“I do not know. All I know is that we will have to learn to work together, all of us.” Ailar stated, his voice quiet but filled with a strength. “Aece, will you speak with the Selkie King if I set it up?”
The Nokken looked uncomfortable for a minute and then nodded his head. The Selkie would hunt the Nokken for their skin and flesh. It had been many years since the practice had ended, but memories are long.
Turning to Ren, Ailar asked, “Would you consider allowing a portal on your Isle? If we cannot travel by sea, it would be best for you to have a way to leave if need be. It is not something that must be done today, Ansil and Ortheus know what needs to be done if you choose.”
“I will think on it. There is much wisdom in one as young as you, Ailar. Now it is time for you to be off with Aece. We will keep Thea and her men safe.”
Ailar gave Ren a look, but she simply smiled and leaned in to kiss his cheek. “It has been a pleasure having you here. I am sure you leave many broken hearts behind.”
Ailar blushed as he turned to me. “Be safe and no trouble.”
I glared at him but gave him a hug despite his annoying brotherly order. “You are the one who needs to stay out of trouble.”
He laughed, turning to the men. “Keep her and yourselves safe. I will send a message when I arrive safely.” He climbs into the seachair and as they push off from land we hear a crowd yelling goodbye. Turning to look behind us, we see the sky filled with Fairies waving goodbye.
Chapter 18
“Ansil, Aece should have returned by now with a message that Ailar arrived safely.” It had been two days since he had left without a word from any Nokken.
“I know, Thea, and I am worried as well. But there is nothing that we can do. We have no way to see if he even arrived.” Ansil paced the forest floor. “Ortheus and Brehm should be back soon. Hopefully they have word.”
I bit my lip. Hades had said to never speak about what I saw, but how can I not speak when it is about someone I love. Was there a way to say something without actually saying it? Slowly, as if thinking aloud I started to speak. “Ansil, what if we keep waiting for news and we wait too long to act?”
“What do you mean?” He looked over at me as if I was hiding something, which I guess I was.
“Well, we know that the Nereids want the seas and thus the realms to be under their control. Ailar is one of the biggest proponents for bringing peace to the realm, to everyone being allied. They would not want him to reach the Selkie Kingdom, either to tell the king about what is going on, or to further peace talks between the species.”
“Okay, I am listening. You have been thinking on this a while or is something else leading you?” He demanded.
I ignored his question, “Where would the Nereid take Ailar and the Nokken that would be safe for both of them? Ailar is not able to breathe under water and Nokken can only be above water for just so long.”
Ansil sat down on a small Amarillia Cape, his arm resting on his leg, chin in his hand. “There is a place I heard of when I was first sent out to explore the Kingdoms. No one has been there, it is so far out in the sea. Some say the Nereids live in a palace at the bottom of the ocean, others say they have their own Kingdom outside the sea. The rumor I heard was a little of both.”
“The Nereids swim the seas, claiming all but the what is between the Brownie Kingdom and the Fairy Kingdom as their own. They go where they want, causing some areas to be ripe for fishing and others to be dead. But there is one place that is dear to their hearts. Their ancestral home. It is said to be a beautiful castle made of coral and there is an Island that sets just behind the castle, so the Nereids can live on land or sea as they desire. My guess is this is where they would take anyone who displeased them. It would be very difficult to leave, whether you could swim or not.”
“So, it is hopeless?” I squeaked, distressed at the idea of never seeing my brother again.
“What’s hopeless?” Brehm demanded.
I turned to see Brehm and Ortheus walking into the clearing the Fairies had made available to us.
“Finding Ailar.” I sat down on the ground, hiding my face in my knees. Last time I felt like this was when I had fled to the human world. Then Jake had come to my rescue, helping me to redeem myself with my people and family. But he wasn’t here, so it would be up to us to fix this.
“We did learn something.” Ortheus started to say, “not much though. The Nokken were once again locked into their Kingdom, unable to travel the seas. They were able to confirm that Prince Aece and Prince Ailar never made it to the Selkie Kingdom.”
I wanted to curl up in a ball and hide, but I did that once before and had gotten me nowhere, well I did get a great friend out of it. No, I needed to act the Princess and leader I am and figure this out. “Brehm, Ansil has heard rumors of a Nereid castle far out in the sea. Do you know anything about this?”
He looked off into the distance, “There was talk about someplace like that. I was very young and so no one noticed when I would hang out in the throne room. My father wanted to know more of the Nereids who insisted on working with us on the ships. He tried everything to find out where they come from, but all they would say was that their home was past the sunset and down the kelp path.”
“Past the sunset...that would mean sail as far as you can.” I muttered. “But what does down the kelp path mean?”
“We never did find out. Father sent a few ships out over the years, they never returned.”
“And we no longer have a ship to sail with.” I replied glumly.
“Hey,” Brehm sat down next to me, jostling my arm. “Don’t give up so easily. I think we should meet with Ren and another of the Nokken. If we work together, we can come up with a plan.”
Chapter 19
I yawned as we walked down to the beach where we were to meet with Ren and the Nokken. Worry and sharing the space with three men, had left me tossing and turning all night. It wasn’t helped any by Brehm going off to speak with Ren alone and then disappearing for half the night. When he had returned he refused to say what he had been doing.
Ansil bumped into me, his hands on my shoulders all that kept me upright as I came to a dead stop. Before us a beautiful beach was spread out with garlands of flowers strung through the air. Blankets and tables had been scattered around and laden with food. As beautiful and magical as all that was too me, it was the ship sitting in the bay that had my attention.
It was probably the largest ship I had ever seen, with four large sails that flapped in the breeze. The bow was a carving of a seal and lady entwined in such a way that you could not tell where one started and the other ended. It was beautiful, and I found that I wanted to get closer to the ship just to see the carving. I imagined if we had had this ship the ’palik wouldn’t have been able to do much damage to us.
A throat cleared ripping my attention away from the ship and I noticed that everyone had already gathered together. Cheeks burning, I rushed to join them. “I’m sorry. But that ship is beautiful. I have never seen one that large before.”
“Thank you. It is the only ship like it.” A deep voice responded. I looked to where the voice had come from and see a dark-haired man standing beside Ren.
“Princess Thea, may I introduce Prince Hedad, the heir to the Selkie Kingdom,” Ren introduced him. I look to Brehm, who was smiling. “And this is Prince Llyr, second to the throne from the Nokken Kingdom.”
“Gladly met,” I said, feeling slightly out of my comfort zone. Here I was standing with three of the most important people to their Kingdoms, discussing a joint venture that may forever change the way things happened in the Kingdom. Who was I to be doing this? Everything venture I take ends up as a mess, except this was for my brother.
Ren turned to the forest behind us and called, “Fairies, take your places.” A hundred Fairies flew out of the forest and surround us. Water Fairies lifting water up, creating a curtain that blocked us from view of anyone in the sea. All of the Fairies were humming,
so that it sounded like a swarm of bees.
“Now we can talk without worry of who can hear,” she said. “I know this is all new to you, Thea. But it seems time is against us. Brehm convinced me to invite the Selkie Kingdom to partake in discussions, and I think he is right that we work towards more amicable relations.”
“But before we talk about our own Kingdom’s needs, we must help your and Prince Llyr’s brothers. Brehm has filled me in on what you know, but there is much my little brother does not know since he left the palace. The Nereids are making more and more demands of the Selkie Kingdom, and if we don’t comply they retaliate. We have lost ships, fishing grounds and in some cases lives. One day they even made it so we could not leave our rivers, forcing the tide to push us inland, swamping our houses. So, we are here not only for you but for our people, who could be next.” Prince Hedad looked truly distressed as he spoke. “To even come here was a challenge. We couldn’t leave without a Nereid on board. Once we were out of eyesight, she was given a sleeping potion and locked in her chambers.”
“She will have accommodations with us until we resolve things with the Nereids,” Ren added. “Now do we have any idea where they might have hidden the Princes?”
“Brehm remembered something he heard when he was small, that the Nereid home is past the sunset and down a kelp path. Does that mean anything to you?” I asked the Selkie heir.
Prince Hedad looked out at the sea, “I too have heard this, but have never thought on it. I can ask my ship captain. What he does not know, he knows who does.”
Prince Llyr had been listening, his head swiveling back and forth. He lay in the surf, allowing his body to stay wet, but also allowing him to partake in our conversation. “I also can send someone to our home to check. We have a keeper of knowledge, an ancient man who knows things that no one else does. He has a few apprentices, maybe he can spare one for a . . . field trip.”
“Thank you, Prince Llyr” I looked over at him and smiled, then looked to Ren. “I have heard that you also have a keeper of knowledge. Is there anything your history can tell us?”
“I’m afraid not. We have had our own issues with the Nereid, that is why we only sail the sea between here and your home. The knowledge we have of them has been lost.” Her voice hinted that there was something more, but I was too inexperienced to know what she might be withholding.
Suddenly, the people around me faded as visions passed before my eyes. Blazing sunsets, shimmering water, and kelp beds that stream into the sunset.
“Thea!” Brehm’s panicked cry shakes me from the vision.
“She is all right. It is just a vision. She has been blessed with them but must not speak of them.” Ortheus stated.
I set my hand on Ortheus’s arm, stopping him from saying more. “Thank you, but this time I think I can speak on it.” I look to Llyr and Hedad. “How soon could you get your information? And how soon can we sail?”
They looked around the gathering confused.
“My captain is with me, so he can tell us what he knows as soon as we ask,” Hedad stated, proudly, almost as if it was a contest to see who could get the information first. I ignored his bluster and turned to Llyr.
“I could probably have the information tonight,” He said at my questioning look.
I nodded, thinking over their responses. “How many would we need to take, to fight the Nereid?”
“Thea!” Ansil exclaimed. The Brownie way is not one of violence, so I am not surprised that he was shocked. But what I had learned with Jake was that there are times you are better off being on the offensive than always on the defensive. Maybe had we learned that in the past, we would have been better prepared for the Mhularuka.
“Ansil, it is the only way. The Nereid hold too much power. You think we will be able to sail up, just take Aece and Ailar and that be it? Because I think they will laugh and throw us all into their prison, or whatever they do.” I turned on him, for the first time ever.
“She is right,” Hedad remarked. “We have tried for many years to work with them, but the demands are larger each year. It must stop. I can have a fleet of ships ready tomorrow.”
“I too can have my army ready tomorrow. We can help with some of our water magic.” Llyr was quick to add.
“I will see what storm and water Fairies wish to go as well, and there may be a few others who desire the adventure,” Ren smiled. “Once when I was a young Fairy, the land was not as quiet as it is now. We knew how to fight then. I wish I could go with you, but now my place is here.”
Chapter 20
The rest of the day I spent helping prepare for our trip. The Fairies filled basket after basket with nuts, berries, and other foodstuffs that we store on Prince Harad’s boat. They also filled jugs with water and some drink that they claimed would have healing properties to it. I took a sniff and it smelled more like a drink that made the adult Brownies act a little loony when they drank too much.
I was surprised by how many Fairies wished to join us, even Nip chose to come. But as he told me, “Sweetie, you have no clue how limiting it is to live on the Isles and be unable to leave. I want to see all the hunkies out there and maybe find my happily ever after.” His eyes got all soft at the thought of a happily ever after. “Living here is wonderful, don’t get me wrong, but not everyone feels as I do and many just tolerate me.”
His words sadden me, since I have found myself enjoying his company. His running commentary of the men we watch getting ready had me in fits of giggles.
“Oh yum, look at his ass. You could bounce a piñon seed on those cheeks.” I laughed at the image but had to agree that some of the Nokken who had come out of the water for short periods of time were nicely shaped. With all the swimming that they did, their bodies were sinew and muscle, without an ounce of fat on them. Though I found their webbed feet slightly off putting.
“Oh, look at that Selkie, I never knew that they could partial shift like that, but it is kind of hot. I wouldn’t mind being wrapped in those arms.”
“Hey, no ogling Brehm! You can have the others but Brehm, Ansil, and Ortheus are mine.” I jostled his shoulder.
“Oh poo! I know they are yours, but you can’t blame a Fairy for looking when they are built like that.”
“Just no touchies!” I glared at him.
“Like I could get close enough to touch. If they are not next to you, their eyes follow you everywhere.”
My face heated at his words, but another kind of warmth filled me. I needed some time to find out for myself how the guys felt, but life right now didn’t allow for that. I popped the last berry into my mouth and stood up. “We should finish getting ready. Prince Harad would like to have a meeting tonight and then we all have to get some sleep since we leave when the sun rises.”
“You’re right. I need to do one last run through the forest to make sure everything is set.” He worried his lip, “I’ve never left the Island before, what is it like out there?”
“Um . . . I have no idea really. I was only in the Selkie Kingdom for as long as it took to walk to Brehm’s ship. The only other trip I took out of the Bog ended in me bringing Mhularukas and destruction to it.”
“Well then, sister, we will discover life together!” The tall Fairy said as he sprang into the air and flew into the forest.
“He is a character, isn’t he?” Brehm comments from behind me. I turned to look at him and smiled.
“Yes, he is. But he is cute. I think he could be a good friend. At the least I will never stop laughing with him around.”
“Well, at least I won’t have to worry about fighting him for your attentions. Speaking of which, I believe you owe me a kiss.” He stepped towards where I was seated on a log that rests on a high bank, putting me at eye level with him.
“I do?”
“Yes, you do. I think two in fact, one for saving you from the Nereid and the second for saving you from the ’palik.”
His lips hovered over mine as he finished speaking.
“Thea!” Ansil called, making Brehm jump. I groaned, then giggled. Will I ever get that first kiss from him?
“Here, Ansil,” I called back, looking up into a disappointed set of eyes.
“One of these times, it will happen,” He threatened, a smile on his lips.
“I look forward to it, but you might have to get through my guards.”
“Sweetheart, you must be blind. Those two are more than your guards, just as one day I will be more than your captain, even if it means sharing.”
Chapter 21
“Thea, I have been looking for you!” Ansil glared at Brehm as if the Selkie was the root of every evil in the world. “We need to discuss what you will do while we are gone.”
I jumped off the branch I had been sitting on, forgetting how far up I was from the beach where Ansil and Brehm stood. Thankfully, Brehm’s hands grasped my waist and he lowered me down to the beach, very slowly. I smiled up at him, then turned to Ansil.
“If you think there is any way that I will play the helpless female who stays home while the men go have adventures and fight, you have another thing coming! Stop thinking that I am a child or weakling. I am second to the throne and for that reason alone I will be going, just as Prince Harad and Prince Llyr are. You have no qualms with them going, so get rid of the idea of me not going.”
Ansil’s face went from calm, to angry to shocked in the few minutes that I had been yelling at him. “Thea--”
“Do not Thea me. I am sick and tired of you seeing me as a child. Of having to fit into some mold that you and my father have for the perfect Princess. I am not that person and I will never be her. I want to see the best in people, I want to hope and to work for a better life for this realm. And I will not let you stop me.” By now tears were coursing down my cheeks, but I didn’t care. It had been too long being bottled up and now that I had started I couldn’t stop.
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