"The surface forgets, but the deep remembers. We do not rule the sea, we listen to it."
The sound of waves crashing against the outer cliffs echoed like a war drum. Below us, the Emerald Gulf glistened in false peace, hiding all the chaos that churned beneath. General Kallion stood beside me, arms folded across his chest, staring into the sea like it owed him answers. I leaned against the black stone railing of the high balcony, eyes half-lidded with thought.
"He'll come," I said, letting the words slip like incense smoke. "We have already baited the sea. The Abyss cannot ignore a storm it did not summon."
Kallion did not move. "You're playing with fire, Nerisca."
I scoffed. " You know as well as I do, he is bound by the curse of his throne. A king without a crown, a consort without a choice."
"Tharion will protect him," Kallion said darkly. "He always has. You will need more than storms and seductive words."
