Eighth Circle

Liala was impressed. Once again, it was like going back into the past. The guardians had got it part right when they tried to return the world to a happier time. She wondered if they were all bad. Perhaps some were good and the bad ones had taken over. Father had said something like that.

She turned to where the two men were sitting. Bryn was steering the boat and Allain was talking to him. Allain wouldn't be going all the way. He would take the boat back to shore and pick them up when the dolphins summoned him.

A lung condition prevented him from swimming under water and breathing compressed air. Liala regretted Allain's health problem but was pleased he would not be with them when she and Bryn swam with the dolphins and met up with Crispin.

***

The research vessel was surprisingly quiet when they surfaced beside it. Liala wondered what had happened to everybody. There was usually a crowd of marine scientists taking measurement and making a lot of noise. She clambered on deck and discovered that Crispin and Peter were the only people on board.

Crispin explained that the scientists had been infiltrated by surrogates and that was why they had put to sea with such a small crew. He cast a suspicious eye at Bryn.

'Is this your commander?'

'The commander couldn't come,' Liala said.

'So. You brought your boyfriend instead?'

'Bryn is the commander's nephew.'

'I expected to meet the commander ... not a member of his family.'

Liala was surprised by her brother's tone. He usually deferred to her and didn't argue. Crispin had changed. He was far more forthright.

'The commander has a lung condition,' she explained. 'You said it was too dangerous for us to come out on the surface so we had to swim with the dolphins. The commander can't breathe compressed air. He sent Bryn instead.'

'My instructions are to speak to the commander.'

'Instructions ... from whom?'

'The professor ...'

'You mean that man who was captured by the orcas?'

'Father thinks he's the Lord of Light.'

'Say that again.'

'Father has spoken to him. He thinks he's the Lord of Light.'

'You didn't tell us that.' Liala glared at her brother. 'It's been easy for you back at the palace. You have no idea how difficult it has been for us. It's freezing cold when you don't have a big dome over your head and there are trolls and surrogates everywhere. You can't take a step without seeing one ...'

'I couldn't get the message across.'