Silent Mermaid: A Retelling of The Little Mermaid (The Classical Kingdoms Collection Book 5)

by Brittany Fichter

  “But I told you,” Arianna said, frowning, “Michael has been kind to me.”

  “Well then,” Princes Ines whirled around, her skirts flouncing, “he should have nothing to worry about.”

  31

  Good Little Prince

  “Are you sure you’re in the mood for this?” Lucas studied the rack of weapons, his hand on his chin. Then, without waiting to hear Michael’s response, which would have been that he wasn’t in the mood for anything at the moment, asked, “Longsword?”

  “Fine.”

  “This is my one day away from the shipyard so don’t make me miserable while I’m here.”

  Michael grunted in response.

  “You know you miss my face when I’m gone,” Lucas continued, pulling two swords down from the rack and examining them. “And someone around here needs to look good for the ladies.” He put his nose up and sniffed the air, making a face. “You also need to get this room cleaned out. Just because it’s a practice room doesn’t mean it should stink.”

  “You’ve been here for the last three days. What do you mean it’s your one day home?” Michael took the longsword from his brother.

  “I have been quite busy working on foreign negotiations.”

  Michael snorted. “If that’s what you want to call it. But I doubt you ever negotiated like this with Bras.”

  “If he had been as pretty as Princess Ines, I might have.”

  They both settled into their ready positions. Michael really didn’t feel like going through their usual weapons practice as they did most weeks when Lucas was home, but the crushing weight of his upcoming decision was too heavy, and if there was anyone who would understand him, it would be his brother.

  “Arianna’s noticed, you know.”

  Lucas’s words took him by such surprise that Michael nearly forgot to parry Lucas’s first attack. It was a moment before he had gained back enough ground to speak.

  “Noticed what?”

  “That you haven’t looked at her since Princess Ines arrived.”

  “I have, too, looked at her.” Michael tried sweeping Lucas’s feet, but Lucas was too quick. As Michael met his brother’s next attack, however, he also was mentally battling the fact that Lucas was right.

  He hadn’t looked at Arianna. Not in the way he had been, at least. He’d seen the hurt in Arianna’s expression that first night the princess had arrived, and shame had been keeping his eyes averted ever since.

  “You gaped more than I did,” he huffed as he blocked a thrust and leapt back. Breathing hard, both men circled.

  “Ines is beautiful,” Lucas said. “Startlingly so. Any man with eyes can see that.”

  “But it’s not as if Arianna is any less.” Michael frowned. Unfortunately, by the time he’d recognized his behavior for what it had been that first night, it had been too late.

  “Ah, so the truth comes out.” Lucas lunged again. Michael blocked it and twisted quickly, managing to knock his brother in the jaw with his elbow. He forgot to watch his knee, though, and Lucas quickly kicked his leg out from under him. Michael rolled away just in time to avoid a nice bruise to the face.

  “You think I’m proud of the way I’ve been acting?” He spat the words out like curses. “I did exactly what I was afraid of from the start. I raised her hopes, and mine, only to have them both dashed.”

  “Do they have to be?” Lucas put his sword down for a moment and fixed Michael with a hard stare that reminded Michael too much of their father. That, of course, only brought more shame.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, are you sure that this is your only way?”

  “I don’t see any way around it.” Michael shrugged. “We’ve had three days of negotiations, and I can’t seem to find a single reason to refuse. Ines’s people are far wealthier than we are. The secret contacts she’s been building for her father would revitalize almost all of our trade posts. She’s even told us about resources we didn’t know we had.” Michael melted back down into a ready position. “Come back on, you lout. Don’t get lazy on me. You’re the one who’s supposed to be fighting pirates.” This conversation had been a bad idea.

  Lucas fell into his own position, but he kept that annoying quirked eyebrow. “So you’re just going to leave Arianna to fend for herself, then.”

  “I never said that!”

  “Oh, be real, Michael!” Lucas leapt to the side, barely escaping the particularly hard blow Michael had aimed his way. “Say you do marry Princess Ines for the sake of the kingdom and to escape Mother’s eternal nagging. What then? Do you really suppose Mother will let Arianna remain here forever? And even if she did, would you really want that? For either of you?”

  The heat that had been simmering in Michael’s stomach for days boiled over, and as Lucas continued speaking, Michael lunged into a series of fast, furious attacks. He didn’t realize just how hard he was fighting until his sword drew blood from Lucas’s arm. Throwing his sword to the ground, he ran his hands through his hair. “Forgive me, Lucas. I’m just—”

  “I’m impressed, actually. You usually hold back.” Lucas examined his arm, and to Michael’s relief, showed him that the cut was rather shallow. “Bithiah will have your head, though. She just patched this up last week. Want to try knives instead?”

  Michael arched an eyebrow. “Does that really seem a wise choice right now?”

  Lucas grimaced. “I suppose not.”

  “I don’t know what to do.” Michael kicked the stone wall before leaning against the window that overlooked the field where he had taken Arianna and the girls less than two weeks before. For some sick reason, he felt suddenly desperate to be back in that broke, bleak moment rather than in this moment full of opportunity and promise.

  “Well, let’s consider both options,” Lucas said, coming to stand beside him. “A wealthy, exotic princess has come to ask your hand in marriage, presumably. Your union will solve all of the kingdom’s woes, and you shall bring forth many beautiful babies into the world most dreadfully lacking such.”

  Michael turned to glare at his brother.

  “On the other hand,” Lucas went on after a pause, his voice now devoid of all mirth, “you have a poor, abandoned, silent woman who risked her life for the sake of my men and your people. And you. Twice. Don’t forget that. She dotes on the girls you’ve practically raised as your own, and her ability to do figures has somehow managed to keep the kingdom afloat on less than half of what it should have needed. Despite being royal born—”

  “How do you know what she is?” Michael had been very careful to keep Arianna’s secret as well as he could. Had Bithiah told Lucas?

  “That man might have been drunk,” Lucas said with a smirk, “but everyone in the port knows he’s the most knowledgeable old salt around. Besides, Claire told me all about your secret rescuer.”

  “She can’t remember that. She was four!”

  Lucas shrugged. “Well then, just take it on the belief that the girls know everything.” His smile disappeared. “As I was saying, despite being royal born, Arianna has never raised a single objection to being clothed in the most horrendous gowns the world has ever seen, nor has she taken proper offense at Mother’s ill temper or odious manners. So believe me,” Lucas raised a finger when Michael opened his mouth to speak, “when I say that if you don’t marry Arianna, I am deadly serious when I say that I will.”

  Michael leveled him a dark look, but Lucas only returned it.

  “She deserves better than to nanny two children and be abused by our mother for years to come without at least a title to her name.” Lucas turned and gathered their swords. “Tell me, do you want to marry Ines?”

  “No.”

  “And you love Arianna?”

  “Yes.” The word was out of his mouth before he had time to consider it. Did he love Arianna? He shook his head to clear it. Even if his head wasn’t sure, it seemed his mouth was. Or was it his heart?

  Lucas stared at him for a minute then tu
rned to put away his sword. “I don’t know why you even bothered to ask me.”

  “I told you. I need to know what to do!”

  “But it doesn’t matter what I say. Because in the end, you are going to be a good little prince and marry the rich princess.”

  Michael tried to interrupt, but Lucas just held up his hand.

  “You will do as duty entails. You always do.”

  32

  No Reason Not To

  Arianna hopped from one foot to the other as she waited outside his study. Men’s voices moved up and down inside, but she couldn’t understand anything they said in their hushed tones. It didn’t matter, though. She was waiting for Michael.

  After nearly an hour, six or seven men emerged from the study. Arianna peeked around the corner until she spotted Michael, who was the last to exit. When he turned to lock the door, she grabbed his wrist and yanked him around the corner. Her words caught in her throat, however, when she realized he was in his military uniform again.

  “Arianna.” He clasped his hands behind his back and kept his eyes on the ground. “I’m afraid my time is short. What is it you need?”

  “Before you go through with this . . .” Why did her voice sound so stilted, even in its whispered form? “I wanted to tell you that I have a plan that could bring my people back—”

  “Arianna—”

  “I could go to them. And if you’re worried about me being in the water, Lucas could sail me over to where the city is—”

  “Arianna. You need to—”

  “I’m sure my grandfather would be open to negotiations now that you’re the future king—”

  “Arianna!”

  She flinched. He had never shouted at her before.

  Michael let out a huff and rubbed his eyes. “Forgive me. But now is not a good time.”

  “Then when will be a good time?”

  He stared at her for a long moment, his brow creasing. “There won’t be one, I’m afraid.” And with that, he turned and marched away.

  Arianna was tempted to run after him and demand an explanation, but a sinking feeling inside made her shrink back. How had the world crashed in just six days?

  It was with great trepidation that Arianna forced her feet to carry her to the throne room. She had never seen the throne room before. It was never open, as they’d hosted no grand events, and Michael always said he detested its formal feel. But tonight it was packed full with all sorts of people. Arianna counted six languages spoken in the time it took her to find an empty space near the wall. Too many bright colors and frilled dresses made the room feel hot and stuffy, and suddenly Arianna only wanted to run. But her feet disobeyed and held her in place.

  A trumpet blared, and Master Russo’s reedy voice broke through the crowd’s noise, sending everyone into a hush. “His Highness, Michelangelo Rinieri Battista Solefige, crown prince of Maricanta, has invited you to attend an announcement of great magnitude. He wishes to extend his thanks for your coming, and he hopes you find cause to celebrate.”

  Arianna stood on her toes to see Master Russo bow to Michael before exiting the platform. Michael and Princess Ines stepped closer to the front of the stage in unison. Her hand rested gracefully on his arm, and Arianna felt a hot, vicious stab of jealousy. In her dress of midnight blue edged with silver, Princess Ines looked like the night sky itself. And when she beamed at him, her face gave off the soft glow of the moon.

  “My friends.” Michael looked out on the crowd that must have numbered at least three hundred. “I am grateful, as my steward said, for your presence, particularly on such short notice. I wanted to announce, however, a turn of magnitude that will alter all of our lives for what I pray will be the better.” He took a deep breath and glanced at Princess Ines, who gave him a sweet smile and a nod.

  “After a week of deliberation and negotiations, Princess Ines of Espigmas Isle and I have reached an agreement. Tomorrow we will travel to her homeland, and there Princess Ines and I will be wed, thus securing our kingdoms’ prosperity and goodwill. Our lands will open up trade routes across the sea as soon as possible, and our expert growers will immediately begin consultations to find new purposes for our old crops.”

  He continued to talk, and the crowd continued to watch the princess, looking just as spellbound as Michael and Lucas had at first, but Arianna could no longer focus. Instead, she watched the way Michael held his body. It was stiff and formal, nothing like the way he’d held her that night on the balcony as they’d danced. And yet, how long would it be before Princess Ines won him over, and his touch was more than dutiful? How many days would pass before his respect for her blossomed into something more? Until his thumb rubbed her knuckles whenever they held hands? For who could resist such perfection?

  As soon as the address was over and servants were passing around some sort of wine, Arianna bolted for the door. Where she was going, she couldn’t say. She only knew that she could not remain in the same room with the happy couple any longer.

  Before Arianna reached the door, however, a soft voice called her name. Arianna looked up to see Princess Ines staring at her with a sad smile.

  “I know this has to be hard, but before you go, please hear me.”

  Arianna could only stare at her.

  Princess Ines folded her hands in front of her and pressed them into her dress. “I hope I am not being too bold when I ask this of you, but would you do me the honor of considering one small request? I like to think that we’re something of friends now after the last week.” She gave Arianna a little quirked smile, and for all of her pain, Arianna somehow found herself nodding yes when she really, really just wanted to say no.

  “I’m afraid Michael was a little premature in proclaiming our engagement,” she said, looking down at her hands, a few dark curls landing gracefully on her cheeks. “You see, the agreement is that Michael will marry one of the king’s daughters, but I am not the only daughter. And,” she gave a little laugh, “if he does choose me over one of my sisters, I’m afraid my older sister will take great offense, and I shall be short a bridesmaid.” She reached out and lifted Arianna’s chin so that Arianna would meet her eyes. “I’ve seen the way Queen Drina treats you,” she said in a lower voice. “Come with us. Stay with us! If I am queen, I promise that her abuse of you will be put to an end.” Her eyes darkened for a brief second. “One way or another.”

  It was impossible for Arianna to hide her surprise at such a threat, but the princess just shook her head and the pleasant smile reappeared. “But truly, I want to know you better. I get the feeling that we might be great friends, given the chance.”

  “But . . .” Arianna tried to rearrange her thoughts, “Espigmas Isle is past the Deeps.”

  “Oh, darling, if that’s what’s troubling you, have no fear.” Ines gave a tinkling laugh. “I have a few friends left among the merpeople. Though they refuse to work with us officially, my friends have been willing to see my ships safely through.”

  Arianna wanted to argue that it didn’t matter who wanted to escort her through the Deeps, that only her grandfather or his blessing had the ability to keep them safe, but a sharp longing was suddenly besting the logic in her heart. If merpeople were going to guide them through the Deeps they couldn’t be passing that far from Gemmaqua. If Arianna was careful, she could go with Princess Ines and then follow the merpeople home.

  She would see her parents. Even if it killed her, she would reach her own people.

  Princess Ines hadn’t looked away from Arianna since asking the question. “So you’ll come?” She clasped her hands in front of her chest.

  Arianna nodded.

  33

  A Hefty Contribution

  Arianna had never been so fast, not even when riding a dolphin. Of course, the dolphins went in and out of the water, and the ship remained steadily atop the surface. She blinked through the spray at the palace as it receded in the distance. As strange as it felt to fly over the ocean, the previous day had been even stranger. She
still wasn’t sure she wouldn’t wake up at any moment to find it all a dream. Or rather, a nightmare.

  If only she could wake up. She squinted even harder up at the clear blue sky. And I wish you would stop getting my hopes up. But really, she should have known better. Her throat tightened. She had always known better. The Maker had done nothing new.

  Even up until the evening before, she had retained some semblance of hope that Michael would refuse the princess’s offer. Kindly, of course, as Princess Ines had been nothing but kind to Arianna. They could rebuild the kingdom without her, he would say to the princess. Then, after Ines had gone, Michael would make a peace offering to the merpeople. And who knew what kind of alliances would come from such an agreement?

  But it was not to be. Arianna had boarded Princess Ines’s ship early that morning after leaving gifts by Lucy and Claire’s beds. She carried no belongings except what she wore. There would be no need for them under the sea.

  “I will be in my quarters,” Arianna heard Princess Ines call to her captain, a tall man wearing a widely brimmed hat. “Do not disturb me until I send for you!”

  Arianna had twisted away from the water to examine the cabin’s little round windows more closely when someone came to stand beside her. She lifted her chin and turned back to face the sea. Someone she didn’t want to speak to in the slightest.

  “I know I don’t deserve it, but if you would only listen for a moment . . .” Michael began.

  Arianna refused to look at him.

  “I didn’t want any of this,” he continued.