“Do you still have it?” Memphis’s voice sounded like sandpaper. He was resting beside her.
“Have it? Oh this? This box you nearly let me die for? Yes, why in fact, I do have it.” Pure venom filled her voice as she lifted herself up onto shore, throwing the goggles to the side.
Memphis rose up to meet her, droplets of water running off his skin. “You don’t understand.”
“Oh I don’t understand? I think I understand perfectly. That you led me into a trap to get something you have wanted for years!”
Birds flew out, squawking from their hiding places when her voice rose several octaves.
“Yes. I knew the chest was down there. I knew about this place because I found your mom’s diary in her old office. I knew that this chest was meant for you, to help you! The mermen inhabit this water, but that other thing...I had no idea. If I did, I wouldn’t have brought you down there.”
She wiped water from her eyes angrily, blinking hard. “So, you admit it was a test? You admit you brought me knowingly into danger?”
Memphis stepped closer, the corner of his lip lifting. “If I didn’t believe you could handle it, we wouldn’t have come here, period. I respect you, and I thought you would want whatever it is your mom left you.”
Shaking her head, she clenched the chest to her palm and exhaled. “Yes, I do. I just wish you hadn’t lied to me. That’s not how you will win over my trust, and just so you know, that is not how most people choose to relax.”
Memphis chuckled. “But don’t we make a great team?”
She hesitated before she murmured, “Maybe. Now put your shirt back on.” She tossed him the light fabric. “Let’s go back so I can look at this from the safety of my bunker.”
Pocketing the small chest in her soaking pants, they walked back into the slumber of the forest.
***
They made it back to the edge of the forest line, to the rolling hills where the Academy was hidden. Memphis leaned against a tree, poised and skeptical. “So, was that enough to satisfy your curiosity?”
Lifting her eyebrows, she retorted, “No, but it will do for today.”
“Excellent, because I’m starving.” Pushing himself upright, she was just about to make a snarky comeback when a twig snapped from behind them.
They both spun in unison, Memphis reaching and drawing his bow in a fluid motion. Emory followed and, with shaking hands, drew her bow taut. The horizon was clear, but it wasn’t until five figures dressed in forest green fell from the trees, landing gracefully, and stood.
Memphis barked, “You have a second before I shoot.”
The closest figure to them stalked toward them, declaring, “You are losing your touch if you didn’t notice us until now. Besides, rumor has it, you need our help.”
Memphis’s stance relaxed slightly, but he didn’t lower his bow. “What clan are you from, raiders? Is this a meeting of acceptance, or a promise of another war?”
The man lowered his hood, revealing his bronze skin and hooded eyes. His group followed closely; weapons drawn. “We are from the Blood Dust clan. Naturally, you have to understand I can’t tell you where that is located, or I will have to kill you.”
“Naturally,” Memphis said, smoothly.
“Is it true you and your, uh, army are taking on Adair? With the heir?”
Memphis grinned. “You might recognize your future queen when she is standing right in front of you... Are you with us, if we were planning such a thing?”
The raider’s eyes lazily found her and looked most unimpressed. He stepped closer. “You’re telling me that this girl is the key to your freedom? I would reassess your plan.” He shrugged. “Also, we came to kindly remind you that we answer to no one. The lands we inhabit are ours, and no one else. We will bow to no queen.”
Memphis pulled the bow string tighter. “Then you will fall with Adair.”
Emory looked between the two groups, divided by her claimed regency. She lowered her bow. “What if I promised that you would remain free on your land? That you wouldn’t have to answer to me as long as you promise to help us in this fight.”
Their leader cocked his eyebrow. “How can we know that you would keep your word?”
Memphis shot her a warning glance, but she pressed on. “Your land will never be free as long as Adair is on the throne. At the end of the day, you have, and will continue, to answer to his actions. You help us now, and you ensure you keep what you want most. I’m here to help rebuild my parents’ world, not one born from flame and ash.”
A quiet unease rippled throughout the group, and the raider turned his focus on her. “You have quite the mouth on you, Emory Fae. Maybe you are telling the truth, and maybe you aren’t. Time will tell.”
He spun his knife in his hand, eyes returning to Memphis. “As for you, Commander, we decline your offer for now. We will continue to watch, but I’m warning you. If you seek us out again, it will be the last thing you do. If we decide it is our fight, then we will come.”
Before Memphis could react, the raider sent the blade sailing through the air, and with a twang, finding its mark in the tree beside Memphis. The raider sounded a sharp whistle, and they took off, scampering off into the cover of the trees once more.
Memphis loosened a shaky breath, lowering the bow.
“Well, that went well,” Emory said.
Memphis grabbed the blade out of the tree, smiling. “They will come. Raiders never leave a token of good favor.”
Emory scoffed. “These dynamics... I don’t think I will learn them fast.”
“Raiders are fickle. They wanted to test us, too. To
