Chapter Eleven

Caspian didn’t think he had ever been so nervous in his entire life. He paced back and forth along the path outside the council chamber, waiting for the rest of the gods to answer his grandfather’s summons. In just a few more minutes, he would find out whether Phoebus would be allowed to join the immortals.

Even though Phoebus was the kindest and most deserving man he knew, Caspian still wasn’t sure how the vote would go. There were too many immortals who were prejudiced against the mer, so the vote would be close.

“Nervous?” Odessa asked as she met him coming down the path as she was on her way up it.

“Terrified,” Caspian admitted. “What am I going to do if the vote is no?”

“From what I’ve heard, that’s very unlikely to be the case, but even if it is, you can always petition again in a few years.”

“You know as well as I do that if the vote is no now, it’ll be exactly the same then.”

“Stop worrying so much. It’s not fitting for a god.”

“Sorry, Mother. I can’t help it. I don’t think I could stand it if I lost Phoebus.”

“Medina’s curse may not come to pass, even if it is a true curse and not just her blustering.”

“I know, but I don’t want to take any risks with his life.”

“You assume that the curse means he would die,” Odessa said. “He might just leave you for another.”

“That isn’t helping, Mother.”

“Or it could be simple old age and a normal mortal death that will take him from you, many years from now.”

“No, it won’t be that.” Caspian shook his head. “Medina said I would only know love for a short time before I lost it.”

“Mortal lives are only a short time when compared to immortality.”

“I know, but I don’t want to lose him at all.”

Odessa linked her arm through his and steered him toward the chamber. “I don’t want you to lose him either. I’ve never seen you so happy. It’s like I’ve been telling you all these years… Loving one man is far more fulfilling than bedding many men who you don’t even care for.”

Caspian nodded. He still didn’t know whether what he felt for Phoebus was love, but his feelings were certainly stronger than anything he had ever felt before. He also had the sense to know that saying he wasn’t in love right now would be a sure-fire way to persuade any immortal in earshot to vote against his petition, and he couldn’t risk that happening. He just hoped they didn’t delve into his mind to ascertain the depth of his feelings for Phoebus.

Inside the chamber, most of the gods were already gathered. The final few arrived shortly after Caspian had taken his seat.

“We all know why we are here today,” Antar said. “To vote on Caspian’s petition to make his lover Phoebus immortal. We have all had time to consider his request and I am aware that some of you have spoken to Phoebus to see what sort of a man he is. Now we will cast our votes. All those in favor of Phoebus becoming immortal, please raise your hands.”

Caspian quickly counted the votes, noting that his parents and sister all had their hands raised, along with Medina, which came as something of a surprise. More predictably, Mariana and her friends had not voted in his favor.

“Making a merman immortal is an insult to every god and goddess here,” Mariana complained.

Caspian ignored her. She had cast her vote the same as everyone else and she had been outnumbered.

“I’m so happy for you,” Odessa said as she swept Caspian into a hug. “I’m sure you can’t wait to tell him the good news.”

Caspian nearly shook with relief. Phoebus would be safe from the curse and he never had to risk losing his merman to illness, sharks or even old age.

His father patted him on the shoulder. “I haven’t spoken to Phoebus myself, but I hope to get to know him soon. I hope he makes you as happy as your mother makes me.”

“I’m sure he will.”

Cari gave him a smile and a nod. “I won’t keep you from going to tell him the news. I’ll just step aside so you don’t trample me in your rush through the archway.”

Caspian laughed and stepped around her. Unfortunately, while his sister had anticipated his eagerness to leave, there were others who were not so astute. It seemed as though the news would have to wait a little bit longer after all.

 

* * * *

 

Rafe had waited until Caspian was at the council of the gods. The god had barely left before the high priest was hovering in Phoebus’ doorway, his usual sneer on his face.

“Get out,” Phoebus said as he climbed off the bed. He wasn’t going to give him a chance to overpower him again like he had done the last time he had entered his rooms uninvited.

“I hear the petition is likely to go against you,” Rafe said. “What are you going to do then?”

Phoebus had no idea which way the various gods would be voting and he doubted Rafe knew either. Most gods rarely confided in their own priests, and they certainly weren’t going to be telling their private business to the devoted follower of another god.

“Aren’t you going to answer me?” Rafe pressed.

“No, I’m not,” Phoebus replied. “What I do with my life is none of your business. Becoming immortal is not my only ambition in life.”

“From what I’ve heard, you have no ambitions at all,” Rafe said. “I heard the guards hired your sister rather than allow you into their ranks. That is truly pitiful. What’s it like to spend your life doing women’s work while a mermaid took the job you truly wanted?”

“I’m perfectly happy with the job I have, which is more than you are.” Phoebus gave the priest a cold smile. “At least I assume you’re unhappy in your position, considering the amount of complaining you do.”

“I was content in my duties until you came along,” Rafe snarled. “I still don’t know what Caspian sees in you. No merman is that good a fuck.”

Phoebus rolled his eyes. “You seem to be quite obsessed with my performance in the bedchamber. I’d say that’s a sign of your own insecurities more than anything else.”

“I’m not insecure. I know what to do with my cock—unlike a pathetic merman who couldn’t even figure out his own mating trigger because he was so inexperienced.”

Phoebus bristled at the insult but there was nothing he could really say in response. Rafe was right about his ignorance and the high priest would always have more experience than he did.

Rafe stepped closer. “I hear you wanted to fuck Caspian.”

Phoebus cringed as he realized Rafe had probably been eavesdropping on their conversations.

“He’ll never let you do that. I fucked him once, but he won’t allow any of the other priests to do so.”

“You’re lying,” Phoebus said. Caspian was a lot of things, not all of them good, but he wasn’t a liar. Rafe was simply trying to goad him, and he refused to rise to the bait.

“You can’t be sure about that,” Rafe taunted.

“Yes, I can, and even if you had fucked him—which you haven’t—it is of no consequence to me.”

Phoebus walked past Rafe and into the corridor. He would go to the sunken city until Caspian returned with the result of the petition. He had no reason to wait around here, listening to Rafe’s insults and jibes.

“Going so soon?” Rafe asked as he grabbed Phoebus’ arm and pulled him to a halt.

“Let go of me.”

“No, I don’t think I will,” Rafe said. “I want to know what you have that has my god acting so besotted.”

Phoebus yanked himself free of Rafe’s arm, only to be pushed into the wall, with Rafe pressed against his back. “Get away from me!”

“Why? A whore doesn’t care who fucks him, as long as he gets paid.”

“I’m not a whore.”

“I say you are.”

Phoebus twisted free once more and raced for the temple and the portal back to Atlantis.

“Caspian!” he yelled, hoping the god might be able to hear his call, even if he weren’t close by.

Rafe was right behind him when Phoebus arrived in the main temple. If he could just get to the crystal and open the portal, he could escape to the sea where he’d be safe. Rafe could follow him, but as a merman, he had an advantage in the water, and there was only a short swim into the city where the rest of the mer would be able to help him.

One of Rafe’s fellow priests was suddenly in front of him. Phoebus tried to duck under his arm but the bigger man blocked his path, the grin on his face making it clear he was doing it deliberately.

“Surely you don’t want to leave us so soon?” Rafe asked. “After all, Caspian wants you to become one of the family. A permanent member.”

“Let me past,” Phoebus ordered the priest in front of him.

The priest laughed and stepped aside, offering a sweeping bow toward the portal.

Phoebus bolted across the room but it was too late. The priest had stalled him for too long and he was still several feet away from the crystal when Rafe grabbed him from behind, bringing him crashing to the stone floor.

His knee twisted painfully, but he forced himself to ignore the pain as he continued struggling to free himself.

“Caspian,” he yelled.

“He can’t hear you,” Rafe hissed. “No god can hear the prayers of their followers when they’re in a council meeting. The gods don’t like to be interrupted with trivialities when they have important things to discuss. Not that you’re important. I’m only telling you this so you can cease your whining for your lover.”

“Rafe, don’t you think that’s enough?” the priest who had stalled Phoebus asked.

“Help me,” Phoebus begged, hoping that common sense would prevail.

“Get out of here,” Rafe shouted. “This is not your concern.”

“Rafe, you know Caspian favors this merman.”

“Favors him over the priests who have served him their entire lives,” Rafe replied. He twisted Phoebus’ arm behind his back, and Phoebus screamed in pain. “I intend to sample this whore before I get rid of him once and for all. Unless you want to add your blood to his, you’ll walk away, right now.”

“Please help me,” Phoebus tried again. “Please don’t let him do this.”

The priest shook his head but didn’t step forward. Instead, he turned and walked away, leaving Phoebus alone in the temple with Rafe.

Phoebus felt as though he were suffocating under the weight of the heavier man on top of him. He squirmed and shouted, hoping the priest would come back or that someone—anyone—would hear him and come to his rescue.

“Be quiet or I’ll cut out your tongue,” Rafe snarled, and Phoebus saw the flash of a blade in the corner of his eye. He had no doubt Rafe would carry out his threat.

“Just get it over with,” Phoebus whispered. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine he was anywhere else but here.

Rafe pulled his head back and Phoebus whimpered in pain. “I will not watch my god brought to ruin by a whore.”

The moment the blade touched his skin, Phoebus renewed his struggles, but Rafe was bigger, stronger and had the advantage of a weapon—a knife that pressed into his flesh every time he tried to release himself from his tormentor’s grasp.

“Don’t do this,” Phoebus said. “You know Caspian wouldn’t want you to do this.”

“Once you’re gone, Caspian will come to his senses.”

Phoebus could tell there was no reasoning with him, but he had to keep trying. Surely someone would come to the temple sooner or later. If he could just keep him talking until help arrived.

“Did you know that in the olden days, the Atlanteans used to make sacrifices to the gods?” Rafe whispered into his ear. “Human sacrifices.”

Phoebus’ heart raced, blood rushed to his head and the room swayed around him.

“Personally, I always thought it a tradition that should be revived. You should be honored at the thought of being sacrificed to the gods.”

Phoebus struggled again, lashing out wildly and frantically as he tried to break free.

He didn’t know how much time had passed. His throat was raw from screaming, but no one answered his cries. He hoped Caspian returned soon and used his powers to take away the pain Rafe had inflicted upon his body. He knew he couldn’t take much more of this.

Pain erupting in his chest was the last thing he felt as he slumped to the ground.

 

* * * *

 

Caspian departed the meeting with a good feeling about the future. He had left Phoebus in his bed this morning and he had high hopes of finding him there when he returned. Now that the council meeting was over, he had the rest of the day to enjoy time with his lover, then tonight, he would take Phoebus to the glade where the cup of immortality was kept, and once he had drunk from it, everything would be fine.

As he approached his temple, he spotted most of his priests lingering around outside. This wasn’t entirely unusual, but they weren’t normally standing on the path as though hesitant to enter.

“What’s happening here?” Caspian asked as he approached the priests.

None of them seemed to want to meet his eyes, which was odd in itself since he had known all of them intimately at one time or another.

“Seth?” Caspian approached the nearest of the men and the one he considered most likely to cave under pressure if he was forced to demand answers from them.

Seth shuffled his feet and nodded toward the entrance. “You should probably go inside.”

Caspian looked from one priest to another as he waited for someone to say something. He didn’t know why he wasn’t going into the temple as Seth had said. Something he thought might be fear seemed to be preventing him from taking that step.

“What’s happened?” Caspian demanded.

Seth dropped to one knee and bowed his head. One by one the rest of the priests followed his example.

Caspian had never demanded subservience from his priests and to see them all on their knees before him sent a shiver down his spine. “Where’s Rafe?” he asked when he realized his high priest was the only man missing from their number.

Seth pointed at the door.

Caspian could see they weren’t going to tell him what was happening. He could read one of their minds and find out immediately what troubled them, but that same fear of what he might find stopped him. He forced himself to enter his temple.

He saw Rafe immediately. His high priest knelt on the floor, facing Caspian’s throne. He wore his dress robes with the long wide sleeves and his arms were spread wide.

“Rafe?” Caspian asked. He was vaguely aware of the other priests entering behind him.

His high priest stood and turned to face him. It was only when he rose Caspian saw what his robes had previously hidden from view.

“Phoebus!” Caspian ran across the room and dropped to his knees beside him.

It was too late. He knew it immediately.

He recognized Rafe’s knife, still buried in Phoebus’ chest, and he pulled it out and tossed it aside.

“Do you accept my sacrifice, my god?” Rafe asked.

Caspian screamed at the top of his lungs, his powers reverberating through the temple. The ground moved as an earthquake shook the island. The sight of Phoebus’ dead body sent his powers spiraling out of his control for the first time in his life.

“Caspian, what is it?”

“Caspian?”

“Son?”

The voices were echoing through the temple but Caspian didn’t pay any attention to them. He couldn’t. The rage he felt wouldn’t allow for him to do anything right now.

Caspian gathered Phoebus into his arms and gently brushed his hair back from his face.

Cari knelt down on the other side of him. Tears streamed down her face. “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t see this coming.”

“It isn’t your fault, my daughter,” Odessa said as she drew nearer. “You know your powers can never show things that will happen in the temple of another god. It is the way it has always been.”

“Still, I knew there was tension and jealousy between Phoebus and the priests. I should have seen something of what would happen.”

Caspian’s father shook his head. “Your mother is right. It’s not your fault that your powers are limited.”

The island finally stopped shaking as Caspian brought his powers back under his control.

He took in a long deep breath and forced himself to calm the storm raging outside the temple. Standing close by, Medina shuffled her feet and wouldn’t look at him.

“You did this,” Caspian shouted at her. “Your curse has played out. Are you happy now?”

“No,” Medina whispered. “I didn’t want him to die.”

“I don’t care what you intended!”

“Phoebus was a sweet young merman. I would never have wished him harm.”

“Your damned love spell is the cause of all of this.”

“No. It can’t be.”

“Undo the magic,” Caspian demanded. “You’ve made your point.”

Medina nodded and raised her hand toward him. A glow emanated from her palm and her hair whipped about her head as though she were standing in the wind. “I cannot,” she finally said, her voice coming from a distance.

“Why not?” Caspian snapped. “You made me love him, now make it stop.”

“I opened your heart and your mind to the possibility of love,” Medina said. “The spell has already run its course. Your feelings are not a result of my magic. They are real, and as such, I cannot remove them.”

Caspian blinked as Medina faded in and out of view. It was almost as though she was having difficulty maintaining her corporeal form.

Caspian’s father placed his hand on his son’s shoulder and Caspian acknowledged the gesture with a small nod.

“To murder the chosen consort of a god is unprecedented,” Cynbel said. “This cannot go unpunished. Caspian, what do you suggest?”

Caspian shook his head. “Not now, father. I can’t deal out justice right now.”

Cynbel squeezed his shoulder. “Then I will do so for you. From this day forth, Atlantis will no longer be home to the Atlanteans. They will be banished from the city and will walk on land with no memory of their heritage.”

“You would punish an entire people for the crime of one man?”

Caspian recognized the voice of Mariana, goddess of sea creatures. Several immortals were agreeing with her.

Cynbel banged his trident on the floor. “This isn’t just any crime. This is the murder of a god’s consort, in that god’s own temple.”

“It was a sacrifice,” Rafe argued. “You used to accept sacrifices.”

Cynbel shook his head. “This was no sacrifice. You didn’t kill the merman to appease your god. You did it to satisfy your own jealousy. You will be the first to be sent from this place.”

“No!” Caspian shouted. “Banish whoever you wish but not him. I will punish him myself—but not right now.”

“Of course, my son,” Cynbel said. “The rest of the Atlanteans will be gone from the city before sunset.”

“What of our priests and priestesses?” one of the goddesses asked. “Are they to be banished too?”

“They are,” Cynbel replied. “The discord between the Atlanteans and the mer has been escalating for many years. This will end today.”

“I thought you’d be all for war,” Mariana commented. “It is your specialty, after all.”

“This is not a war among men,” Cynbel said. “The mer are peaceful. They do not crave land or power or anything else that humans kill each other over. The mer have done nothing to earn the hatred of the Atlanteans.”

Mariana sneered. “Just because they’re too weak and foolish to fight back.”

“It isn’t weak to want to live in peace. It isn’t foolish to desire a life without war.”

“Coming from the God of War, I find that a rather strange attitude to have.”

“There is no glory to be found in defeating an opponent who has no wish to fight,” Cynbel said.

Caspian carefully picked up Phoebus and carried him away from the arguing immortals. His mother and sister followed him.

“Can you see him?” Caspian asked Cari. “When will I find him again?”

Cari closed her eyes for several long moments, but when she opened them again, she shook her head. “I’m sorry. I do not see him.”

“But you must,” Caspian said. “He’ll be reborn sooner or later. Even if his body is different, his soul will be the same. You can see that, can’t you?”

“The mer are not reborn in the way of humans,” Cari said. “Their essence returns to the ocean when they die. They become a part of the waters.”

“Then he’s gone forever?” Caspian didn’t want to believe it.

“Not yet,” Odessa said. “As long as his body remains here, his soul will linger. When you send his body to the ocean, so too will his essence depart this world.”

“What if I were to bury him instead?”

“Then his tormented spirit would remain here in your temple.”

Caspian didn’t know which idea he hated more—losing Phoebus to the ocean or leaving his spirit in torment.

“I have to let him go, don’t I?” Caspian whispered.

“I’m sorry,” Cari said. “I will help you to send him to the waters. I know the words the mer use and will say them for you, if you wish.”

“Let’s not be so hasty,” Odessa said.

“I won’t force him to stay here in spirit,” Caspian replied.

“No, of course not,” Odessa agreed, “but there may be another way.”

“What do you mean?”

“The mer are not so different from humans. They are half human, which means it might be possible to change things.”

Odessa tapped at her lips with her finger as she paced the floor. She mumbled under her breath as she thought over whatever it was she had in mind.

“Mother, what are you thinking?” Cari asked.

“If the mer were to reincarnate, as humans do, Phoebus would one day return to Caspian.”

“But you said yourself, they don’t.”

“No, but they could. It would only take a small tweaking of their species. It’s been done with others to a much greater extent. Just look at all the hybrids the other pantheons have created over the years.”

“But you’re not talking about creating a hybrid. The mer are already hybrids.”

“Yes, which means this should be easier to accomplish. The mer are already half human and half fish. It is their fish half that compels them to return to the waters after they have passed from this life. It would be just a small thing to let their human halves decide.”

Caspian wasn’t sure whether he should allow himself to hope, but he turned to Cari anyway. “If she changes the mer, would Phoebus be reborn?”

Cari closed her eyes and this time when she opened them she nodded. “Yes, but not right away.”

“I’m immortal. I can wait.” Caspian took Phoebus’ hand in his and held it tight. “Do it, Mother.”

Odessa did as he asked and Caspian watched as she, like Medina, began to fade in and out of view.

“What’s happening to them?” Caspian asked.

“We’re losing our followers,” Mariana shouted. “Cynbel, it’s not too late to reverse your edict. You see what is happening to your own wife. Will you see us all reduced to shadows just because your son wanted to fuck a merman?”

Cynbel banged his trident on the floor again. Sparks shot from the tips. “The Atlanteans are gone. Only those bound to the gods remain. Summon them to your temples and let them know what is happening. Those who have been most loyal to us deserve that much.”

Caspian glared at his own priests. “Get out of here, all of you.”

They all hurried to the door, Rafe included. Caspian raised his hand and used his powers to stop the high priest in his tracks. “Not you,” he said. “You will remain here until I’ve decided how to deal with you.”

The other immortals hurried to their various temple, leaving Caspian with his parents. “What about your followers?” he asked. “Are they banished too?”

“They will be,” Cynbel said. “Odessa, stay here with Caspian until I’ve sent my priests on their way. Don’t leave him alone. You can go talk to your own after I’ve returned.”

“I don’t need a minder,” Caspian argued.

Both his parents ignored him as though he hadn’t spoken.

Caspian didn't have the energy to press the issue, so he sat quietly, holding Phoebus in his arms, as he wondered how long it would take for his lover to return to him.

His mother seemed to be recovering from casting her spell, and by the time his father returned, she appeared more like her normal self.

“Mariana is going to be difficult,” Cynbel said.

“Isn’t she always,” Odessa replied. “I’ll go speak to my priests and say my goodbyes.”

Cari returned shortly after Odessa had left. “I’ve appointed new Oracles from the mer,” she said. “I also sent Fabian to his mother’s temple. As a demi-god, I do not believe he should be banished.”

“A loophole I didn’t foresee,” Cynbel commented, “but I suppose you are right. As the son of a goddess, Fabian is part of the pantheon. You did the right thing.”

Cari returned to Caspian’s side. “Are you ready to say goodbye to him now?”

Caspian didn’t think he would ever be ready, but he gave a nod.

He let Cari speak the words that would send Phoebus on and he choked out a sob when his lover vanished from his arms.

A few moments later, Cari gave a small squeal and Caspian realized she had had a vision.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Mariana is about to defy Father’s edict.”

“How?” Cynbel questioned.

“She’s transforming Fabian and her priests into sea dragons.”

“I’ll stop her,” Cynbel said.

“It’s too late,” Cari replied. “It’s happening right now.”

“Then I’ll make her undo this.”

“Do you have the power?” Cari asked. “I feel weaker without my followers. Also…”

“Also what?”

“I don’t sense Mother any more. It’s as if she’s no longer a part of this world.”

“Cari’s right,” Caspian said. “I can’t sense her either—or Medina, or Tempest. Father, what happens to gods who have no followers?”

“When we have no followers, we can no longer remain a part of this world until such time as someone calls on us again. Do not fear, my son. There are always those who call for justice, just as there are always those who crave war. We won’t cease to exist. We just need to be careful about using our powers. If we should drain them entirely, we’ll go into a form of stasis.”

“Is that what’s happened to Mother?” Cari asked.

“Yes,” Cynbel confirmed. “The magic she performed to alter the physiology for the mer people might have been simple, but to change it for all the mer is still tiring. She would have done better to alter it for Phoebus alone, but it’s too late now. Her priests kept her in this world, but now that they are gone, her foothold has been lost.”

“Will she return?” Cari’s voice quavered as she asked her question.

“In time. Now, let us go see what trouble Mariana is brewing. Caspian, are you coming with us?”

Caspian shook his head. He was barely keeping a rein on his powers as it was. If he were to get involved in an altercation with Mariana, he knew he would lose control.

Cynbel and Cari hurried to Atlantis to confront Mariana, leaving Caspian alone in the temple, with only his thoughts for company.

Or not quite alone, he amended. Rafe, frozen mid-stride, still remained there.

“And what shall I do with you?” Caspian asked with a sigh.

He rose from his seat and went to pick up the knife from where he had thrown it across the floor. The murder weapon in his hand, he stood before Rafe and wondered how he could have failed to see his vile nature all these years.

With a wave of his hand, he unfroze his high priest. “Why?” he asked.

“That creature didn’t deserve your attention,” Rafe snarled. “He wasn’t even human.”

“He was kind and caring, and he loved me for myself, not for what powers he might get from serving me. He was prepared to give up his fins to stay with me. What sacrifices have you ever made for another?”

Rafe remained silent. Caspian wasn’t surprised. He had never done anything without it being advantageous to himself.

Caspian raised the knife to Rafe’s throat, causing the priest to flinch at the touch of the blade to his skin.

“A quick death is too good for you,” Caspian said. He gestured toward the door at the back of the throne. “Go downstairs.”

“To the catacombs?”

“Of course. Now move.”

Rafe kept one eye on Caspian as he headed down the stairs.

“To the cell at the end.” Caspian pointed with the dagger, and when Rafe didn’t step into the room, he prodded him with it.

Caspian conjured a lamp to hang from the ceiling and surveyed the room briefly.

“Your new quarters,” Caspian said. “Enjoy them. You’re going to be here for a long time.”

Caspian closed and locked the door behind him.

He walked up to his private garden and knelt before the fountain in the center. Cari found him there when she returned with the news that both Mariana and their father were drained of their powers.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Cari said as she sat on the edge of the fountain.

“I swore I would protect him,” Caspian said. “I promised to keep him safe. I failed.”

“You couldn’t be with him every single moment.”

“I’m a god. We’re supposed to be omniscient. How did I fail to see what was right before my eyes?”

Rafe’s knife rested on the stone in front of him, still stained with Phoebus’ blood. Caspian picked it up and sliced the blade across the palm of his hand.

“Caspian, what are you doing?”

“I swear no other mer will suffer while I have the power to prevent it. I failed Phoebus, but I won’t fail again.”

“You cannot watch over all the mer. You’re just one man.”

“One god.”

“Even so, you cannot be everywhere at once.”

Caspian sighed. “You are right, of course.”

“Phoebus was going to give up the sea for you,” Cari said. “Perhaps you could focus on those mer who choose to do likewise. Mer on land are rare, but they are in more need of help than those who choose to dwell in the water.”

Caspian nodded. “I think Phoebus might like that.”

“I’m sure he would.”

Caspian drove the knife into the stone, embedding it to the hilt. “I swear it.”

A few minutes after his oath had been sworn, Caspian heard the sound of his first charge arriving on land. He transported himself from his temple to the merman, ready to begin his work.