When Fossegrim had also shed his collar, Sera said, “Now all we have to do is—”
Her words were cut off by the sound of music. She could tell that Alítheia and Fossegrim heard it, too. It was carrying out of Neria’s temple, drifting over the kolisseo, and down into Alítheia’s den. The music was faint, but Sera could still make out some of the lyrics.
…come together now…To witness two souls make their vows…
Terror seized her. “No,” she whispered. “Great, Neria, no!”
“What is it, Serafina?” Fossegrim asked.
“The wedding ceremony…it’s happening!” she cried. “Mahdi and Lucia, they’re getting married. He’s dead.”
Sera was a thousand times more frightened for Mahdi than she’d been for herself. Lucia thought Alítheia was a monster, but she was the real monster, and Mahdi was in her clutches.
“Dead, child? Why? He wanted this. He betrayed his own realm for it,” Fossegrim said.
“No, he was only pretending,” Sera said frantically. “He’s been working for our side all along. And he Promised himself to me. Lucia thinks I’m dead, but I’m not. She probably told Mahdi that I was. When he sings his vows, they’ll fall flat and—”
“Everyone in the temple will know the truth,” Fossegrim finished. “That is not good. Not good at all.”
“We’ve got to help him,” Sera said, desperation in her voice. She turned back to the spider. “Alítheia, is there a way out of here?”
“For you, yesss. Follow me,” the anarachna said.
MAHDI FLOATED, smiling serenely as the songcasters chanted. Anyone looking at him would have seen a merman dazed by love, gazing at his bride. But all the while, Mahdi’s brain was working feverishly, calculating how long he had before the ceremony ended, before his new father-in-law swam up to congratulate him. Before it was over. For Vallerio and Traho. For him.
The chorus of songcasters, their voices soaring now, chanted of Miromara’s proud history, and of the solemn vows about to be taken. They reminded Lucia of her duty to produce a daughter for the realm, and then they were silent. Their part in the ceremony was over.
It was Mahdi’s and Lucia’s turn.
“Your Graces, if you please,” the priestess said, leading them in their vows.
Deeply beloved, tonight we sing,
Of this couple’s final promising
For life, these vows will bind you both,
Think hard, before you plight your troth.
For the goddess Neria demands nothing less
That one or both will now confess,
If vows to another were made in the past,
For if so, new vows cannot be cast.
Mahdi took a deep breath. Lucia, smiling radiantly, did the same. Looking at each other, they began to sing the vows that would unite them forever.
Freely I declare my love,
In the magical light of the moon above.
My heart is my own, to keep or to give,
I pledge it to you, for as long as I live.
Lucia’s voice, clear and beguiling, rose into the water. But instead of joining hers in perfect harmony, Mahdi’s voice fell flat.
He stopped singing, confused. He looked around self-consciously; his hand went to his throat.
Lucia’s eyes widened. In the chapel pews, guests turned to one other, exchanging looks or whispering behind their hands.
Mahdi coughed and tried again, but his song was tuneless, and his voice as harsh as a gull’s. How can this be happening? he wondered wildly. It shouldn’t be. It couldn’t be. Not unless…
“Sera’s alive,” he whispered.
Lucia heard him. Her smile disappeared. “She’s not. There’s no chance she survived, trust me.”
Vallerio, Portia, and the rest of the wedding guests were too far away to hear what Lucia and Mahdi were saying.
“What’s wrong?” Vallerio called out. “Why aren’t you singing your vows?”
Mahdi barely heard him. Happiness flooded his heart. “She’s alive. Thank the gods!”
“Mahdi, you don’t mean that,” Lucia said, as if speaking to a small child. “You don’t know what you’re saying. Sera enchanted you. You only think you’re in love with her.”
Mahdi ripped the cord off their hands. He backed away from her. “Sera didn’t enchant me. I Promised myself to her freely and willingly.”
“That’s not true!” Lucia said, her eyes flashing with anger.
As Mahdi looked into those eyes, his happiness shattered and fear took its place—fear for Sera. Lucia had been shocked to learn that she was alive, which can only mean that she’d left her for dead somewhere. He unbuttoned his jacket so he could get to his gun.
“Where is she, Lucia? Tell me!” Mahdi demanded. “What did you do with her?”
“Mahdi, stop it,” Lucia begged. “Please.”
“What the hell is going on?” Vallerio thundered.
His voice brought Mahdi up short. Mahdi reached for his gun, remembering what he’d come here to do, but instead of pulling the weapon from its holster, he stopped. The minute he fired on Vallerio, he was a dead man himself. And then who would help Sera?