The Siren Depths: The Third Book of the Raksura by Martha Wells

Author:Martha Wells
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy, Fiction, General
ISBN: 9781597804400
Publisher: Night Shade Books
Published: 2012-12-04T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Rise rushed to tell Malachite, then returned with word that the queen would speak to them in the queens’ greeting chamber. Jade, Balm, and Celadon were already there, with Onyx and her daughter queens. Lithe, a scatter of older warriors, and more Arbora arrived to represent Opal Night’s other mentors and the teacher, hunter, and soldier castes. They all stayed in their groundling forms, though the queens kept their wings instead of shifting to Arbora.

Stone settled himself on a cushion near the hearth at the center of the room and ignored all attempts to imply he should move to a less prominent spot. Moon sat near Stone, and Jade and Balm diplomatically took a position between Onyx’s supporters and the Arbora.

Then one of Onyx’s daughter queens said, “Should the visitors be here?” She regarded Jade and Balm, her expression critical and faintly suspicious. She inclined her head toward Moon. “And surely this is no place for a young, unattached consort.”

There was a murmur of agreement from Onyx’s warriors. Onyx herself just lazily coiled her tail and didn’t deign to comment.

Moon hissed under his breath. He wasn’t leaving.

Jade smiled and showed the tips of her fangs. “He isn’t unattached. As you can scent for yourself.”

With an edge to her voice, the daughter queen said, “Your claim is still in dispute.”

Jade tilted her head. “Not to me.”

There was a rush of wings from the passage and Malachite suddenly stood in the doorway. Everyone went quiet as she stepped into the room. She sat down, and said, “Line-grandfather. Tell us what you saw.”

Celadon sat forward and said quickly, “Malachite. Before we talk, Lithe should go.”

Lithe stared at her, startled. “Me? Why?”

She must be the only crossbreed in the room. Moon looked around at the other Arbora and saw they were all well past maturity. If any were survivors of the eastern colony, they were old enough to have been born before the Fell attack.

Malachite didn’t hesitate. “We will speak of it later.” Her voice softened a trace. “For now, Lithe, go.”

Confused, Lithe glanced at the other Arbora. They looked worried but didn’t object. She got to her feet and walked out of the chamber.

Malachite flicked her claws for Stone to continue. He said, “I was scouting the plains past the far edge of the groundling city’s plateau late this morning, and caught a strong scent of Fell, coming from the southeast. I went downwind, using the clouds as cover, and followed it. After a time, I saw…” Stone hesitated, as if he was having trouble finding the words. Moon felt his skin start to creep. “Several major kethel, carrying something.”

“Sacs?” Malachite asked.

The sacs were structures made of secretions from the major kethel, who used them to transport large numbers of dakti. The dakti were the smallest of the Fell and the slowest flyers, and carrying them in sacs made the flights able to travel much faster. It was disgusting, but it was nothing unusual for Fell. But there was something in Stone’s expression that told Moon there was more to this than that.

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