The long, long necks and flat, jagged heads of the angmostros coasted in the water, their mouths agape, out of the dark depths of which spiked pointed tongues, those dread mouths were further lined with sharp teeth, and the gleaming pinpoints of their blue eyes followed us as we swam to the opening of the cave.

Jorie was right.

They allowed us to pass.

We entered its light, and instantly, I felt a contented warmth from within.

And with a few kicks of my fin, gazing in wonder all about me, all I could think was…

I wished I could take Mars here.

153

The Rising

Magnus Reardon

Aboard the Pirate Ship, Medusa’s Navel, Outside Bloody Boy Cove, Twenty Miles North of Nautilus

STRAIT OF MEDUSA

“Captain!” Bellamy shouted, and Magnus looked down from the helm to watch his man’s swift approach. “You need to see!”

Just looking at Bellamy’s face, he knew it.

He knew there was a reason he’d turned back from delivering their load to Fleuridia in the Northlands.

He jerked up his chin to Tallis beside him and Tallis took the wheel as Magnus made his way to the stairs, down to the main deck and all the way to the bow.

When he saw what he saw in Bloody Boy Cove, he grunted, “Spyglass,” to Bellamy.

Bellamy handed him his telescope.

Magnus elongated it and held it to his eye.

Sirens damn it.

He turned on his boot and ordered, “Birds. Now. We need to get word to Aramus. Mar-el is being invaded.”

“But…by whom. And…why?” Bellamy asked, the gods not granting the man much stature, thus he was running to keep up with the long strides of his captain.

The answer to his question was, by the looks of it, everyone. Airenzian. Dellish. He even caught sight of some Nadirii.

He did not share that with Bellamy.

He stopped short, turned to look down to his man and repeated, “Birds. Now.”

He then made haste to the helm in order to come about and head to Nautilus.

Nick Walsh

Hayloft, Public Stable, Nautilus

MAR-EL

“The female has separated from the pack,” Angus reported.

He’d seen this from his vantage, studying the inn.

She’d gone out the back.

He’d also seen the gnomes go after her.

“Follow her,” Nick ordered.

Angus immediately ran to the stairs.

“I will repeat, I do not know why we’re here,” Rory said.

Nick did not take his eyes from the inn as he asked, “Do you wish to go on thieving?”

“Of course,” Rory replied.

Slowly, he turned his head to look at his friend. “If you wish there to be an Airen, and Airenzian, to charm out of their baubles, we have work to do. Here.”

“Nick, mate, one of the males has gone,” Leith stated.

Bloody hell.

They were initiating.

Nick did not break contact with Rory’s eyes as he commanded Leith, “Go after him.”