Of Liars and Thieves

by Gabriela Lavarello

  Aeden paused for a moment, and Lorian narrowed his eyes as he noticed the faintest bit of tension around her shoulders. It was gone in a moment, however, and Aeden withdrew her folded page and handed it over.

  With a whistle, Nora soon came leaping from the surrounding trees, and Finriel kneeled in front of her. Lorian watched Finriel speak softly to the mogwa, handing the stacked pages to her. The mogwa took up the pages in her large maw, and with a loving nudge against Finriel’s chest, turned on her haunches and launched away from the companions toward the shimmering border of Creonid in the distance.

  “I hope that the pages won’t be ruined by her slobber by the time she arrives in Creonid,” Lorian mused, and Finriel shot him a look as she straightened.

  “Nora is careful, likely more careful than you are anyways.”

  Lorian shrugged but didn’t respond, knowing that Finriel did have a good point. It was Nora who had been able to save her all those years ago, after all, not him.

  “Now, how are we supposed to find the tunnel?” Tedric asked, taking a step toward the water’s edge.

  “Careful, warrior,” Aeden warned, reaching her hand out to touch his shoulder in warning.

  Lorian frowned as they touched and Aeden froze, her face going pale as she retracted her hand quickly. Tedric stiffened and stepped back.

  “We have to find the mermaids and ask them to raise it for us,” Aeden spoke again, looking at the sparkling blue lake as if expecting the creatures to surface any moment.

  Lorian snorted and shook his head. “Oh, don’t worry, they’ll find us.” He kicked a stone and ran a trembling hand through his hair. “They most likely already know that we’re here.”

  “You are not wrong.”

  The companions spun around at once, looking around wildly for who had spoken. But Lorian didn’t have to search long for their new company, he knew that the mermaids had arrived. He let his gaze slide down to the shore, where she was lying, half submerged in the eerie blue water.

  Lorian felt his entire body freeze as shards of memory flashed through his mind. The feeling of water in his lungs, long fingernails clawing through his skin and turning the blue water cloudy with red. He realized that this must have been what Finriel had felt before he had been taken from her: helpless, scared, and violated.

  He shook the thoughts away and swallowed back his fears, then took a step toward the mermaid. She was beautiful, or as beautiful as any deadly water-dwelling monster could possibly be. Long silver hair cascaded down her back, a few loose strands framing her delicate face. And then there was the tail. Black and magnificent, the water droplets upon it glittering in the sunlight. She smiled at Lorian, and he shivered as he saw a row of razor sharp teeth exposed behind full red lips.

  “I remember you, thief boy,” the mermaid purred, “although you were much smaller back then.”

  “I can’t say that I’m glad to see you again, for I’d be lying if I did,” Lorian replied in the kindest voice he could muster.

  The creature’s grin widened, and her attention slid over to the rest of Lorian’s friends. He did not like the way that her dark eyes watched his companions hungrily, or how she licked her lips when her gaze landed on Finriel. Mermaids could sense magic, and Lorian could only guess what the mermaid felt radiating from the witch.

  “I see you have brought friends this time. Perhaps you think your chances of getting past my sisters and me will be easier than before with help?” The mermaid laughed, the sound similar to wind chimes blowing in a soft wind.

  “We’ve come to ask your permission to enter Dragonkeep.” Krete was the one to speak.

  The mermaid tilted her head toward the gnome and considered. “That is kind of you to ask permission.” The mermaid chuckled again. “But I’m afraid that it does not matter. I am not to let anyone through the tunnel.”

  “And who gave you those orders?” Tedric asked.

  The four of them had now come to stand next to Lorian as the mermaid analyzed the companions.

  “Why, Raymara itself; the water, the wind, the earth, and flames. Well, when fire still was allowed freely among this realm.”

  Lorian glanced over to Finriel, hoping that the mermaid hadn’t noticed the flames coursing within the witch’s magic, but he knew that his hope was likely useless. Another dawning realization hit him, and his fists clenched. The mermaid’s words seemed awfully similar to the riddle they had solved upon their entry into Drolatis. Finriel met his gaze for the hair of a moment, and seemed to be thinking the same thing. She took a step forward and Lorian shot his hand out to hold her back.

  “Don’t step any closer.”

  “You would be wise to listen to your friend, witch,” the mermaid warned. “You smell delicious.”

  Finriel took a step back with a grimace and softly pulled her wrist from Lorian’s grasp, and he let his hand drop to his side.

  “Is there any way that we can get through to the tunnel?” Aeden asked, taking a tentative step toward the mermaid.

  The mermaid shook her head, as if sorry to tell them no. “I’m afraid that the only way you can get through is by sacrificing one member of your group to my sisters and me. Only then can we raise the portal to allow entry to the mountain.”

  Lorian groaned inwardly. He knew that it would come to this.

  “That is not going to happen,” Finriel snapped, and the mermaid’s smile widened.

  “I thought you might say that. However, the sacrifice of one of your friends would simply be a ransom. If you can get through the tunnel before it closes, then we will send the offered companion back to you.”

  Lorian glanced at Finriel and the others, resolve slowly setting in. The one thing he had tried to avoid for many years was finally upon him, but he found that he couldn’t bear the idea of allowing his companions to sacrifice themselves.

  “I’ll do it,” he said, and stepped toward the mermaid.

  “No,” Finriel countered, and now she was the one to hold him back. He looked down at her, breath catching as he smiled sadly and shook his head.

  “I’m more expendable than any of you,” he replied softly.

  “You are not,” Aeden said, and Lorian blinked in surprise at her worried expression.

  “She’s right,” Tedric said. “I should do it.”

  “Oh, please, your heroics aren’t welcome right now,” Finriel snapped.

  “I’m not trying to be a hero,” Tedric retaliated. “I’m offering myself so that Lorian doesn’t have to.”

  Aeden watched Tedric with a concerned frown, and Lorian noticed her fingers twitch toward him.

  Finriel shook her head. “You can’t do it either. This entire thing is ridiculous.”

  Krete ignored the argument before him and stepped forward tentatively, his eyes trained on the mermaid, who was watching Finriel and Tedric in amusement.

  “You swear that whoever goes with you will be returned to us?” he asked, and the mermaid nodded.

  “Only if you are all able to pass through the entrance before it closes. If you don’t, then we will take whoever does not make it through and the sacrificed one to be our pets forever.”

  Lorian shivered, not liking the word “pet,” especially not rolling off the mermaid’s tongue. But he had to do it, he had to be the one to sacrifice himself. He had put their lives in danger countless times during the past few moons, but that would stop today.

  Lorian looked down at Finriel again, and she met his gaze readily. He blinked in surprise. She truly didn’t want him to die.

  “I’m doing it,” he made himself say, “and you won’t stop me.” He reached a hand up and brushed his fingertips against Finriel’s, then pushed past her and walked toward the creature. “Take me,” Lorian whispered as he approached the mermaid.

  She smiled and motioned for him to come closer. He waded into the water until he was only a hand’s breadth away from her and kneeled, his heart beating frantically against his chest.

  The mermaid regarded his
companions with a haughty look and spoke. “The tunnel will open, but only once your friend is with us and you enter my home to find it.”

  The mermaid turned back Lorian and pushed herself upwards, tilting her head closer. The last thing he remembered was the taste of blood and salt on his lips before the world swirled into darkness.

  25

  Finriel

  “Well, that was bad,” Tedric commented as Lorian’s legs disappeared under the crystalline blue depths with a splash. Finriel cursed and stomped toward the water.

  “Don’t just stand there, this is part of the plan,” Finriel snapped to the others. She peered into the water to find that it was clear, exposing a sandy bank beneath. The ground seemed to drop away and the water grew darker as she looked down into the bottomless depths. And then she spotted the flash of a tail and Lorian’s dark figure as he was taken deeper into the lake.

  “I see him,” Finriel called to the others. At once, she tore off her cloak, folding it widthwise before tying it tightly around her waist. She turned to find the others watching her as if she had just gone mad. “What are you waiting for?” Finriel spat. “We need to get through the tunnel.”

  It’s the only way to get Lorian back. She did not speak her thought out loud, for she wasn’t quite ready to admit the worry that now gnawed hungrily inside of her.

  Tedric and Aeden exchanged a look before they began removing their cloaks and folding them in the same fashion as Finriel had done.

  “Krete, put your hat into Tedric’s satchel,” Finriel commanded as she handed Tedric their map. “And don’t lose it again,” she finished with a pointed look at Tedric.

  The companions made quick work, and soon their cloaks were all tied around their waists and Krete’s long hair was sticking up strangely where his hat once sat. Finriel gave them a nod, and they made their way into the water. It was warmer than Finriel expected and the sand was firm under her feet.

  “Keep your eyes open for other mermaids, there will be more.” Tedric’s low voice rang in her ears.

  The water was up to her chest now and Finriel’s breath was beginning to quicken. She knew she would have to be submerged for longer than she was sure she could hold her breath, but she had to at least try. Her thoughts strayed, and Finriel silently prayed that Nora would make it to Creonid Mountain safely. Finriel knew how stubborn the mogwa was, and she knew the dangerous position she had put her companions into by separating them from the filled pages.

  Finriel let the thoughts of Nora drift away as she sucked in one last breath of salty air before diving into the water, kicking her legs out to propel further into the depths. Finriel blinked as her eyes focused on her new surroundings. There was nothing but blue as far as the eye could see, and her heart lurched in trepidation as she looked down. There was no end to the lake, at least none that she could see. It seemed as if the lake was bottomless, the darkness below like a giant mouth threatening to snap shut.

  Soon Aeden was gliding gracefully at Finriel’s side. There seemed to be a current that moved toward the darkness, making it easier for Finriel to advance as she followed the fairy. Tedric and Krete were not so far behind, and she turned her head back toward the looming shadows.

  The memories came far too soon. Rough hands were around her neck again, pushing her down into the icy water. She couldn’t breathe. She was trapped. She was going to die. Finriel shook the memory from her head and blinked, trying to keep herself calm as she continued swimming deeper into the lake.

  But then it came again. The hissing voice in her ear saying she was scum, a monster. Icy blue eyes watching from the tree line in terror. And he was supposed to rescue her. She shook her head again, but her body was beginning to betray her. Her lungs began to burn and blinding panic rose in her chest. Finriel stopped swimming, forcing herself not to open her mouth and take in air that was not there.

  She was not going to drown. Not now. Not when she was the one in control of what she was doing. She put herself in this lake on purpose. And she was going to find that goddamned tunnel and go through it with Lorian. She had to find Lorian. A hand touched her arm and she flinched. It was Aeden, her green eyes full of concern as their gazes met. Finriel couldn’t answer, but the fairy did not need words to know what was wrong. She nodded and closed her eyes. The hand on Finriel’s arm began to glow, and a rush of calmness seeped into Finriel’s bones.

  Finriel cracked a close-mouthed smile in thanks, her entire body feeling more relaxed than she had ever felt in her life. Aeden nodded and the four companions began to swim again. The current had carried them down even when they had stopped swimming and Finriel kicked farther into the lake with a new sense of clarity.

  Their surroundings were very dark now, yet Finriel couldn’t spot any form of life. It was surprisingly calm, too calm for a mermaid-infested lake. Finriel looked around, and her heart leaped as the shimmering glow of something large and solid came into view. It was the tunnel that led to Dragonkeep. Would the mermaids truly return Lorian if they all made it through in time? Finriel kicked harder toward the tunnel, and as they drew closer to it, she realized the shimmering arches were made of scales. Mermaid scales. These creatures aren’t just deadly, but sick, she thought with a grimace.

  Moments later, a dark shape appeared before them. Finriel squinted, barely able to make out the small black opening in the center of the tunnel. Her heart sank as she examined it further and noticed that it was barely big enough for one person to pass through comfortably, if that.

  A flash of something fast and dark shot past, and Finriel ground her teeth against the rising fear already speeding up her steady pulse. Tedric was beside her, and his head turned toward the movement. He must have seen it too. Seconds later, the flash came back, but this time she clearly saw what it was. Mermaids.

  Finriel felt the pain before she saw who had inflicted it. Her side stung as the mermaid who had scratched her swam below the companions. There were more coming.

  “Your friend will be on the other side of the tunnel,” a sweet yet snakelike voice echoed through Finriel’s ears. Her three companions looked around, and Finriel guessed that they had heard the voice as well. “If we kill you before you make it through, it will not matter. We’d like for the shadow boy to remain as our strange little pet.”

  Finriel tried her best to ignore the slithery voice inside her head, and she kicked hard toward the tunnel entrance. A shrill laugh rang through her ears and Finriel kicked forward. Just a bit closer …

  A hand wrapped around Finriel’s ankle, yanking her backwards. The shock made her mouth open, and warm water poured down her throat. She choked and stiffened as memories and fear gripped her. The mermaid that had her ankle was pulling her in the opposite direction from her friends, and Finriel frantically shook her head and waved her arms as they all turned toward her. They had to keep going. It was her life against all of theirs, and she needed for them to get to Lorian.

  Black spots danced in her vision, and the pain in her ankle from the mermaid’s death grip began to render her entire foot numb. She couldn’t just float there like a dead fish, she needed to do something, anything. Finriel blinked, but the splotches in her vision continued to grow, as well as the panic that was slowly petrifying her body. Tedric, Aeden, and Krete appeared to be fighting their own battle as three mermaids began to circle in upon them.

  Finriel needed to get this mermaid off her. She needed air. She knew she would black out from the lack of oxygen if she didn’t get air soon. Her lungs were screaming as she turned and willed the last bits of her energy to form into fire—no. Fire wouldn’t work underwater. Finriel had to think of something different. But she was so very cold. The idea struck her in an instant and Finriel forced herself to turn toward the mermaid at her ankle and brought her hands forward, willing the icicles to form from her hands and shoot toward the creature.

  The mermaid shrieked and let go of Finriel’s ankles as shards of ice slashed across the creature’s arms and one struck into her
outstretched hand. The mermaid thrashed and fell away into the darkness. Finriel forced her mouth to remain closed against the laugh that threatened to bubble out of her throat. She had never even thought to use this kind magic before, but now she had. Now she was in even more danger if she was caught.

  Finriel blinked the growing darkness away as best as she could and turned back toward the entrance of the tunnel. Aeden, Tedric, and Krete were nearly at the narrow mouth, each fighting off a mermaid in what looked like slow motion. She was so close to them now, and Finriel used the last bit of her strength to propel herself forward and sidle next to Aeden. Her friends were blinking wildly, and Finriel could tell none of them were going to make it if they didn’t go through the tunnel.

  Finriel cursed herself silently and used any last magic she had. Ice shot out from her hands in rapid fire, striking their scaly attackers. The sound was awful, and Finriel clapped her hands over her ears as the mermaids’ screams echoed through her head. Aeden reached out a hand to grab a nearly unconscious Krete by the scruff of his tunic and kicked toward the looming tunnel, disappeared into it. Finriel did not wait for Tedric, but turned and dragged herself into the darkness.

  26

  Aeden

  Aeden choked and gagged as she burst through the tunnel, landing with a heavy thump against hard stone. Her chest burned from the elongated period without oxygen, and she forced back another gag as she willed herself to roll away from the mouth of the shimmering portal. Krete was splayed on his back not two feet from her, his breath coming out in quick ragged gasps.

  “Are you all right?” Aeden croaked, her voice bouncing from the echoing walls of the small cavelike space.

  Krete nodded, his face barely illuminated by a soft golden light that emanated from the stone walls. A loud swoosh sounded behind Aeden, and she turned to watch as Finriel emerged from the swirling blackness, shortly followed by Tedric. They landed in a heap of limbs, both coughing up lake water onto the dark ground.