Torrents (DROPLETS Trilogy Book 3)

by Rauscher, Meaghan

  “Will you take me as your king?” He looked from one side of the room to the other and no one moved. “If there is any objection speak now.” He paused and no other sound was made. His eyes closed and he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. When he reopened them, his gaze found Shaylee’s and she nodded as a silent tear slipped down her cheek.

  “Then,” he said, with a clogged throat, “I will serve you as king.”

  Suddenly, the blades on his right arm flashed in their brilliance and I flinched in surprise. One merman glanced my way, but I ignored him as I watched Tunder place his blades over his left forearm. I was captivated.

  I had seen the movement before and felt my breath catch in my throat as I watched him slice his flesh. The blood dripped down his arm as though part of a river and fell to the floor, red against white, the colors startling in their contrast.

  His bloodied arm rose into the air and as it clenched into a fist, his head looked up once more. “I give you my blood, that I may die before I ever see Lathmor come to its end.”

  As though of one mind, a cheer went up, reminding me of a war chant, and then as though a command had been given, the clapping began. All around me, hands pounded together and bodies seemed to sidle closer to the throne. The mermen in front of me shifted and I could no longer see what was going on at the front of the room.

  The Lathmorian soldier, who had looked at me earlier, did so again. I gave him a half-smile before looking away quickly. I could feel his gaze on me as I tried to see over or through the cheering crowd to where Tunder now stood as king. Realizing I would have to get past the group in front of me to join Kryssa and Elik at the front of the room, I began to squeeze through the closely pressed bodies.

  Near the throne, a great call of victory rang across the room, bouncing off the ceiling, and as it faded, the crowd instantly transformed. All around me, the Lathmorians stirred, no longer stiff but moving in a fluid wave as they scrambled to assemble a line in the middle of the hall. Each eye was upon the king and they smiled at one another as the line shuffled forward. At the front, each mermaid or merman would get on one knee and pledge his loyalty to the new king. After each Lathmorian rose, the crowd would cheer and I couldn’t help but smile at their new found joy. For too long, it had seemed as though Lathmor was in a descent toward darkness. To have this moment with a glimpse at the sun was enough to lighten the worries in my own heart.

  It seemed to go on for hours, the shifting of the line as each soldier knelt before the king, and somewhere along the way, the wine cellars were opened. To me, it was all a great surprise. I had seen the wine before, but only at quiet meal times, to see the drink passed from hand to hand and poured in glasses of all sorts, was a different experience for me. Even at Nixie’s wedding last year, the wine had not been so easily drunk.

  I watched the festivities from the sidelines, my back braced against the leg of one of the statues near the wall. This particular merman statue was a stout, chiseled man with curled hairs along his forehead. His chest stuck out as though to attract attention, and his feet were pointed to the center of the room; his eyes focused on the throne. His scantily clad figure made me avert my gaze, but his leg made a good back rest and I leaned against it while watching the goings-on.

  The last man knelt to make his pledge and as soon as he stood, a louder cry rose throughout the hall. I couldn’t help but wonder if they were still concerned about a possible attack from the Hyven. From the way they were behaving, one would think they had nothing to fear.

  From my resting place, I was able to see above the crowd and catch a glimpse of Kryssa as she spoke with her sisters. On one occasion she had caught my attention and tried to wave me over, but I had declined. The last thing I wanted was everyone’s eyes to be on me, or to have to make my pledge to Tunder as well. This was a time for Lathmor, not for me.

  Through the constant thrum of voices and raised conversations, I kept an eye on the doorways and windows as though waiting for some sign of the Hyven to appear. The sun sank lower in the sky and disappeared behind the trees before I realized how tired my feet were. I pulled away from the marble statue to stretch my back.

  A yawn passed through my lips, bringing tears to my eyes for a brief moment before I noticed Elik headed my way. Upon seeing him, I smiled and waved, to which he lifted a goblet filled with the red drink.

  “What are you doing all the way over here?” he asked, having to speak louder than usual with all the Lathmorians gathered together.

  “Trying to stay out of the way,” I said and he laughed, offering me his drink. I shook my head, no, and he shrugged, taking a swig for himself.

  “Don’t you think it’s dangerous to be having a party right now?”

  “Yes,” Elik said, and I was surprised to see the smile flit across his lips. My brow furrowed and then it dawned on me.

  “We’re the bait,” I said and looked upon the scene with renewed vigor. I honed in on a group of merfolk, watching the way they spoke to one another. Their smiles were bright, but it didn’t reach their eyes and they spoke much louder than they needed to. The groups moved in small packs as though in a dance, but as I looked harder, I realized they were troops. Each one had a particular assignment, which Tunder was speaking about earlier, and they were remaining close together to be called away in an instant to their stations.

  “You see it now, don’t you?” Elik said and took another swig of the drink. The movement caught my attention and he wiggled his eyebrows at me.

  “That’s not even wine, is it?” I asked, trying to speak loud enough for him to hear, but not so loud as to alert anyone nearby.

  “Have a taste,” was his reply and he handed the goblet to me. I took a sip and scrunched my face up. It tasted like water that had been kept in the sun too long, humid and hot from the warm air, and stale.

  “That’s disgusting,” I said quietly and he laughed softly, this time I noted the way his eyes were still on alert as he pretended to be truly merry.

  “Don’t speak too loudly,” he said under his breath, just audible enough for me to hear. I nodded and let a smile grace my face as though I was having the best time of my life.

  “By the way,” I said, as though making pleasant conversation was all I wanted to do right now. “Thanks for letting me see the Outpost the other night.”

  “Kryssa thought you’d like it.”

  “I did,” I said. “I had no idea how much more there was to this place.” My gaze rose and scanned the crowd; each face remained happy and merry unless you looked closer. Even at the end of the room, the newly crowned king was seen downing a goblet of the red-dyed water, to look as though he was out of sorts. Stretching out further, I tried to listen for other sounds outside of the discordance of voices; straining to hear something which would tell me we truly were under attack, but once again, no call had been made from the shores. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder if the Hyven had figured out a way to sneak in unannounced again.

  “Calmric!” Elik bellowed beside me, and the head of a brown-haired merman turned our way.

  He flashed his white teeth, a dimple in his chin, and excused himself from his conversation with a pretty round-faced mermaid. As he approached, Elik whispered of Calmric’s station as one of the soldiers he was in charge of at the Outpost. With each step, I noted the way he walked with a slight limp in his right leg, his browned bare feet showing just beneath the cuffs of his black soldier’s garb.

  “Elik,” he said and slapped the merman on the back. His voice was soft, and yet strong at the same time. His frame lean and chiseled, with muscles spanning his chest beneath the dark shirt which tapered to a thin, trim waist. He turned his golden-brown eyes on me. I smiled, and looked back to Elik who sighed.

  “Lissie, Calmric. Calmric, Lissie.” His hand waved between the both of us and we shook hands. “Calmric just came back from the Outpost.”

  “Ahh,” I said and nodded as my hand fell back to my side.

  “Nice to meet yo
u,” he said. “Are you enjoying the festivities?”

  “Of course,” I replied. “Although, I don’t care for the drink,” I scrunched my nose and he laughed.

  “Me neither,” he mouthed and stared into his cup as though it would be the death of him. Shifting his focus away from the red liquid he looked at Elik and then back to the mingling group of Lathmorian mermaids. “I’ve been trying to get one of these mischievous creatures to be mine tonight, but it seems I’m to be alone.” Shocked by his words, I shifted my focus to Elik to see how he would respond to such talk.

  “I have been trying as well,” taken more aback, I waited for him to laugh and say it was all a joke, when something in the back of my mind warned me to listen harder. “I think we’re doomed tonight.”

  “I think so too. For a moment, I thought I had one, but it turned out I was wrong. Although I could’ve sworn there was something between us.”

  “Was there a glimmer?” I asked catching on to their play of words and they both smiled. Calmric turned to me and though his lips were stretched wide to reveal his white teeth, his eyes spoke of something dangerous.

  “Yes,” he said and looked away. “There was a glimmer for a moment, but it was gone before I could find it.”

  “Is the glimmer the important part?”

  “The glimmer is everything!” Calmric turned back to me. “It is the glimpse that gives instinct, the moment when I know I can pursue. But in this case, it was gone too quickly.”

  “Will it return?” Elik asked, before he took another swig of his drink. There was an inquisitive worry in his voice.

  “I’m not sure. For a while I thought so, but I pursued it and found nothing.”

  “Then you will be alone tonight?” I asked, still playing at words.

  “Yes,” he nodded his head, “I believe so.”

  Just as the last word had left his mouth, a loud scream rang throughout the room and everything stilled for an instant.

  Every eye and ear was turned toward the many windows and doors, waiting upon instinct to take them into action. My heart skipped a beat and I cast my eyes about the dim room, waiting for something to appear.

  Within a fraction of a second, three things seemed to happen at once. A figure, clad in dark clothing became visible at the end of the room standing next to the throne, and as a cry gathered in my throat, a hand clamped over my mouth and I was entrapped in the arms of Elik as he held me back. His cup of dyed water hit the floor with a banging crash and the glass shattered, as the contents splattered on my feet like spilled blood.

  But my eyes had not left the figure who stood near the throne. His silhouette was as familiar to me as if I was looking at his face. I could see the way he held himself, always strong and powerful. It was the way I had seen him the first time. As my heart rejoiced at seeing it again, fear gripped my belly when he stepped out of the shadows and revealed his face to all who stood in the room.

  Gasps rose and were hushed within moments as the surprise of the merfolk died and blades began to flash from arms and fingers. Through the crowd, I caught a glimpse of Shaylee standing near Tunder, one hand placed protectively over her belly and the other covered her mouth. I strained to see more, but the bodies before me shifted to create a wall that would forever block my sight.

  “I offer my congratulations,” he boomed over the crowd and I felt my gut twist. After wanting to hear his voice for so long, I felt my heart thunder in my chest as the worry began to take over my mind. Couldn’t he see all the blades? With renewed vigor, I tried to struggle out of Elik’s grasp, but he held me tight against him as though I was only a child.

  “Should I call you king?” He asked with an air of nonchalance, the warrior’s mask in place. I so desperately wanted his eyes to find me in the crowd, but he only looked to the new king. I waited with baited breath for the king’s reply, but all the while my mind was screaming at him. What are you doing here?!

  “If you’d like,” came Tunder’s response. I could hear the anger festering beneath the calm.

  To my right, someone hissed and my heart leapt into my throat. Feeling the tingling in my fingers once more, I pushed harder against the arms restraining me to no avail.

  “Why are you here?” Tunder asked, and as a mermaid shifted, I was able to see him adjust his stance. He looked casual as though there was nothing he wanted more than to speak with Zale.

  I turned my eyes back to the warrior who had interrupted the gathering and was stunned for a moment by how calm he seemed. His eyes never left the king, but even as he stood above the crowd, his face betrayed nothing of his thoughts. Even his hand, which I had often seen twitch in times of trial, remained still.

  “Where’s Lissie?”

  Hearing my name on his lips made my heart jump and I felt the beginnings of a smile pass over my lips beneath Elik’s hand, even as worry threatened my brow. My stomach trembled and I pushed against his arms again, only to feel them tighten. Calmric glanced back at his leader and nodded his head at some silent command. With a subtle shift of his body, he moved in front of me, hiding me from Zale’s sight and I pushed my head from side to side, only making Elik hold me tighter. His breath was heavy in my ear and I wondered how long he would be able to keep me silent.

  “She’s our prisoner,” Tunder’s voice boomed, establishing his dominance over the enemy he thought he faced.

  “I need to speak with her,” the intruder said, without a hint of respect for the newly appointed king. I shifted once more as a thought took shape in my mind. You can persuade him.

  No sooner had the thought become clear, then did I expel it from my mind. I wouldn’t tread along that road again, at least not when there were other ways of fighting.

  “No,” Tunder said sharply, “you still haven’t answered my question. Why are you here?”

  “Bring Lissie to me, and I’ll tell you.”

  “You don’t command me,” the anger in the king’s voice was mounting, and I waited for my warrior to answer, my heart pounding heavily. At the edges of my sight, more blades began to appear and Calmric drew his own. I shook my head violently, and Elik hastened to whisper in my ear for me to stop, but I ignored him.

  “No, I don’t,” was Zale’s answer and he chuckled.

  “Take him,” the words were calm but they struck a fire in my stomach and I raged against the arms around me. Pounding feet responded to the king’s words, and as they moved toward Zale, Calmric shifted, revealing the scene before me.

  Four mermen ascended the steps, their blades drawn, moving in with a careful and effective approach. They surrounded the warrior and upon some silent command dashed forward, but the merman they tried to restrain was too quick for them. He took them down one by one, faster than my eyes could see. Before I could really process what was happening, all four of the soldiers laid on the marble floor, their groans filling the room, though there was no blood spilled.

  Tunder stood to the side, his back to me, and his people behind him. His hand rose in the air and with a flick of his wrist, five more mermen dashed forward, moving up the stairs faster this time. Their blades flashed as they slashed at the warrior and I almost screamed as one came close to slicing his neck, but once again he defeated each one swiftly, and they lay groaning at the bottom of the stairs where he pushed them.

  His chest was heaving, and there were small rips and nicks in his grey shirt, but he appeared to be unharmed. He spread his arms wide, revealing no weapons around his belt.

  “I can do this all night!” His voice bellowed throughout the hall, showing his first real sign of anger at the man before him. “I’ve proven myself in battle time and again, and will continue until you bring Lissie to me. It’s only a matter of time. I will win. Don’t you wonder how I got through your three lines of defense? Wouldn’t you like to know how I was able to come here undetected by every single scout and guard on duty?”

  From what I could see of the scene before me, Tunder’s only reaction was the straightening of his
back. His head stood above the rest of the crowd, and I could easily imagine the glare he was giving Zale, having seen it numerous times myself. The new king took a slow step forward and Zale watched his approach with an unwavering gaze.

  “Where do your loyalties lie?” Tunder asked, and somehow the already silent room grew quieter, I stopped in my struggles. “You dare to come here after what you did to my people?” Murmurs followed his statement and I heard someone hiss to my right.

  “I did as I was commanded. Same as when I didn’t harm you,” his words were followed by gasps. For the first time, some of the Lathmorians looked away from the intruder to their new king. “Now, bring her to me.”

  No one moved or spoke and I knew what had to be done. I didn’t care if it was seen as an act of betrayal or if the Lathmorians would even let me make it to him, all I cared about was his knowing I was there.

  A cry escaped my lips, the sound coming out sharp and gargled against Elik’s hand, but it was enough. The Lathmorians turned in my direction, but my eyes were focused on his.

  From across the room our gazes met, and my stomach lurched, as I found what I had been hoping and waiting for these past weeks. His brown depths were as clear to me as if I was standing directly in front of him, and I wanted to smile even though the fear tightened in my stomach. It was the first time I had looked upon his face since the night he had declared his love for me, and I declared mine for him. During my weeks of waiting and wondering where he was, I had replayed the moment in my head over and over again, thinking of the way he had said the words and letting them fill my heart with his confirmation of love. But none of these memories compared to the way he looked at me now. In one glance, the depth of my own emotion reflected back to me.

  “Come,” Tunder commanded, and Elik slid his arms from around me.

  The crowd seemed to part on either side, but I hardly noticed as I approached the throne where Tunder stood. My eyes were still focused on Zale’s and upon reaching the spot where the new king stood, I felt a hand hold me back. Glancing to my left, I saw Kryssa restraining me in a feeble attempt of caution.