She shook her head, holding his gaze. “No,” she said. “I haven’t finished. Because now I’ve found out about the prophecy. So I know that you and Mosh Zu have both been keeping the biggest secret of all. That either Connor or I must die, in order to bring peace to the oceans.”
Darke rose to his feet. “You know about the prophecy?” he said. “How?”
“Not from you,” Grace said. “And not from Mosh Zu. No, I had to find out by other means.”
Darke frowned. “What means do you speak of?”
“A book I found.”
Obsidian looked thoughtful. “I assume you’ve spoken to Mosh Zu about this?”
“Of course,” Grace said. “He brushed it aside and told me it wasn’t important—though I’ve no doubt he lost no time in informing you.”
Darke shook his head once more. “He didn’t, as a matter of fact. This is the first I’ve heard of it, though, believe me, I wish that wasn’t the case.”
“Well,” Grace said with a shrug, “at last you know what it feels like to be kept in the dark.”
Darke turned his head away. Seeing that the fire was dwindling in the grate, he walked over and lifted the poker again. For a minute, there was silence within the cabin, followed by the hiss, spit, and crackle of the fire as it grew strong once more. Carefully, Darke set down the poker and turned to face Grace.
“I had no idea you felt such anger toward me,” he said. “But I’m honestly glad you have shared your feelings with me, and, now you have said things as you see them, I can understand how you feel.” He came to stand behind her chair, resting his hand on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice little more than a whisper. It took her back to a time when he had spoken only in that whisper, but now his voice grew louder once more. “I never thought I was keeping secrets from you and Connor. I was just trying to protect you both. When you set out from Crescent Moon Bay, neither one of you could have anticipated just what you were sailing into.”
His hand remained on her shoulder. At his words, Grace found herself back in Dexter’s old boat as it splintered around her and she was thrown into the ocean.
“That storm,” she said. “Our shipwreck. It didn’t happen by chance, did it? None of this happened by chance. It was time to call us back.”
He was silent for a time, then she felt his hand lift from her shoulder and he moved around to stand in front of her. “You’re right, of course,” he said. “After Dexter’s death there was no reason for you or Connor to remain in Crescent Moon Bay. It was, as you say, time to call you both home.”
Grace froze as everything came into focus. She couldn’t believe it had taken her so long to figure it out. “You were drawing both of us back to
“Quite so,” Obsidian said with a nod. “So—the time has come to put an end to all the secrets. You are strong enough now to know everything. Where shall we begin?”
Grace had no hesitation. “With Mosh Zu’s prophecy.”
Obsidian nodded. It took him only a moment to collect his thoughts, then he began to tell the story. “Five hundred years ago, in the time just before the New Flood, my comrades and I were summoned to Sanctuary.”
Grace leaned in closer. “Mosh Zu called you?”
“Yes, that’s right.” Obsidian nodded once again. “Let me show it all to you.”
“Show me?” Grace asked, confused.
“You’ve done this before,” Obsidian reminded her, turning to glance at the fire once more. “Look through the flames and I’ll take you there.”
Her heart hammering, Grace focused her eyes on the veil of flames. At first, her vision blurred as she watched the flames flicker and dance. She waited for the fire to fade and the world beyond to come into focus.
Just as she had anticipated, the fire receded and she found herself gazing into a familiar room: Mosh Zu’s meditation chamber. She recognized the mosaic floor with its imposing pattern of a compass. Mosh Zu was kneeling right at the heart of the mosaic design, looking down into a copper bowl filled with water.
As Grace’s senses tuned into the scene more deeply, she could hear the motion of the water in the bowl. She watched as its surface became agitated. Mosh Zu kneeled above it, as still as a statue in his orange robes. His eyes were intent upon the surface of the water, which was now spinning in circles. Grace wanted to step nearer, to gain a closer look at the bowl, but she found herself rooted to her seat, as if held by an invisible force. And the first of four masked captains entered the room.
29
CELEBRATIONS
Cheng Li stood in the center of Ma Kettle’s Tavern, her back to the vast circular bar. She was taken by surprise at just how busy the tavern was. The whole ramshackle building reverberated with the noise of pirate troops making the most of every last precious moment of their transitory freedom.
“Commodore Li!” called out Sugar Pie, weaving through the crowd. “What a nice surprise! You look amazing, considering what you’ve been through!”
Cheng Li shrugged. “It takes more than one demented cowboy Vampirate to get this woman down.” Her look told Sugar Pie that she had nothing further to say on that particular subject. Smiling pleasantly, she glanced around the crowded tavern. “I see that business is booming.”
Sugar Pie nodded. “I hate to say it, but war has been very good for business.”
“That must be something of a comfort to Ma Kettle.”
“I hoped it might be, Commodore Li.” Sugar Pie’s expression changed. “I thought seeing the old tavern buzzing like this might bring Ma back to life.” She shook her head sadly. “But she’s lost all interest in the tavern. Time was, I’d have strained my vocal cords trying to persuade her to take just a little break on a night like this. But tonight, she hasn’t even come out front once. She just seems to want to stay in bed, muttering to Scrimshaw about Molucco and the old days.”
Cheng Li frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that. I think all you can do is give her time.”
Sugar Pie nodded. “You’re right. Time is supposed to be the best healer. I’m going to keep a close eye on her. She’s been like a mum to me—it’s the least I can do.” Her face suddenly brightened and it was like the sun breaking through dark clouds. “Enough sad talk! It’s no way to welcome you back. I’m going to fetch you and your crew a round of drinks—on the house. And there’s no need for you to stand about here with the hoi polloi. There’s a VIP booth over there with your name on it.”
“Thank you,” Cheng Li said. “But I’m happy to stay here for a minute or two. I’m waiting for someone.” Her eyes returned to the entrance. “Ah, and here he is!”
Both women’s eyes settled upon the arresting young man in a blue-gray uniform who now shook the hand of Pieces 08, the tavern’s trusty security guard, and proceeded past the velvet curtain into the bar.
Sugar Pie nudged Cheng Li. “Now he’s a walking definition of tall, dark, and handsome! Though a little pale for my liking.”
Cheng Li smiled. “He’s a Nocturnal.”
“Of course!” Sugar Pie said. “You know, I’m still getting used to them coming in here. Time was, a Vamp stepped past that curtain and we’d be on an all-points alert.”
“He’s not a Vampirate,” Cheng Li said, her voice heavy with feeling. “He’s a Nocturnal. It’s an important distinction.”
“Yes, I know,” Sugar Pie said. She was momentarily chastened but soon recovered, as she watched Lorcan stride toward them. “I haven’t seen him here before. I’d have definitely remembered such a pretty face.”
“Once seen, never forgotten,” agreed Cheng Li, raising her hand to signal to Lorcan. Cheng Li noted that many pirates, especially the women pirates, had turned to register the young Nocturnal’s arrival. She observed with
