Children of Poseidon: Rann Read Online Free PDF

discussion of a visit.
    Has something happened? It will be nice to see her, though. Maya might have some ideas about where I can fit in.
    Maya kept in close touch with a circle of young witches from many of the communes. She might even know someone who knew something about seawitches.

Chapter 4
    “Jewel!” Maya burst through the doors onto the terrace just before dinner, while Jewel bustled round helping the seasprites set food on the table. “I’ve got to talk to you.”
    “Hi, Maya.” Jewel set a platter of colourful salads on the table and braced herself as Maya hugged her. “Lovely to see you. Did you send a message?”
    “No, no. There wasn’t time.” Maya radiated vitality, despite the fact that she’d been travelling for a couple of days. “I thought by the time a message arrived I could be here myself.”
    “Good timing. Dinner’s almost ready.”
    Maya glanced at the table and down at her crumpled sundress. “I’d better shower.”
    She disappeared back through the door and into the house.
    Jewel shrugged. Whatever she wants to talk about can’t be that important.
    Maya’s head peered round the door. “I’ve got important news.” She disappeared again.
    “We’ll talk later.” Jewel shouted after her. “I want some advice.”
    “So do I.” Maya appeared again, smiled widely as though she didn’t have a care in the world, and retreated into the house.
    She returned as the seasprites served the evening meal. Dressed in a short gold dress and gold sandals that lifted her height to over six feet, she dominated the gathering. Her flaming hair fell in curls to the small of her back, and she glittered in the light of the candles that were set round the courtyard. Heros and Terrin, the male sirens, stared at her in awe. She smirked at Jewel as she took the seat next to her.
    Rann came out a moment later, apologising for his lateness and explaining that he had a guest who needed care.
    Jewel’s eyes flew to him. He had to be talking about the silent seawitch. He wore loose cream trousers and a floaty white shirt that exposed the golden brown column of his throat. Glancing round the table, he took the empty seat next to Maya. The two male sirens sat together on the other side of the table. Tethani, Tamsin, and two of the seasprites were the only others present. This was a small gathering. Jewel had shared the table with more than twenty people on occasion, as Rann liked to be hospitable. All his people were welcome in his home.
    Food was piled in bowls for people to help themselves—Jewel’s idea—as otherwise someone had to go in and out of the kitchen to fetch things.
    Rann bent towards Maya and kissed her cheek. “Know anything about seawitches?” he asked. He stretched across the table and ladled some of the soup into his bowl.
    Maya sat back, narrowing her kohl-lined eyes at him. “No. Why do you ask?”
    “Because I’ve got one upstairs.”
    “I thought they’d died out.” Maya stirred her soup, then raised the spoon to her lips. “Why don’t you ask her?”
    “Can’t.” Rann shook his head. “She’s catatonic.”
    Maya carried on eating. If she wondered why Rann kept a catatonic seawitch in his attic, she kept quiet about it.
    “Can you see if she’ll eat?” Rann asked Moni. “When you’ve finished. Try her with some wine.” The seasprite nodded.
    “Who is she?” Maya looked up at last.
    “I haven’t a clue.” Rann raised his shoulders in a gesture of incomprehension. “She wandered into my mother’s territory, shedding death magic as she went.”
    Maya’s amber eyes widened.
    “My mother wrapped her in nullsilver and sent for me.”
    “What are you going to do with her?” Maya’s voice dropped; she knew perfectly well where Rann’s duty lay.
    Jewel listened carefully. The fact that Cyclops hadn’t killed the seawitch was strange in itself. Rann’s mother was a deep-ocean cyclops, different from the classical type in many ways, but just as dangerous; she