“Marin, it cannot go on like this. You are burning a bridge with almost every person who works here.”

Head hung down, I nodded. I knew this.

“You are doing Solum’s work for her. She doesna even have to lift a finger to make your life unpleasant. Dominic and Lila will do that for her.”

“I know you’re right Aemilia, but what can I do?” I asked.

“Make amends. Give the Lamellae to Lila. Apologize to Dominic, and pay back the money. From your own pocket. He wouldna forgive you for making Lord Ibis pay for it.”

There was a short lull in our conversation as I washed my hands before mixing the array of finely chopped vegetables, water and flour. Raising my head, I looked at Aemilia. She was old, older than Dominic. She knew how things worked in this household. This intervention was moved by kindness, to give me advice.

“Thank you Aemilia, for caring and trying to help me. But I can’t do either of those things.” There was no doubt where my priorities lay. Giving the Lamellae to Lila, to be served at a meal was unthinkable. Between choosing a debt with the vampires or Dominic, I would much rather raise Dominic’s ire with the money, than be one iota longer in the debt of the vampires than need be.

Her hands clenched. “I thought you were smarter than that Marin. You may be a noble, but you have no backing. You need friends. Not making amends will show the others that you think you are better than them.”

“I really can’t Aemilia, I have a debt I have to pay.”

“A debt? To who?”

“It is better for us both, if you don’t know.”

Her eyes pierced me. I was reminded of the fact that with her age, she had seen many people come and go in this household. She nodded slowly. “I think I know then. I can talk to Dominic, but Lila will be up to you.”

Moving the coals in the oven to my satisfaction, I put the tray of little vegetable balls in.

“Thank you Aemilia. I have an idea or two.”

***

Lord Ibis picked at his plate, with bated breath, I waited to hear his verdict this time. It was definitely fancier than last time. My plate was a colorful mix of little vegetable balls, a cooked grain and a simple yogurt sauce.

“Better, but there is still no meat.”

With that proclamation, Solum and I started eating too. Later as I lay in bed, I thought to myself that someday I would get it right. The child was opposite me, the bucket of water had become it’s safe place. It didn’t want to leave it. It recognized me, no longer screeching quite as loud when I came close. More a screech of warning than of fear. I fell asleep like that, looking into its eyes. This night I would try to dream again, I promised myself.

***

It was dark, although my eyes were wide open. Light moved and rippled, with a mind of its own, giving an eerie look with waves of light. I was dreaming of water again, but it wasn’t the river. I knew the river well enough to tell. It had a different pressure on my skin. A shape swirled at the edge of my sight. I twisted around, but it was faster. Something stabbed at my feet under me, and blood clouded the water.

“Stop!” I cried out, curling into myself.

“A speaker then.” A voice spoke in front of me. Opening the eyes I had closed, I could see well enough with the dim light to see a grown Lamellae in front of me. With the buoyancy of water, he had swum up to my height. The most catching thing was the child in his arms. I wanted to speak, to reach out, when I felt myself being pushed backward by a great force. The figure of the Lamellae and child still and unmoved by the force that held me. Darkness grew stronger, and I fought against it. My eyes flew open, I was in bed.

“Marin.” The last voice I expected spoke. “Wake up already.”

“Solum?” She held a lamp up to her face. Her hair disheveled, she looked like she hadn’t slept.

“Marin, I found it.”

“You found it?” I tossed the covers off. “What does it say?” I wanted to head to the study immediately.

Solum’s nose wrinkled. “Why are you naked?”

I had forgotten that in my sleepy state. The only article I had on was Matre’s necklace, swinging like a pendulum from the momentum of swiftly sitting up.

“And what is that scar?” She added, referring to the giant, jagged badly healed swipe of claws from my shoulder to my opposite hip.

I ignored the second part, hoping that if I answered one question I could distract her. Rather than tell the truth, that I had no sleeping clothes, I said that it was easier to sleep that way. I tripped over my feet getting out of bed. An unplanned part of the distraction. A shooting pain of a cramp in my foot, the same foot that had been stabbed in my dream made me stumble. I thought nothing of it, and wore the same dress as the past few days. The ripe smell that arose from it was unpleasant, but there was nothing to do about it now.

The study looked different at night. A magic of another kind hung about it, the darkness whispering of mysteries. Solum’s table had been filled by an even larger pile of books than before, it was apparent that she had moved to the next desk, by the book she had left open. My steps slowed as we reached it. By the light of her lamp, I read the treaty.

***

I set the slim book down. A book that was heavy with the knowledge it imparted.

“This is incredible.”

Solum, who had been watching my face the whole time I read nodded. “It changes everything we thought and believed of the Lamellae.”

“I wonder, how did it come to be, that this was forgotten?”

“The traditional dishes made of Lamellae, are imperial dishes.”

“You think it was the empire that started the fashion of eating the Lamellae? But why would they do that?”

“What I am asking myself, is how did you know?” Her voice was light, her eyes accusing.

I tried to assuage whatever she was suspicious of. “I didn’t know. I had a feeling, when I looked into the eyes of the child. I saw a mind behind those eyes.” It sounded like a weak excuse, but it was the truth. Or at least part of it. I wasn’t ready to talk about Ursula.

By her eyes, I could tell she was thinking something similar.

“I can prove it.” I said.

Rushing up to my room, I carried the bucket with the child, I did it gently so as not to wake it.

“Do you know how to get to the lake? Secretly?”

“Yes. But I will have to blindfold you.”

What followed was a stuttering mess, of heavy breathing and cold sweat for a long time. Sudden pauses as Solum shushed me and we stopped. It was only once the hair of my forehead was completely plastered in sweat that she took the blindfold off. I didn’t know where we were, but it was a secluded part of the lake. There were willow-like trees with hanging branches around us and a steep shore.

“What now?” Solum asked me.

“I need to sleep.”

“Are you serious? Is this some joke to you?”

“No, I need to dream travel, to speak with his people. I had already done it this night before.”

“I thought those rumors of the la Mandra family were false.”

“Well now you know.” I snapped at her, tiredness and pressure came together. “Good night.”

I lay down, and after a moment Solum sat too. I watched the child as I fell asleep, hoping that would help. I wished we could release it now into the water and be done with it. But that would be a death sentence. It’s chances of survival would be low alone and close to the city.

There is such a conundrum that when you need to sleep, you can’t. That was the difficulty I was facing. Solum’s soft snores filled my ears, as I finally slipped back into the dream.

As though I had never left, the figure holding the child was still there. As was my injured foot, blood leaking from it and swirling in the water. In those small arms, the child looked safe, and at peace. Something relaxed in its face and posture that I hadn’t seen before.

Now, I was faced with a different sort of accusing eyes. I tried to speak, but my voice was muted, bubbles left my mouth.

“Beings of Earth and Fire cannot speak freely in Water. That should have been our first sign not to have trusted you.”

I had a feeling it wasn't necessarily talking about me, but humans in general. About the break in the treaty they once had. And yet, trust was a weighty word for me. Those words did collide with me personally. Ursula had trusted me. I too had not been worthy of that. This would be different. I was more conscious now. My choices, my actions had strength and influence. No longer did I want to allow myself to be swept in the river of other people’s thoughts, wants and beliefs, as I had let myself follow Inparem.

This was a dream, I knew it. I could change this dream. I pictured where we were sleeping. The branches trees trailing in the water, the solitude of the place. As though with a brush, I swiftly painted the image of the child with us, and Solum.

“A trap that has been tried before. If your wish to reunite us is sincere, you will come to us.” The figure swam away, I tried to follow, to ask how, but it was faster than me. When I awoke, it was the darkest part of dawn, when the rays only lightly touched the sky. Solum slept lightly, I had only to move towards her and her eyes cracked open. I told her of my dream.

“Then we should go into the lake.” Solum said.

“What?” I expected us to go back home now, and ponder the dream, as well as how to continue.

“I am responsible for this child. The Ibis name was on that treaty. One of my ancestors signed it, and betrayed them. We have eaten Lamellae for generations. If there is even the smallest thing I can do to right this wrong, I will.” She stood, and for a moment the sight of her flickered. I saw Solum, but older. Older than I was now. I saw who she would be in the future. A woman such as I was striving to be, a strong one.

“How do you think we can do this?”

Solum smiled. It struck me that it was the first time she smiled at me. My easy acceptance of her words was unexpected for her. She had been ready to charge into an argument. Returning the child was something we both wanted to do, I wouldn’t argue against that.

“You said they know where we are right?”

“I showed them the image, but they won’t come.”

“We just have to swim far enough, deep enough into the lake, and they will find us.”

“How can you be sure?” I had dreamt the dream, and had not understood that.

“They didn’t show you were to go, but you showed them. That means they will be heading here, just not to the shore. They are creatures of the water, they will find us.”

“And if they don’t? We can’t hold our breath long enough to rely on that.”

“Our necklaces will put us into statis. If it takes too long, my father can find us.”

That explained it. I was wondering where her faith in the capabilities of the Lamellae was coming from, a creature that yesterday had been food. Her faith was in her father. Carrying the bucket, we entered the water together. I ripped off the bottom of my dress.

“We should tie each other together, that way we won’t get separated.” A delay on my side of entering deeper into the water. My near death in The River could have been a decade ago and it would still be to close for me to want to attempt this. To trust in a necklace who’s power I did not understand.

“Good idea.”

With a short tie of a knot, we entered the water. I held the child in a way reminiscent from the dream. A dream it must have still been having, as it slept on.

The water swirled around my legs with each step, getting swiftly deeper. The tie between us pulled me in faster than I wanted. Solum was walking in fearlessly. I admired her for it. We swam awkwardly, farther out to the lake. I was one handed, one arm wrapped around the child. We gave a large berth to some of the early fishing boats. Dawn was a popular time for it. When we had swum far enough into the lake, we started to dive. When Solum’s strong strokes faltered, it was I that took over. I could hold my breath longer than her. Longer than I had thought possible. Determination kept me swimming downwards, through the inevitable clawing feeling, the desperation for air that was unstoppable. It was a relentless feeling. When unconsciousness closed in, it was not a relief. My last sight was Solum, necklace flowing out of her dress, floating with a death like visage next to me.

Who knows how much time passed, until I awoke sputtering and coughing in an underground cave. It was lit by an eerie light, of a glowing moss. The cave was built like a low shelf, it wasn’t high enough to sit straight. Where the ledge of the cave stopped, a few steps away, at almost the same height of the ledge, was water and Lamellae. Their heads were bobbing in the black water. There were five of them, the child was gone. In the dim light, I could recognize no distinguishing features between them, other than the one closest to me who held a wicked looking trident. Even by the soft glow of the moss light, it winked sharply.

Solum was coughing next to me. I rubbed her back, helping her to calm down. She placed her arms around me, leaning on me in an unaware movement. It was noticeable for me, it made me feel protective. Our relationship was slowly changing to one of trust. It was precious to me.

Leaning over the ledge, I dunked my head in to say a gargled hello. I remembered from the dream, that they spoke freely in water. I was trying to be polite, and speak to them on their terms. Taking my dripping head out, I saw the unmoved faces of the Lamellae. They hadn’t dunked in with me. Perhaps it was the mix of the ghostly lighting and unblinking gaze, but they looked threatening.

“Hello?” I spoke hesitantly, this time in the air of the cave.

The trident pointed straight at me. It came slowly closer, I didn’t move. With a quick slash, the front of my dress was open. I was shocked, I hadn’t expected this direction. But then I saw, the aim hadn’t been to undress me, but to take a hold of my necklace, that now hung between the forks of it.

“No!” I said forcibly. I reached out to snatch it back, and banged my head against the ceiling of the cave. I didn’t cry out, instead rubbing my head, the other hand clutching the two open flaps of my dress closed. The leader with the trident put on my necklace, and turned to Solum.

Then, where there had been previously five unblinking gazes in the room, there were now six. Solum and the leader were locked onto each other. After a stretched amount of time, long enough that I noticed the shivering cold permeating the air and was shivering uncontrollably, their gazes broke. Solum looked down, her shoulders hunched. With the trident, the leader passed me the necklace back. She slipped into the water.

“Let us go Marin. There is nothing more for us to do here.”

Something in her humbled demeanor kept me from asking immediately what had happened, although curiosity was beating hard in me. It grated on me that I have been left out of something, when I had been the one to care and protect the child.

“Is the child fine?” I asked. I would keep it at that for now. Later, would be the time to talk in depth.

“Yes, he is safe with his people now.”