“Wait here,” Mahdi said. He swam to the door, opened it, and called for the soldier who’d delivered documents just a few moments ago.
“I’m not feeling well. Goblin delicacies don’t agree with me. I’m going to lie down for a few minutes. I’m not to be disturbed,” he instructed.
“Yes, Your Grace,” the death rider said.
Mahdi closed the door and locked it. Sera, Desiderio, and Yazeed swam inside. Sera sang a quick songspell to undo the effects of the transparensea pearl. She was in Mahdi’s arms as soon as he turned around. The two held each other for a few long seconds.
Then Mahdi released her. “How could you two let her do this?” he asked angrily.
“Have you ever tried to stop her from doing something she wants to do?” Desiderio asked.
Mahdi sighed. “Yeah, actually, I have,” he said. “No further explanation needed.”
“Mahdi, you look terrible. What’s going on?” Sera asked.
“Listen, Sera…I just—”
“Don’t give me any Listen, Sera silt. We don’t have much time. I want the truth.”
Mahdi hesitated, then said, “Lucia moved our wedding date up. It’s going to take place at the next syzygy.”
“My gods, that’s…that’s less than a moon away!” Sera said, stunned. “Why didn’t you get word to us?”
“I didn’t have time,” Mahdi explained. “I planned to send you a conch from here.”
“This changes things,” Desiderio said grimly. “We’ll need to get you out of there a lot sooner than we thought, and we don’t have an escape plan set up yet.”
Yaz ran a hand through his hair. “We’ll need to line up safe houses; stash food, clothing, and currensea for you.”
“Forget an escape plan,” Sera said. “You’re coming with us, Mahdi. Right now. We’ll all cast transparensea pearls and make wake for the Karg.”
“No,” Mahdi said.
“No? What do you mean no? It’s over. If you sing the marriage vows, they’ll know you Promised yourself to me. They’ll kill you.”
“I’m not hightailing it. Not yet. Not until I find out the identity of the spy in your camp. I’ve still got time.”
“Mahdi, listen to me,” Sera begged.
“No, you listen to me, Sera. You’re in danger. Way more than you know.”
“Because of the spy. I know that, Mahdi. I—”
Mahdi cut her off. “What you don’t know is that the spy’s also an assassin. When Portia gives the word, he’s going to take you out.”
A chill crept up Sera’s spine. “He can try,” she said defiantly.
“According to Portia, he’ll succeed,” Mahdi said. “He’s a good shot, and he—or she—is close to you.”
“From now on, you’ll have bodyguards with you around the clock,” Des said.
“We have got to find this sea snake,” said Yazeed.
“What’s Portia’s timeline?” Desiderio asked.
“I don’t know,” Mahdi said. “I do know that they want to keep the spy in place for now, though. He just told them that you intend to attack Cerulea.”
“Did they believe him?” Sera asked hopefully.
“Of course,” Mahdi replied. “Why wouldn’t they? Every piece of info he’s ever given them has been accurate. Vallerio’s pulling troops out of Atlantica and the Southern Sea as we speak and bringing them back to Cerulea.”
Sera and Des grinned at each other. They quietly slapped tails.
“Yes!” Yazeed whisper-cheered.
Mahdi looked at them as if they were crazy. “I just told you that Vallerio knows your plans. And that he intends to annihilate you. That’s hardly a cause for celebration.”
“It’s a fake-out, bro!” Yazeed said. “We’re going to the Southern Sea.”
For the first time since Sera, Des, and Yaz had swum into his room, Mahdi smiled. “Awesome move,” he said. “As soon as I get back, I’ll do everything I can to convince Vallerio to move even more troops out of your way.”
His words caused Sera’s smile to fade. “Mahdi, you can’t go back. If they find out about you…” She couldn’t bear to finish the thought.
“I have to, Sera. I’m your only source of information there, the only one who can warn you when Portia tells her spy to kill you.”
“Mahdi’s right,” Desiderio said solemnly. “He’s a lot more valuable to us in Cerulea than he is in the Kargjord.”
Sera nodded, though it felt like she was ripping her own heart out. “If anything happens to you, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“It won’t. I promise. I’ll be gone before the wedding,” Mahdi said. “And you three better get gone now.” He glanced at the door to his room. “I have to head to another meeting with Guldemar soon.”
Yaz nodded. “Dude, be careful,” he said, reaching for Mahdi’s hand. He pulled him close. The two mermen slapped each other’s backs. Then Desiderio did the same.
Mahdi dug in his desk drawer and pulled out a small box. “Here are some more transparensea pearls. Take a lot. Enough to keep you invisible all the way back to the Karg.”
Yaz and Des took some pearls and cast them. Sera didn’t.