“Evacuation?” the Merrow King bellowed.
“It is the only way to be sure,” Duncan said. He knew this wasn’t going to go well, but what other option did they have?
The meter moved faster and faster toward the point of no return. He’d discussed this particular course of action with the princes while en route to the king’s chambers, and they both agreed that this might be the best way to save the kingdom.
Considering the magic he’d tried to use wouldn’t lead him to Cara like he wanted, what other choice did they have? Something bad was coming, and Cara was at the heart of it. He knew the king wouldn’t like the idea of evacuating, but until either they found Cara or her scream erupted, it was the only way to secure the merrow people.
The Merrow Kingdom was at risk.
“We cannot be sure we can find her in time,” Kealan told the king.
“The damage could be extensive,” Keefe replied.
“We have teams looking for her now, yes?” the king asked. He rose from the dais-like chair he’d been resting on, and his tail flicked as he headed toward a long window.
Just barely, Duncan could make out the inner circles, where the magical dome sheltered the central buildings.
Duncan nodded. “If she was merely injured, or even distracted, we would have found her hours ago.” The image came to mind of her, bound and gagged in the cave. “Someone has purposely taken her, Your Majesty. The little we have discovered so far shows nefarious intent.”
“Who could do this?” the king asked. “Why?”
“We don’t know for certain,” Kealan said. “Only that it is coming, and time is running short.”
“You have an idea?” the king asked.
Duncan nodded. “We have a possible suspect, Your Majesty. However, we need to secure the kingdom and you, of course.”
“You are FID. You should be able to find her.”
“Without magic, my abilities are limited,” Duncan said.
“So use your magic,” the king said, picking up his small triton.
Duncan blinked. “My magic won’t work here. We’ve tried—”
The king swirled his triton. “Magic,” he murmured. “It always comes back to the magic.” The lights began to flicker as a wave passed over the throne room, like being splashed with hot water.
Duncan shook his head. “What was that?”
The king swam closer to Duncan. “You should be able to use your magic now. Find my cousin, fairy. Get her to safety.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Duncan said.
The king looked to Keefe and Kealan. “Evacuate the Nursery. Get the children to safety on Avalon. That is our priority.” He looked to Duncan. “The royal family shall take shelter here.”
“With all due respect, Your Majesty, I believe you would be safer topside as well,” Duncan replied. “This could be as much a threat to you specifically as the kingdom as a whole.”
This time the king swam closer. “The royal family will not abandon the kingdom.”
Duncan wanted to object, if only because of what the princes had told him about Norton and his known agenda. “Your Majesty, I feel that—”
“We will be secure here,” the king said. “Now go, find my cousin’s child.”
Duncan nodded. “I will find her.”
“See that you do, boy. I don’t want to see my kingdom destroyed.”
Neither do I, Duncan thought.