The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea - Kerrelyn Sparks Page 0,52
“Gabby is a goldmine?”
Ruth nodded. “The queen spent most of her gold bribing a few people on the mainland to join forces with her. Just as she was going broke, Gabby’s gift appeared, so you can imagine how thrilled Her Majesty was. But Gabby refused to help the queen further her evil plans.”
“So the queen locked her up,” Maeve muttered.
“More than that.” Ruth bowed her head with a defeated expression. “She took Gabby’s twin brother away. We don’t know where Gavin is. Gabby will never see him again unless she makes all the gold the queen wants.”
“Oh, this is terrible.” Maeve recalled Gabby asking about Gavin. If the boy’s life was in danger, Maeve had to do something.
She touched Ruth’s hand. “Thank you for telling me so much. It’s a great relief to know you are here.”
Ruth smiled and gave Maeve’s hand a squeeze. “I’m not the only servant who is happy to have you back home. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thank you.” Maeve wandered back into the bedchamber and spotted the guard, still standing in the hallway, frowning at them. She raised her voice. “Thank you for showing me how everything works.”
“My pleasure, Your Highness.” Ruth bowed. “I’ll have the hot water brought up for you right away.” She rushed out of the room. “Her Highness will need privacy in order to bathe,” she told the guard, then shut the door.
Thank the goddesses she had Ruth on her side. Or at least she thought she did. Maeve winced at the possibility that Ruth could be rushing off right now to report their conversation to the queen. Aargh. She needed to get away from this place as soon as possible.
She pivoted, looking around the bedchamber. Was that another door? She dashed toward it. No luck. It was locked.
With a sigh, she trudged back to the table, then sat down to eat. How could she escape? How could she help Gabby and the other children? Did she have any power here as the princess and heir to the throne? Or was she simply a prisoner and suspected spy?
Would she have more success if she pretended to play along with her mother’s plans? Clearly, Cahira was working with the remaining members of the Circle of Five. If Maeve allied herself with her mother, she might learn the identity of those members.
As she poured some apple cider into her cup, her hand trembled. Could she actually do this? Befriend her mother in order to betray her?
And what was Brody doing? He’d said he had a plan to find the army and last Circle members. Did that mean he was coming here?
Maeve jumped in her chair when a knock suddenly pounded on her door. “Yes?”
The door swung open and a line of servants marched in. The first five servants were carrying buckets of hot water, and the last five had their arms full of clothing.
“I’ll get the door.” Maeve dashed over to the dressing room and opened the door.
As the servants filed past her, a flash of gold caught Maeve’s eye. “Wait.” She stopped the woman who was carrying a stack of four gowns. On top was a beautiful gown of shimmering gold satin.
The same gown Maeve had worn in her dream.
She stumbled back a step and leaned against a wall.
“Is there a problem, Your Highness?” the servant asked.
Maeve shook her head and motioned for the woman to proceed. The servants finished their work, then headed back out the door. The guard peered in at her, then shut the door.
Maeve’s knees gave out, and she slid down the wall to sit on the floor. It was all too much. She’d found her mother. She’d found the Embraced army. She’d learned she wasn’t Embraced.
And now, she’d seen the gold satin gown from her dream. Why was this happening? First, she’d seen the burial cairn and Brody on the Isle of Mist. Then, she’d seen this castle on the Isle of Secrets. In her dream, she’d even addressed her mother by name.
Holy goddesses, she could no longer deny the truth. Somehow, even though she wasn’t Embraced, she had acquired a new magical gift.
She was able to see the future.
* * *
“I have good news and bad news,” Nevis said as he carried two tankards onto the main deck. He handed one of the tankards to Princess Elinor.
She sipped some apple cider and smiled. “Thank you. ’Tis cool and sweet.”
“Aye, that’s the good news.” Nevis drank some cider, trying not to think about how adorable