Now Veronica's victorious expression dropped away. "She wasn't supposed to die. I loved her. I want you to understand. I wasn't trying to kill my sister."
"Just her baby," Ursula said.
"He was just a baby. No one would miss him." Veronica took something from Yamina. Gideon couldn't see what it was because his aunt had her back to him.
"He was an infant," the Queen cried. "How could you do that? You're a mother."
"I did it for my own son. Josiah will be King." Veronica whirled around, holding a vial in her fingers. "Now, here's my proposal. If Ursula were to die, it would be bad for relations with Valborough, so I've decided to send you home."
"What about the prisoners?"
"I need them," Veronica said. "They will never go back to Valborough."
"Josiah will free them," Gideon said. "You have no authority to do anything."
So quickly he didn't have time to react, she reached out and slapped him. "I'll show you just how much authority I have." She turned to Yamina. "Give him the poison."
Gideon got to him feet. "You can't do this."
"Relax," Princess Yamina said. "It won't kill you. It'll just put you in a deep sleep."
"I don't believe you." He sneered at his aunt. "Are you too cowardly to kill me yourself?"
"Gideon, you're my nephew. She's not going to kill you, only take you somewhere you can't cause any more trouble."
"Wait," Gideon said. "I'll disappear. I'll go back to the university, change my name, and forget all about the Sapphire Palace. Or, better yet, Ursula and I will go back to Valborough. Josiah can be King. Whatever you want."
"Scared of a little drug?" Yamina laughed and moved close to him. His back was against the wall and there was nowhere for him to go now.
"Stop," Ursula said. "Tell me what you want me to do. Leave Gideon alone."
"Oh, no, my dear," Veronica said. "I'm afraid it's gone too far for that. You had to snoop around Evangeline's house and find the painting. I should thank you, I suppose. I need to make sure the path is clear for Josiah, so I have to be sure Gideon can never show his face around here ever again."
"No." She cried. Gideon stared her. Were those tears? "I'll name Josiah at the coronation. Just don't hurt Gideon."
"You will name Josiah, and then you'll go back to Valborough and never tell anyone the truth about this."
"Yes. Yes. Please." Ursula nodded. "Let Gideon alone."
"No, I'm sorry. It's too risky. After all I've done to keep the line of succession clear, I can't take the chance he'll change his mind and come back."
"You did kill Killian." Gideon tried to get by Yamina, but she was too close. She grabbed his hand.
"What choice did I have? He was willing to let his witch give birth to a son who would usurp Josiah's claim to the throne."
"As it should have been," Gideon said. "You've committed treason and killed your own brother."
"I did it for my son," Veronica cried. "I couldn't expect you to understand. Kill him, Yamina."
"No," Ursula screamed, but Veronica grabbed the younger woman's chin and poured something in her mouth.
Yamina had a small knife pointed at Gideon. "The potion on this blade won't kill you, but it will make you sleep. When you wake up, we'll be far away, and you'll want me."
Just then, the guard who'd been standing outside burst in. "The Crown Prince is here with your sister."
"Chaos take it." Veronica shook her fists and groaned. "Get your men. Load them both in my carriage. I'll have to dispose of them some other way."
Yamina jabbed Gideon's wrist with the knife, and his world went gray and then black.
When Ursula opened her eyes, she was lying on her side on a wooden floor. Suddenly, she heard the sound of birds, and she realized she was outside, on the dock near the Shore Palace. How did she get here?
She tried to sit up but her hands and feet were bound.
Then Veronica's voice penetrated her foggy brain. The Grand Princess was arguing with someone.
"It's too late. If Josiah knows the truth, he won't take the throne. Gideon has to die."
Ursula opened her mouth to protest but nothing came out but a squeak. It was, however, loud enough to catch Veronica's attention. The older woman came to her side and crouched.
"You're awake. Wonderful. Now you can listen."
Ursula couldn't say anything so she nodded.
"I don't want to give your sister an excuse to send troops here to find out what happened to you. We don't need trouble like that, so I will make you a bargain. I will let you go back to Valborough with some of the prisoners, if you never tell anyone what you know about Gideon's true parentage and his claim to the throne."
She swallowed and shrugged, opening and closing her mouth.
"Weeds," Veronica snarled and stood. A moment later, she returned with another vial. Ursula tried to shift away.
"This will give you your voice back. I told Yamina that other thing was too strong for you." She forced the small glass tube to Ursula's lips and poured the full contents into her mouth.
The Queen coughed and nearly gagged the whole thing back up but after a moment, she said, "Where's Gideon?"
"He's nearby." Veronica pointed behind Ursula, but the Queen couldn't turn enough to see. "Now. Do we have a deal?"
"What are you going to do with him? What is Yamina going to do?"
"Oh, she had some concoction that would take his memories away. She thought she could take him back to Ibiran and marry him, but I was never going to let her take him. He might be in the way of Josiah becoming King, but he is Evangeline's son, and I did love her. I couldn't let her child end up in that Element-forsaken land, among those savages. No, unfortunately, he's going to have to die."
"You can't do that."
"Oh, my dear Queen Ursula, I can. It isn't any of your concern, though. All you have to do is agree to go home with your prisoners."
"Why would I do that? Why wouldn't I tell my sister what happened here, and how you stole the throne? If Gideon is already dead, what possible reason would I have to keep your secret?" It was unwise to taunt Veronica, but Ursula had no intention of letting her get away with stealing the crown of Heyton.
"Other people know who Gideon truly is, but they value their lives enough to keep quiet. If you want to put them in danger, then by all means, tell your sister everything."
"Of course, you'd have no trouble killing Delthyn and Thomas. You've killed two siblings already."
Veronica stood. "You have no understanding of what I have done, and I'm tired of listening to you. My offer is rescinded." She called to her guards, "Throw them both in the ocean."
Ursula panicked. She couldn't see and she couldn't breathe. Without even realizing she was doing it, she called on her Water and Air Sensitivities to push the water away from her and fill a bubble with air. Suddenly, she could breathe and her heartbeat began to slow.
After a moment, her eyes adjusted and she saw Gideon laying on the bottom of the sea in front of her. Keeping herself as calm as she could, she carefully extended the bubble to surround them both.
This wasn't something she'd ever done before, and had she been asked about it, she'd have said it was impossible, but she was breathing under the water, and, more importantly, she was saving the life of her friend.
No, he was more than a friend.
Looking at Gideon, she watched to see his chest rise and fall. He was going to be all right, and she sighed. Regardless of the situation, he still lived.
That meant everything to her.
He meant everything to her.
Her hands were still bound, but she dropped to her knees next to him. This way, the bubble didn't have to extend so far.
Something moved off to the side, and Ursula gasped. She saw a woman swimming toward her.
Not a woman. The creature had an iridescent tail like a fish, but from about the hips forward, it had the body of a person. A female, from the breasts and waist which were hidden by the long
teal blue and green hair that, in conjunction with the movement of the water, floated around her and clung to her body.
As though there were no boundaries, the creature moved into the bubble Ursula had created, and the fish tail transformed into legs.
"You summoned the Anamii, and I have come."
The woman's voice was soft and delicate, like a stream caressing the rocks as it passed them.
Ursula blinked and stammered. "I...I didn't mean to summon anyone."
The woman considered the still unconscious Gideon. "Shall I leave you then? Or would you rather I offer you the assistance you appear to need?"
"Can you take us home?"
The creature smiled, but it was the kind of smile one would give a child who has misunderstood a situation and was asking the wrong questions.
"Do you want to return to a place where children are murdered for power and even a brother or sister can be killed on a whim?"
Ursula thought for a moment. "If we don't go there, where can we go?"
Now the woman's expression changed to one that showed Ursula had finally gotten the right answer.
"My brothers and sisters will take you to my father. You will find what you seek there."
Before Ursula could say another word or even have another thought, several other of the Anamii creatures entered the bubble. The first woman put her hand on Ursula's forehead, and she fell asleep.
When she woke up, her first thought was terror. Where was she? What had happened to Gideon?
Then her brain caught up to what her eyes were seeing, and she realized she was in a luxurious bedchamber, surrounded by soft, cloud-like pillows and covered by satiny cloths in shades of blue and green she'd never seen before.
Diffuse light flickered around the room but she couldn't see the source. She knew it wasn't candlelight because it was softer, giving the whole room a kind of glow.
Carefully, Ursula eased herself up to a sitting position and saw she was no longer wearing the soiled garments from her time in the carriage and on the dock. Someone had undressed and bathed her then before clothing her in gossamer fabrics of shimmering hues of purples and pinks.
Her hair, too, had been cleaned and arranged in an elaborate braid that hung over her shoulder. As she discovered all this, she realized, too, she was more rested and relaxed than she had been since entering the Sapphire Palace.
A door she hadn't noticed on the other side of the room opened, and the woman she'd seen in the sea entered. Now this woman was dressed similarly to what Ursula was, except her clothing was colored in shades of salmon and peach.
"How are you feeling, Your Majesty?" the woman asked as she approached the bed with a tray that held a covered dish and a cup of some steaming, delicious smelling beverage.
"Quite well," Ursula said. "Where am I?"
"You are the guest of King Stormwater, ruler of the Anamii. I am his daughter, Pearl of the Dawn." She bowed. "We are honored to have your here. Your arrival was much anticipated."
"My arrival?" Ursula scowled. "How is that possible? I didn't even know this place existed."
"Please, Your Majesty, take some nourishment. My father will seek an audience with you and the Honored Prince when you are ready. I will leave you now. I must see to the others."
"Wait," Ursula said. "I don't understand."
"My father will explain it all," the girl said, turning to her. "It is a glorious day for our people, and I would not cheat the King of his joy."
With that, Pearl of the Dawn left the room, closing the door behind her without a sound.
The aroma of a savory seafood meal wafted up from the tray, and Ursula removed the cover to reveal a bowl of stew. Her stomach rumbled from the fragrance, and without hesitation, she ate the whole thing, barely stopping to breathe.
Just as she finished the last bite, the door to her chamber opened, and to Ursula's surprise, Harriet entered, dressed in the same kind of clothing, hers all pinks.
"Oh, Harriet," Ursula said, pushing the tray away. "What are you doing here?"
"An Anamii messenger came to our cottage and brought me here." Harriet hurried to the bed and sat on the side.
"The Anamii servants say you saved Gideon's life."
Ursula shrugged. "It's all a bit of a blur to me, but I apparently used my Air and Water Sensitivity to create a bubble of air around us so we could breathe until the Anamii found us."
Harriet shook her head. "It's so unbelievable. The Anamii. They're real, and we're in their palace. What's going on?"
"I don't know, but King Stormwater will explain it all to us in a little while." She took a sip of her drink and dropped her eyes. "Have you seen Gideon?"
Harriet took her head. "He's well. In fact, they are treating him like an honored guest."
Ursula raised her eyes. "Pearl of the Dawn, the King's daughter, called him 'Honored Prince.' Perhaps they, too, are a male dominated monarchy."
"I suppose. Anyway, I wanted to see how you are feeling. It was Veronica, you know."
Ursula nodded. "I do know. She killed Killian, too."
"I hoped it wasn't true." Harriet stared at the floor, a tear rolling down her cheek. "I loved him."
"I'm sorry." Ursula reached for the other woman's hand. "I wish I could have gotten to know him."
"You would have been a good Queen for Heyton." Harriet wiped her eyes. "I suppose there's nothing to be done about it now. She wants you dead."
"She thinks we are dead." This came from Gideon who stood in the doorway of the room. "I think that's to our advantage. She won't be coming after us now."
He came in and smiled at Ursula. "You saved my life. Thank you."
"I was trying to save my own," she said. "I didn't know what I was doing, but when I saw you lying on the sea bed, I couldn't let you die, too."
"Well, in any event, I owe you my life." He took her hands. "I can't imagine anyone I'd rather give my life to."
When Ursula had been with George Evan, she thought she loved him. He was a good man, honorable and moral. Everything a Knight from the old myths and stories was supposed to be. He had treated her like a doll that was too precious, too dear to touch or play with.
Gideon was not like that at all. He treated her like a friend, a companion, a peer. He challenged her and wasn't afraid to tell her when he thought she was wrong. When she was with him, she didn't feel like a Princess on a throne far above the world. He made her feel like a woman, a flesh and blood person who wasn't made just to adore.
She knew, now, she wouldn't have been happy with George Evan for long. Being admired and adored would grow dull because it meant they would never talk about their deepest feelings, challenge each other, or grow together.
Precious, expensive dolls never changed.
Flesh and blood women have feelings and can be touched without breaking.
Ursula wanted to be a woman, not a doll, and Gideon would never put her under a glass dome to keep her safe.
She blushed at his words and her realization, but was saved from having to say anything in response by Pearl of the Dawn coming into the room.
"Oh, it's good you're all here. My esteemed father is ready to see you now."
Setting the tray aside, Ursula got out of the bed and found a pair of soft satin and organza slippers waiting for her at the end of the bed. When she put them on, they caressed her feet as though they had been created for her.
She followed Pearl of the Dawn through the hallways of the palace, and she thought that perhaps she, Gideon and Harriet could find a way to stay here, wherever here was. If Veronica thought they were dead, they'd be safer here.
"Your Majesty," Pearl of the Dawn said as she led them through a set of tall door shaped like clam shells. Ursula looked at her, but the young girl was not speaking to her.
Instead, she was addressing the large white-haired man seated at the far end of the room on a gold and white throne that seemed to be made of glass.
"I present Queen Ursula of Heyton and her compa
nions, Princess Harriet and Honored Prince Gideon." Pearl of the Dawn stepped aside. "Approach the throne," she said in a softer voice and waved her hand toward her father.
Gideon and Harriet walked behind Ursula, as was proper given her rank, but she felt exposed under the gaze of this intimidating King.
King Stormwater was dressed in flowing robes of white and gold that seemed to swathe his body without any visible means of fastening. A wreath of gold shapes sat on his head, catching and reflecting the light in the room. It wasn't until Ursula was closer she realized the shapes were fish interspersed with small gemstones of green and blue, so it appeared the King wore a crown of the sea itself.
"You are the one who summoned my guards and called to my daughter," the King asked in a deep booming voice. He held a golden scepter in his right hand, the top of which was a large glass orb with something inside that shimmered like sunlight on waves.
"I am," Ursula said dropping into the deep curtsy she'd learned in the Sapphire Palace. "However, it was not my intention. I was unaware the Anamii would sense my Abilities."
"You are a landwalker, like the woman behind you."
Unsure as to why Gideon would be ignored, Ursula decided it would be unwise to question the oversight until she knew more about these people and their customs.
"This is Princess Harriet, granddaughter of King Lucius of Heyton and niece of King Killian," Ursula said, "and her brother, Prince Gideon."
"Not her brother," King Stormwater said. "This is my grandson returned to me." He stood, revealing himself to be over seven feet tall.
In two rapid steps he stood beside Gideon, grabbed the back of the Prince's garment and ripped it in half. The short undergarments left Gideon's legs bare, revealing the seahorse birthmark.
The more than a dozen attendants of the King fell to their knees instantly.
"You bear the mark of the Anamii royal family," the King said. "I have it, as do my children and their children through all the generations."
Stormwater uncovered his left shoulder, revealing an identical birthmark. Five people stepped forward from the crowd surrounding the throne, all dropping their garments enough to show they, too, had the same seahorse somewhere on their persons.
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