There was a sudden blur of movement from the edge of the woods. Before I could comprehend what was happening, a mass of snarling fur and teeth emerged, running full-out. The wolf that hit the three of them as they tottered on the edge of the cliff was huge—double the size of any full grown timber wolf. And he was angry.
Thomas hit them full bore, bringing them to the ground, rolling them end over end, teeth and claws flashing in a fury of rent flesh and crunching bone. Jerry was tossed aside like a rag doll, clambering to his feet with a shout, and backing away—but in the wrong direction.
My eyes widened in horrified realization at the same time as the vice-like arms gripping me loosened for just long enough. With a growl of rage, I wrested my arm free, calling and forming a fist sized cerulean orb, the sizzle and crackle of blue and orange electricity twisting threads of fire in my hand. The Seascrill with the head bashing rock hesitated, too, his attention drawn in astonishment to the enraged wolf, who was systematically tearing his larger companions to pieces.
Yeah, that’s right buddy, he plans for you to be next. My hand shook with determination as I pulled the orb back in a wide arc. I snarled my rage, hitting him full in the face, the sizzle of charring flesh creating an immediate stench that made me gag. Fried Mer-man was not on the menu.
Before the other two holding me could recover, my fingers latched onto them, glowing with the force of my power, my nails digging deep. I sent a current of fire sizzling along them and crawling over the backs of their hands. They screamed in pain, thrusting me aside.
I was already moving in my father’s direction. Too late, too late!
I watched his eyes catching mine in regret as he tumbled backwards over the edge and disappeared.
#
I followed my sister through the streets of Tarus, pausing at several shops to haggle the price of some trinket or another that neither of us really wanted. We purchased leggings and tunics in a variety of styles and colors—for me, she’d explained. I had almost nothing to speak of to wear. Then again, I hadn’t planned to stay. It made me wish all over again that I had heeded Thomas’ advice in the first place and ignored the summons.
The last time I’d seen him, he’d been standing over the still and bloodied forms of the Tarians who had tried to throw my father to his death. He’d thwarted their attempts, and I didn’t have to ask if they’d be getting back up again, ever. Still, they’d nearly succeeded anyway when my father, scrambling to get out of the way, had tottered over the falls.
It had taken everything in me to get to him in time, to follow him in, changing before I entered that rushing water, and clutching his limp body to mine, inches from the rocky bottom of the rushing river. He’d begun to gasp and flail as soon as his head broke the surface in his panic to breathe. But I’d managed to get him to shore, and he’d live, though with a few extra bruises to show off. Thomas had changed into the man I knew and was on his way down by the time my father dragged himself free. I hadn’t followed.
“I have to go, Daddy. I have to stop them before we’re all at risk. Tell him…tell Thomas I love him,” I’d cried, tears mingling with the river water running down my face.
He’d jerked under my arms, reaching out with claw-like hands, trying to hold me back. “You’ll tell him yourself. Don’t put that on me.”
But I’d slipped backwards then, gliding sideways in the current as Thomas reached the edge of the bank and screamed my name, all wolf as he howled the words that scraped my senses raw. I’d dived then, the current tearing at the pain as I headed for the tunnels beneath Shephard’s Mountain, into Hollow Lake, and Deep Lake beyond that.
Now all I had were the memories, and it looked like they’d be sustaining me for a long time.
“Are you ready to head back?” Mirra asked.
I turned back the way we’d come, towards the castle and my new home. “As ready as I can be.”
Mirra hesitated, her haunted eyes on mine. “You know, this isn’t easy on any of us. But it’s necessary.”
My own lips pursed in sudden anger. “Is it? I still can’t shake the feeling that we’re all puppets on a string, being coerced beyond what we are capable of. It’s not fair.”
Mirra snorted as we skirted around a pair of elderly ladies, chatting like magpies as they walked along. “Is that what you were hoping for? Equal treatment? Tarus Council hasn’t celebrated that concept in a long time.”
We entered the front gates of the castle grounds. I said nothing.
In the main foyer, a small crowd had gathered, and we frowned, halting just inside the door. Dael and several members of the Council were there. They parted and we recognized Shade, or what was left of him.
He stood gasping, bent at the waist with one arm on the wall for support. He’d clearly been beaten. It looked like he’d had a narrow escape.
We arrived in time to hear him say, “…got away, barely. They were planning to kill me—took me in the middle of the night from my apartment. They drugged me and I woke up in a small, barred room in Misen Caverns. There were members of the Rebellion everywhere.”
I stepped up. “What about the families? Women and kids?”
He hesitated, his eyes hardening. “And them, too, but they kept mostly to themselves out of the way of the Rebellion.”
Mirra added, “How many Tarians? Could you tell?”
“No, I was never taken beyond the one room. I’m telling you, if we don’t act quickly, they plan to attack Tarus. Only this time, they won’t be sending a scouting party. They’ll come in force— more than a hundred of them.”
“Did you hear when they plan to attack?” This from one of the Council members.
“No, but they are marshaling forces. I think it will be soon.”
“What are you suggesting, Shade?” Dael asked, an elbow under his arm as the older man sagged weakly.
“We attack first. It’s the only way.”
“But what about the civilians?”
“It can’t be helped. We can try to minimize the damage, but it’s a war, and collateral damage is to be expected,” he added coldly.
I frowned, not saying anything. Something was bothering me about the whole thing. I just couldn’t put my finger on what.
Leta spoke up. “You are in charge of the Tarus Guards. If that’s what you think is best, then we’ll defer to your judgement. But, if we gather them in sufficient numbers to mount a counterattack, who will lead them? You?”
He shook his head and staggered, dead on his feet. “I wish I could. I would just slow you down. But Liia, she is nearly as capable as I of commanding them. Let her take the lead on this. Leave me with a small force here, and I’ll help guard the city and keep Tarus Council safe.”
Shade leaned heavily on Dael’s arm and faltered, nearly going down. “Can I get some help up the stairs? I feel really weak.”
One of the young guards took his other arm, and between him and Dael, they assisted Shade up the steps. I stared after them.
#
The ranks of the Rebellion shifted and milled about, all conversation ceasing when their masked leader entered the room and waited near the front for their silence. The face shield concealing his features was as much for their own protection as his, they knew. He’d carefully explained that if any of them were captured, they couldn’t be forced to divulge what they didn’t know.
A small, cruel smile played about his lips. “As predicted, my sources have informed me that the Tarian forces will be en route to attack Misen Caverns sometime in the next few days.”
There were several gasps, and the volume of whispers rose, a wave of unrest and fear filling the room. He held up a hand.
“This is where we come in. They will never reach your families. We will intercept them before they make it this far, decimating their numbers and making it impossible for them to recover.”
He was startled when the same voice from before that he’d tried so hard to identify, spoke up. “If we take the Tarian army over by force an
d assume control, what is to prevent those newly in charge from making the same mistakes as the Council has?”
His eyes roved over the shifting crowd, searching. He scowled. “Because the Council as it exists will be no more. I’m retiring them and assuming command. The old laws will be disbanded, and replaced with new rules that will benefit us all.”
He smiled, waiting for the voice, that insidious velvet whisper, to respond. But no one did.
He was surprised at the wave of disappointment he felt when the next question came from his left, belonging to an older Seascrill. “What about the commander? Shade and his lieutenant? And the king and queen elect, Dael and Sirris?”
His mouth drew down at the corners, and he hesitated briefly. “Expendable. It would be best if none of them survived. But I want the girl, Mirra. No harm is to come to her. She is one of us.”
The buzz of excited whispers rose then as he pulled back towards the door to leave the way he’d come along the corridors and into the chilly waters of Deep Lake. He had places to go yet, and it was important that he wasn’t seen by the wrong Mer-people.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I was absolutely certain I was going to be sick all over my shoes. I looked lovely. That’s what everyone told me. My hair had been arranged in intricate braids, decorated with pearl and shell clips. And my gown was a shimmer of frothy chiffon-like material draping from my shoulders and falling in a swirl of teal and rose that moved with me as I walked. I didn’t feel beautiful though, or excited or happy to be here. I was a fraud of the highest order—a fake that wanted to run and hide.
But I did none of that. I lifted my chin, my gaze on the swirling mass of Tarians spread out before me below. Behind and beside me were all the members of Tarus Council, smiling in satisfaction. After all, they were getting what they wanted. I gave Dael a sideways glance. He looked worse than me. His eyes were bloodshot with grief and a simmering anger I was surprised everyone couldn’t see. Maybe I just recognized the signs because I knew the feeling so well. We were both being manipulated at the Council’s whim.
And Mirra, perhaps she was the biggest fraud of all, standing stoic and still on the sideline. Her lovely face was the palest of lavender, her eyes dull with exhaustion. I wondered how long it had been since she’d slept. She obstinately refused to meet our eyes.
Leta stepped to the edge of the parapet and held up her hands, waiting for the crowd to settle down and the roar of conversation to abate. She had waited a while for this announcement: the reading of the banns and the dates set forth for the upcoming coronation and wedding to follow. As much as many in the crowd were not satisfied with the heavy handedness of the Council’s decisions, they craved normalcy—something that had been sadly lacking in the recent weeks of turmoil. I couldn’t blame them. We were all tired of war and death.
Leta spoke, and I tried to concentrate on what she was saying past the buzzing in my ear. I grit my teeth against the agitated trickle of magic that rippled across my shoulders and that I held back with effort.
“It is with great pride and joy that we, Tarus Council, announce the upcoming coronation of Sirris and Dael one week hence to the throne, as your new king and queen.”
Immediate applause issued forth at the decree. It was several moments before she could speak again. Patiently she waited them out, though I was close enough to catch the spark of irritation in her old eyes. She wanted this done.
“Sirris is very excited to be your new queen, and it’s about time that Dael stepped into the role he was born for. Boy has been dragging his feet and having too much fun,” she joked. Several titters of laughter were heard in appreciation for her light sarcasm. Of course, we knew she was anything but amused by the delay.
“To commemorate the occasion, and to keep pace with the times, the Council has made a long awaited change to the law. In the future, both the queen and the king will carry two votes each on the Council seat. So, let’s hope that you, the people, have chosen well.”
It wasn’t their choice. You made it for them.
But as I gritted my teeth, the words locked inside me.
Leta continued to speak, “So it is with great pleasure I present the lovely Sirris, soon-to-be Queen of Tarus, to you!”
Dutifully, I stepped forward, raising my hand and waving, feeling like I was lifting a twenty-pound weight in the air and swinging it around. I plastered a smile on my face that didn’t reach my eyes, but the crowd didn’t know that. They saw what the Council wanted them to, cheering more out of respect and expectation than joy. They didn’t know me. I was the stranger, the interloper in their midst, and I was supposed to lead them. What a joke.
The crowd quieted down finally, listening expectantly to hear what I had to say. I swallowed twice, terror making my throat tighten and close in protest. “I…am honored to have been chosen for such an important position. I promise to do my best to work for the rights and wishes of the people, to always try to lead you to the best of my ability, and to make you proud to be a Tarian.”
Shouts of approval issued forth, though if asked, I couldn’t have told anyone what I’d just said. The words had come, but I wasn’t sure where from.
I glanced at Leta and the other members of the Council, who nodded at my brief speech. I felt like a fly beneath the watchful eyes of a horde of praying mantises, just waiting for the first delicious bite. I shuddered and took a step back.
Once more, Leta stepped forward, turning to show Dael, tight-lipped and furious, standing on the other side. But it was easy to ignore his expression when you were the only one close enough to see it. The crowd saw a stiff, proud young man. We saw the truth from where we stood.
“And finally, though you’ve known him all his life, it is about time I get to introduce him to you as your king-elect. Dael, come on up and share a few words for Tarus. We are eager to hear you speak.” She smiled widely, but I didn’t miss the hard knot of warning glittering in her eyes. Dael returned her stare without blinking and stepped forward. He lay his forearms on the top wall of the parapet, leaning forward to see the people, and so that they might get a better look at him. He waved, a broad smile plastered on his face as he stared down at them.
They’d known Dael where they hadn’t me. Their enthusiasm was long and heartfelt, and it took several moments for the din to die down. He waited patiently to be heard. When he spoke, something tight unraveled inside of me, and for the first time I breathed under the deep baritone of his voice, soothing my shattered nerves. This was right—maybe the only honesty I’d seen yet today.
“Tarus is my home, as it is yours. I was born here and grew up in these castle walls. And yet, it was you, the people, that raised me, cautioned me when I was young and foolish, teaching me what it meant to be a respectful young man and a fierce warrior when needed. As king, it is my responsibility to see that you and your families are kept safe, and that the laws of Tarus support what you most need. I know that many of you are scared right now. The last few weeks have been difficult for all. Many of us, myself included, have lost loved ones that can’t be replaced. We mourn their passing, and we fear for the continued safety of those we love. You deserve more than just a figurehead to sit on this throne. You need a courageous leader with heart, who can meet the recent challenges and emerge victorious, to protect and preserve the sanctity of Tarus and its Mer-citizens.”
He paused then, and a vast roar of approval swelled and filled the city, echoing from the walls so hard I swore I felt the dome holding back Deep Lake over our heads vibrate.
He held up a hand and waited. It was several moments before the crowd had quieted enough to be heard. And still he continued to wait until a pin could have been heard dropping, and the Council was frowning in suspicion behind him. They’d been expecting something much shorter, not a speech worthy of the actual coronation itself.
“You deserve a leader whose heart belongs to himself, and who can avail himself of and serve the people without reservation. I’ve wanted to be that person fo
r you since I was a small child, wondering what all the fuss was about and hiding behind my mother’s fins.”
He gave a small smile, bitter and crooked. “It is with great regret then, that I have to announce that that Mer-man is not me. The lovely Sirris? She is everything wonderful a queen should be, full of courage and a fierce warrior of the people. My love for Sirris is deep and abiding.”
No one moved. Even from a distance, they could sense there was more.
“But the love of a child is not the same as a man’s. We don’t have control over who lays claim to our hearts, and mine was given freely to someone else a long time ago.”
Behind him, Mirra hissed. “What are you doing! Stop this!”
He ignored her. “So it is with deep regret that I tell you I cannot be the king that you need and deserve. You should have all of me, not the shattered shell of a man standing before you. I am hereby renouncing my candidacy for the throne.”
The roar of confusion and protest was instantaneous, the crowd surging like a great wave in frustration and anger.
“What have you done? How dare you!” Leta hissed, her face a brilliant red and her eyes flashing with rage.
He turned to face them, rigid but unafraid. “What I should have done a long time ago. I’m done with being manipulated by you or anyone else. I don’t love Sirris, and she doesn’t love me. You can’t continue to play with our lives the way you have.”
“The hell I can’t. You get back up there and take it back, or I swear…” her words dwindled threateningly.
One dark brow rose, and a small, cynical smile touched his lips. “Or you’ll what? Bend me to your will some other way? That was possible, once. But I no longer have any part of my heart left for you to destroy.” His gaze moved beyond them to where Mirra stood, shaking in shock, her eyes dark and horrified. “No, Mirra saw to that when she wasn’t brave enough to fight for our love. Little pieces, Mirra, that’s all you’ve left me.”
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