The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea - Kerrelyn Sparks Page 0,80
to infiltrate the castle. Why don’t you let me deal with Cahira?”
So his old friend was trying to save his relationship with Maeve. “I appreciate that, but it’s my responsibility.” Brody clenched his fists. “Cahira is the one who killed my father and brother.”
Nevis sighed. “I know. And Elinor knows. A servant from the castle came by. Ruth was her name, and she told us quite a bit. She said Cahira hates your family with a passion. She thinks your kingdom should belong to her. Oh, and she said something else . . .”
“What?” Brody asked when Nevis gave him a nervous look.
“The Chameleon is supposed to arrive soon.”
Brody nodded. “I’ll take care of him.” He glanced at the sky. The sun would be rising soon, and he needed to be in the Seer’s bed before Cahira or one of the servants came to see him. “I should get back to the castle now.”
“You’re in the castle?” Nevis asked. “How? Are you disguised as a dog?”
Brody hesitated, then admitted, “The Seer.”
Nevis blinked. “What?”
“I’m impersonating the Seer.”
Nevis stepped back with a gasp. “Bloody hell! Are you telling me you can shift into other people?”
“Not so loud.” Brody looked around, and sure enough, the door to the girls’ cottage cracked open and several faces peered out.
Nevis lowered his voice and hissed, “You have the exact same powers as the Chameleon?”
“Don’t . . .” Brody gritted his teeth. “Don’t compare me to that bastard.”
“How can I not when—” Nevis stopped when Elinor ran from the girls’ cottage.
“Brody!” She threw her arms around him. “Are ye all right? Where have ye been? How did ye find us?”
“You can ask a ton of questions, but don’t expect any answers,” Nevis muttered and Brody shot him an annoyed look before turning back to his sister.
“Ellie, as soon as Lobby and Tommy return, I want you to take your ship back home.”
Elinor frowned at her brother. “I believe I’m needed here. Nevis has a plan to use everyone’s Embraced powers, and my gift would come in handy. Don’t ye think so, Nevis?”
“Well . . .” Nevis dragged a hand through his hair.
Brody snorted. Nevis, one of the toughest soldiers on the battlefield, couldn’t stand up to his sister at all. The wimp. “Ellie, I’m serious. An armada will be coming from the mainland, along with our navy from the Isle of Moon. A war is about to break out here.”
“Then I have to help!” she declared.
“Elinor!” Brody glowered at her.
“I told you she doesn’t follow orders,” Nevis grumbled.
Elinor scoffed. “Don’t tell me ye two have been making decisions for me.”
Brody sighed. “We’re just trying to keep you safe.”
“Aye, because we care,” Nevis added, and Brody shot him an incredulous look.
“Since when do you care about my sister?” Brody asked and Nevis’s face turned pink.
“Brody.” Elinor touched his shoulder. “Do ye know that it was Cahira who killed our father and brother?”
“Aye, I know. And she will pay for her crimes, I assure you.”
Elinor planted her hands on her hips. “No need to assure me. I have every right to avenge them, too. That’s why I refuse to leave.” Before Brody could object, she continued. “Do ye know Maeve is Cahira’s daughter?”
Brody nodded. “Yes, I know.”
Elinor’s eyes softened with sympathy. “Do ye know that Cahira is probably the one who cursed you?”
“She is definitely the one who cursed me,” Brody muttered, then added, “I hope you won’t blame Maeve for the crimes of her mother. She’s innocent in all this.”
“I understand that.” Elinor waved a dismissive hand. “Do ye know that the Seer has arrived?”
Nevis snorted. “He definitely knows that.”
“Well.” Elinor huffed. “Do ye know when the mainland forces will arrive?”
Brody winced. She had him there. “I’m not sure. Mother is sending the news to Leo, and he should have all the information at some point in the morning. Then he has to send messages to the other kings and so forth. Once they’re all on ships, Rupert can blow them here in a few hours.”
“Two to three days at the most, I would say,” Nevis concluded.
“That’s a relief.” Elinor heaved a big sigh. “Since we need to defeat Cahira within a week.”
“Why a week?” Brody asked.
Nevis sidled up close to Elinor and whispered, “I don’t think we should mention that right now.”
“But he should know,” Elinor whispered back. “So it won’t come as a shock later on.”
“Know what?” Brody demanded.
Nevis suddenly slapped Elinor on the back, and she gave him a startled look.