Page 37 of Leviathan's Song
Signed,
Adonci Tyr
I feltlike I’d been punched in the gut as I slowly sank into my chair, reading through the translation a second time. Somehow my eyes found their way to Levi’s, and I held the paper toward Sidney for her to take. His deep blue eyes seemed to hold concern, but whether for the situation or for me, I wasn’t sure.
Sidney gave a low curse. “Whodoesn’twant a golem from you?” She started at the top again as I watched her incredulous expression. “Lady straight-up martyred herself to make her point. What kind of bureaucratic bullsh—” Her eyes snapped to mine, and she cut herself off. I felt the burn starting behind my eyes again. “I mean, can we help them?” she asked.
My heart sank further. “Even if we could, I gave the heartstone to the Enforcer.” Levi was around the counter and had pulled me gently against his stomach before I even noticed my voice had been shaking.
Sidney frowned. “I’m not entirely sure that was the wrong thing to do, honestly. What if we’d been accused of stealing it? Or worse, murdering her to steal it? Are you going to turn this note in? It could light a fire under whatever council has been dragging their feet if they see people are going to these extreme measures.” She chewed on her bottom lip, something she wasn’t often prone to doing.
“I’d planned to, yes. That’s why I came in early.” I sighed and pulled my hand down my face, trying to tamp down my emotions. “Do you want to come with us, or would you rather stay here?” I asked.
“I’ll hold down the fort.” She rapped her knuckles on the counter next to her and handed the bag and paper back to me with a grimace. “Take your time. Silence will probably be good for my head anyway.”
* * *
Two hours later,I stood in front of a reception desk, staring at a diminutive redhead who had some kind of sleep or dream-related magic and liked to over-starch her shirts. “Who did you say sent you?” she asked for the second time. I heard Levi huff an impatient breath beside me and reached out to touch his arm lightly.
“Officer Balcorte,” I answered. “He said he called ahead and that Ms. Ta’nith would be waiting.” We’d gone first to the Enforcement building in Oar’s Rest, and been lucky enough to speak with Officer Balcorte, the original responding Enforcer from yesterday.
He was grateful for both the note and the translation, although he said he’d need to have it translated by someone in-office as well. He said he wouldn’t be able to release the heartstone from the evidence locker, which I’d expected, but also said someone from the council that the sprite, Adonci, had referred to in her letter had made a note in the file that they wanted to speak with me. The council was based in a little city named Whitewave, up the coast from Oar’s Rest, so we took the rail.
The receptionist’s mouth turned down in a frown. “I don’t see any notes that she’s expecting you. I’m afraid I’m not allowed to—”
“Do you think you could possibly ask her yourself?” Levi asked, cutting her off and turning on the charm. We’ve already traveled for an hour at her request, you see.” His words were nothing out of the ordinary, but his voice became honeyed, and his lure was out in full force. The receptionist blinked slowly, looking a bit dazed.
“S-sure… sure, one moment. Just a moment.” She rose and stared at his face for a beat with a hazy expression, before stumbling a step backward and darting into a hallway behind her.
I turned to look at Levi and stared at him when he didn’t respond. “What?” he had the gall to ask. I sighed and rolled my eyes. That boy was dangerous.
I rubbed at the rings connected to my manacle. “I’m just glad I have my ward so you can’t do that to me,” I muttered.
“Not unless you ask me to,” he said, and I shivered.
He was still smirking at me when the receptionist returned, followed by a beautiful middle-aged woman with inky black hair whose magic gave me impressions of slushy sea ice and the joy of chasing fish through dark underwater warrens. I blinked at her, trying to make sense of that. She didn’t look like what I thought a mer would look like, but there was something animalistic about her magic. Still, she didn’t feel quite like a shifter. Strange.
“Elara Hawthorne? So sorry to keep you waiting,” the older lady said, smoothing the front of her grey silk blouse. “I got busy and forgot to let the front desk know to expect you. Thank you for coming! I’m Muriel Ta’nith, please follow me.”
We followed Muriel into a richly appointed office with heavy tapestries and gilded paintings depicting ocean scenes, and a desk overflowing with papers and stacks of files. She heaved a sigh as she sank into the chair behind her desk and shoved a pile of papers out of the way so she could see us.
“Please, take a seat,” she said, gesturing to a pair of oversized chairs situated in front of her desk. “The Enforcer I spoke to earlier said you were the ones who discovered the sprite in the Void, yes?” she asked as we took our seats. She pulled a sheet of paper from the top of a stack next to her and began to write.
“I did, yes,” I answered as her eyes flicked up to Levi with a speculative quality, then focused on mine. “I found her outside my shop in Seattle, but we weren’t able to get her back into the Boundlands fast enough.”
Muriel’s eyes softened slightly. “Thank you for your efforts, regardless.” She focused on Levi. “I’m sorry, but I don’t recall you being mentioned in the report. And you are?”
“Levi Navarre.” He pressed his mouth into an unhappy line when she continued to stare at him with a slightly skeptical gaze. “Birth name, Leviathan Chansoneau. I’m just here for moral support.” He leaned back in his chair and crossed an ankle over his knee, his arms lazily draping over the sides of his chair. He’d ratcheted back his lure, but it was still distinctly noticeable.
Muriel resumed her notes. “And you are… mer?” Her voice was politely disinterested, but I could see the curiosity in her eyes.
“Give or take.” Her pen stilled at his response, and she raised her eyes to meet his, one eyebrow raised in confusion. “I’m landlocked,” he clarified.
She blinked at him. “You don’t have an aquatic form? But you have mer bloodlines?” Her question was clearly only meant for him, but she shifted her gaze between me and Levi.
“Basically.” His enchantment held no lure this time, instead giving a slight rebuff. I wondered if he even noticed.
Muriel frowned and made another note. “Well, as I said I’m Muriel Ta’nith. I’m not sure how much the Enforcement office informed you about what I do.” Her voice pitched up at the end of her statement, as if to make it a question.
