Xara Zynthar's Arc

Chapter 13 of 16

Xara stayed on the corridor floor with the orb dark under her palm. Her mother had heard her. Her mother had nodded. But a nod was not a ship boarded. The grey sails would take weeks to reach the black cliff harbor. If her mother arrived early and no ship came, she would take the children back inland to wait. If she arrived late, the ships would leave without them. Xara had spoken once through the glass and burned her one clean pass. She needed a second word. She had no way to send it. The prince helped her stand. "Verity kept one vial," he said. "There may be more." "There is not. She told me the council's supply was gone after mine." Xara pulled her sleeve down over the mark. "I need to know my mother reached the harbor. I need her to know the ships left port on our end. Otherwise she waits in the wrong place and the children die on a beach." Verity was already walking toward them down the corridor, one hand inside her robe. She drew out a small glass bottle. Silver light moved in it like a slow tide. "The last of it," she said. "I lied to the council. I kept two." Xara took the vial. "One drink. One message. I already used mine to tell her to go. I can't tell her when the ships arrive and ask her to answer, both." "Then don't drink it yourself," Verity said. "Send it." Xara looked at her. "Put it on a ship. The captain drinks at the harbor mouth and speaks into the orb on his end. Your mother answers into the glass. The moon compels only the drinker. The captain crosses the border. The vial crosses with him. Your voice does not." The prince was already moving. "I'll send word to the docks tonight. The lead captain sails at dawn. He carries the vial and the orb both. He drinks when he sights the black cliff." Xara pressed the vial into his hand before she could think about the cost. "Tell him to say my mother's name first. She will not trust a stranger's face in the glass otherwise." "I'll tell him." She watched him go. Verity stayed. "Your mother will get the second word," Verity said. "You will not hear her answer with your own ears." "I know." Xara sat down on the corridor bench. The mark on her arm had not moved since she stopped speaking. The children would board. Or they would not. She had given away the last thing that could tell her which. She pressed her good hand flat against the wood and waited for the sound of horses in the yard.