The song was one of mourning, and it touched Arianna in a way no mersong had ever moved her before. Its melody sang of longing, reaching out to touch something that was just an arm’s length away.
And in that moment, something in the air shifted. The spinning couples that surrounded them began to fade as Michael drew her closer. Arianna trembled as he stared down into her face. And the light in his eyes confirmed what she had wondered before. Somehow, he had seen inside her soul.
Tell him, an annoying voice in her head whispered. You have a plan to reunite your peoples. Who knows when you’ll have him to yourself again? Arianna opened her mouth, but as she did, his right hand slipped out of hers and his fingers reached up to trace the edge of her jaw. Slowly, slowly he cupped her face, his fingers making her skin tingle wherever they touched. Leaning down, he drew her face toward his own.
Arianna closed her eyes, her lips trembling as she tried to slow her breath. Her blood raced, and a hunger she’d only felt hints of before awakened somewhere deep inside her. Renata had been wrong. Arianna was worthy of being chosen. He was choosing her now.
“Michael.”
The moment was broken, as if someone had thrown a bucket of cold water on it. Arianna and Michael looked up to see Queen Drina holding a parchment marked with a purple seal. She waved it a little, ignoring Arianna’s look of annoyance. “I need to speak with you. Now.”
Michael let out a gusty breath and met Arianna’s eyes with a pained expression. “Coming, Mother.”
27
Duty’s Call
“Is this really that urgent?” Michael asked as soon as they were back in the dining hall away from the merriment.
“Arianna may have done more for our kingdom than any of us could have imagined,” Drina said coolly, holding up the folded parchment again.
“Surely you wouldn’t have her go out to sea again—”
“Of course not. It is her prior sacrifice that has already done its work. It seems we are to be visited by a princess from a distant island kingdom.” She held out the parchment. “This was just delivered to me by a runner. Princess . . .” She opened up the parchment and skimmed it. “Ines. Princess Ines of Espigmas Isle. The princess believes that our kingdoms have mutual interests. We might, she says, both benefit from some sort of agreement.”
Michael stared at his mother for a long moment until the words sank in. “What kind of agreement is she interested in?” he growled. “It must be an interesting one, considering that until now none of us has ever heard that such a place even exists.”
“She says that her kingdom rarely trades openly with others because they have always feared that someone might see them as a potential conquest. They mine gold, their ships bring in whalebone, and when the merpeople were doing their duty, they traded pearls as well. But since the pearl shortage has kept everyone lacking, they took an immediate interest when we came up with the means to produce them.”
“It was a one-time replenishment, Mother. I’m not sending Arianna back down. She nearly died!”
“I’m not asking you to send her again!” Drina took both his arms in hers and looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. “I only wish that you would convince this Princess Ines to truly consider us! If they are as wealthy as this parchment suggests, then our problems could be solved! You could take the crown, and we could be free of these poverties forever!”
Michael crossed his arms and frowned down at his mother. “And you believe all of this based on a single letter without a dust mote of proof that she’s telling the truth? That there even is a Princess Ines?” He scoffed. “She sounds more like a myth to me.”
“Myth or not, she’ll be here in three days hence. And I expect you to put on a good show.” She paused and straightened his coat. “I know,” she lowered her voice, “that you find Arianna pretty. And she is a very pretty girl. But you need to think of the kingdom and of your duty.” She stopped. “I also know I’ve always been a bit . . . flighty, but you have always been my rock, as your father was before you. And the kingdom needs you to do your duty now more than ever. A union with a wealthy land could prevent us from falling into greater debt, and help restore our people’s livelihoods.”
Michael could only glare at his mother and choke back the roar that wanted to escape his throat. Why now? Just when his life was taking a new turn—one he had, in all honesty, not dreamed possible—this fell into his life.
“I know you’re upset,” Drina said.
“Upset is an understatement. When have I ever shirked my duties?” His voice grew louder. “When have I complained about taking on yours?”
“Never. And that is why I ask this of you now!” She sighed. “I know what you’re thinking. And our kingdom will be forever indebted to her. She is even technically of the right class for you. But what more can Arianna really bring us?”
“A good heart, one that sacrifices when others need it. Love and attention for the granddaughters you choose to neglect on a daily basis!” He rubbed his eyes. “She has been better to me than I ever deserved. To us! Particularly after all the ways you’ve chosen to extend your benevolence.”
“Yes, she is good. And there are a thousand more good-hearted girls like her. But where is her family, Michael? They abandoned her, left her for dead! How likely are they to send a dowry of any price? What we need is money and trade. And Princess Ines has both.”
28
Whispers
Arianna had tried to fight the feelings of disappointment when Michael didn’t return to the party. She’d had something she wanted desperately to show him, and the impromptu celebration had seemed the perfect time. He didn’t come to breakfast the next morning, either, until it was nearly time for Master Russo to chase him down with all sorts of business for the day. Arianna tried to catch his eye, but no matter how much she smiled at him, she couldn’t get him to glance at her.
The day got only stranger. Queen Drina was having Noemi take old tapestries and decorations out of storage as Arianna and the girls gathered their things to go outside.
“It’s not ideal,” the queen clucked to herself, her silk-covered arms crossed as she frowned up at the faded red tapestries. “Still, it’s preferable to looking completely destitute.”
Arianna’s time with the girls and their studies crawled that morning, and when the midday meal finally did arrive, Michael didn’t appear at all. By suppertime, Arianna’s stomach was in knots. She’d been sure at first that he was just busy. There were plenty more debts to settle aside from Tumen’s, although that had been the greatest. No doubt he wanted to get his kingdom independent as quickly as possible. But when he spoke only to those on the left side of the table that night, Arianna decided she would have to take the matter into her own hands.
Excusing herself early, Arianna stood just around the corner to his study. He never retired for the day without setting his study to rights, refilling his ink jar and organizing his parchments for the next morning.
He’d wanted to say something the night before. She was sure of it. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have touched her so tenderly. Arianna could still feel the warmth of his hand on her jaw and the way he had held her face as he’d leaned down toward her.
But, a mean voice whispered, might he be regretting it?
Before she could answer the mean voice, steps sounded down the hall. Arianna froze as they passed, only to realize it had been Bithiah. Another set followed soon after, however, and the quick, steady pace made Arianna’s heart jump into her throat. But instead of turning the corner, where she could intercept him, the steps slowed and then stopped. And then continued even faster without turning.
Arianna kicked the wall, which only made her toe hurt, before running after him. He might have decided he wasn’t going to see her anymore, but he was going to tell her to her face if that were the case. She caught up with him just as he stepped out into the garden. Not waiting for him to turn, she grabbed his arm and made him face her.
As soon as he turne
d, nearly all of her confidence fled her. The eyes that had been a warm gold with hints of summer green and sky blue the day before were hard now, as he leaned back slightly.
“Arianna.” His voice was polite. “You’ve helped so much that I thought I would give you an evening to yourself.”
“You’re lying.”
For a moment, Michael looked as though he might fall over.
Those truly hadn’t been the words Arianna had planned to speak as her first, but it was too late to take them back now.
“You . . . You spoke!”
“Just whispers. I’ve been practicing. And I’m not very fast yet.” Indeed, speaking was almost painfully slow.
“Why didn’t you speak sooner?” All the distance was gone from his voice and body now, but for some reason, that annoyed Arianna even more.
“It’s rather hard to whisper underwater.” She frowned at him. “And I had to practice first. I’m not used to how the air feels in my mouth.”
For a moment, the warmth returned to his eyes, and Arianna’s heart rose. He shook his head slowly, his mouth still open. “And you’ve been practicing all this time?”
“Since I stubbed my toe and let out a groan by accident. Well, a whispered groan.”
Without seeming to be aware of it, Michael stepped so close she could feel the heat radiating from his arm. Standing so close he could have kissed her had he wished to, he opened his mouth, but Arianna wasn’t done. Now that she could speak, she fully intended to do so.
“Why did you leave last night? And why have you been avoiding me? I thought . . .” She swallowed, but suddenly couldn’t finish.
He blinked rapidly a few times before looking down and reaching into his pocket. He then pulled out a folded parchment with a purple seal, the same one Drina had held the night before. Instead of opening it, however, he only turned it over in his hands a few times. “I’ve dedicated my whole life to this kingdom,” he finally said, nearly whispering himself. “But I never thought she would ask me to do this.”
Arianna held out her hand, and to her surprise, he handed the parchment over without protest. As soon as she began to read, she felt her blood go cold. “You’re going to marry her,” she whispered when she got to the end.
“I haven’t agreed to it!”
“But it’s what your mother wants.” She nodded as she handed it back.
He took her by the shoulders. “But it’s not what I want.”
“Then what do you want?”
He said nothing for a moment, rubbing her arms with his thumbs, though their speed made the touch feel more like nerves than affection.
“I want a friend,” he said. “I want a companion who will counsel me and help me see what is right. I want a family, and peace!” He looked up at the stars. “What I wouldn’t give for peace for my people and my house and me!”
Want me! she felt like shouting, but fear tied her tongue firmly to the roof of her mouth. “What will you do?” she finally asked with some difficulty.
“I don’t know.”
“What if . . .” Why was talking so hard? “What if the Maker gave you certain wants to show you what you need?” She couldn’t believe she was saying those words. But after the last few days, she wasn’t sure what she believed or didn’t believe any more.
“But how would I know which are mine and which are his?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “My grandfather seemed to think they were always one and the same.”
“You said there had to be a purpose.” She paused. “Could it hurt to ask the Maker before choosing? To take a little time to think about it?”
He stared at her for a long time, so long that her legs grew sore from standing still in one place. “No,” he said. “I don’t suppose it would hurt to ask.” He started to turn, but she grabbed his sleeve.
“One more thing. The letter says this woman is from a far-off island?” Arianna took a breath, hoping desperately that she didn’t sound like a pathetic beggar.
“Yes.”
“Where is it?”
Michael frowned and unfolded the letter to read it. He grimaced even harder when he finished. “I’m not sure, to be honest. My mother says it was delivered by a man who claimed it had come from over the Third Sea.”
“Michael, you must be careful!” She pulled him closer without thinking. “That means she’s crossing over the Deeps!” Her throat hurt from straining to shout the whisper.
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“There’s a reason my grandfather doesn’t allow humans over the Deeps!”
“May I ask what the two of you are doing out here alone? Whispering in the night when you’re not even to be betrothed is highly improper.” Drina’s harsh voice pierced the air. She went to stand by her son’s side and took his arm. Only then did she make a face at Arianna. “Wait, you can talk now?” She glared up at her son. “That seems convenient.”
Arianna shook her head. She didn’t have the patience for the queen, so she continued addressing Michael. “Have you heard of Sorthileige?”
Before Michael could answer, Drina rolled her eyes. “A remnant of the Maker’s enemy,” she rattled off, “that is buried deep in the earth. King Everard and Queen Isabelle of Destin help expel it from other kingdoms from time to time. What of it?”
“Destin’s monarchs drive it out in small quantities, yes,” Arianna said. “But not like that in the Deeps. In the Deeps, it bubbles up from holes in the seafloor.” She took a breath. Speaking was so much more taxing than she’d expected. “At the bottom of underwater chasms, it tries to defy the Maker in black clouds of poison. Those who are touched by the blackness are changed.” She shivered at the memories.
“And you’ve seen such to prove it?” Drina raised one perfect eyebrow and crossed her arms.
Arianna nodded. “A mermaid lost her dolphin when I was eight years. She went into the Deeps to look for it. She spent only a few minutes inside the Deeps, but within three days, she’d grown brown scales all over her body. Even her face was scaled, and sea foam stuck to her eyes.” Arianna gulped some air. She would really need to practice this more. “She writhed and screeched for days, trying to scratch her family and the healers. She even broke some furniture with her voice. She continued until the darkness was too much for her body.”
Drina turned to her son. “And you expect me to believe—”
“Just listen for once! Arianna, please continue.”
“If this woman is traveling from the Third Sea without a merguard escort of the Sea Crown himself or someone who has been directly blessed by him, then she has—or is being driven by—a power much greater than that which the merpeople possess.”
“And it bothers you that the merpeople might not be the strongest in the sea.” Drina smirked as she smoothed her silk gloves. “All the more reason to unite with them. Perhaps they’ll rid us of the infestation in our waters.” She raised an eyebrow at Arianna, her eyes challenging.
Arianna ignored the jab and turned to Michael. “This is dangerous,” she whispered urgently to Michael. “Either this woman is dabbling in something dark, or she’s taking a gamble with the lives on everyone on her ship.”
Crickets chirped, and a few night birds called out their songs. Drina continued to fiddle with her gloves, and Michael stared out at the sea. Arianna just wished . . . Well, what did she wish? That he had listened to her? Well, he had. That he would leave this ridiculous notion of a strange foreign princess behind? Yes, she did wish that, fervently. But that didn’t seem enough to fix the crack she could feel in her heart.
“Thank you, Arianna,” he said in a quiet voice. “I will consider all you have told me.”
“In the meantime,” Drina sniffed, “I will escort you to bed. Someone around here should be concerned for propriety’s sake.”
Suddenly too tired to argue, Arianna let the queen lead her away. As soon as they stood outside her bedroom, however, the queen grabbed Arianna’s arm and gave it a yank.
“Li
sten to me now, mermaid. Yes, you might have saved us a few pennies. You even found a convenient way to pay off some of our debts, though I assuredly question your means, as you didn’t seem to find it necessary until the king of Tumen threatened you directly.”
“I didn’t even know—”
“Shut up. I need you to know now that you will never have my son. I did think for a short moment that you had given up on your schemes, or that, perhaps, you really did mean well for my family. But the way he looked at you last night and the way you tried to seduce him this evening told me everything I need to know.”
“But I never—”
“I said shut up!” She shoved Arianna into the wall and held her there with a firm hand, her grip surprisingly strong for never someone who never lifted a finger around the palace. “This princess is coming in two days. I fully expect you to either be gone or to stay invisible while she is here. Is that understood?”
Arianna glared at her.
“I said is that understood?” Drina’s shout echoed down the halls as Arianna continued to hold her gaze. When Arianna still didn’t answer, Drina pressed her foot into Arianna’s toes, and Arianna gasped as pain shot through her foot. Drina then jerked her from the wall to the door, banging Arianna’s head against the doorframe in the process. Throwing open the door, she tossed Arianna onto the ground. Then the door slammed shut, and Arianna heard the distinct click of a lock and key.
29
The Kindest of Intrusions
Arianna was locked in her room for the rest of that night and into the next day as well. Somewhere deep inside, she hoped Michael might come looking for her. But he never did. This would have made Arianna angry, had it not been for the girls’ absence as well. On other days when she had overslept, Claire and Lucy were banging on her door, singing at the tops of their lungs that morning was here and the last one up was a sea urchin. Only Drina came twice, to bring her water and a few slices of bread, refusing to even speak to Arianna both times. How long, exactly, did the queen plan to keep her locked up?
Silent Mermaid: A Retelling of The Little Mermaid (The Classical Kingdoms Collection Book 5) Page 18