by Amy Sumida
“Ready to breathe like a mermaid?” Tiernan asked with a smile.
“Yes, I believe I am,” I gave him a quick kiss. “Do you feel any different?”
“No, did the casters say we would?”
“No. I just thought we might feel something,” I frowned. “After all that spellwork, I expected some great change this morning.”
“The change will be your magically transforming water into air when you inhale it,” he laughed.
“Really? That's how it's going to work?”
“So I'm told.”
“You've never done this before?” I started to get worried.
“No but many fairies have,” he assured me. “There's nothing to worry about.”
“If you say so.”
I slid out of bed and went to the closet, where some nice fairy had hung my clothes for me. Inside was an outfit created by some of the twilight seamstresses specifically for my underwater adventure. You couldn't just wear a normal gown into the sea. At least not if you expected to keep your modesty and not get a face full of skirt.
The first layer was made of a slick material in twilight lavender. It was basically a long-sleeved catsuit but over it were sewn layers of gauzy purple and green silk. The fabric gathered over my bodice and then covered my arms in fitted sleeves. From the waist, it flowed out into full skirts but the skirts were adorned at their hems with amethysts; large oval cabochons which would not only add a pretty glow but help to weigh my skirts down.
Tiernan was wearing an outfit of the same slick material in dark green and brown. His tunic was decorated with emeralds at the bottom but his pants didn't need any such weight. He actually looked fairly normal, especially when he strapped on his sword.
“You're taking your sword into the sea?” I asked.
“As if I'd leave it behind,” he scoffed.
“Valid.”
We repacked our bags and went downstairs to meet Uisdean in the entry hall. Fairies rushed around him, getting everything ready for the underwater trip. It would take us a few hours to get to the Básmhor Sea by carriage and then Uisdean's fairies would make camp on the shore and wait for us to return. So I was pretty sure that most of the supplies being transported out was for them.
As I approached Uisdean, his King's Guard strode up and stood at attention behind him. Then, almost as if they'd planned it that way, my Star's Guard came up behind me and mirrored King Uisdean's men. Tiernan stepped back into place with them and I went forward to speak to my uncle like we were generals facing off across a battlefield.
“Seren,” he had a strange look on his face; partly amused and partly annoyed. “When I went to break my fast this morning, I found that someone had opened my kuperi cage and they all escaped.”
“Really?” I asked innocently. “Who would do such a thing?”
“It was a pointless prank, Niece,” he chastised me. “I will merely get more.”
“Then I'll be sure to visit you again,” I smiled widely. “There's always another path around the ass, Uncle.”
“Where's the sense in freeing creatures which will only be caught again?” He shook his head at me.
“First of all, I doubt you'll catch those very same kuperi,” I said smugly. “And second, even if you did, at least they'd know freedom for a little while.”
“The great Seren Firethorn, Princess of Twilight, Ambassador to all, and Liberator of the Kuperis,” Uisdean chuckled snidely.
“A title I would be honored to hold,” I nodded and caught several of Uisdean's Guard exchanging amused looks.
“Ridiculous,” Uisdean scoffed.
“It doesn't feel ridiculous to me, Uncle,” I gave him a lopsided smile. “It feels damn good.”
“You opened one tiny cage,” Uisdean rolled his fully black eyes. “It's nothing to crow about.”
“Revolution begins with a small step,” I whispered to him, suddenly very serious. “Be careful that you don't underestimate the opening of one tiny cage.”
“I'll consider myself warned,” Uisdean narrowed his eyes on me. “Are you ready?”
“For revolution or for the carriage ride?” I lifted a brow at him.
“Oh, Seren,” he sighed deeply. “It's much too early in the morning for a revolution.”
Chapter Seven
The ride through the unseelie forest was uneventful. So uneventful that I fell asleep in Tiernan's lap. I don't know what transpired between Tiernan and my Uncle Uisdean while I was sleeping but when I woke, they were staring at each other like the only thing stopping them from murder was my presence.
“What happened?” I asked as I sat up.
“Nothing,” Tiernan said tersely, keeping his eyes on Uisdean.
“We're here,” Uisdean climbed out of the carriage.
“Tiernan?”
“I don't trust him,” he whispered.
“Well neither do I but that's nothing new.”
“He evaded every question I put to him,” Tiernan cast me a worried look. “Just don't stray too far, Seren. Stay beside me and your Guard.”
“Okay,” I nodded as he slipped outside and then held a hand up to me.
I stepped out onto a sandy road and Tiernan escorted me to the edge of our large group. He handed me a leather strip and then started to braid his hair. I did the same with mine but I absently watched Tiernan the whole time. His hair, a fey ombré going from platinum at his scalp to deepest ebony at the tips, looked magnificent in a braid. I had a similar effect with my purple stripe, it lightened from deep amethyst all the way to lavender, and I suppose it was pretty against the true black of my hair but it wasn't nearly as striking as Tiernan's. I finished braiding my hair and tied the leather around the bottom. Then I flung it back over my shoulder and it hit my butt with a thwack. I kept forgetting how long it had grown when my fey magic was released.
“Remember to use your water beags,” he said, referring to the minor water magic which all fey possessed but which I didn't seem to have a talent for.
I made a face.
“It will be easier to manipulate water when you are immersed in it,” he chuckled. “Just try, Seren. It will help you move around easier. You can use water pressure to push yourself in any direction or even to hold yourself still.”
“I know,” I sighed. “I'll try my best but I don't think I have an affinity for water magic. My mór magic is in such direct opposition to it.”
“We are fey,” he chided me. “We know that there is no such thing as opposition among the elements.”
“Well I'm half human so maybe my elemental magic doesn't know that,” I huffed. “I just don't see how water and fire can be anything but enemies.”
“You see them as antagonists because one can destroy the other,” Tiernan shrugged. “But you need to understand that it is not about destruction, it's about balance. A fire brings renewal to the earth and it is fueled by air but it will consume everything without water to temper it. You see? All the elements work together.”
“Yeah,” I grimaced. “They just don't work together so well inside me.”
“There's our ride,” Tiernan nodded towards the shoreline. “Just accept the magic, Seren and it will accept you.” He ended our elemental conversation and left to grab our bags.
I turned around to see a gigantic sea turtle come crawling up onto the shore. Atop the turtle shell, at a point closest to its head, sat a fairy. He had a long white beard and a thick build, with mottled grayish green skin. On top of his head there were horns instead of hair, dozens of them crowding every inch of scalp. Within his clawed hands he held reins which led down to a bit in the turtle's mouth. He stood up on his saddle-like seat and gestured us over with expansive waves of his arm.
“Here we go,” Tiernan escorted me down to the beach and my Guard fell into formation behind us.
“Damn, is that an aspidochelone?” I heard Conri ask someone behind me.
“I believe so,” Gradh answered him. “I've never seen one up close before.”
“Much less one with a house on its back,” Iain added.
Aspidochelone. I'd read about them once but there hadn't been much to read. Just a few sentences about how it was either a huge whale or turtle which would trick sailors into riding it and then would eat them. This was pretty much the standard operating procedure for most aquatic fey who could be ridden. Most people wouldn't be stupid enough to get on an aspidochelone's back... like we were about to do. Iain was right though, it appeared to be wearing some sort of building on its shell. A building which was strapped on with a monster-sized belt.
As we drew closer, a door opened in the turtle's house and a fairy threw out a rope ladder. It rolled all the way down the slick shell to the sandy shore. This fairy was less intimidating than the first, he appeared human; with tan skin, brown hair, and dark eyes. I'd say he was a selkie if I had to guess.
“Seren,” Uisdean motioned me forward. “You'll stay with me from here on. The dragons need to see a united front. Your Guard can join mine.”
I glanced back at Tiernan and he gave a grudging nod.
“Alright,” I gave in.
“After you,” Uisdean motioned me up the ladder.
I gathered my skirts and tied them in a knot at my hips, then began to climb. I was glad for the flexible slippers that had come with my outfit. The soles had good traction and the slippers covered my feet completely. They wouldn't come off until I peeled them off.
When I reached the top, the fairy held a hand out to help me in.
“Hi, I'm Lewis,” he said as he pulled me up onto a set of steps.
I climbed them and went into a wide room full of chairs. It was basically a turtle coach. The windows had no panes and the chairs appeared to be bolted to the floor. There were no decorations or other bits of furniture, just the chairs and a doorway in the wall to my left.
“I'm Seren,” I shook the fairy's hand.
“The Ambassador?” He lifted his thick brows. “It's a pleasure to meet you,” he gave me a bow.
“And I'm King Uisdean,” my uncle said as he stepped up into the coach.
“Your Majesty,” Lewis bowed. “You are the only two royals, correct?”
“Yes, just us,” Uisdean nodded. “My King's Guard and Seren's Star's Guard will also be joining us.”
“They are welcome to sit back here with me,” Lewis waved to the chairs. “But for royalty, we have the viewing chamber,” he went towards the door I'd noticed as Tiernan climbed aboard.
I followed Lewis, giving Tiernan a concerned look. He nodded his assurance and went to take a seat. I shrugged; if Tiernan wasn't worried, I guess there was no reason for me to.
Lewis led us into a small room with eight chairs. The chairs were grander than those in the back room, more like thrones. They faced forward, looking out of a pair of large windows which were divided by a gold pillar. Beyond the windows, the turtle's head sloped upward but between us and that massive head, sat the bearded fairy. He turned around in his seat, which I now saw was secured to the building with three lengths of metal bars, and stared hard at us. He was only a few feet away from our window.
“King Uisdean,” the man nodded to my uncle.
“Iku-Turso,” Uisdean nodded back. “This is my niece, Ambassador Seren Firethorn.”
“Hello,” I nodded and then swallowed hard.
I knew that name. Iku-Turso was so infamous in Finland that he was regarded as a sort of demon-god. No one really knew what he looked like and I wondered if that were due to the fact that he rarely left anyone behind to give a description.
“Princess,” he nodded to me dismissively, telling me immediately that he knew exactly who I was and didn't seem to care one whit.
“Lewis, go and make sure everyone is strapped in,” Iku said.
“Yes, Commander,” Lewis nodded and rushed off.
“Sit down, Seren,” Uisdean whispered and I realized I was just standing there, staring at Iku like he might attack me at any moment.
“Okay,” I whispered back and sort of fell into the throne beside Uisdean's.
“Buckle the belt,” Uisdean gestured to a leather strap hanging off the side of my chair.
I picked it up and found another end on the opposite side. It was a belt, just a thick leather belt with a shiny brass buckle. A much smaller version of the one which held us to the aspidochelone's back. I buckled it as I wondered how often the brass needed to be polished under the sea. I always ended up thinking about meaningless things when I was scared out of my mind.
I've heard drowning is one of the most painless ways to die but I just can't imagine that. Holding your breath till you can't anymore, than taking a deep gulp of water? That sounds horribly painful and very scary. I'd prefer to go quietly in my sleep but if I had to choose a more violent end, it would be out in the fresh Fairy air with a sword in my hand.
“We're all set, Commander,” Lewis said from the doorway.
I glanced past Lewis and saw all of my Guard safely strapped into their seats. Conri blew me a kiss and I chuckled, shaking my head. The bargest was an incorrigible flirt.
“Go get yourself settled, lad,” Iku growled and headed over to the reins.
“Yes, Sir!” Lewis rushed off, shutting the door behind him, and I heard his footsteps pound across the wood floor.
Iku made a strange, high-pitched sound and the turtle started to move sluggishly backwards into the water. Great furrows of sand were pushed towards land as its enormous legs dug and shoved its body into the sea. There was a great scraping sound as we passed over the beach and I hoped the great belt holding our carriage on could take the abuse. Water rushed around us and I nervously undid the knot holding my skirts up. They fell around me in disarray, crumpled together from the way I'd sat, but I wasn't about to undo the seatbelt to fix them.
As the water closed over my head, I automatically took a deep breath of air and held it as my heart started to pound. I looked to my right and saw Uisdean laughing at me, breathing the water easily. It went against every natural instinct I had but I forced myself to release my breath and inhale... air. No water even dampened my nostrils; all I took in was air. And as I blinked in amazement, a thick film came over my eyes, uncomfortable at first but then it smoothed out and I was able to see clearly without the salt stinging me.
Then a commotion came from the cabin behind us and I jerked in my seat. Uisdean's hand came down on my thigh and when I looked back at him, he was shaking his head. I tried to speak but the words came out garbled and severely muted. Right, I hadn't thought to ask about speech.
“What's happening?” I tried again and heard the hollow sound of my words push through the water sluggishly.
“I don't know but do not leave your seat, Seren!” Uisdean said as the turtle turned and water started flowing towards us. “I cannot guarantee your safety if you do.”
I was thrown back in my chair as the torrent of saltwater pushed its way over me. I had my mouth partially open from speaking and some water rushed into my throat. I coughed, bowing my head to catch my breath. The spell seemed to only affect my nose, not my mouth, which I suppose was necessary. I did still need to eat and drink. But it would have been nice if someone had warned me about that.
The water before us was murky and dark. I blinked rapidly and strained my eyes to see beyond Iku-Turso but I couldn't make out anything except bits of wayward seaweed. The cloudy atmosphere continued for awhile. Then the water began to clear and I was able to catch sight of some of the colorful marine life which inhabited the Básmhor Sea.
Schools of vibrantly colored fish went by, darting out of the way of the giant turtle. Off to our left, a pod of dolphin-like creatures swam, their long tails flowing out behind them like the delicate fins on those beta fish people keep in tiny bowls. These fins weren't delicate at all though. They were sturdy and thick with sharp points on the ends of each tip. I know this because I watched one of them stab a passing fish with its tail and then swish its catch right into its elongated mouth.
>
We sank further and further, until the water darkened to midnight blue. Lights turned on within our small cabin; little fey lanterns set into the walls. I was grateful for them but they didn't dispel the darkness outside. Iku-Turso must have had far better vision than I because I couldn't see anything beyond him. The occasional glimmer of scale or fin would break the bleakness but that was all.
Then a glow started to lighten the gloom and slowly it grew almost as bright as day. Anemones the size of two-story buildings swished their luminescent tendrils across our cabin like the brushes of a car wash. They parted to reveal towering columns of coral which shot up from the ocean floor in spires, loops, and fans. The coral was dotted heavily with fairy lights, making them into massive, living lampposts.
There was no path through the sporadically growing columns, so the aspidochelone had to wind its way through the stony forest. We dipped and turned, getting amazing views of the crustacean encrusted coral. There were whole colonies of underwater critters living within the nooks and crannies. A multitude of seaweed grew among and around the coral. Wide thick ribbons, frothy fluffy clumps, and fern-like fronds danced in the current, adding autumnal colors of burnt cinnabar, deep forest green, and russet brown to the vibrant jewel tones and muted creams of the coral.
Then we came to a massive stone arch set between two monstrous, crimson, coral fans. A pair of dragons formed the arch, their heads at the base, facing out with snarling mouths, and their tails rising up to form the curve. We passed through it and the Court of the Nine Sons came into view. As it did, the turtle slowed until we were just gliding along, giving us ample opportunity to appreciate the view.
I gasped and ended up choking again. I needed to remember not to inhale through my mouth. Uisdean shot me a smug look but I only saw it out of the corner of my eye. I couldn't pull my gaze away from the Dragon Court.
I had expected a castle, maybe something along the lines of Poseidon's palace in The Little Mermaid. Something very fey and very beautiful. Perhaps with a lot of shells. Well it was definitely fey and absolutely beautiful but it wasn't what I'd call a palace. Basically, it was a coral reef. A gigantic coral reef. Except this reef was obviously built with magic and the intent to make it habitable for sea fairies.