He Left My Daughter With His Ex, So I Left the Sea King novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: Ask the Water

At dusk the cavern was full.

Word had gone through Port Karyos faster than a fish market rumor, and the harbor folk stood shoulder to shoulder at the back with their nets still on their arms.

Ligeia sat in a plain chair in front of the Basin with a guard on either side.

She had put on fresh white and re-pinned her hair.

She looked as calm as ever.

I stood across from her with the steward beside me and Kyros at my shoulder.

An hour earlier, the bailiff and six fishermen had slipped out by the side door.

Stavros had told them where to look.

"The coral house is on the south reef," he had said, "under the old beacon. Every boy in the lower town has swum past it on a dare."

I had to keep Ligeia talking until they came back.

"Ligeia Marinos," said the eldest. "The steward has told the court what he saw."

"The steward is a frightened old man."

"He gave us this."

The eldest held up the vellum.

"The last line is in a different ink."

"Anyone can write a line."

"Then you will not mind being asked by the water."

Ligeia smiled.

"I am the regent of this court. I will not be questioned by a puddle."

"You will be questioned by the Basin, or you will be removed from the chair by these guards. Choose."

For the first time her smile slipped.

I saw her look at the door.

She was waiting for someone too.

Nobody came.

"Very well," she said, and rose. "It is a trick of mortal women and their fishermen. But I have nothing to fear."

She walked to the rim of the pool and laid her hand flat on the water.

The old keeper stood at her elbow with his stick.

"Ligeia Marinos," he said. "Did you bring Halia, queen of the tides, to this Basin on the dark moon?"

"I accompanied her. She wished to make an offering."

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