by Bonnie Lamer
I pat her shoulder. “You are only saying what we’re all thinking.” It is a mystery why Isla would want to marry someone who drives her so crazy. Then again, few dare to challenge Isla. She is the most powerful Fairy alive, after all. Maybe she wants him to challenge her. Or she’s insane, one of the two. Maybe both.
“What are you standing in the hallway whispering about?” Kallen asks. He and Dagda are striding toward us.
“Garren said something stupid,” Kegan informs him.
Kallen frowns. “Since when does that merit excitement?” It is a frequent occurrence. Living all those years alone with Dragons and Goblins has not done much for Garren’s social skills.
“Since Grandmother decided to postpone their hand-fasting,” Kegan informs him with a grin. Neither grandson wants Isla to be unhappy, but they also don’t want her to marry someone who is such a buffoon at times. I try hard to like Garren, but the Fairy can make it difficult to be in his corner.
Dagda’s brows rise. “Was this before or after he said something stupid?”
“Before,” I tell him. An icy chill travels from my neck to the bottom of my spine. Between this and the horrified expressions on the faces around me, I’m pretty sure Isla has come up behind me. I turn around slowly. “So, should we stand in line for you to kill us or were you planning a group thing?” Isla’s eyelids are drawn together so only teeny, tiny slits expose her eyeballs. Her lips are pressed tightly together. I think she’s trying to keep her head from exploding.
“Personally,” a gruff voice says from behind her. “I think you should all go to hell.” Garren pushes past us and I grab Kallen’s arm to keep him from punching the older Fairy when he does the manly shoulder shove to him as he goes by. Garren continues on and there is a distinct finality about his departure. Did he finally give up on his quest to make Isla his wife?
Between teeth which seem to have permanently molded together, Isla asks, “What happened in the village.” Okay, back to the business at hand. Sirens are a safer subject right now than Isla’s love life, so we all turn to Kallen and Dagda expectantly. They do not disappoint.
“In an effort to keep our male population alive and well both before and after sunset, I have ordered all male Fairies currently not hand-fasted, as well as those who heard the call of the Sirens, to immediately report to the palace grounds. Alone,” Dagda adds in case we didn’t get the implications of his proclamation.
“Was it really that bad?” I ask, dumbfounded.
“There are…” Kallen begins. He pauses to search for the correct words. “An overabundance, shall we say, of female Fairies scorned in the village currently. I believe Dagda’s edict will save several lives which may otherwise not make it to sunset.”
Leave it to Kegan to chuckle. I glare at him. “This is not funny. Fairies are hurting. How would you like it if you suddenly found out Alita doesn’t really love you?” He stops chuckling. He wraps an arm around his wife and pulls her close.
Isla goes straight for the logistics. “Where are you planning to shelter these Fairies?”
“Sindri is coordinating it. Between the great hall and the throne room, there should be enough space to accommodate them.”
I’m all for it. “Having them all under the same roof will make it easier to cast my spell tonight.”
Dagda turns his attention to his wife. “What of the Merpeople?”
“The Queen will be joining us shortly,” Tana tells him.
She’s leaving a big part of the story out. “Along with all the single Mermen from her realm,” I add. The song It’s Raining Men suddenly pops into my head. I keep that to myself. No one here would get the reference. Turning to Isla, I ask, “When am I supposed to make the passageway?”
Isla glances at her watch and looks up in surprise. Fighting with Garren must have made her forget the time. “In ten minutes,” she says. Well, at least we’re not late.
Dagda is still trying to digest all the information. “Where are we supposed to put them?”
He has a point. It’s not like we can throw a blanket down for them on the floor. They need water. Merpeople can breathe both in and out of water, but their bodies need to stay moist. I wonder if I could give them all temporary legs.
“No, you cannot,” Dagda says, reading my mind. Kallen and Kegan both chuckle. Am I that easy to read?
“Your face is quite expressive,” Kallen informs me.
“Can you read this expression?” I ask sweetly. My expression is not sweet.
Wrapping his arm around my shoulder, Kallen shakes his head and grins. “No, I cannot.” He plants a quick kiss on my lips. I smile. He is way too sexy to stay mad at over little things.
Ignoring our side conversation, Isla says, “Arrangements are being made in the river.”
“Won’t their tails get tired from trying to keep them from flowing downstream?” I blurt out to another round of chuckles. “I’m serious. That’s like us trying to stand in a heavy wind all day.” The river current is strong.
Kallen smiles. “You are correct. In the past, when the Merpeople have visited for extended periods of time, the river stream is modified magically. The flow is slowed by several partial dams. The Merpeople will be quite comfortable.”
Good thing they laughed at my question then. But, that is one bright spot in the day. “Okay, then let’s go make a passage.”
“We should make sure everything is ready first,” Kallen suggests. He looks at Dagda who gives him a nod. Kallen takes my hand and we walk back to the Great Hall.
“Who’s doing the magic?” I ask.
Kallen shrugs. “I assume several of the more powerful palace guards. That is who Dagda used before. Sindri will know.”
I chuckle and seeing Dagda’s assistant walking toward us, I say, “Sindri knows everything.”
“Not everything,” Sindri says.
“Are the dams in place?” Kallen asks, assessing the river that flows through the middle of the Great Hall. They must be. The flow has decreased significantly.
Sindri nods. “We are ready for the arrival of the Merpeople.”
I cannot help but marvel at the Fairy’s efficiency. “You work fast. Thank you for doing this.” Dagda’s assistant blushes. Actually blushes. I figured out a while ago he doesn’t get a lot of thank yous from his boss.
A heated discussion behind us has us all turning our heads. Dagda and Isla are approaching. Though their voices are low, the harshness carries. “I am simply suggesting breaking off your engagement in public has not helped our current situation. I am trying to calm the females in the village. Seeing the High Chancellor react in such a way…”
The expression on Isla’s face while being chastised by Dagda about her behavior is nothing short of murderous. My biological father is closer than he realizes to facing his own mortality. I have to do something before I have one father who’s a ghost and one who’s just plain dead. “Um, in about two seconds I am going to open a passageway. Unless you want the MerQueen to witness your untimely death, I suggest you stop talking.” I will never, ever develop tact. But, I did stun my father into silence. Before he has a chance to recover, I spin around and tear a passageway over the river. I ignore my husband shaking his head in disbelief at my gall. I don’t miss the corners of his mouth trying to lift into a smile, though.
Waiting on the other side of the passageway, in front of the half destroyed MerQueen’s house, is Arie. I wonder why she hasn’t fixed the house yet. Every time I see it, I feel guilty. True, the last MerQueen was not the nicest Queen in the world, but I shouldn’t have blown up her house. On the other hand, she was planning to make Kallen her sex toy. Okay, my guilt is gone.
“King Dagda, Princess Xandra, Prince Kallen, High Chancellor,” Arie nods to each of us in turn. “Thank you for meeting our conditions.”
“Queen Arie, we are honored by your presence,” Dagda says stiffly. He’s still fuming about what I said and did.
I raise my brows in his direction and then turn
back to Arie. “Forgive his gruffness. I made him mad right before I opened the passageway.”
Arie tries hard to keep her lips from turning upward. Though her eyes are dancing with amusement, her expression exudes sympathy for Dagda. “Your father is excused for any rudeness he feels the need to exert, then.”
Kallen puts a hand on my shoulder, afraid I’m going to snark back at her. Nah. I like Arie. “Is everyone ready?” I ask her.
She nods. “Yes. Kai is ready to lead the Mermen through the passageway as soon as I pass.”
“Then welcome,” Dagda says with a sweep of his hand. His tone is more Kingly and gracious this time. Good to know that someone laughing at my expense improves his mood.
With the grace only a Mermaid could exhibit, Arie leaps through the passageway I created. She lands in the river with a minimal splash. Immediately, Kai takes her place in front of the open passageway. He nods to Dagda respectfully. He ignores the rest of us. Kai isn’t my biggest fan. I don’t know why he snubbed Isla or Kallen. “May we proceed?” he asks.
“Of course,” Dagda says coolly. I’m not sure if his tone is the temperature of a slushie because of me or Kai.
Kai leads the way and is followed into the river by Merman after Merman. The stream seems never ending. But, that’s not what has my attention. I am watching Arie. A blue light shimmers around her and the next thing I know, she has legs. Real legs. I elbow Kallen in the side. “I thought you said I couldn’t make them legs.”
My gorgeous husband bites back a grin. “I said you could not give them legs.”
“But Arie can?”
Kallen shakes his head. “No. Do you see the shell around her neck? It is passed from Queen to Queen and it alone carries the power the temporarily change a Merperson’s tail into legs. She can only do it for a few hours at a time.”
“She can’t turn anyone else’s tail into legs?”
“The consort of the Queen is included in the magic,” Kai informs me as he swings his new, muscular legs out of the river. He stands and is a little wobbly at first. Arie is, as well. It only takes a moment, though, for them to regain their center of balance and walk normally.
“Um, I think they forgot something,” I murmur to Kallen who is now steadfastly staring at the ceiling. I’m not certain whose nudity bothers him more. Arie’s because he doesn’t want to make me jealous by staring at her private bits or Kai’s because of his more than impressive manhood. Part of the spell or all natural, I can’t help but wonder. A small pinch on my arm reminds me I shouldn’t be wondering about such things.
Sindri hurries forward with two palace maids. Each carries a robe. One is sea blue silk with lace trim and the other a red satin. They are presented to Arie and Kai and the maid with the red satin one is having a harder time than me keeping her eyes above chest level. Sindri clears his throat and the maid blushes fiercely and hurries off as Kai grins after her. Arie is not as amused. When her eyes meet her husband’s, he sobers instantly. He even hangs his head a little. Interesting.
“We have much to discuss,” Dagda says, holding his arm out to Arie. “Let us retreat to a setting better equipped for such a conversation.”
I turn to find Tana approaching. Dagda hasn’t seen her yet. Good thing because the look in her jealous green eyes would probably make him drop Arie’s arm unceremoniously. It only takes a second for the Fairy Queen to mask her jealousy, though. By the time she reaches us, her most welcoming smile is in place. “Welcome,” she says managing to sound sincere.
There is a hint of wariness in Arie’s eyes. News of Tana’s mental breakdown reached quite a few realms. Nonetheless, Arie bows her head politely. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
Oh my god. Can we get past the niceties and get down to talking about the Sirens already? Hm. What are the chances I said this aloud? Kai’s guffaw would indicate the chances are pretty darn good. With a hearty slap on the back that makes me take a couple steps forward, he says to me, “I may grow to like you yet, Witch Fairy.” I couldn’t be more thrilled at the news. I’m pretty sure I kept this snarky comment in my head because Kai doesn’t get mad.
Dagda leads our party to the elevator. I assume out of courtesy for the Mercouple’s new legs. We ride up in silence. I, personally, am terrified as usual by the fact that the one operating the elevator with her magic is a Fairy who I’m pretty certain is older than dirt. If there was a Big Bang, she probably saw it. Kallen and Dagda both assure me her magic is as strong as ever, but I feel the elevator lurch a little under the strain of lifting all of us. I should have taken the stairs.
We do make it to the top without incident. I am surprised Dagda has taken us to the family wing of the palace. He doesn’t usually meet with anyone here. It’s his retreat. His sanctuary. I give Kallen a quizzical glance but he only shrugs. He is as surprised as I am. Dagda leads Arie to a white couch in the family sitting room. Kai sits down next to her. The rest of us find seats on the remaining furniture in the room. The chair I pick is surprisingly comfortable for being so ugly. Dagda has awful taste when it comes to home decorating.
Glancing around at the furnishings, Arie says to Tana, “Your home is lovely.” I happen to think the mostly white décor accented lavishly, or gaudily, with gold trim is atrocious. I did not get my taste from my biological father, thank goodness.
“Thank you,” Tana replies. I’ve heard she merely tolerates Dagda’s taste, but I haven’t asked her about it.
Sindri, who met us here after taking the stairs like the smart Fairy he is, asks, “Would anyone care for a drink?”
Kai begins to speak but Arie shakes her head, stopping him from responding in the positive. “No, thank you,” the MerQueen says. Disappointment washes over Kai who was staring hopefully at the decanter of scotch on a table in the far corner of the room.
I wonder if the Merpeople have any sort of alcoholic beverages in their realm. I wonder if they have any beverages at all. Is it possible to drink underwater? So many questions in my brain, so rude to ask them all.
One thing I like about Arie is she doesn’t waste time. “The escape of the Sirens was my fault.”
It’s a good thing I wasn’t drinking anything. It probably would have shot out of my mouth and nose in surprise. “What?”
The MerQueen sits up straighter. “I did not recognize the influence the Sirens gained over the captain of their guards.”
“I was under the impression the guards were rotated regularly to avoid such things,” Isla remarks coolly.
Anger flashes in Arie’s eyes but she is angry with herself, not Isla. “You are correct. The only guard with a permanent position was the captain of the guards. The captain maintained her position within the city. She was not to have contact with the Sirens.” Arie pauses and takes a deep breath before continuing. “It seems a combination of curiosity and hostility drove her to disregard the parameters of her position.”
“Hostility toward whom?” Kallen asks even though we can see the answer in Arie’s eyes.
“Toward me,” she admits.
The puzzle pieces click together in my mind. “Let me guess, she was in the running for Queen.” The Merpeople elect their Queen who then serves for life.
Arie inclines her head. “You are correct.”
“What was her intent?” Dagda asks.
“She made a deal with Irena. If the Siren agreed to enslave my consort, she would be set free. She hoped the grief it would cause me would render me ineffectual as a Queen.” From her expression, I can tell she has not yet told us everything.
“Meaning she could then demand you forfeit the crown with your death,” Dagda fills in.
Arie nods. “You are correct.” Wow. This catastrophe really wasn’t my fault. Amazing. “She also vowed revenge on the one who killed her ‘rightful’ Queen, as she sees it.”
I sigh. So much for it not being my fault. Or, at least the other me’s fault. “Does she know it was my doppelganger from another reality?” I ask.
“The Me
rpeople are hesitant to believe such a thing could occur,” Arie admits.
I will definitely not be travelling to the Merpeople realm anytime soon, then. “That sucks.” I get admonishing glances from Isla, Dagda and Tana for my slang.
“Indeed,” Kai agrees. He adds, “I understand their reluctance. If I had not seen your doppelganger with my own eyes, I would not have believed it myself.”
“Thanks for the support,” I grumble. Louder, I ask, “Is it just a few Merpeople or do they all believe I’m the one who killed their Queen?” I will take the deafening silence to mean it’s pretty much all of them.
“You said your captain agreed to free Irena. Did she free the others intentionally or was Irena responsible for it?” Kallen asks.
“Irena convinced the captain of guards that she was too weak to perform such magic alone. Over several months, she convinced the captain to release them all if she wanted to successfully lure me from my wife,” Kai explains. He shakes his head. “Fools.”
Arie places a loving hand on her husband’s arm and smiles. “As you can see, Kai’s love is not so easily misplaced.” Kai shifts a little in his seat causing suspicion to build in my mind. Did he mean what he said or is he worried?
Keeping the conversation on track, Kallen asks, “When were the Sirens released?”
“Two days ago,” Arie says.
“Two days? That wouldn’t be enough time to lure your husband into slavery,” I comment aloud. Arie stiffens slightly and I get another round of chiding glances. What? I’m just being honest. “Why didn’t they stick around in your realm to do what they promised?”
Dagda glances at Tana before saying, “Because the Sirens have their own agenda for revenge.”
I groan. “And it all comes back around to us.”
Kallen reaches over and takes my hand in his, giving it a squeeze. “This is no one’s fault.”
My brow scrunches. “I don’t know, the Merpeople captain seems pretty darn guilty.”
Arie acknowledges my comment with a grimace. “She is being dealt with harshly, I assure you.” Considering the last Queen had attack octopi, I don’t even want to know what that means.