Chapter 22

 

 

I learned to accept the merfolk’s ways, and they learned to accept me. I was happy with Sia. I never thought I could love another the way I’d loved Thaimis… I was wrong. She was where I belonged. She was home. Our ancient magic came from the same place… from the sea.

The temperature of the water never bothered me, but when it turned to winter, I found I couldn’t go above the surface for long. Gwon’s winter wasn’t as cold as Aquila’s. However, because I was always wet, being in the open air had me shivering fiercely. So, I spent the winter below the surface, only coming up when I needed to drink fresh water.

As much as I loved the sea, I missed the sun. When spring came, and my second decade along with it, I was overjoyed to be able to lie upon a rock and bask in the radiant sunbeams. The sound of seagulls cawing was music to my ears.

Sia hummed as she traced patterns on the rock beside me, half in the water, half out. She paused—listening. The song that lured people to their deaths floated through the air. The siren’s ethereal voice carried along the shore as though it came from every direction.

I opened my eyes and sat up. “Human?”

“It must be, but I don’t see a ship.”

I heard the crunching of footsteps and the murmuring of voices before I saw them.

“What are you doing?” A light feminine voice asked. “Percifal—where is that lovely voice coming from?”

My heart leapt into my throat. I twisted around and whispered to no one, “Percifal? Could it really be…?”

An older version of the brother I’d remembered came into view, and it was like a bolt of lightning had hit me.

Jumping to my feet, I called out to him. “Percifal!”

He didn’t seem to hear or see me. His focus was on the siren who was weaving a spell with her voice.

“Oh no,” I said and ambled over to the singing siren. “Stop! That’s my brother!”

She ignored me so I shoved her off the rock she was perched on. “I said that’s my brother!”

“Ow! How dare you interrupt me?” She glared at me from the water.

“Not this one! You can’t have him. Go home.” I made a shewing motion with my hands.

She scoffed at me, but dove into the sea.

“Chel?” Percifal asked in confusion as I ran to him and threw my arms around his neck, almost knocking him over.

He still kept his onyx hair cropped short. A dark beard covered his jaw and there were shadows under his eyes. What he must have been through to get here…

“Percifal, I can’t believe you’re here!”

Over his shoulder, I saw the lady whose voice I’d heard first. Her hair, which was the brightest shade of red I’d ever seen on a person, was coming out of its ties and had been disheveled by the wind. She fiddled awkwardly with her hands.

Percifal shook his head a couple of times, trying to clear the effects of the siren’s song. “Chel! By Goddess, it’s really you!”

I hugged him again. “Yes, it’s me.” Letting go of him, I gestured toward the red haired lady behind him. “Who have you brought with you?”

Percifal stepped back and held out his arm for the lady to join him. I noticed the dusting of freckles on her face when she grew nearer… like sparkling cinnamon “Chel, I’d like you to meet Zephyra Caldura. We have a lot to talk about.”

I smiled at Zephyra and offered her my hand. “Hello, Zephyra, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

She returned my smile, shaking my hand. “Hi Chel, it’s nice to finally meet you too. We’ve been searching for you for a long time.”

“Oh?”

“She’s been with me. I’ve been keeping her safe.” Sia swam up, giving them a cautious look.

“Oh! I’ve been rude. This is Sia. She’s my—friend. Sia, this is my brother, Percifal, and his companion, Zephyra.”

I pretended not to notice the way Sia narrowed her eyes at me when I’d said the word friend.

“I can’t believe mermaids are real!” Zephyra exclaimed. “Please, call me Phyra.”

“We are.” Sia tilted her head. “You’ve heard of us?”

“Just recently… when Malyi told us where we might find you.”

“You’ve met Malyi?” I gawked at her. I was surprised the head mistress even knew where to find me.

“Well, yes—” Phyra started.

“As I was saying,” Percifal cut her off. “We have a lot to talk about, and preferably not in the company of those who want to lure us to our deaths.”

Sia’s eyebrows shot down.

“Sia won’t harm any of us,” I assured them.

“It’s fine,” Sia muttered. “You have a lot to talk about, apparently. You know where to find me.” She disappeared under the water with a flick of her tail before I could argue.

“Come. Phyra has some clothes for you. There’s a tavern by the harbour close by.” The harbour I was supposed to have found. Percifal put his hand on my back to steady me as we made our way off the shore.

I stopped walking. “I’m not going to a tavern. I’m a wanted woman on this island.”

“You don’t want to dry off? Have something warm to eat? Something strong to drink?” Percifal nudged me.

That did sound wonderful.

“It’s alright, Percifal. We can take her back to our camp and build a fire. There’s food and drink there,” Phyra interjected.

Percifal scrunched up his face. “Not good food and drink.” When neither of us said anything he surrendered. “Alright, fine. Right this way.”

We followed a narrow, sandy path. It felt strange to walk after being underwater for so long.

We came to an area crowded with bushes. The brown grass was dry and poked at the water softened skin on my feet. In amongst those bushes was their camp. A stone fire pit with charred wood sat in between a couple of wool blankets. Two stuffed sacks sat on the ground.

Phyra opened one of the sacs and began rummaging through its contents. She pulled out a tan coloured dress and held it up. “It’s wrinkled, but this should do. I bought it at a market here, so it should be suitable.”

I accepted it from her but placed it on the blanket beside me. “Thank you, Phyra, but I can’t wear this in the sea.”

“You aren’t going back to the sea.” Percifal handed me a chunk of hard bread. “We need you to come home.”

“I missed you, Brother, but I can’t leave Sia. We—I love her,” I confessed as I watched his face, expecting judgement.

He didn’t judge me though. He put his arm around me and kissed the top of my head. “I’m glad you found love, and I wish you didn’t have to come back…”

“But?” I asked, knowing there was more.

He sighed and put his head in his hands. “But, I’m sorry. I should never have left Aquila. Thaimis might still be alive then instead of King Zaeden—”

“Thaimis is dead?” I dropped the last piece of my bread.

“Isn’t he?” Percifal frowned, finishing his own bread.

Phyra handed me a small, metal flask. I took a swig and handed it back to her… whiskey. “He wasn’t when I was married off to the duke.”

“Then why is King Zaeden still alive? Why did you marry the duke?”

“Because he told me to!” The very memory of the moment Thaimis let me go caused my blood to boil. None of this would’ve happened if he’d married me himself! “He said he couldn’t challenge the king,” I went on. “He agreed with Mother that I would be safer if I married the duke and left Aquila.” A bitter laugh escaped my throat. I’d thought I no longer cared—I was wrong.

“Hmm. We didn’t see Thaimis when we went to Aquila in search of you. I assumed he’d died while trying to annihilate King Zaeden.” He crossed his arms.

“He’s probably preparing to help him overthrow the other kingdoms of Sarantoa. It’s out of our hands. There’s nothing we can do now.” I truly believed my own words.

“Actually, you’re wrong.” Percifal reached for Phyra’s hand and held it. “Phyra has something to show you.”

I looked at Phyra, who’d remained silent until now.

She picked up a small branch. “I still need more practice, but…” She stopped to concentrate on the branch. Her eyes focused on the stick of wood until a small flame appeared upon it. She tossed the branch into the pit and dusted her hands off on her skirt.

“Oh my! You—you can control fire?” I stared at her in wonder, like she’d just grown two heads.

“Control… I’m learning. I can create it if I focus really hard. I was hoping you’d be able to help me hone my gift,” she said shyly.

“Of course. This means there are other elementals out there too. Sreda was right! Oh, Sreda. She was locked in the tower when I left. Is she—”

“She’s still in the tower as far as we know,” Percifal answered.

“At least she’s still alive.”

“King Zaeden is using her magic for his own dark needs. He’s working with Vesirus.” Phyra shivered.

I felt ice in my veins at her words. “Truly? How are we supposed to defeat him now? If King Zaeden is getting aid from Vesirus, we’re doomed. All of us.” I didn’t believe we’d stand a chance against the dark lord of Mnyama. Not even with all the elemental powers.

“We have to try,” she said. “Celestia’s given us these powers for a reason. Otherwise… this world is lost to darkness.”

I had less faith in Celestia than she did, but she was right. If anyone had a chance of defeating King Zaeden, it was us. We had to try. I knew it in my heart. I didn’t like it. I had been silently hoping there were no other elementals, to be honest. Phyra’s very existence had shattered those hopes. I was scared to death, but I nodded. “Alright, but let me say goodbye to Sia.”

“Good. I’ll go collect wood so Phyra can start us a fire,” Percifal said.

“At least I can actually do that now.” Phyra grimaced.

“You’ve done more than that. Phyra saved my life,” Percifal told me, pride evident on his face.

“And he saved mine.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek.

I inclined my forehead. “So you two are—together?”

Phyra nodded. “I love your brother. I couldn’t have asked for a better man.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I agree with that.”

“Make your goodbye swift,” Percifal said as I made to leave.

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to leave, but my people need me,” I told Sia on the shore.

Dusk had cast a violet ambience over the sea. It was almost time for the mermaids to slumber. I, myself, let out a big yawn.

“We are your people now,” she argued. “Wars are fought, people die. The sea remains the same. You’ll be safe here.”

“That’s not the point. I love you, but I love my family too. If you truly care about me, you’ll let me go.” How ironic it was that I’d asked her to do the very thing Thaimis had done for me… the thing I hated him for.

Her face fell, and she turned away. “Go then. If they mean so much to you.”

I put my hand on her arm. “I will miss you. I may not be immortal like you, but my love for you shall remain forever.”

She looked back at me. Tears shone in her silver eyes. “I will miss you too. I’ll never forget you, my two legged elemental.” She pulled me toward her and kissed me softly. “Take this with you. I’m sure you can make good use of it.” She reached down into the water and pulled an arm full of gold and jewels up. That she’s brought these with her… she already guessed I’d be leaving.

I raised both brows. “Oh my Celestia. Are you sure?”

“Yes. We have no need for it. It’s been collected from centuries of shipwrecks. There’s still a lot left. It won’t be missed.”

“Thank you,” I said seriously. “This will definitely help.”

“Good. You better be off before the sky grows dark.” She passed me the treasure.

“I love you, Sia.”

“I love you too, water elemental.” She gave me one last glance and disappeared into the sea.

There was a lump in my throat as I walked back to the camp. I would have happily stayed with Sia until the end of my days, but I had to try to help stop King Zaeden. If he was really working with Vesirus, I couldn’t even imagine what would become of the world if he were successful.

I smelled smoke as I neared the camp and knew they’d gotten the fire burning. I shivered as the breeze touched my damp skin and quickened my pace.

“Ah, you’ve returned.” Percifal said, wrapping a blanket around me.

“Of course, and I’ve brought a gift from Sia.” I lifted the gold and jewels I held in my arms. I was sure I’d dropped some along the way, but with nothing to carry them in, it was unavoidable.

Percifal’s eyes widened. “This solves a lot of our problems. Thank Celestia for your mermaids.”

I chuckled and asked, “What problems?”

“We’ll need to bribe someone to take us back to Ambedar.”

I sat beside Phyra, who was roasting some kind of bird they must have caught for supper.

“A fisherman?” I asked.

“Indeed.”

I was grateful I’d be trading treasure and not my body for passage home.

“Do you think it’ll be safe?” Phyra asked me, checking to see if the bird was cooked.

“Safer than the main harbour,” I told her. “Malyi had meant for me to find this smaller harbour so I could return home,” I explained. “I wonder how she knew to send you to Siren’s Cove.”

“She said she’d heard rumours you’d been spotted there.”

“Oh.” One of the survivors must have seen me during the shipwreck shortly after I’d ended up there.

Phyra shuddered. “It must have been horrible. What you went through.”

“It was, but I survived.”

“I too have been mistreated by men.” Phyra dropped her gaze to the ground.

“Oh? I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. You’re brother saved me.” She handed the stick with the bird up to him.

He tore off pieces of the bird and passed some to each of us. “Phyra saved herself, actually—with her fire.” He changed the subject before she could argue. “Why are you wanted in Gwon?”

I chewed on a piece of meat, and then swallowed. “Because I killed my last client.”

Phyra gasped. “How?”

“I drowned him with his own wine,” I told them plainly. “He had tied me up and was whipping me. He deserved it.” I shrugged.

Percifal studied me for a moment. “I killed your dead husband’s brother,” he confessed.

I closed my eyes and let out a small laugh before smiling up at him. “Good.”

“I don’t understand how you both can be okay with murdering others.” Phyra turned even paler in the crackling firelight.

“When you’re pushed to your limit, you’ll understand. You better get used to it with this war that’s coming,” I said darkly.

“I guess I’m just used to burying my anger.”

“Don’t bury it. That’s why you’ve had troubles with your power.”

“I know. I’m trying to overcome that.”

“She’s come a long way.” Percifal rubbed her back.

I nodded.

Phyra fetched a water skin out of her bag and passed it around.

Afterward, I donned the dress she’d given me and fell asleep under one of the wool blankets.