Breakwater by Shannon Mayer

of the ocean—before my eyes were drawn forward.
    Though the room was fairly well decorated, my eyes could only see one thing—a single table a hundred feet long stretched the length of the room and laden with food and drink. The smell was overwhelming, and my stomach growled, urging me forward.
    Belladonna put her hands to her stomach. “Do not let me make a pig of myself, Lark. I fear I will if allowed free rein.”
    I fought the grin that wanted to spread across my face. “I might let you, just so I can say that I saw you stuff your face.”
    Her shoulders shook with repressed laughter, something I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen. I knew why, though. We were giddy with hunger and thirst, our bodies making us fools.
    Urchin led us through the room and I struggled not to stare at the lay out. Above our heads hung a massive kelp bed held aloft by something I couldn’t see, lit with tiny lights and strung with pearls and starfish. I froze as something moved within the swirling plant’s beds. A sea otter swam through the kelp as if it were water over our heads and not air. That display would take a lot of power, but I didn’t see any Sylph’s—air elementals—around holding it together.
    The tiny creature grabbed at a fish that shot past and swirled in a circle as it played. A second otter joined, and they twinned around one another in a dance that should have been impossible.
    “They don’t know they aren’t in water. The Sylph ambassador set it up before she . . . left.”
    I turned to see Ayu staring at the otter with me. “ Left . Is that what we’re calling it now?”
    “For now, yes. You’d best hurry. Your ambassador is ahead of you, and I doubt you want to let her out of arm’s length.”
    She was right, Belladonna was sitting at her assigned chair. Her hands trembled as she reached for the goblet at her place setting.
    Lifted it to her mouth.
    Tipped her head as her lips parted. The gates to the home of her body opened.
    A cold shot of fear lanced my heart.
    “Belladonna! Manners!” I yelled across the room at her, making everyone stop and stare at us. I strode forward. “You know better. Are you the ambassador or am I?”
    Her eyes widened and then narrowed. “Ender, you overstep.” She lifted the goblet again as I reached her.
    I slapped it out of her hands.
    “Your father would be embarrassed.”
    She shot to her feet.
    Requiem stood behind her. “Ladies, please. There is no need to be so formal. Of course, let your ambassador dig into the meal. It was especially prepared with her in mind.”
    “Of course, it was.” I reached out and grabbed Bella’s wrist, gripping it until the bones under my hands ground together. She whimpered, but I didn’t look at her, I kept my eyes on Requiem. “Perhaps you would like to share a goblet with my ambassador, in a show of good faith?”
    Belladonna looked at me and I glanced at her, softening my hold on her wrist. I saw the understanding hit her and she relaxed. “I think that is a wonderful idea.” I let go, knowing she understood as well as I did.
    Let nothing pass the gates to your home, for you will not see the dawn. The food and drink were poisoned. We were no more safe now than we had been when we first stepped foot into the Deep.
    Requiem shook his head and patted his belly. “Alas, I have already eaten my fill, but here, I will drink to your . . . health.” He scooped up the goblet and downed it in a single gulp.
    How, how could he do that if it was poisoned? I was sure I was right though and was staking our lives on it.
    “So much for manners,” Belladonna muttered under her breath. Louder, she said. “Shall we sit and converse then?” She didn’t touch the food, and relief swept through me.
    Requiem gave her a nod and they sat side-by-side launching into a discussion about the best ways to rule. By force, bribery, fear, or adoration. I stepped back to give them room. Not because they needed it, really. More because it was what was