The Unkindest Tide (October Daye #13) - Seanan McGuire Page 0,28

than cruel. “Where we’re going . . . if something happens, you’ll be a long way from human medical care.”

“Don’t worry about me,” said Marcia. It was impossible to tell whether she was being brave and talking to the sea witch like it wasn’t a big deal, or whether she simply didn’t know what she was doing. I hoped for the former. If she didn’t know, someone would eventually tell her, and once that happened . . . .

There were very few things I could think of that would make being in the middle of the ocean even less fun. Trying to talk Marcia down from a panic attack while we were there was on the list.

Blithely, Marcia continued, “I’ve been in Faerie for so long that I wouldn’t know what to do with a human hospital, and I’m sure the Undersea has healers. They have such a warlike culture, there’s no way they could survive without someone to set their bones.”

“A lot of them don’t survive,” said Dean glumly, looking at the water. “A lot of people think of Saltmist as this provincial little nowhere, because the land Courts are so strong here that the Undersea has never really wanted to force the issue of coastal and surface territory. We—I mean, they—maintain a presence. There has to be some reminder that the Undersea isn’t to be trifled with. But in the deep waters, where land’s just a legend . . . a lot of people don’t survive.”

“The ocean is not and has never been a toy,” said the Luidaeg. Dean cast her a nervous glance. She ignored it. “Forget that at your peril.”

“What are we calling you?” I asked.

She looked at me levelly. “Whatever you want. The time for pretty illusions is over.”

Understanding washed over me. I swallowed my gasp. She wouldn’t have appreciated it. The Luidaeg’s gaze didn’t waver. Her eyes were deep blue, drowning blue, like the entire ocean had somehow flowed into them and been trapped there.

The Luidaeg hated the Selkies for what they represented to her and to her family, but she loved them at the same time, because the Selkies had continued, through the long march of years, to treat her like a person. She existed in their eyes, as she existed in so few others. She was their Cousin Annie, and being Cousin Annie had been her escape from the pressure of being the sea witch. And now she was giving that away.

The smell of crushed blackberry flowers broke me out of my introspection. I turned to see a portal open in the air, disgorging a tall, dark-haired man with mismatched eyes, and—

“Cassandra!” I rushed over and swept my honorary niece into an embrace before I could think better of it, lifting her off her feet. She laughed and slung her arms around my shoulders, hugging me back. “I didn’t think you were coming!”

“Yeah, well, Her Highness didn’t want her brother traveling alone.” Cassandra let go long enough to hook a thumb toward Nolan, who bore her uncouth pointing with a stoically tolerant expression.

The Luidaeg didn’t look nearly so calm. “I wasn’t aware Queen Windermere was intending to send a contingent,” she said frostily.

“Aunt Birdie, put me down,” murmured Cassandra. I did as I was told. She took a step toward the Luidaeg before sinking into a picture-perfect curtsy, head bowed, neck an elegant, vulnerable line. “I beg your forgiveness, Luidaeg. My liege intended no offense.”

“Sometimes I really miss the old forms,” muttered the Luidaeg. “You should have come to me with a raw salmon in your hands, its gills still heaving, and been apologizing before you were even close enough to look at me. You might as well stand up. You’ve already insulted me as much as you’re going to.”

Cassandra straightened. She wasn’t wearing a human disguise, but she didn’t need one as much as some of us; she could have passed for human in the right light, as long as no one looked closely enough to realize that her hair wasn’t dyed. It grew in a natural gradient, blonde at the crown of her head tapering into black at its tips. Her ears were dully pointed, topped with tufts of hair in the same gradient, like she was some sort of humanoid lynx.

I’ve known her since she was born. She’s Mitch and Stacy’s eldest daughter, and I’m not thrilled about the part where she’s somehow ended up as Arden’s seneschal.

“My sister Karen sends her regards,” said Cassandra. “She told me to