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P IP WAS , he admitted to himself as they walked toward the mansion, disappointed not to be going to Raftworld for a visit. Because it sounded like that’s what the Raft King had wanted, and that would have been an adventure. On top of that, he was angry that Kinchen had arrived to save him. He didn’t need rescuing; he was pretty sure of that. And anyway, if he did, why couldn’t he save himself? He would have just said, No, I don’t want to go to Raftworld. Kinchen didn’t need to do that for him.
But would he have said no?
On top of everything, he felt guilty about being mad at Kinchen. She took care of him. She protected him. And when he said or did dumb things, she covered for him. He shouldn’t be mad at her. He shouldn’t.
As they walked toward the tea table, the Raft King talked, and when he paused for a response Pip realized, too late, that he hadn’t been listening. “Uh . . .”
“I understand,” said the king, patting his head. “So you’ve known this about yourself all your life.”
“I—I guess,” said Pip. Then he realized the Raft King was probably asking about the talking to fish. “I mean, yes. I knew since the first time I put my head under the water. My grandfather was teaching me to swim.”
The Raft King chuckled. “I’ll bet your grandfather was surprised.”
“He said he didn’t need to teach me swimming anymore.” He felt a brief surge of pride. It had taken Kinchen years to learn to swim, and even now, though she was a strong swimmer, she wasn’t nearly as comfortable in the water as he.
They reached the table. The governor and Kinchen lagged behind, talking. Kinchen was angry; Pip could tell because of the way her fists clenched and unclenched as she walked. Pip sighed. She was probably scolding the governor for letting Pip show his gift to the Raft King.
He turned back to the Raft King just in time to see him reach into a chest pocket on the inside of his robe and bring out a small packet. “Oh. It’s for the tea.” The Raft King added the powdery contents of the packet to two cups and poured the tea over them, stirring the powder and the tea together with a spoon. Into the other two cups he simply poured tea.
“Why...?”
“I figured you kids would want a little sweetener. Raftworld tea can be bitter until you get used to it.” The Raft King winked. “I doubt your sister will even notice that I added it.”
But if the tea was bitter, they could just add honey...which was sitting on the table in a jar. Why add powder from a packet in your robe? Looking up at the Raft King’s unremarkable face, a face he’d not recognize again if he saw the king five years from now—or five minutes from now—Pip knew that the Raft King was covering something up. And he was making up a stupid lie because he thought Pip was too dumb to catch on. He wasn’t even bothering to come up with a good story.
Pip nodded, thinking all these thoughts, just as the governor and Kinchen arrived. Kinchen looked calmer, and the governor looked relieved. “Tea sounds wonderful just now,” she said.
The Raft King handed her one of the unpowdered cups, taking the other for himself. “Could you and I talk business for just a moment or two more? While these two drink their tea?” He handed Kinchen and Pip their cups, one after the other. “Drink up, kids.”
The governor shrugged, as if unsure about leaving Pip and Kinchen alone.
“We’ll be fine,” said Kinchen. “I’ll take care of Pip.” She patted his back like he was a toddler.
At that moment, Pip decided to let her drink the tea.
He decided to drink his, too. The king wouldn’t actually poison them. But if there was something going on, he was going to be a part of it.