Marina Snaptail's Arc

Chapter 6 of 7

The next morning, another shell messenger tapped Marina's window. Guardian Kaiari wanted to meet at the ridge above the city, where the old telescope stood. Marina swam up through cold currents, badge warm against her chest. She knew what waited. One task remained before Kaiari cast the final vote on her title. She had to speak for Nerilith. She did not know yet if she could make the Guardian believe. Kaiari stood at the great coral telescope, one claw resting on its side. A small tide pool lay near the base of the ridge, its water pink and quiet, anemones drifting like slow bells. Sister Liera waited beside it, hands folded. Kaiari did not turn when Marina arrived. "I have watched Nerilith Vaeles for a long time," she said. "Longer than you have been a guide. Speak your piece." Marina took a breath. "Nerilith frightened me. She lied about me. She kept me from a door." She paused. "She also stood between our city and a king who would drown it. She did what the crown asked and took the hate that came with it. She is not kind. She does not need to be. She is loyal, and she was right." Kaiari finally turned. Her purple eyes were steady. "There is something you have not been told. Nerilith once served Raventh Mournscale. She was part of his crew. She left him. She chose our king and queen, and she chose this city." Kaiari's voice stayed calm. "I have known this since she came to us. It is why I have never trusted her. A knife that turned once can turn again." Marina felt the water go still around her. She thought of Nerilith at the guard post, hissing threats. She thought of Nerilith at the hidden door, stepping aside to let her pass. She could use this. She could agree with the Guardian, nod, and take her title clean. Instead she said, "Then she chose harder than any of us. I will not hold her old crew against her. King Neptios trusts her. Queen Seraphina trusts her. I trust her too. With my whole heart." Sister Liera drew in a small breath. Kaiari studied Marina for a long moment, then looked through the telescope, adjusting a coral knob. "I will never trust Nerilith Vaeles," she said. "That will not change today." She lowered the scope. "But I trust you, Marina Snaptail. I trust your voice. If you say she stands with the crown, I will let your word carry where mine cannot." Kaiari touched the badge on Marina's chest. The metal warmed and did not cool. "My vote is yours. The queen will hear it before the tide turns." Marina bowed her head. The Guardian's part was done. Only the queen's word remained, and Marina now had to face what accepting it would cost.