The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea

by Kerrelyn Sparks

  “Incredible.” And just like Sorcha, Brody thought as Farah blew out the fire.

  “I’m Irene,” another young woman said, shyly ducking her head. “I can make things grow.”

  “Excellent,” Brody told her. The girl seemed too gentle to be in an army and better suited for the village where they were doing the farming.

  “I can blow up rocks!” a young man announced with a grin. “I’m Jared.”

  “You could destroy a castle?” Maeve asked, and the young man winced.

  “No,” he mumbled. “It has to be a lone rock.”

  “Still very impressive.” Brody shook the boy’s hand. From the list Nevis had given him, he knew Jared was only fifteen.

  “I’m Logan,” the next boy said. “I can run really fast.”

  “Just don’t run away,” Alfred muttered, and the boy blushed.

  The youngest of the group came forward, and Cahira wrapped an arm around her.

  “This is Mikayla,” Cahira said with a proud smile. “She can fly!”

  Mikayla blushed. “I’m still learning.”

  Brody knew from experience that learning to fly meant some rough landings that really hurt. And this girl was only thirteen, dammit. He was tempted to slap the smirk off Cahira’s face. How dare she force children into an army? Did she expect them to kill for her?

  He took Mikayla’s hand. “My dear child, you have your whole life before you, so be careful with your lessons. Don’t attempt anything until you feel comfortable doing it.”

  Tears glimmered in Mikayla’s eyes. “Thank you.”

  “No need to coddle them.” Cahira marched to the head of the table. “Let’s eat! Burien, please sit on my right. Kendric, you may sit on my left. Maeve, sit next to him.”

  Brody grabbed onto Maeve’s arm. “I need her next to me, in case I feel faint.”

  Cahira frowned as she took her seat. “Very well.”

  It was a relief she actually cared about the Seer, Brody thought. As far as he knew, he was the only one in the castle who could make her change an order.

  After everyone sat at the table, the servants circulated with the platters of food. Brody feigned weakness, so Maeve helped him by putting food on his plate.

  “Thank you, my dear,” he told Maeve. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

  “I’m just happy to be here with you,” Maeve murmured.

  Cahira stabbed a shrimp with her fork. “Thank the goddesses you will have me to take care of you, Burien. After Maeve is married in a week, she’ll have to live with her husband.”

  Brody tightened his grip on his fork and knife. “I had to wait twenty years to finally meet my daughter. Surely there is no need to marry her off so quickly.”

  Cahira ate a few bites in silence. “Perhaps we can wait another few weeks, but sooner or later, Maeve will have to marry and have a child. We cannot allow our superior race to die off.”

  Brody chewed slowly, then helped himself to a sip of wine. “I am not opposed to her getting married as long as she is able to choose the groom herself.”

  Cahira sat back with a huff. “Are you jesting? We can’t leave an important decision like that to her! I have already chosen the best suitor possible.”

  Kendric gave Maeve a passing glance, then turned to Cahira. “Whom did you choose?”

  With a short laugh, Cahira touched Kendric’s sleeve. “Why, you, of course.”

  Kendric sat back with a jolt. His fork fell from his hand with a clatter.

  “It’s a brilliant idea, don’t you think?” Cahira continued with a smile. “Maeve will be able to prove her loyalty to me and the Circle of Five. And you will have a bride who is the last full-blooded descendant of an ancient and noble race of sorcerers.”

  Brody opened his mouth to object, but the Chameleon beat him to it.

  “I’m not marrying your daughter,” he hissed, his eyes glimmering with an odd silver tint. “I’ve told you before that I want Brigitta.”

  Cahira waved a dismissive hand. “That silly girl is already taken.”

  Kendric slammed his hands on the table and rose to his feet. His face turned a mottled red. “I will have Brigitta! Once I take over the mainland, I will claim her.”

  “You will take over the mainland?” Cahira scoffed. “You mean Burien and I will. Don’t forget that you and the rest of the Embraced army are fighting for me.”

  Kendric gritted his teeth. “Why should you get the mainland when you’ve been sitting here on this stupid island doing nothing? I’ve done all the work, and it’s nearly cost me my life more than once!”

  Cahira leaped to her feet. “I raised you when no one else wanted you! Don’t forget that!”

  While the two glared at each other, Brody glanced down the table. Alfred seemed to be enjoying the spat, but the others were cowering in their chairs. They were simply children, being forced into something they wanted no part of. He would have to make sure none of them were actually harmed in the upcoming war.

  “I have killed three kings, including my own father,” Kendric growled at Cahira. “I will not allow anything or anyone to stop me.”

  “You’re not the only one who’s killed a king,” she countered. “I destroyed King Rudgar and his sons.”

  Brody stiffened, and beside him, Maeve gasped.

  “Then take the islands,” Kendric said. “But the mainland will be mine.”

  Cahira scoffed. “The islands are already mine. I just need to kill that old woman on the throne and her daughter.”

  Brody dug his fingers into his thighs to keep from throttling Cahira. The damned witch had admitted to killing his father and brother, and now she was threatening the rest of his family?

  “Are . . . are you referring to Queen Esther?” Maeve asked.

  “I wouldn’t call her a queen,” Cahira muttered as she sat back down. “The Isles of Moon and Mist were once part of Aerland, so naturally they belong to me.” She took a sip from her goblet, then set it down with a thud. “All of Aerthlan will be mine.”

  “No, it won’t,” Kendric argued. “King Frederic was my father, so Eberon will be mine. And once I marry Brigitta, Tourin will also be mine.”

  Cahira watched him with narrowed eyes. “Do you really think you can defy me? I could curse you like I did Gavin, and leave you as a cat for the rest of your life. Or perhaps a mouse.”

  Kendric leaned over the table to glare at Cahira. “Try it, Sea Witch. You’ll be dead before the words leave your mouth.”

  Cahira waved her hand, and the Chameleon’s glass goblet exploded, splashing wine all over his white linen shirt. “Remember this, Kendric. No one at this table is more powerful than I.”

  With a smirk, Kendric sat down. “Then try taking over the mainland without me. You need me, Sea Witch.”

  Cahira sighed. “Very well. Help me and I’ll make sure you get Eberon. And Brigitta.” She waved at the servants. “Clean up this mess and bring him more wine.”

  Maeve dabbed at her mouth with her napkin, then set it beside her plate. “I’m wondering, Mother, if you have ever cursed anyone besides Gavin?”

  Brody slanted Maeve a quick look. Did she suspect that her mother was the one who had cursed him?

  Cahira scowled at Maeve. “Are you planning to defy me, too?”

  Dammit, Maeve was getting herself in trouble. Brody leaned over and feigned a fit of coughing.

  “Burien!” Cahira turned toward him. “Are you all right?”

  He shook his head and wheezed, “I—I need to go back to my room and lie down.”

  Maeve jumped to her feet. “I’ll take him.”

  “Very well. I’ll have a tray sent to his room.” Cahira motioned to the servants. “You can serve dessert now. I feel like having something sweet.”

  As Brody hobbled toward the door, he glanced back at the Sea Witch. The woman had to be insane. Cruel and insane. The Chameleon wasn’t much better. The two of them ruling the world would be a disaster. But the fact that they were snar
ling at each other was a good sign. Getting them to turn on each other would be the best strategy.

  He would have to tell Nevis about this dinner party from hell. But first, it was time to tell Maeve the truth about himself. Unfortunately, that also meant she would learn the truth about her mother.

  As they passed through the golden doors into the hallway, he slanted a quick look at Maeve. She was frowning again as she had earlier. How much had she already figured out?

  Would she still be able to accept him once she knew the truth?

  Chapter 19

  Maeve was about to scream with frustration. It was taking forever to get back to the Seer’s bedchamber. But as long as there was a guard accompanying them, Brody had to keep up his pretense and move at a snail’s pace.

  There was so much she needed to know, so much that he was still keeping secret. Finally, they arrived, and the guard stationed himself once again in front of her bedchamber. As she entered the Seer’s room, she looked around to make sure no servants were about. They had obviously been here earlier, for the bed was turned down, a fire had been started in the hearth, and several candles had been lit.

  But the room was empty now. She shut the door and locked it.

  Brody raised his arms and stretched. “Oh, I get so tired of being hunched over.”

  Maeve winced at the sound of his voice. This was too strange. He sounded just like Brody, but he still looked like the Seer.

  “Wait a minute.” She dashed to the dressing room and peered inside. No servants there. Then she looked in her room to make sure it was empty, too. On her way back, she locked the adjoining door.

  She found Brody peering out an open window.

  Moonlight filtered into the room, along with the sound of seagulls.

  “The birds are very active tonight,” he murmured.

  “Brody, we need to talk.”

  “I know.” He closed the window and turned toward her, still wearing the Seer’s face.

  Maeve looked away, biting her lip. “When can you shift back to Brody?”

  “Midnight.” He tilted his head. “Are you uncomfortable with how I look? I could take on another face. Or I could see Nevis first and come back later.”

  “No, I . . . I’ve waited too long. I want to hear everything.”

  A knock sounded at the door, and a servant called out, “I have a tray of food for the Seer!”

  “Just a minute.” Maeve hurried to the door to unlock it as Brody collapsed on the window seat.

  A servant came inside to deposit a tray of food on the table in the sitting area. After lighting the candle there, she bobbed a curtsy and left.

  Maeve locked the door once again as an idea popped into her mind. “I know what to do.” She dashed about, blowing out all the candles, then closed the curtains to keep the moonlight from shining in.

  As she retreated across the room to the table in the now-dark sitting area, she noted with satisfaction that only a small portion of the room was visible, due to the fire in the hearth. Brody was on the other side of it, a dark form in the shadows.

  She sat at the table. “Now we can talk.”

  He heaved a sigh. “It’s me, Maeve. It’s only me.”

  “I know. But when you look like someone else, it feels too strange to reassure you that I love you—”

  “Maeve.” He stood up.

  “Don’t . . .”

  His form remained still for a moment; then he sat back down on the window seat. “I love you, too. I love you enough that I can let you go if you find it too difficult—”

  “I’m not going anywhere!”

  “But I’m still cursed, and there’s no guarantee that I’ll ever—”

  “Was it my mother?” Maeve’s voice broke and she steeled her nerves to hear the truth. “Was she the one who cursed you?”

  There was a pause, then a quiet reply: “Yes.”

  Maeve hissed in a breath. You can handle this. You were expecting this. “How long have you known?”

  “I knew the minute I heard her voice. When she welcomed me to Aerie Castle.”

  “Yesterday?”

  “Yes.”

  Maeve thought back. After Cahira had welcomed the Seer, he had stumbled on the stairs. It hadn’t been an act. Oh, Brody. Her heart tightened in her chest. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Why? It’s not your fault. You had nothing to do with the Sea Witch.”

  “I’m her daughter!”

  “I don’t give a shit!” He jumped to his feet. “Don’t use your mother as an excuse to turn away from me. If you want to leave me, do it for yourself.”

  “I would never leave you!”

  He paused for a moment, then asked, “Even if I have to kill her?”

  Maeve drew in a shaky breath. “Even then.”

  “Then it’s settled.” He took a step toward her. “You will be mine.”

  Tears gathered in her eyes. She had always been his. “Is that the last of your secrets? Or is there more?”

  He stood still for a short while. “There’s more.”

  Good goddesses. In the dark, she fumbled for a goblet and poured some wine into it. “All right. Tell me.”

  He paced across the room. “I suppose I should start at the beginning. Twenty-five years ago, I was born on the Isle of Moon.”

  “Really? You don’t have an island accent.”

  He snorted. “My mother complains about that. She says I’ve been gone too long.”

  “I heard you have a mother and sister.” Maeve took a sip.

  “I do. Queen Esther and Princess El—”

  Maeve sputtered wine all over the table. “Wha—?”

  “I’m the second son of King Rudgar and Queen Esther.”

  “What? You . . . you’re a prince?”

  “Aye. My older brother, Edgar, was the heir.”

  “You’re a prince?”

  “Aye, Prince Brodgar.”

  “You’re Prince Brodgar?”

  “Is that a problem?”

  She sat back. Good goddesses, she’d heard his name a million times over the years, every time the nuns at the convent had said their prayers for the dead during mass. She’d always believed that the princes had drowned. “I . . . I’m confused.”

  He scoffed. “So was I when I found out you’re a princess.”

  She winced. “Believe me, I never would have chosen my situation.”

  “I understand.” He paced back to the window. “We can’t always control what fate has in store for us.”

  Maeve recalled the story she’d heard as a young child. How the king and his two sons had drowned at sea, and the poor queen had requested that the nuns remember them in their prayers every day. “Everyone at the convent thinks that you’re . . .”

  “Dead. Yes, most people think I died with my father and brother. My mother let them believe that in order to protect me. Only a few high-ranking officers know the truth.”

  With a gasp, Maeve remembered her mother boasting at the dinner party that she had destroyed King Rudgar and his sons. Dear goddesses, no! She slapped a hand over her mouth to keep from crying out. And then her mother had actually threatened to kill Queen Esther and Princess Elinor—Brody’s mother and sister.

  She dropped her head into her hands. This was too terrible. How could Brody accept her now? How could he even stand to look at her?

  But he couldn’t see her in the dark, so he kept on talking.

  “When I was ten years old, Father took Edgar and myself out to sea for a sailing lesson. It was supposed to be a fun outing. We headed south from the Isle of Moon, and I guess we ventured too close to this island.”

  Maeve blinked back her tears. “My mother?”

  “She blew up our ship.”

  Maeve jammed a fist against her mouth to keep from letting a sob escape.

  “My father and Eddy drowned,” Brody continued in a soft voice. “And all the crew. I was sinking, so filled with despair that I wanted to die, too.”

  “Oh, Brod
y.” Tears ran down her cheeks. How could a ten-year-old boy cope with something so awful?

  He sat on the window seat. “My gift was awakened as I struggled to survive. I shifted into a seal and swam to the surface. When I tried to swim away, I heard the Sea Witch’s voice.”

  Maeve wiped the tears off her face. “Was that when she cursed you?”

  “Aye. I’ve never forgotten her voice. It terrorized me in my dreams.” He took a deep breath. “But your voice always brought me comfort.”

  That made more tears run down her face. He still loved her. He still needed her. She stood and walked slowly toward him. “Did you swim home?”

  “No, I . . . I couldn’t bear to return home without my father and brother. I felt so guilty for surviving when they hadn’t. I swam north till I was exhausted, then washed ashore on the Isle of Mist. The Seer, your father—he found me and raised me as if I was his own son.”

  She sat next to Brody on the window seat. “I can’t begin to tell you how sorry I am.”

  “I’m sorry the Seer died before you could meet him. He wanted so much to see you.”

  It no longer mattered what Brody looked like. Maeve wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. He held her, too, his head nestled in the crook of her neck.

  She rubbed his back. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  She thought back to what her mother had said at dinner. “Cahira targeted your ship and your family on purpose. She thinks your island should belong to her.”

  Brody nodded. “Aye. Now I know why the Seer always made me hide in the cave whenever anyone came to the island. He knew he had to keep my survival a secret.”

  “Even from Cahira?”

  “Aye. When she told him you had died as a babe, he knew she was lying and he could no longer trust her. He just played along so he would know what she was doing.”

  Maeve took a deep breath. “Well, it’s a relief to know one of my parents was good.”

  “True.” Brody straightened. “Are you all right? I wanted to tell you all this last night, but—”

  “It’s better this way. Last night was perfect.”

  He snorted. “I wouldn’t say that.”

  “I thought it was perfect.”