“A lot of fun, I’d wager.”
The young Prince Koji murmurs a laugh. “The stories speak for themselves,” he says. “I’m a little sorry I won’t get to experience them firsthand.”
“Next time,” I tell him, “I’ll bring the whole horde.” I turn back to the king. “Does our deal still stand?”
“I don’t remember ever making a deal with you,” King Kazue says. “But my sister seems to think she has the authority to.” He casts an irate glance at Yukiko, but she waves him off with a flick of her eyes as though he’s the nuisance.
Prince Hiroki leans over to his brother. “She gave him the map,” he says. “I hope that means we got something equal in value.”
“You did,” I say, and pull the necklace from my pocket.
I let it dangle in the air between us, a beautiful drop of blue that dances from the chain. Still specked with Lira’s blood.
King Kazue’s fists tighten around the arms of his throne. “What a thing you present to us so casually,” he says. “Where did you find it?”
“The same place I found that prisoner you’ve got locked away in your dungeons.”
Prince Hiroki shuffles in his seat, and I stop wondering which of the king’s brothers Rycroft was talking about.
“The Xaprár,” King Kazue snarls. “Tallis Rycroft and his band of damned thieves. I should have known that anything lost would find its way into his hands.”
“It’s not in his hands now,” I say, clasping the necklace. “It’s in mine.”
Prince Tetsu leans forward with a growl. “You’ll do well to hand it over.”
“Now, now, brother.” The king chuckles. “I’m sure that’s his plan.”
“Of course,” I say. “As soon as the right offer is made.”
Yukiko’s smile is slow and devious. “You have to admire his courage,” she says.
King Kazue rises to his feet. “You want entry to our mountain so you can find the Crystal of Keto,” he says. “Then what?”
“Then I give you back your priceless necklace and, when I’m done with it, the crystal, too. This is the chance for Págos to make history as the kingdom who helped destroy the sirens once and for all. Your family will be remembered as legends.”
“Legends?” The king’s sharp laughter slices the air. “What’s to stop me from just taking it from you now?”
“Once the Crystal of Keto is freed, the Sea Queen will know it,” I tell him. “And you’re a lot of things, Your Highness, but a siren killer isn’t one of them. If she’s going to die, it’ll have to be by my hand. Let me climb the mountain and we can make history together.”
“It’s a perilous journey,” the king says. “Even with our sacred route. What would your father say if I put his son in danger like that? Even if it was for something as noble as saving the world. Furthermore” – he nods toward his sister – “Yukiko traveled all this way, finally returning home after so many years. It seems curious to me that she would do that just because she believed in your cause.”
Yukiko eyes me with amusement, taking pleasure in the idea that I might just squirm. As though I’d give any of them the satisfaction. I’m not sure if the king is goading me, or if Yukiko really hasn’t told him about our engagement, but I know I won’t be the first to speak of it.
“Of course I didn’t,” Yukiko says to her brother. “I came because I want to be the first one to see it. I want to be there when the Crystal of Keto is finally found.”
My jaw tightens as I clench my teeth together. The last thing I need is a murderous princess following me up the Cloud Mountain.
“I don’t think that would be particularly safe,” I say. “As the king mentioned, it’s a dangerous journey.”
“That she has taken before,” Hiroki cuts in. “That we all have.”
“Not all of us,” Koji amends.
Hiroki casts an endearing look at his youngest brother and then turns his pale eyes to the king. “If she goes with him, then at least we can be certain we won’t be double-crossed.”
I try not to look insulted.
“And that way, one of our own will be there when the crystal is finally freed from the depths of the dome,” Tetsu says.
Yukiko reclines. “I’m glad you’re all so eager to get rid of me after just a couple of days in my company.”