The Mermaid's Madness

by Hines, Jim C.

  “I’m fine,” Snow said automatically. Her headaches had grown worse after the fight in the chapel, and the rolling of the ship did nothing to help her vision, but she would recover.

  “You’re a poor liar,” Bea’s smile took the sting from her words. “Your flirting always gets more desperate when you’re upset.”

  Snow pulled her hat lower. “What do you mean, desperate?”

  “Talia tells me you and Morveren spent a great deal of time together.”

  “Talia talks too much.”

  That earned a laugh from Beatrice. “Oh, yes. Talia is the loquacious one.”

  Snow hated being embarrassed. Her pale skin made the slightest blush evident to anyone within view. “Morveren was teaching me magic. I’ve never had a teacher before, not like her. I should have realized what she was. She nearly killed us all to stop us from hurting Lirea, but even then a part of me wished—” She broke off. “Morveren used her magic on the cup in the chapel, and I missed it.”

  “As I understand things, Morveren has had more than two hundred years of practice,” Beatrice said. “It’s not your fault.”

  Snow was blushing again, remembering precisely what Morveren had said to distract her. How long had Morveren known about Talia’s feelings? Snow looked around for Talia, eventually finding her at the front of the ship with Danielle, watching the waves.

  Bea followed her gaze. Thankfully, she misunderstood the intent. “Talia distrusted Morveren from the start, I assume?” When Snow nodded, Beatrice only laughed. “Talia distrusts everyone in the beginning. Even yourself, if memory serves.”

  “I’ve never been good at reading people,” Snow said. “Everyone else knew my mother was evil, too. Everyone but me. When I was young, I’d hear the servants whispering. They made me so angry. I thought they were ungrateful and spiteful, filthy little commoners who didn’t understand how great and powerful she really was.” She rubbed her eyes.

  “Talia expects to see the darkness in people, and thus she’s more likely to find it,” said Beatrice

  “I wonder sometimes if the reason I couldn’t see who Morveren really was is because—”

  “You are not like her.” Bea brushed Snow’s hair back from her face. “Nor are you your mother. I trust you.”

  Snow closed her eyes, thinking of how she had reached into Talia’s mind, manipulating her thoughts. “I don’t.”

  “I know.” Bea kissed her cheek. “Now go. Your friends need you. Particularly Danielle, judging by her shade of green.”

  Most of the night passed without incident, once Danielle had imbibed an entire pot of Snow’s ginger tea. Snow used magic to chill the glass, and the tea tasted surprisingly good at that temperature. Of course, that much tea had a price, and Danielle awoke several times that night to visit the head.

  Once she stopped to check on Beatrice, who remained on deck. When the queen wasn’t at the helm, she slept in a hastily rigged hammock, staying close to the wheel and Captain Hephyra. Talia remained with her through the night, bringing her food and drink, though she took little of either. Beatrice smiled at Danielle’s concerns and shooed her back to bed.

  It was still dark when Danielle woke again. Men were shouting, and she could hear footsteps thudding across the ship. The door creaked open and Talia peeked inside.

  “Good, you’re awake. Get out here.”

  Danielle glanced at Snow, who had kicked her blankets to the floor and lay sprawled with one arm hanging off the cot. “What’s going on?”

  “The watch spotted debris up ahead. Looks like a wrecked ship.”

  Danielle grabbed a cloak and hurried out after Talia. “Where are we?”

  “We crossed into Hiladi waters a short time ago. Looking at the charts, we should be in position to intercept Morveren by midmorning.”

  The crew had lit oil lamps along the sides of the ship. Danielle hurried to the rail, peering at the water. Wooden planks, barrels, and other wreckage bobbed on the surface. “What can I do?”

  Talia jabbed a finger at the water. “Those sharks you summoned are still with us, and there could be survivors out there. You might want to tell the sharks not to eat them.”

  Danielle leaned out. There are people in the water. They’re my friends. Show us where they are, but please don’t hurt them.

  A scream made her jump. Two sharks circled a man who clung desperately to a broken door. More cries followed as the sharks sought out other survivors.

  “Have someone feed them,” Danielle said.“The sharks, I mean. I don’t know how hungry they might be.”

  “That ship was Hiladi.” Talia pointed to a broken yardarm. “You can tell by the knots in the lines. They rig their sails more tightly than we do.”

  “We should wake Varisto.” As the cold air swept the last of the fatigue from Danielle’s mind, she realized those men who weren’t helping to rescue the wrecked sailors were gathering weapons. “Lirea’s tribe did this, didn’t they? They’ve turned against Hilad.”

  “They’ll do worse when they find us,” said Talia.

  A breeze caught Danielle’s cloak. She spun, heart pounding. After her encounters with the air spirits, the gentlest wind was enough to make her jumpy. Talia didn’t seem to notice. Her jacket appeared untouched by the wind. Danielle frowned, studying her more closely. “How many weapons do you have weighing that thing down?”

  “That depends on how you define ‘weapon.’ ”

  Before Danielle could think up a response to that, a man near the bow shouted, “Captain Hephyra! Kelpies sighted to the port side.”

  Moments later, six kelpies leaped from the water. Undine clung to their harnesses, dozens on each mount.

  “I didn’t think they’d find us so soon.” Talia tugged Danielle back from the railing. “They must have seen us approaching. You’ll want to talk to those sharks again.”

  The crew doubled their efforts to pull survivors from the water. Captain Hephyra crossed the deck carrying a small powder barrel in her arms. She winked at Danielle as she hoisted the barrel overhead. “We don’t have much, but we should be able to put up a decent fight.”

  “Talia, get Varisto. The undine might still listen to him.” Danielle looked to see Beatrice still at the helm. “Then get to Beatrice and keep her safe.”

  Captain Varisto was already staggering up from below. He was barefoot, his shirt unbuttoned, but he had taken the time to don both his war hammer and a thick-bladed knife as long as Danielle’s forearm. He stumbled and swore, stopping to rip a splinter from his foot.

  “Hephyra, stop tormenting him,” Danielle snapped. “We need his help.”

  Varisto cursed when he saw the survivors being brought on board. “That was one of our ships!”

  “We’re going to join them if you can’t turn the undine away,” Danielle said.

  He cupped his hands to his mouth and bellowed, “I am Varisto, friend of Queen Lirea.”

  Undine dropped from the kelpies like rain, diving into the sea. Danielle silently summoned the sharks closer. She could see nothing beneath the surface, and only the occasional dorsal fin hinted at the sharks’ presence.

  A single undine surfaced, spear in hand.“Lirea named you traitor, human.”

  Varisto swore and twisted aside as the undine threw his spear. It slammed into the cutter behind them.

  “How much longer do you mean to talk?” asked Hephyra. “This barrel isn’t as light as it looks, you know.”

  “There are so many,” said Lannadae.

  Danielle spun. Lannadae sat behind her, staring through the railing. “I don’t recognize them all. How did Lirea bring so many undine into our tribe?”

  “You shouldn’t be here.” The words came from Varisto, to Danielle’s surprise. He moved to stand in front of Lannadae, shielding her with his body. “They’ll rip the ship apart to get to you if they learn you’re with us. Get to shelter and stay there.”

  The Phillipa shuddered as one of the kelpies rammed her hull. That kelpie reared from the
water moments later, and Danielle saw two sharks tearing at its flesh. Waves marked the passage of another kelpie who veered away from the ship.

  “Give me to them in exchange for passage,” Lannadae said.

  “No!” Varisto and Danielle spoke as one. Danielle knelt beside her. “I will not turn you over to be killed.”

  “Beatrice almost died trying to protect me. I’m the one who told you to free Morveren from her exile. You’ve risked so much, and I’ve done nothing but hide behind you.” Lannadae crawled toward the rail.

  Shouts and splashing from below showed where the undine had begun their attack. The sharks fought back, but they were outnumbered. Captain Hephyra hurled her barrel into the water, and the undine scattered. Word of this tactic had obviously spread. Hephyra held out a hand and shouted, “Spear!”

  One of the crew slapped a fishing spear into her hand. The point had been covered in pitch. Hephyra leaned over the rail and thrust the spear into one of the lamps, breaking the glass. The pitch burst into flames.

  “You’re a royal,” Danielle said. “Does that give you any power over the undine?”

  “Not much.” Lannadae bowed her head. “I’m still young. My scent is weak. Lirea is . . . her scent is stronger than any mermaid I’ve ever known. Her power blossomed after Morveren transformed her. Even away from her, they’ll still obey her commands.”

  “Good.” Danielle ran toward Hephyra. “Captain, wait!”

  Varisto followed. “Perhaps I don’t know your language as well as I thought. How exactly is this ‘good’?”

  “Because it means the tribe will attack Morveren, too. All we have to do is lead them to her.” To Hephyra, she said, “We outpaced Lannadae when we left Lorindar. Can this ship outrun kelpies?”

  “I doubt it.”

  Danielle searched the water, but if any others had survived the shipwreck, the undine had dragged them down. “Then you’ll want to bring up the rest of the powder. Beatrice, show them how fast this ship can fly!”

  The Phillipa surged ahead. The kelpies started to follow, but Hephyra threw her spear. It disappeared into the water without even a splash.

  “Rotting hell!” Hephyra grabbed another spear, lit it, and tried again. This time, the spear slammed into the barrel. The resulting explosion scattered kelpies and undine alike, not to mention most of Danielle’s sharks.

  We have more barrels, Danielle warned the kelpies. Approach too closely, and we’ll use them.

  The crew cheered as the kelpies fell back. Some of the undine still clung to the side of the ship, bracing themselves with their knives and spears. A few crossbow shots soon rid the ship of those hangers-on.

  “Did I hear thunder?” Snow yawned as she approached Danielle. She looked around, staring first at the three Hiladi sailors who sat dripping by the mast, then at Captain Varisto. She studied him for a longer time, taking in the muscled lines of his chest and arms, until Danielle cleared her throat.

  “What? I’m allowed to look.” Snow yawned again, then reached into her shirt and pulled out a slender green bottle. “Besides, I thought I should let you know. My dead friend here says Morveren’s on her way to Hilad.”

  CHAPTER 16

  DANIELLE HELD HER CLOAK TIGHT against the night air as the Phillipa raced to intercept Morveren. Though hours had passed with no sign of the mermaid, Snow assured them it wouldn’t be much longer.

  “Looks like they’re trying again,” Hephyra shouted. She picked up a barrel and hurled it at the nearest kelpie. Their pursuers scattered in all directions. Talia raised a spear, but Hephyra shook her head. “No need. That was an empty.”

  So it had gone throughout the night. Time after time the kelpies would draw close, only to flinch back as Captain Hephyra hurled another barrel into their midst. At these speeds, even Talia had trouble hitting the barrels with her spears. More exploded than not, and the kelpies learned quickly. They fled from the barrels whether they exploded or not, so Hephyra had begun tossing empty barrels as well in order to preserve their supply of black powder.

  All too soon, the kelpies resumed their attack. The skies had begun to lighten, making it easier to see the kelpies as they swam parallel to the ship, drawing ahead and closing ranks to form a living blockade.

  “Hold on to something,” Beatrice said, pulling the wheel left.

  The Phillipa threaded its way between two kelpies, close enough to strike the one on the starboard side. The ship shuddered, and the kelpie honked in protest, and then they were through. Guns thundered as the crew fired a quick broadside. Given how little powder remained, Hephyra had ordered only half the guns loaded. It was enough. The crew cheered as one of the kelpies fell back, bleeding from the chest.

  Such exchanges had their cost. Four men had fallen to undine spears, and nine others had been wounded. The foreyard was cracked from the last time they had rammed through the kelpies.

  Beatrice sagged back into her seat. The ship’s carpenter had secured a tall chair in front of the wheel, nailing the legs to the deck. The queen appeared ready to pass out, but still she steered the Phillipa through the waves.

  “How much longer can they keep this up?” Danielle asked. “The poor kelpies must be ready to collapse.”

  “Some of them have,” said Snow. “A second group joined them a while back.”

  Danielle rubbed her eyes. She hadn’t even noticed. Living with Jakob had helped to prepare her for sleepless nights, but between the explosions and the honking cries of the kelpies, she felt tense enough to shatter at the slightest blow. “What about Morveren?”

  “She’s getting closer. She’s moving almost as fast as we are.” Snow clutched the green bottle in both hands. “Faster than I expected. I wonder if she found kelpies of her own.”

  “Is that one of Morveren’s trapped souls?” Danielle asked.

  “I borrowed it. I’m close to being able to re-create the jars.” Snow held the bottle to the light of the rising sun. “I can’t actually communicate with the soul, but I can feel Morveren through it. The wax she used to seal the cork is mixed with a bit of her spit and blood. She’s commanding all of her souls, using their strength to power her magic.”

  “To do what?”

  Snow shrugged. “I’m sure we’ll know soon.”

  Danielle stretched, grimacing as her armor dug into her shoulders. She longed to remove it, but Talia had insisted. The hardened blue leather was molded for a taller woman, one who hadn’t recently given birth. She reached beneath her cloak, trying to loosen the straps and buckles.

  “Let me.” Snow handed the soul jar to Danielle, then moved around to fix her armor. She pulled Danielle’s cloak aside and began yanking various straps.

  Snow wore similar armor, though hers was white and better fitted to her body. Flowering vines were molded into the breastplate, accentuating the curves of her chest. Heavy pads covered the shoulders, and a series of leather strips hung down to shield the thighs. Danielle still didn’t understand how all of the straps and buckles fit together, but if it helped protect her from undine spears, she wasn’t going to complain.

  “Captain!” From the crow’s nest, the watch cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted, “We’ve got another ship coming up behind us to the port side.”

  “Stay ahead of it,” Hephyra shouted.

  “Morveren,” Snow whispered, reclaiming the soul jar.

  Captain Hephyra tossed one more barrel, which Talia quickly speared. As the ringing of the explosion faded, Danielle saw Hephyra running toward the port guns, ordering the men to ready the cannons. The gunners worked quickly, packing powder and shot, then hauling the cannons into position at the edge of the deck.

  Danielle reached for the queen. “We should get you out of sight. Let me help you—”

  “No. The ship needs me here.” Beatrice’s voice was strained, and she clung to the wheel as though she would collapse without its support.

  Danielle glanced at Snow, who was concentrating on her stolen soul jar. Snow sucked her lo
wer lip as she watched the distant ship. “This isn’t going to be fun.”

  The wind picked up, splashing water over the deck. “Secure your lifelines,” Hephyra yelled.

  Talia was half-running, half-sliding toward them. “What kind of ship is that?”

  “A dead one,” Snow said, her eyes half-shut. “That ship sank over a hundred years ago. Morveren’s using the spirits of the crew to sail her. It’s their memories keeping the ship afloat.”

  A low, mournful song swept over the ship. Danielle tensed. “Can you block Morveren’s song?”

  “That’s not Morveren,” Snow said.

  Danielle turned toward the cutter. Lannadae sat on the middle bench, hands gripping the ropes as she sang. Her voice was weaker than Morveren’s and uncertain, like a child still learning to sing. But Danielle could still feel the fear and the desperation in her voice.

  “I’m trying to warn the tribe about Morveren!” she said.

  Danielle moved to the edge of the ship, leaning out to see if the undine would answer. The kelpies had raised their heads from the water, but they still pursued the Phillipa.

  We have an undine on this ship, a royal, Danielle said, adding her voice to Lannadae’s. The people on that ship behind us mean to kill her, and then they’ll destroy your queen. If the kelpies heard, they gave no sign.

  The wind grew stronger. One of the topsails ripped free of the yard and flapped like a flag.

  “Furl the thrice-damned sheets before the masts snap,” Hephyra shouted.

  Lannadae stopped singing.

  “What’s wrong?” Danielle made her way toward the cutter.

  “My voice isn’t strong enough. Not in this wind.” Lannadae watched the other ship approach, her eyes inhumanly wide.

  By now, Morveren’s ship was close enough for Danielle to make out the broken masts and a large gash in her hull. Barnacles and seaweed covered most of the wood. Gray ropes trailed through the water behind the ship. Morveren lay at the bow, resting against the splintered stump of the foremast.

  “She’s not alone,” Danielle said, spying another form beside Morveren. She soon counted more. Close to twenty figures moved about the ship.