All around the room, expressions of smugness had been replaced with frowns of doubt and worry. Mer’s face wore a look of bitter disappointment. So … there had never been any real hope of friendship there – it had all been about wealth and power. Storm felt nauseous. She longed to be away from here, out of this too-warm room with its stink of rich food and perfumes, away from the flickering oil lamps and greedy faces.

“You have one day.” Talon tapped his long red nails together. “By the end of tomorrow we will expect you to have reconciled the Elemental spirits to our plan.”

“I need a five-day at least!”

“One day!” Clack-clack-clack went the scarlet claws.

Storm bowed. Before tomorrow evening, she would escape this house, find Uncle Lake and sail away from Bellum Island, out of the Pact’s reach!

Now that she knew Talon’s plans for prison-ships, she didn’t think anything could stop the coming rebellion. The only way to prevent the Drowned Ones from attacking Bellum if war came was to go to sea and hunt them down herself. Cloud was right: it was time she finished the job she had failed to do in Yanlin Harbour. This time, she would destroy the enemy!

“I shall go at once,” she said, “and try to contact the Elementals.”

She was thinking so hard that she didn’t notice Mer follow her up the stairs until Storm had opened the door to her bedroom. The older girl pushed past into the room. It was so unlike the cool, amused Mer that Storm stood and stared. Mer pulled her inside and closed the door.

“May I come in?”

“You are in.”

“I wanted a quick word. Do you mind?”

Storm shrugged, wanting Mer to leave so she could be alone to think.

“You look ill,” said Mer. “Are you all right?”

“Fine.” Storm went into the bathing room and rinsed her face in the lacquered basin, which always seemed to be freshly filled. She stared down into the bowl, watching drops of red and yellow face paint stain the water.

“Did you enjoy the dinner?” Mer stood in the doorway.

“Not much.”

“You do realise that guards were waiting outside the dining room for your answer? Talon would have used force to ‘persuade’ you.” Mer’s voice was expressionless.

Storm felt her heart began to beat faster. Why tell her this? She laid the towel carefully beside the basin, turned to confront the older girl. Mer’s hands were shaking.

When the truth occurred to her, it was so unexpected it made Storm dizzy. “You’re not upset because I haven’t agreed to Talon’s offer. You’re upset because I might!”

Mer watched her warily, as if trying to decide something. At last she said, “You’re only guessing! Even if you’re right, why should I trust you? You might have already decided to work for them!”