The Venjekar was still underwater. Sunlight filtered down from above, but that would not light the darkness in the hold. Aylaen peered down into the black hole and feared she could not do it. She could not swim into the darkness. She might be trapped down there alone, unable to escape. She told herself that was ridiculous, the Aquins were here, Acronis was here. No one would leave her to die. Still, she had to take a few moments to bolster her courage before gesturing to Acronis to bring her the lantern.
Once down in the hold, she searched swiftly for a hiding place for the bracelet. She rejected the wooden sea chests that had been upended and overturned during the sinking of the ship, thinking that might be the first place someone would search. She hid the bracelet and the Vektan Torque, which she had been wearing, in one of the stone jars that had once held wine, sealing the jar with the lid.
Aylaen frowned at the jar, which seemed a very inadequate hiding place. The Aquins had brought Aylaen’s possessions with them. One of the warriors had placed her things in the hold by her direction. Among these were her clothes and her sword. Not knowing what else to do, Aylaen picked up the blessed sword of Vindrash in its leather sheath and laid the sword in front of the jar.
Aylaen swam out of the hold, glad to be in the open once more. Commander Neda and the Queen conferred, their clicks and squeals resonating through the water. Aylaen swam over to where the spiritbone of the Dragon Kahg hung in its customary place on the prow. Aylaen placed her hand over the spiritbone, letting her heart speak to the dragon, telling him about the precious cargo they had taken aboard. She had no need to ask him to protect it. He would do so with his life.
The Venjekar had become the keeper of three of the Five Bones of the Vektia. And she knew where to find the fourth.
A warrior offered to tether Aylaen. She shook her head. She preferred to be free to swim about. She kept hold of the dragon, finding comfort in his nearness. Aylaen thought of Skylan and wished he would return. She was uneasy about this rescue attempt. She told herself she was being silly. She had confidence in Skylan. But he was in an unusual situation, quite literally out of his element, and the more she considered the abduction of young Farinn, the less sense it made. Something was not right.
Queen Magali made a sign to Aylean and then swam away, her guards and Commander Neda accompanying her. Aylaen and Acronis were alone. She was trying to take her mind off her worries by admiring the beauty of her surrounding, the red and orange coral, like branches of trees; fish as blue as the sapphires in the bracelet. A quiver ran through the dragon.
Startled, Aylaen looked up at Kahg. The red eyes were hooded, the fire banked. Aylaen searched swiftly for some hint of danger, but she could see nothing. She glanced at Acronis and her feeling of unease deepened. He was peering intently into the water that was unusually dark beyond the light of the lanterns.
Acronis turned to face Aylaen. He gestured frantically, pointing behind her, and began swimming toward her. Aylaen started to turn. She caught a glimpse of someone moving up rapidly through the water and then strong hands had hold of her, pinning her arms behind her.
Male warriors seized Acronis. Serpent tattoos on their bald heads glistened in the eerie lantern light. Aylaen guessed that if she turned, she would see the same on her captor. A Warrior-Priest yanked the breathing tube from Acronis’s mask. Bubbles rose from his mouth. He tried frantically to grab hold of the mask. The warrior held it just out of his reach.
And then Commander Neda floated into view. Aylaen was relieved to see her, thinking the commander had come to free her. Aylaen’s relief changed quickly to bewilderment and confusion. Commander Neda clicked commands. The Warrior-Priest holding Aylaen tethered her to the ship, tying a line around the dragon’s neck. Aylaen yanked on the rope, trying to free herself. Commander Neda swam close to Aylaen. The commander pointed to Acronis, whose eyes were rolling back in his head, his movements starting to grow feeble. The commander touched the breathing tube in Aylaen’s mouth and made a motion as of yanking it out. Her meaning clear.
Stop fighting or his fate will be yours.
Aylaen watched in dread as Commander Neda clicked and squealed more commands. The Warrior-Priests holding Acronis thrust the breathing tube back into his mouth. Acronis gasped for air and began to revive. The commander gestured to the hold and the Warrior-Priests swam that direction, dragging Acronis with them. Aylaen wondered why, for a moment, then realized they were going to search for the Vektia spiritbones. Either Commander Neda thought Acronis had seen where Aylaen had hidden them or they assumed he would have some idea of where to look.
Aylaen was sick with fear, not for herself, but that Aelon’s priests would find the spiritbones. She had not had time to hide them that well. She trusted Acronis. He would never help the priests of Aelon, but even without his help, they would find them. She cast a frantic glance at the Dragon Kahg, but his eyes revealed only a faint glimmer of life. The dragon could not help her anyway. Magic or no magic, if he tried, Commander Neda would simply remove Aylaen’s breathing tube and let her drown.
Her only hope now was Skylan, who was supposed to meet her at the Venjekar. He had been gone a long time. He should be back any moment now.
Commander Neda looked at Aylaen and smiled an unpleasant smile. The commander grabbed hold of Aylaen’s hand and wrenched off her wedding ring. Commander Neda held it in front of Aylaen’s eyes and then made a motion as of a knife gliding across her throat.
Your Skylan is dead.
Neda tossed the wedding ring away. The white ivory floated down through the water and landed on the deck. Aylaen watched it fall. They had bound her to the dragon, but they had not bound her hands.
Go to hell.
Aylaen grabbed hold of Commander Neda by her long braid and pulled hard, nearly yanking the hair out by the roots. The pain must have been excruciating. Commander Neda gave an involuntary gasp that expelled the air from her lungs, and lashed out at Aylaen, who hung on to the woman’s hair with a deathlike grip. Warrior-Priests had to swim to Commander Neda’s rescue, wrenching Aylaen’s hands loose. The commander was forced to surface for air.
Loud clicks caused the Warrior-Priests to swiftly shift their attention away from Aylaen. Queen Magali appeared, swimming into view. The Queen’s face was pale with fury. Commander Neda returned, diving back down to the Venjekar. She was startled to see the Queen, who was obviously astonished to see the commander. Queen Magali looked from Neda to the Warrior-Priests to Aylaen, bound to the dragon. Queen Magali swam close to the commander, propelling herself with angry strokes.
Although Aylaen could not understand the communication, she knew without doubt what the Queen was saying. Queen Magali demanded to know what was going on, demanded that the captives be freed and told the commander to send these followers of Aelon back to their own city.
Commander Neda did not immediately respond. The Queen’s unexpected return had disrupted her plans. She was sullen at first, acting like a child caught in some mischief. Then Commander Neda made a sound, cold and harsh. She pointed at the Warrior-Priests who had hold of Aylaen and to more Warrior-Priests who swam out from behind the coral reef where they had been waiting. Queen Magali was alone, surrounded by her foes.
The Queen gave Commander Neda a look of contempt and swam to Aylaen. The Queen fixed the Warrior-Priests guarding Aylaen with a glittery gaze, daring them to cross her. The men glanced at each other, uncertain. Queen Magali took advantage of their confusion to swiftly start to untie the tether that bound Aylaen to the dragon.