Silenced

I’ve heard the rumors.

They say that I gave up my home, my kingdom, my people for love of a man I’d only seen once, who I never even spoke to because he was unconscious when I rescued him from the sea. They say that I bargained away my voice and then paid more in pain to the sea witch so I could be with him.

Lies.

There was no pain, except that of the king’s betrayal. He was the one who bargained with a witch, but one of the land not of the sea, and he was the one who took my voice. His were the hands at which I suffered agony, a little death with each step.

I am Hai Qianya and this is the story behind that of the mermaid princess who came on land to become queen.