looked as if she’d been gutted. “How did you get back here?” she asked.
“A bull shark, a dolphin, and a basking shark,” Mulmig replied. “Each carried me part of the way. I owe them my life.”
“Thank you for what you’ve done,” Sera said, taking the goblin’s hands in hers. “I count myself lucky to have you fighting with us.” She turned to Dreck and Totschl?ger. “Take her to the infirmary.”
As the goblins left the cave, Becca cast some fresh waterfire. Sera turned to the others, the heels of her hands against her forehead. “An entire unit wiped out, death riders in the swamps, and no Ava,” she said. She took a deep breath and lowered her hands. “We’ve got to convoca her. Now. Ling, do you feel up to it?”
Ling nodded. Becca and Neela took each other’s hands.
And Astrid’s stomach dropped.