“Good. Once I’m hidden, we need to get out of here quickly.”
Nan grinned. “You just get below deck and let Nan, Jicho, and Mrefu take care of the rest.”
Moving swiftly, I slid into the tiny compartment and snapped the door shut above me head. Nan paced the deck. Although her voice was distant, I could still make out her words as they echoed into my metal chamber. “Crank up that engine. And take the fork to the right.”
“Oh, I can see that in my visions,” said Jicho. “That’s a major waterfall. Perfect.”
I rapped on the metal door above me. “Hey, I heard that. How is a waterfall perfect? Don’t boats usually avoid those things?”
If anyone heard me, they didn’t reply. Instead, I only heard Jicho speaking to Nan and Mrefu. “Over there are some storage compartments big enough for you two. I’ll take this one here.” The boy’s voice sounded far too excited about this for my taste. “No one will follow us past the waterfall. They’ll assume we’re dead.”
“What about Rowan’s magick?” asked Mrefu.
“I can see my brother. The transport isn’t working. He’s casting a Solar Burst now.”
“Can you say that in non-mage talk?” asked Nan.
“It’s an advanced fireball spell,” said Jicho. “He’s trying to melt the metal boat, but he doesn’t know we’re going under water. That fireball will fizzle out the second it touches liquid. Plus, the MAJE can keep us below the river for a short time. Rowan will really think we’re dead then.”
I pounded on the door again. “Jicho, that sounds impossible.” I couldn’t help but notice how the water was getting choppier. My shoulders were slamming against either wall of the hiding space.
We were definitely heading toward a waterfall.
This time, Jicho answered me. “No, it will be fine. I’ve had a vision.” His voice quivered as he said this, though. In the distance, I could hear the roar of sea monsters and the caw of giant birds. The Caster warriors were closing in. A low voice echoed over the river.
It was Rowan.
He was speaking an incantation. I recognized the words—Jicho was right that it was a Solar Burst. What I didn’t have the heart to tell Jicho was that, thanks to our mate bond, Rowan could sense me wherever I went. Sooner or later, he’d figure out that I was alive and know where to find me.
Which wasn’t a good thing.
The boat lurched from side to side. The rapids were gaining speed.
“Get below, fast!” cried Jicho. “The boat’s ready to dive.” A series of slams sounded as Jicho and Mrefu crawled into their hiding spaces.
A soft knock sounded above me. “Elea?”
“Nan? What are you doing? Get below deck.”
“Not until I tell you something. I figure we might not live through this, and so I’ve got to have my say.”
I knew Nan well enough to know there was no talking her out of this. “Go on.”
“In that battle with Viktor, the one where you raised all those Necromancers? Well, you raised me too. Afterwards, I got another Necromancer to cast a spell and hide the marks. I did it so I could escape Petra. She had agents out who were rounding up anyone with the skull imprint. So, that’s why I’m staying with you through this until the end. I owe you my life. And Mrefu owes me his, so you’re stuck with both of us.”
I rested my palm against the door above my head. My eyes brimmed with tears. “Thank you, Nan.”
“Water’s coming over the deck. Must dash.” With that, I heard the fast beat of her footsteps overhead, followed by another slam as Nan slipped inside her own hiding compartment.
“Get ready!” Jicho’s muffled voice sounded from under the metal. “We’re almost there!”
Curling up my body into a ball, I wrapped my arms around my head. Hisses sounded as the vessel sealed the compartment to become water-tight around me. I curled up into a ball, my arms wrapped around my knees. Perfect darkness descended into my small space.
Please, let Jicho be right.
The MAJE tilted on its axis. My stomach seemed to hit the roof of my mouth as we plummeted downward. For a moment, I had the illusion of being weightless. After that, my compartment shook as the boat hit the water. We’d fallen.
Chapter Twenty-One
After the MAJE hit the water, the ship dove downward. A great groan of metal filled the air. My ears popped from the growing pressure. The ship jolted from side to side, throwing me against one metal wall after another.
Then, stillness.
A low hum sounded. Based on what Jicho said, that must be some kind of propulsion system that was moving us through the water. I leaned back against the metal wall and exhaled.
We’d made it this far.
After that, the vessel tilted upward. We were heading back toward the surface once more. Jicho’s automatic pilot certainly worked. Even so, other parts of the ship didn’t fare as well. Water seeped in through the seams in my small chamber. Once we reached air, the hatch above me popped open. I scrambled out and scanned the deck of the ship. Jicho, Nan, and Mrefu were all crawling out of their respective hiding places.
Safe. We’d all made it.
Rising to stand, I scanned our surroundings. The river here was faster as it cut through heavier jungle. Vines and trees arched over the water, allowing only a thin glimpse of sky through the green.
Morning again. One day left.
The MAJE was afloat and coasting along with the current. Other than that, the boat was a smashed-up mess. The top “fin” had been torn off. Its sleek cylinder engine was now a crushed up hulk. And the shark appearance of the vessel was completely gone. The thing more resembled a crumpled-up wad of metal parchment.
Still, we were all alive.
I carefully inspected the river behind us. No sign of Rowan, either. In my mind, I knew that was a good thing. My heart, however, ached to see him once more and console him. The look of despair and grief on his face as we sped away? It was something I’d carry with me forever.
Jicho’s small hand wrapped around my own. “Are you all right?”
I knelt so I could face the child directly. “I am fine. You did a great job helping us escape.”
Jicho’s big green eyes widened with sympathy. “He’ll remember you again, Elea. You’re his mate.”
I wrapped the boy in a too-tight hug before realizing that Nan and Mrefu were staring. At this point, I either needed to explain the history with Rowan or move onto other topics. Fortunately, there are other subjects that I desperately want to discuss.
I stepped back from Jicho and tried to regain my composure. “How far until we reach the place where the Sword’s blade is hidden?”
Jicho’s mouth fell open. “You have the hilt?”
I patted my pocket. “I do.”
“The blade isn’t far now,” said Nan.
“That’s right,” added Jicho. He wouldn’t meet my gaze. “I saw it in a vision, really.”
“That’s great, Jicho.” I tilted my head and scanned everyone carefully. There was something going on here that I was missing.