Page 72 of A Dark and Drowning Tide

Sylvia looked affronted. “Because they don’t want Wilhelm and me to marry! Perhaps they do not want us to consolidate our power,or...orperhaps they love me! Is love not the most powerful motive of all?”

“That is the most ridiculous theory I’ve ever heard! No one on this expedition is in love with you.”

“It is not ridiculous! I’ll have you know I have many suitors in Ruhigburg. I simply haven’t met anyone worth my time. No one who’s bothered to make their interest clear, anyway.”

Lorelei could tell there was a specific someone behind thatanyway. A dark, bilious feeling came over her, and she was immediately disgusted with herself. It shouldn’t matter to her that Sylvia had feelings for someone. Why should anything that Sylvia did matter to her? But right now, in the too-close heat inside the tent, it felt terribly urgent. It felt like it would consume her entirely.

My God, she thought with a slow-dawning horror. She was jealous.

“Of course,” she said. “No one is good enough for you.”

Sylvia flushed with indignation. “Have you been speaking with Heike?”

“Ah, yes. Perhaps it’s Heike who’s still pining for you.”

“Don’t mock me,” Sylvia said miserably.

“Yes, we should focus.” Lorelei returned her attention to the notebook and tapped her pen against her knee. “I believe I have figured this out, but I would like to run my theory by you.”

Sylvia sat up straighter, her expression growing serious. “Very well.”

Lorelei wrote each expedition member’s name in a neat column and explained the interviews she had conducted since the beginning of their voyage. In short: Ludwig lacked a clear motive, especially given the boon Wilhelm had promised him. Adelheid believed Wilhelm would use his power to stabilizeEbul—inno small part because he was in love with her. Johann, while he did have a clear motive and a violent nature, had seemed genuine in his devotion to Wilhelm. Which left, ofcourse—

“Heike?”Sylvia’s expression twisted in disbelief.

Lorelei had to admit she was offended. “Yes, Heike. She wants someone who can protect her, and you took that from her. Twice, as a matter of fact. Sabotaging this expedition could be a way of getting back atyou—andalso getting another chance with Wilhelm.”

Sylvia rolled onto her back with agroan—whetherhumiliated or exasperated, Lorelei could not tell. “Saints,” she muttered, “you really have been speaking to her.”

“And who do you think it is?”

“Johann.”

Again, that note of revulsion—no, she thought,fear—creptinto her voice. “Why?”

Sylvia stared at her as though it were obvious. “I have made my career out of observing monsters. Johann is the worst of them. He does not see entire groups of people as people. And even those he does consider human, he enjoys hurting.”

Lorelei had seen how ruthlessly he’d taken down that lindworm, how detachedly he’d examined Ziegler’s body, andyet...“Buthe’s a medic.”

“That is precisely why he’s a good medic.” Sylvia sighed. Her fingertips traced the dueling scar that cut across her cheek. In the lamplight, it gleamed. “Many years ago, he gave me this.”

That was no wound inflicted by a wooden practice sword. Lorelei sat up straighter with surprise. “You dueled him?”

“He and I fought in the same battalion. I challenged him because he treated our enemiesmonstrously—withno dignity.” Her voice grew far away. “No mercy.”

“And you lost.”

She smiled ruefully. “He was always the superior swordsman.”

“I still don’t see it,” said Lorelei. “Heike has the most to lose. She led us into the lindworm’s den. She has been the most vocally against me. Ijust...can’tprove it yet.”

And at this point, she did not know how she would. Ziegler’s body had been sunk in the river, her office scrubbed clean. Their last recourse was asking Ludwig if he rememberedanything—assuming,of course, he saw anyone before he left camp.

“You’ve fretted enough for one day,” Sylvia said gently. “You and I will figure this out together. I promise.”

Together. All these years, Lorelei had been so convinced Sylvia wanted nothing more than to see her crash and burn.

I’ve misjudged you, she wanted to say.I’m sorry.