Wren shook her head. “Wren,” she corrected, pointing to herself.
But Mara was insistent. She pressed her finger into the left side of Wren’s chest. “Wendy.”
“Wendy was my grandmother.”
Mara took Wren’s hand and put it to her own chest. She felt her heart thumping beneath her palm. “Wendy.”
“Oh. Yes. Wendy.” Of course. The blood of the creator pumped through her veins.
“Come.”
Tal and Assana each took one of her wrists and they pulled her over the ledge between them, following Mara.
While the Lost Boys lived as high as they could, the mermaids lived in the deepest depths of the lagoon. It should have been cold and dark and scary, but Wren had to remember that the island didn’t necessarily follow the same rules, and as they descended, she found the world around her changing. There were houses made of pearly seashells and carved out of rock faces. There were gardens of seaweed and one house even had a seahorse out front, tied to a leash much like old Mrs. Fortenberry sometimes let her dog outside on nice days.
As they went deeper, it became more densely populated. A group of children swam past, herded by a haggard looking mermaid. There was even what looked to be a market, selling jewelry and housewares. Everything had a floaty, dreamy quality to it that Wren recognized from her own dreams. It wasn’t that she recognized the place or the mermaids, but the feeling of it. It didn’t feel quite real.
In the center of town was a large, palace-like estate. The guards—two brawny mermen—moved aside, letting her group of four past, and then closed ranks once more behind them. They swam through a courtyard of seaweed that reached up for them and tickled her legs, and were then through the palace door and in a grand foyer. The walls were made of brilliantly white oyster shells, and the floor was polished stone. There was no roof, so high overhead she could see shapes of other mermaids swimming past.
“What are we doing?” Wren asked whoever was close enough to listen.
It happened to be Tal. “We’re presenting you to Queen Naunet.” The girl had a high-pitched voice to match her small stature.
“Why? Do all visitors see the queen?”
Tal tittered. “No, but descendants of the creator do. Especially when they show up with gills.”
Wren wanted to explain that it didn’t mean anything. It didn’t mean she was a mermaid or had any connection to them. But she didn’t get the chance. The sound of trumpets announced the arrival of the queen and her entourage through a side door. Mara, Tal, and Assana straightened their backs as they entered, standing—or floating, rather—at attention.
There were about a dozen mermaids and mermen with her, but there was no mistaking which one was the queen. She was resplendent, with flowing white hair and a silvery-white tail. On her head she wore a crown of twisting seashells. She took her place on her oyster-shell throne and surveyed the four girls in front of her.
“Why have you summoned me here today, sister?” she asked, her eyes on Mara.
Sister. That was an interesting fact, one that Wren tucked away for later use.
Mara held her hand out toward Wren, who was still between the other two looking unfortunately like a prisoner. As if she didn’t stand out enough with her legs in this world of tail fins. “So that I may present to you Wren Darlington, descendant of Wendy. The blood of the creator runs through her veins.”
The queen turned her silver eyes on Wren, surveying her from her toes to the top of her head. Wren resisted the urge to fidget or otherwise smooth her hair. It was no use anyway, not underwater.
“I see that this is true.”
Whether it was because she looked like her grandmother or because she had gills, Wren didn’t know.
“Not that we are not honored to have a descendant of the creator in our kingdom, but why have you come?”
Here was the challenge, Wren realized. Pan had known she would be able to get down here, but would she able to successfully win the prize from these mermaids? “I’ve come for my grandmother’s treasure.”
Mara grunted in displeasure, but the queen did not react except to blink in what might have been surprise.
“You have come to take your rightful place on Never Island, then?”
It was Wren’s turn to blink in confusion. “Yes,” she said after the slight hesitation.
The queen rose from her throne. There was a subtle shift from everyone else in the room as they came to attention. She swam forward, approaching her. Tal and Assana moved away from her.
“So, you are to rule the land and I, the sea.”
Rule the land? She suddenly very much regretted saying yes to the earlier question, so now she kept her mouth shut, her lips pressed together.
“Our two worlds have not gotten along since Wendy Darlington ruled Never Island. She was a dear friend, and I was sorry to hear of her passing.”
“Yes, thank you,” Wren said with a congenial nod. “I miss her very much.” Especially now, when she really could use some more information. How could her grandmother have left her without telling her anything about this place?
“Come, let’s talk.” The queen’s eyes dropped to Wren’s legs. “Can you swim?”
“Not as well as you, to be sure, my lady,” Wren said with a joking smile.
The queen did not return it. “Mara, bring her. And please, call me Naunet. Two queens cannot be expected to kowtow to one another.”
Two queens? Was that what she meant by taking her rightful place? What would Pan the Never King have to say about that? There was no time to ask. Grabbing Wren’s hand, Mara pulled her along as the three of them swam out of what must have been the throne room and into the bowels of the palace.
“What will you do about the Lost Boys?” Naunet asked.
“Do about them?”
“They cannot be allowed to go on as they have.”
Wren bit her lip, trying to decide whether she could trust the queen and her people. “What did you think of the pirates when they were here?”
“They were a rowdy bunch, but they were respectful of my people and they kept the Lost Boys occupied.”
“What would you think if they were to return to the island?”
Mara snickered. “It would serve Pan right.”
Queen Naunet shot a sharp look at her sister. “Though she isn’t right to say it aloud, Mara’s right. Pan has been left unchecked for far too long.” They reached a door inlaid with pearls, but before she opened it, the queen looked over at Wren. “But how would you manage it?”
“I’m still working that part out,” Wren admitted.
The queen pressed a hand to the door and Wren noticed for the first time the webs between her fingers and the black claws that tipped each one, unlike the dull, thin nails that Wren had on her own hands. The door pulsed with light just once and then swung open. Mara hauled her inside after Naunet.
There was no doubt they were inside a treasure room. Gems sparkled from the floor to the ceiling in necklaces, earrings, cuffs, and broaches. Chests of gold were flung open. But among the treasure were other things, strangely common to Wren’s human eyes. A fork, its tongs twisted at a strange angle. A pipe like the one her father smoked sometimes at night before bed. Empty glass jars and aluminum cans.
Naunet approached a pedestal that held an ornately carved golden box. Mara and Wren trailed her, Mara’s hand still around Wren’s upper arm, helping her stay in place. Wren was embarrassed but grateful. Without her, she feared she might just float right up to the ceiling. The queen removed the box from the pedestal and turned to them, opening it deftly and holding it forward for Wren to see.
Inside, on a bed of red velvet, was a crown. It looked like it had once been made of branches and leaves, but that they’d now been turned to gold and diamonds. It was not a dainty thing, but wild and tall and intricate, not unlike her grandmother.
“This was Wendy’s crown. When Captain Hook was after it, Pan gave it to . . .” The queen paused, her eyes going t
o Mara and then flicking away. “Gave it to us for safekeeping.”
“And why did you not give it back?” Wren asked.
“We did not feel Pan deserved such a treasure. He has not been worthy of this crown.”
“And I am?”
Naunet rocked her head to one side. “That remains to be seen. But I have no right to keep it from you, not when you are Wendy’s own flesh and blood. I hope, though, that you will prove worthy, certainly.”
The queen clapped the box shot and pressed some button that seemed to eject the water from its interior. Then, she handed it to Wren. Wren took it, though a part of her was tempted to put it back on the pedestal and leave it locked up. But she now needed to feel worthy of the trust that Queen Naunet had put in her. She was getting herself in very deep, and only hoped she would someday be able to find her way out.
Chapter 9
Mara showed her out, back through the throne room. As they swam back to the doors, Mara was hailed by Tal, one of her companions from earlier.
“Wait here,” Mara instructed, leaving her holding onto a gilded column with one hand and the box in the other.
Wren intended to obey, but something caught her eye on the opposite side of the room—a flash of color, light on glass. It was small and low against the wall, barely noticeable. Curiosity got the better of her and Wren released her hold on the column, pushing her way across the throne room unnoticed by Mara or Tal.
When she reached the opposite wall, she swam low to examine it, and was surprised to find it was Jae’s dream-orb. Picking it up in her free hand, Wren examined it, tilting it back and forth until the image of her little sister came into view, hands pressed to the glass. Still puzzled, Wren looked up at the open ceiling and then back down at the orb. The river had carried it here all the way from the mountain, depositing it just above the mermaid’s palace.
“Incredible,” Wren whispered.
“What is?”
Wren tucked the orb behind her back as she turned to face Mara and Tal.
“What have you got there?” Mara asked, her tone making it clear she would not get away with a lie.
Wren produced the orb, holding it out for the two to see but not letting them take it from her.
Tal leaned close. “Is that a dream orb?”
“You’ve seen one before?” Wren asked.
It was Mara who answered. “No, but we’ve heard of them. Terrible, what he’s done to the humans on the mainland. But how did it end up down here?”
“I did it, on accident. Do you know how I might free the dreams?”
Mara shrugged. “I expect you have to break the orb. Here.” She held out her hand.
“No,” Wren said, tucking the orb close. “I’ll do it.”
“Suit yourself.”
She followed Mara and Tal outside into the courtyard and to the wall that surrounded the palace. Instead of going through, though, they approached the wall itself. It was made out of rough, porous coral.
“This should do,” Mara said, motioning toward the wall and taking the box with the crown from her for safekeeping.
Wren took one last look at dream-Jae and then wound her hand back, bringing it down hard on the coral. The orb cracked only barely, so she did it again. It took twice more before the orb shattered, breaking into dozens of pieces in her hand. She pulled away, letting it fall. A burst of color and light swirled toward the surface and was gone in an instant. The three of them watched it disappear.
“Wow,” Tal said, the first of them to speak.
Mara nodded in agreement. “The mainland will have one more dreamer tonight.”
But Wren did not have time to wax poetic. She had to get back, but not before she made sure Mara and her friends would help her. “If I can get the dreams down here, can you free them?”
“All of them? But how?”
“Leave that to me.”
“Why should we?” Mara asked.
“You heard the queen. We need to keep Pan in check. I want to free the dreamers. I want to invite new people to the island.”
“You can’t just expect us to help you. We are not your—”
“Of course we’ll help her,” Tal interrupted.
Mara shot her a look but then conceded with a nod. “We’ll have to tell my sister, and enlist the help of others. When will it be?”
“That, I don’t know.” Wren bit her lip. “Not long, though, I don’t think.”
“You can count on us,” said Tal breathlessly, her excitement contagious.
Mara returned Wren to the ledge with her crown and box, and then Wren found her way back to the surface, making sure to have her gills disappear before coming up beside Marooner’s Rock.
The sun had risen, and the boys were mostly asleep on the beach, using their furs as blankets. She swam toward them, smiling at how sweet they looked. It was easy to forget how young they were, how most of them ought to still be in nurseries or schoolyards. She wondered what would happen in the Frostwater that night, when Jae went to sleep and dreamed. Would her sister be returned to the nursery? Would she be allowed to remain a child for a little longer? Or maybe she wouldn’t tell anyone, and would keep it a secret close to her heart.
It wasn’t until her feet touched the bottom near the shore that Pan woke. He’d fallen asleep leaning against a tree, and when he heard her splashing, he sat bolt upright.
He kicked the boy nearest to him. “Wake up.” Then, they all began to sound the alarm. “Wake up, the lot of you!”
“She’s back.”
“Who’s back?”
“The Wendy.”
“It’s a girl, you dummy, it’s Wren.”
Pan approached her, leading the group, coming to a stop a few feet from her. “Did you get it?”
She held forth the box as proof. When he took it from her, she had to fight the urge to snatch it back. Wolf held the box for him as Pan took the crown from its pillow and set it atop his own head. Wren couldn’t deny that he looked stunning beneath it, regal, even. It was so obvious he was meant to wear a crown, and sad that he would only ever wear one here, even if temporarily.
“We’ll celebrate tonight,” Pan announced. “The return of the Never Crown to its rightful owner, and Wren Darlington’s induction into the Lost Boys.”
So far, his announcements had not heralded anything necessarily good for her, but this didn’t sound like it could be too awful, as long as she got some rest before the celebration began.
Pan was too absorbed in his newfound adornment to offer her any accommodations, but Archer was kind enough to let her rest in his house. Since he could not fly, she climbed the long rope ladder behind him, pulling herself up breathlessly onto his porch. She was surprised to find one whole wall of his house open—the one that overlooked the rest of the treehouses. It was protected from the elements by an overhanging roof.
“What’s that for?” she asked.
Archer, who was winding up the rope ladder behind them, glanced over to see her gesturing at the open wall. “So I can keep watch over the others.”
Indeed, hanging on the inside walls was a wooden bow, and a beautiful leather quiver full of gray-feathered arrows. The rest of the room had only a mattress draped in a fur blanket, a heavy, leather-bound chest, and a small table with a crate for a chair. A jar of ink and blank paper sat on the table, along with a wooden tumbler.
“It isn’t much, but it’s home,” Archer said almost apologetically.
“It’s lovely.”
He laughed lightly and then motioned for her to go inside.
She made a loop around the room and stopped in front of the chest when golden dust on the lock caught her attention. “What’s in here?”
Archer looked a bit uneasy as he answered. “Pan’s stash of fairy dust.”
She nodded. “I see.”
“Please, make yourself at home. Get some rest. Pan will make sure you have your own place soon, but this is yours in the meantime.”
She was already rem
oving her slippers. “Where will you go?”
Archer lifted the bow from the wall and slipped the quiver over his shoulders. “Hunting for tonight’s dinner. A celebration means a feast.”
“I won’t disturb you in here?” she asked, suddenly conscious of her bare feet on the wooden plank floor.
“Not a bit. And I won’t disturb you, so rest easy.” He tipped a non-existent hat to her and then marched away down a swinging rope bridge that connected his tree to another nearby.
Wren removed her wet clothes and laid them on the back of the chair to dry, and then tucked herself in beneath the fur blanket. The mattress was soft and well-worn, and smelled a bit like Archer—minty and sweet. She let her mind wander, and it wandered to him and his circumstances. How had he come to be here, on this dream island? He seemed such a practical boy, and older than many of the others. Someday, she thought she might ask him if she found the right opportunity.
Then, she wondered if he would hunt her when she tried to leave, just as he was now hunting wild game for their dinner. Would she make an enemy of him if and when she betrayed Pan? That idea made her sad, so she thought instead about her sister and wondered if the girl had already received her dreams, and if she would somehow know they were a gift from Wren.
And so it was, that with her mind full of her sister’s smiling face, that she fell into a deep, restful sleep.
Chapter 10
When she woke some time later, the sun was already sinking below the trees, turning the clouds pink and orange as it did. She had the perfect view through Archer’s open wall, and she envied him his home in the trees. True to his word, he had not returned and had not woken her or allowed anyone else to do so. She stretched languidly, watching the sky turn into a lovely shade of lavender before finally pulling herself up off the bed and crossing the small room to her clothes.
Kingdom of Crowns and Glory Page 40