The Unfortunate Souls Collection by Stacey Rourke

Author:Stacey Rourke [Rourke, Stacey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Anchor Group Publishing
Published: 2020-04-01T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Glasses clinked. Cutlery scraped over plates. Decadent food was wheeled out by the cartful. The dining table stretched the length of the expansive hall, decorated with gold and silver finery. A candle chandelier, dripping with diamonds, hung overhead, warming those below with its golden shimmer.

Clothing and costuming options were limited under the sea. I mean, there’s only so much you can do with seaweed, squid ink, and pearls. Here, the regalia of each person was surpassed by the next. Before entering the dinner thrown in my honor, I thought my silken coat—the shade of soft sand and trimmed with navy embroidery—to be a fetching one. In that ostentatious crowd it seemed dull by comparison.

At the head of the table, King Liam swigged from his goblet of wine and mulled over his plans with the trusted members of his court ... along with Sterling and me. “Our research has shown the mirror’s last known whereabouts to be a pirate refuge known as Marooner’s Rock. While we have a map, scouts and travelers claim it to be a fake, as they have never encountered any of the landmarks at the labeled coordinates during their travels.”

“Mmmmmm,” Sterling interrupted. Soaking up the decadent gravy on his plate with what was left of his bread, he popped it in his mouth and slurped the remnants from each fingertip before he innocently inquired, “I’m terribly sorry, I forgot to ask this earlier, but … are you a moron?”

Queen Evelyn nearly choked on her potatoes, covering her mouth before she sprayed them across the table.

Clamping his lips together, Liam blinked in Sterling’s direction as if considering whether to listen, or have him killed. “You had something to add, young man?”

“You seek something but know not where. Reflections of truth from a magic mirror.” Gazing at the king from under his brow, a sinister twinkle set his lustrous jade stare aglow. “No voyage is ever simple. No departure promises a return. The answer you seek is a prize you must earn.”

The king kept his composure, searching the faces of his guests for tips on how he should respond. After a long pause, he settled on the diplomatic approach. “Do you have some guidance or truth to offer that could help us understand this perplexing situation?”

“You think the truth will be easier to understand?” Sterling pondered, clucking his tongue. “What a rudimentary life you must lead.”

Clamping his hand over his mouth, Liam beseeched his queen with a look that clearly stated I’m out of ideas, you try.

“You know of the truth? Tell me.” Sass wafting from her crowned head, to her bejeweled toes, Evelyn sipped from her glass.

“Your wise and wondrous oracle could scour this entire realm for Marooner’s Rock until the very end of his days, and he’ll never find it,” Sterling stated, shooting me an apologetic grimace.

Stomach churning at the fish on my plate, I managed to toss back an indifferent shrug.

After dabbing her lips with her napkin, Queen Evelyn gently laid it onto the linen table cloth.

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