7 THE SEA QUEEN

  The Sea Queen entered the Ember Chamber. The projection of the antmother glared at both her and Erin but said nothing.

  "Is he in there?" The Sea Queen approached the obsidian.

  "Do not cast your thoughts into it," the antmother warned.

  "I am well aware of how the Forge works. My former love would never allow me this close to it. A stray thought would corrupt an entire work. But your creator is a cautious Man. He has crafted a wall against thought around the flames. Even Lugan would struggle to touch these flames."

  As she spoke the fires flared green out of the cracks before retreating entirely. The obsidian became dark and the room much, much colder. The obsidian shape twisted and Medhan emerged and floated to the ground.

  His close-fitting monochrome robes were sweat-soaked and dyed in a dozen colours. He noted the presence of the women in the room but instead summoned a strange creature. Two miniature magenta elephants walked to him and began hosing him down with warm, cleansing water. After the coloured soot was washed away, they blew hot air at him leaving him relatively pristine.

  "Introductions please Erin," he said in his quiet voice.

  "Father, this is the Queen of all Seas and all Beauty. Revered Queen, this is Medhan the Wright. Father, she insisted on meeting you during the exchange."

Stolen novel; please report.

  The Sea Queen was enormous compared to him. Two and a half metres tall, it would be flawed to call her statuesque for no statue could compare. "It is customary to prostrate when meeting your superiors."

  Medhan was towelling his hands. "I'll keep that in mind in case it happens. Why did you wish to see me?"

  "Did your parents not teach you proper manners?"

  "How to greet a god never came up."

  "Perhaps I should explain your failure to them? A child's sin is a parent's sin."

  "You are welcome to do so, Your Reverence."

  "I would have to find where you've hidden them first. I can see why you and my daughter got off on the wrong foot." Every time she spoke she inched towards him.

  Medhan looked to Erin who explained that the Sea Queen was Jaini's mother. "Do you anger many women, Master Wright? So many you've lost track."

  "I'm not good at following family trees. Much less those of gods like yourself. Now tell me why you're here."

  "You vex my daughter. She has taken apart many of your creatures but can't quite replicate them. You use the flames differently than her I think. Mostly though I came to see whether my husband survived his hubris and has finally found his way back from death." She was right in front of him now, staring deeply into his tired eyes. "I see that he has not. You are not him."

  She seemed defeated by the realization. "He would've liked the way you built this room." With a wave of her hand, the vials of final breaths materialized nearby. "Our transaction is complete."

  She began to leave but he said, "Leaving already? Is there something else here I can interest you in?"

  She pondered for a moment before smiling. "Leave us, creatures," she ordered but Erin and the antmother remained until they saw their creator wildly gesturing to do as she said.