The light disappeared almost completely. I was guided by my inner compass, as my father called it. He’d even shown me a human-made compass, though I had no idea where it had gone. He carried the old brass device, salvaged from a wreck but exceptionally preserved. It was finely made, with a dull gleaming brass back engraved with an ornate design. The face of it was simple, with neatly drawn letters and a white porcelain backing. I’d been fascinated by the delicate line that vibrated with power as it aligned itself.
My father had kissed me and promised to leave it in my keeping so that I could always find him. Promised, and failed to deliver, as he had on so many things. He’d promised I would be safe. A lie. He’d promised I would be cared for and taught and fed. Another lie. He’d promised I would be loved. That was the most grievous lie of all.
Wretched sadness rose up in my belly, threatening to choke me. I missed him so. I didn’t blame him for getting killed and leaving me. I only wanted to make him proud and honor his memory. I felt weak in the face of all those insurmountable goals. But I dared not stop to compose myself. Instead, I rose up to the tops of the wide bands of kelp, glancing around as I swam at a more sedate pace, trying not to even stir the wide bands of green as I passed.
I dove into the dark shadows just as quickly.
There was a reason they wanted us in the kelp. The edges of the forest were patrolled by giant stingrays and bad-tempered sharks to make sure we obeyed.
If not the top, head to the bottom.
I decided to skim the sea floor instead and picked up speed again, weaving through the base of billowing dark green ribbons. It went well. So well, in fact, that I was grinning to myself as I sensed I was nearly through, my earlier sadness fading.
I was jerked to a stop, my head whipping backward from the force of it. It was so sudden that I didn’t know what had happened for a moment. Not until I felt the tentacle tighten around my waist. I pushed against it, feeling the strength beneath the rubbery surface.
An octopus had me. A big one, from the width of the tentacle. I screamed in panic as I was dragged backward into the depths of the kelp. Not only was I going to lose the race, but I was most likely going to be eaten as well. And they didn’t eat you quickly, either.
I grabbed frantically at the kelp, desperately trying to find purchase. But it was no use. My fingers slipped helplessly over the rocks and sand. I reached for the dagger at my waist. I couldn’t budge it, nor could I tell from the handle which way the wickedly sharp cutting side faced. I took a risk, twisting it, knowing there was a very good chance I would cut myself instead of my attacker.
Thank Triton, my luck won out.
I was being roughly dragged backward into a dark cave when I twisted the blade. It scraped my skin where the pink flesh met blue-green scales, but it did not cut me.
It did cut the octopus, however.
A mighty roar came from the monstrous sea creature behind me. I was released, and though I wanted to flee, instead, I turned to face my attacker.
The octopus was even larger than I’d imagined. Huge, with bulging eyes that reflected the faintest bit of light that found its way to the hidden cave. A beast, but magically enhanced to increase its ferocity, I had no doubt. It was injured, yes, but only that one tentacle was coiled up under its bulbous body.
Its seven uninjured arms uncoiled, rolling toward me.
I slashed at the tentacles with my dagger, pulling the other one out from the belt around my waist. Now I had two blades, and I used them, cutting and slicing as best I could. I darted this way and that, avoiding the flailing tentacles.
With an audible thud, one caught me against the chest, sending me flying against the jagged cave walls. I was stunned for a moment, unable to move. I felt the pressure leave my chest in a whoosh, my gills working overtime to supply me with oxygen.
I opened my eyes just in time to dodge another blow. A tentacle reached for me, and I slashed at it, swimming faster than I ever had for the cave’s entrance.
I felt a tentacle slither searchingly over my tail, but it failed to grasp me. Then I was out, swimming rapidly through the dark green. It was impossible to tell which way I had been going, so I had to use my instincts.
I had never been so grateful to see kelp in my life.
I heard cheers erupt as I broke free from the kelp. I blinked at the suddenly bright light around me. The past hour had felt like the dead of night. Yet it was barely even midday, though it felt as if I had been swimming for days.
The truth was, it had only been a few hours.
I darted forward. I saw the finish line, marked by an archway of ornately carved stone. The crowd was packed here, and they were screaming something that sounded like my name.
How they knew my name was beyond me, but apparently, they did.
I picked up my speed, not daring to look behind me. I couldn’t spare a second.
I swam through the archway, finally sparing a glance back. No one was behind me. I had been racing myself.
I exhaled, closing my eyes before I was surrounded by cheering Mers. I struggled to be free of them. I had to help Starla and Dane. If they were killed by the octopus or the falling rocks—or even the net—I would never be able to forgive myself.
“Let me go! I have to go back!”
Strong arms closed over my shoulders as I fought my way back to the finish line. I thrashed until I heard the familiar voice shouting my name.
“Stop fighting me, Tri!”
Dane?
I turned and saw him, his handsome face obscured by his helmet.
“Tri! Tri! You can’t go back!” He shook me slightly. “It’s over. We’re here.”
“What? How?”
“Only the first hundred made it through to the obstacles. The rest of us were told to return to camp. They didn’t disqualify anyone. Only the first hundred are in the running to be Messengers.”
“And Sparks?”
“I’m not sure. I think the race was to weed out the fastest and most wily. And you won.”
I had won. It wasn’t a dream or a wish. It was real. It was just sinking in. I had won and my friends were safe.
The crowd cheered as another Mer crossed the finish line. It was someone I hadn’t seen before. Dane led me away, through and then finally out of the crowd. I saw Starla waiting for us on the tiered seating that flanked the finish line. Most of the crowd had rushed forward when I crossed the finish line, so it was empty at the very back.
She waved as we swam closer.
“How did you get here so fast?”
Dane laughed, his white teeth gleaming in the sun. He guided me to sit on the bleachers with Starla.
“The race was a large circle. We just cut across the middle.”
“So you guys are all right?”
He nodded, and Starla gave me a thumbs-up. I exhaled sharply. They were okay. They were . . .
“Hey, you are bleeding.”
I looked down numbly. I was bleeding. Not a little bit either. I put my hand to my head, feeling woozy. I heard Dane curse as I slumped to the side, nearly falling off my seat. He caught me.
His worried face was the last thing I saw.
Chapter 11
“She’s the victor of the first trial. Give her the best treatment you have!”
“All the contestants are given the utmost care. Please, calm yourself or you will be removed.”
“Fine, just tell me what you are doing to her.”
“She has several wounds, but only this one is deep. Her fins were shredded by the net. Those will regrow in time, but we can speed it along with a spell.”
“Good. Do that. What about the gash in her flank?”
“That will need stitches. We already cleaned it out. We will use spelled thread so that it heals quickly.”
“She’s to be treated to a banquet tonight. Will she be able to attend?”
“I hope so, but it will be close. My work will go faster if you stop asking me questions.”
I smiled dreamily at the colorful curse words that spilled from Dane’s lips. I cracked an eye, giving him an arch look. Starla was holding my hand while Dane paced back and forth at the foot of my bed.
“She’s awake!”
“That’s not a good thing, necessarily.”
Dane stared at me, his scowl intensified.
“It’s not?”
The Medic shook his head.
“That will make stitching her a bit more complicated. I can drug her, but then she will miss the banquet.”
“No.”
They both turned to look at me. My voice was raw but they had heard me. I jutted my chin out.