Page 714

“I am aware,” said Mariana. “I was hoping you would have someone already nearby.”

<“I’m sorry. Several candidates come to mind, but I don’t know where to find them. You know how reapers are, especially without a servant tying them down.”>

“I thought as much. It was worth asking.” Searching for any single reaper could take months or even years, she knew. It was not uncommon for them to disappear, particularly after releasing a long-held servant. For many, replacing their servant meant replacing their very best friend. It wasn’t a thing they liked to rush into. Or, depending on their circumstances, some reapers might go into hiding while they built up a new servant’s power.

<“I’ll make some calls to the other families and see if any of them have someone lined up for your son. With any luck--”>

“You would only be wasting your time,” said Mariana. “Unless you give me your word that you have met the reaper personally and would entrust them with your own child’s life, then I will certainly not be entrusting them with mine.”

There came a long pause. <“I see. And you are planning to...?”>

“Yes.”

More quietly, Octavia asked, <“What can I do for you?”>

“I would like to see Emiliana. Did you take her to Red Lake Castle?”

<“I did. Can you make it here safely?”>

“Yes, that shouldn’t be a problem. I will be there shortly.”

<“Very well.”>

“Thank you for all your help, Octavia.”

<“Ah, before you go--do you know why your family has been targeted? Your daughter mentioned that the assailants were Vanguard.”>

“No, I don’t know. I will see you soon.” She hung up.

Shenado floated in front of her.

And Mariana could see her son’s soul in the reaper’s grasp. It was a faint, bluish thing to her eyes, a somehow pyramidic liquid, impossibly holding its shape with slow, trembling effort. She remembered the first time she’d started seeing souls, after years of being a servant already. It was unequivocally strange, suddenly being able to see what Shenado saw. The only apparent difference seemed to be that Shenado could see them even before a person had died, while Mariana could not--with the exception of aberrations, which were suddenly quite easy to pick out of a crowd.

Page 713

Mariana’s expression softened. “Don’t apologize, mijara. You didn’t do anything wrong. Is Octavia there right now?”

<“Y-yes...”>

“Let me speak with her.”

<“Mama... I...”>

“What?”

<“Ah...”> Her voice was shaking. <“My power manifested. I’m a mutation user...”>

Mariana stopped to digest that information as she looked around the cabin. The sloped windows all around her offered a full view of rolling hills among the flooded lowlands. Aguarey stood high to the south, appearing to almost float above the waves.

“You will have great need of that power, Emiliana,” said Mariana. “I know you may not want it now, but one day, it will save you and those you care about. Remember that, mijara.”

Emiliana didn’t respond.

Mariana had to press her onward. “We’ll talk more when I see you again. Put Octavia on the phone, please.”

<“...Yes, enma’am.”>

There came a brief rustling, and then, <“Lady Elroy, hello.”> The old woman’s airy voice was familiar and welcome. <“I am glad to know you are alive.”>

“Not as glad as I am to know you have my daughter,” said Mariana. House Redwater was one of the few she was inclined to trust. Of all the Rainlord families in both Sair and Intar, the Redwaters were probably the proudest and definitely the most famous. They were troublemakers, historically, not given to taking orders from anyone other than themselves.

<“Is your husband with you?”>

“No. I don’t know where he is. I fear the worst.”

<“I see. I have already sent word out to look for him. I will let you know as soon as I hear anything.”>

“Unfortunately, I have a problem which takes precedence even over finding Zeff.”

<“Not having a very good day, are you?”>

Mariana nodded tiredly to herself. “My son Marcos is dead.”

<“Ah... I am so sorry.”>

“I require a suitable reaper for him. I was wondering if you might know of one.”

Octavia was slow to answer. <“That will be difficult. I have a network of contacts, as I’m sure you do as well, but any reaper without a servant is also without a means of getting in contact with them.”>

Page 712

In this area, the waters often receded enough to reveal the bare ground, and the boathouse was designed with that in mind, bearing a foundation that could stand or float equally well in exchange for sacrificing most of its aquatic mobility. It also wasn’t terribly large. Even the few people she’d brought with her wouldn’t be able to stay here comfortably, but it would have to do for now. She pulled up beside it and had everyone else board it first, then carried Marcos’ body over with her.

The remote location was ideal for the current circumstances. Due to all the souls in Aguarey, Shenado hadn’t been able to identify any of the reapers who’d been pursuing them; but now that they were far enough away from the city, any reaper stupid enough to have kept following would be immediately sensed and memorized by Shenado. Unfortunately, none of the enemy reapers had been that stupid.

‘Whoever they were, they’ve given up chasing us,’ the reaper said. ‘Seems their reapers value their anonymity. I’d say that confirms that it’s a watcher’s unit, then. And that Charlie Day fellow--strange for an alteration type to be used as a watchman, but it might make sense if he had power over radio waves. Would also explain the heat he could produce and perhaps even the jamming of your cellphone.’

Right now, the only thing Mariana needed from this place was the encrypted satellite phone. It required a bit of setup, but she had it working within a few minutes.

‘Who are you calling first?’ Shenado asked.

‘Emiliana.’ She didn’t need Shenado to tell her the girl’s number. She tapped it in from memory. It took a little while to connect and start ringing.

Emiliana picked up immediately. <“Mama?”>

Mariana exhaled a long breath. “Yes, it’s me.”

<“Oh, thank god!”>

“Are you alright? Are you safe?”

<“I am. I’m with Octavia Redwater. I called her granddaughter for help, and then she came to get me herself.”>

“Good! Smart girl. I’m proud of you. Is Francisco with you?”

She paused. <“No... He stayed behind to fight, I think. I don’t know what happened to him. I’m sorry...”>