Page 108 of In Violent Waves

There were all manner of flowers and trees, of which most Lyra didn’t even know the names. Some trees had giant leaves in the shapes of stars and flowers whose petals were so thin, they were clear and gleamed iridescently when the light hit them.

Daisy stared in wonder just as much as Lyra. They were trailed by two guards Lyra had never seen before. Which was a relief. She didn’t want the dark-haired one, Cyrus, to ruin Daisy’s time.

Their emerald-green uniforms matched some of the leaves perfectly. And several flowers were the same shade of gold as the embroidered stag horns.

A cool breeze swirled through the garden, and they basked in the afternoon sun. Giggles up ahead reached their ears, and Daisy plucked at her servant’s uniform.

“What’s the matter?” Lyra asked when Daisy straightened her collar for the fourth time.

“There are courtiers up ahead. Ladies to Queen Aine.”

Lyra’s brow furrowed. “So?”

“They’re high-born,” Daisy hissed under her breath as they came closer.

“Does that matter?” Lyra asked, not lowering the volume of her voice.

They rounded the corner where the ladies had congregated around a bench. Only one sat on the bench, draped in crimson silk and glittering jewels. Two more were standing close by in similar shades of pink.

The ladies went silent as they passed. Daisy ducked her chin and tried to pick up the pace, but Lyra tugged her back.

“Ladies,” Lyra greeted them with a dip of her chin.

Only one had the decency to return her greeting. And when she did, the two others shot her a look of disdain.

Lyra rolled her eyes and continued.

“That’s the prince’s pet,” the one on the bench whispered, fanning herself with a large ruffled fan.

“I hear she’s a mermaid that the king is training to kill humans,” another whispered.

“Well, I heard the princelovesher. He asked for a redhead at the Venus.”

Lyra couldn’t help the snort that shot from her.

The prince, in love with her? It would be more likely that the king was training her to be an assassin.

Daisy stared quizzically at her as they continued. “Are you training to kill people?”

“No!” Lyra gasped. “You know why I’m here, don’t you?”

Daisy shook her head.

“I’m training to use my magic to undo a bargain.”

Daisy’s eyes turned as large as the yellow flowers they were passing. “A bargain? Isn’t that dangerous?”

Lyra shrugged. “I guess I’ll find out. I don’t really have a choice anymore. I entered into a bargain with the king.”

“Oh, Lyra. That is most disconcerting to hear. Bargains are tricky to undo.”

“They are indeed, Little Fish,” a female voice purred from underneath the branches of a large willow.

A woman appeared, breezing through a sweeping curtain of branches. Her charcoal gown appeared to change colors in the sunlight and was cut straight across her collarbones.

Daisy gasped and dipped her chin. “Lady Jordania.”

Lyra stared at this new lady—Jordania.