one ever talked about Lusca, so he had no luck until just…gosh, today, actually.”
“I cannot believe you survived.” Such awe filled Ciran’s voice he looked like he was about to poke her to make sure she was real. “No single warrior caught alone survives an attack by the Lusca. I told him you were dead.”
“He was undeterred,” Dannika assured Bex. “He had total confidence in you.”
Bex scratched her nose, still grinning. “He’s doing okay?”
“More than okay. He’s going to charter a boat. I wish your radio was working. We could direct him here to pick us all up.”
The smile wiped off Bex’s face.
The other exited youths dropped silent, and only a whistle of wind and drip-drip-drip filled the lagoon.
She looked at the other women and warriors. A silent communication passed between them, then Bex looked back at Dannika. “You better get washed and fed. We’ll talk.”
Chapter Thirteen
Angie led them up the back steps, out of the sacred church, and across what must have once been Lusca’s sacred island.
The young fry raced around them. The two oldest, Nuno and Itime, helped Val. Hadali carried her bottle of elixir.
Konomelu and Itime were surprisingly friendly toward Ciran considering he violated the sacredness of their ancient lands. They had stowed their tridents somewhere in the cavern lagoon and kept only a dagger strapped to a thigh.
“Perhaps we can strike Lusca much sooner than we hoped,” Konomelu crowed, bouncing up the steps behind Ciran. “With an Undine—I mean, an Atlantean who used to an Undine—we could see resources we had missed or weaknesses to exploit. Warriors we had discounted.”
“Patrol patterns we previously missed,” Itime agreed calmly.
“How to weaponized the squids!”
Ciran held up a hand. “I am a warrior, not a mystic.”
Konomelu flubbed his lips in disagreement. “You have shown us a queen. With powers! There is no limit to the wonders I am prepared to believe.”
Ah.
That was understandable but worrisome. If their brides could not develop their own powers, and only Dannika had the abilities, then three warriors and one queen might have a difficult time bringing down an entire city.
And why did their brides have no powers? They had elixir in their cavern.
Strange.
The trail emerged into the sunlight and traveled along a headland that overlooked cliffs. The interior was dense with greenery, and a stone-lined path through grassy hills led to roofed structures at the top of a white sand beach.
They were permanent structures. The warriors had lived on land for some time.
One larger roof covered a work area. A second sheltered smaller tables and baskets. Yet a third one had a raised platform, and the young fry scrambled into it and sprawled.
Between near trees, hammocks stretched out, and lounge chairs made of curved wood were scattered around. The trainees helped Val onto a hammock and covered her with a sunshade.
In the center between the structures, closest to the work area, rested a plank. Bex rotated a crank. Woven ropes lifted the plank like a thick lid, revealing a smoky, blackened firepit.
“You guys rest here.” Meg showed them to two lounge chairs. “I’ll be right back with your drinks.”
Ciran took the seat beside Dannika. The wood was soft and frayed from wear.
Dannika closed her eyes. Dark shadows appeared underneath.
He rested his hand on her knee.
Her lips curved and her soul light twinkled.
She would be all right.
“Konomelu? Boys?” Angie lifted a woven grass loin skirt—a belt with thigh-length panels covering front and back, with the sides open.
Konomelu’s lips swerved to the side. The trainees and young fry made a collective “awwww” of disagreement.
“This is a formal occasion.” She pushed the skirt on her husband, then stalked the young fry. The older trainees dutifully donned theirs, and the younger ones raced away nude. Konomelu tightened his, grimacing against what was probably scratchy grass.
Meg returned with two wooden cups carved with chunky designs. “Here’s some plum liqueur. It will help with your bruising. Eventually.”
Dannika opened her eyes and took it with thanks.
Ciran swirled the liquid. It shimmered with elixir. “You drink this often?”
“Only when we need to feel refreshed.”
“But you have drunk it before?”
“Oh, yeah, everybody has.”
Ciran tasted the drink. It was sweet and a little acidic.
Everyone drank this…
“It’s good.” Dannika opened and closed her lips. “Is it loquat? It doesn’t taste alcoholic.”
“Yes and no. It is loquat, and it’s not alcoholic. Did you want the good stuff? We have it, but, you know, we save it for…oh. I guess this is a special occasion. Mom?”
Angie was still chasing the young fry at the far end of