Just for Fins

by Tera Lynn Childs

  “No, of course not. You and I will meet with my advisers, for as long as it takes, and we will come up with a plan. Mangrove,” he calls out to his secretary.

  “Yes, your highness,” the eager-to-serve merman says as he swims into the office.

  “Please ask Graysby and Grouper to come in for a meeting. We have important matters to discuss.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “And please find Peri, too,” I add. “She’s my adviser, and I want her here.”

  “Yes, Princess.” Mangrove disappears into the hall, and I can’t help feeling like this isn’t enough.

  “I promise you, Lily,” Daddy says, “we will figure out how to solve this.”

  “Pardon me, your highness,” a royal guard says, peering into the room, “but Princess Waterlily has a visitor.”

  A visitor? Maybe Peri heard that I was home and is already here.

  “Prince Tellin awaits you in the entry hall.”

  Okay, not Peri.

  “Go,” Daddy says. “We will begin the meeting without you.”

  I nod and swim out into the hall. As I follow the guard through the palace, I pass by Graysby and Grouper, Daddy’s closest advisers, on their way to the royal office. Peri has a longer way to swim from her home outside the palace walls.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask Tellin as soon as I see him.

  The guard who was escorting me disappears back into the palace. When Tellin turns to face me, there is pure panic in his eyes. I open my mind to the bond connecting us, and the panic I saw in his eyes assaults me tenfold.

  “What?” I ask, darting to his side. “What happened?”

  “Lily, I—” He swings his gaze around the space, as if checking for eavesdroppers. “Can we go speak somewhere private?”

  Normally I would say that the palace staff knows better than to eavesdrop on their princess. But Tellin does not look like he’s in the mood for verbal assurances.

  “Of course.”

  I lead the way up to my room, where we won’t be interrupted. As soon as we float inside, I say, “Tell me.”

  He wrings his hands and starts swimming in a circle. “My father . . . ,” he begins, then trails off.

  “Oh my gosh,” I cry. “Is he okay? He’s not—?”

  “No,” Tellin says with a pained laugh, “he’s not dead. Lily, he’s . . .”

  The fear coursing through Tellin is pounding me. “Please,” I say, wanting this pain to lessen, “tell me.”

  Tellin draws in a quick breath and nods. “I think he’s going mad, Lily,” he says. “He . . .” He hesitates, shakes his head, and forces himself to continue. “He wants to start a war.”

  “What?” I gasp. “What are you talking about?”

  “Since the council meeting, he has been consumed by anger,” Tellin says. “I tried explaining that the other kings and queens only refused aid because they have terrible problems of their own. That we aren’t alone, and that Acropora is not a failure because we suffer.”

  “Okay,” I say, still trying to understand what he’s saying. “How does that lead to war?”

  “He said that if the other kingdoms wouldn’t help, then he would take help from them.” Tellin closes his eyes, and I’m pretty sure it’s to hide their sparkling. “He has spent the past two weeks amassing an army to invade our neighbors, to plunder food and supplies.”

  “Your neighbors,” I whisper. “You mean Queen Cypraea and her people?”

  “Yes, Antillenes.” When Tellin opens his eyes, they glitter bright orange. “And Thalassinia.”

  “What? Why?” I demand. “We have sent aid. We’re doing everything we can to help.”

  “I know,” Tellin snaps. “Don’t you think I know that? Don’t you think that’s why I wanted to bond with you in the first place? Because your people already support us.”

  “I’m sorry,” I say, not because I did anything wrong, but because I know Tellin is stressed beyond belief.

  “I’ve tried talking to him,” Tellin continues, almost as if I’m not there. “I yelled at him, argued with him, and begged him. He won’t listen to reason.”

  There seems to be a lot of that going around lately. Desperate times lead to desperate acts. But war?

  Though the history of the mer world is not without a few wars, there hasn’t been one in my lifetime. There hasn’t been one in the Western Atlantic for centuries.

  But besides that, Thalassinia and Acropora have always been great allies. We are already sending what aid we can spare, food surpluses and medical supplies. We are welcoming Acroporan refugees with open arms. Thalassinian schoolchildren are even raising sea coins to help Acroporan children.

  The idea that Acropora would invade Thalassinia is unfathomable.

  “Tellin,” I whisper, my brain in shock, “what are we going to do?”

  “I don’t know,” he says. “My father won’t listen to me. Or Lucina or his advisers or any of the nobles and ambassadors who have tried to change his mind. I have tried everything.”

  I feel bad for Tellin. He’s trying so hard to do right by his kingdom, to help his people in this time of need and suffering. His father is not helping the situation.

  “We’ll have to tell my dad,” I say, thinking of no better option.

  “No! Lily, please,” Tellin pleads. “That’s why I came to you and not the king. I don’t want my father’s moment of madness to harm relations between our kingdoms. Or to ruin my father’s reputation. For many decades, he has been an intelligent and respected ruler. If there is a way to stop this without your father finding out, I need to try that first.”

  “Then why come to me?” I ask. “What do you expect me to do?”

  I’m already failing at my other missions—getting the mer kingdoms to work together to solve the ocean’s environmental problems, and now stopping the mer kingdoms from sabotaging human enterprises. I’m not really sure I can do anything to help.

  “My father has always liked you, Lily,” Tellin says. “He respects your father, but he genuinely likes you.”

  “So what if he likes me?” I say. “Tellin, I can’t keep this a secret. If there is a threat to our kingdom—”

  “Talk to him,” Tellin interrupts. “Come to Acropora and have a conversation with my father.”

  “Tellin . . .”

  “If you can’t convince him to change his plans,” Tellin says, “then I’ll return with you and tell King Whelk myself. Just please give him one chance.”

  How do I know what is the right thing to do? Keep this from Daddy, and maybe risk my kingdom’s safety? Or tell him, and risk our relationship with Acropora?

  Tellin’s methods haven’t always been well thought out in the past. He did, after all, try to force me to bond with him. We got past that as soon as he finally told me what was going on. Then I bonded with him willingly.

  It’s a sign of progress that he’s talking about the situation and not trying to make something happen through force or coercion.

  But I have a responsibility to my people and their safety. I need to decide if it’s worth the risk. Daddy is always telling me to lead first with my heart. Aunt Rachel is always telling me to trust my gut. I close my eyes and listen to my instinct.

  King Gadus has always been kind to me. As a child, he used to slip me treats when Daddy wasn’t looking. And even though he and Daddy eventually had a falling-out—over me and Tellin, it turns out—they were always friends.

  And Thalassinia has always considered Acropora her closest ally. I can’t throw that away without even trying to fix things.

  “Okay,” I say. “Let me tell Quince I’m leaving and give Daddy some excuse for skipping out. I’ll meet you outside the palace gate in twenty minutes.”

  “Thank you, Lily,” Tellin says, and I can sense his gratitude.

  “It’s just a conversation,” I say. “And if it doesn’t work—”

  “We’ll turn around and swim right back.”

  I nod. Tellin slips out the front do
or, and I head back to Daddy’s office, to try to explain why I’m leaving before the meeting to discuss the problem I was so desperate to solve just minutes ago. I hope he never has to know.

  Swimming over Acropora on our way to the palace, I can see things have changed. Many of their once-flourishing coral reefs are pale and lifeless. Their structures look tattered around the edges and in need of some routine maintenance. And their streets and plazas, which I remember always bustling with merfolk, are practically empty.

  I know Tellin said his people were seeking better lives on land and in other kingdoms, but hearing and seeing the truth are two different things.

  “Tellin, I . . .” I’m not sure what to say. “I’m sorry your kingdom is dying?” “Wish I could help?”

  I’m trying, but I don’t think that’s what he wants to hear.

  “I know,” he says, swimming faster, like he’s embarrassed by the state of his world. “Let’s just get to my father and get this over with.”

  I force the tears from my eyes, knowing Tellin won’t appreciate the sympathy. Right now, being here with him and trying to talk his father out of his crazy plan is enough.

  Inside, the palace looks even more run-down than the rest of the city. It’s like the king diverted funds from his own household to help his people first. I have to admire that.

  “Father,” Tellin calls out as we reach the royal chamber.

  “What?” the old man’s voice barks from within.

  “I have Princess Waterlily with me.” Tellin gives me a hopeful look. “She wants to speak with you.”

  “Waterlily, eh?” he grumbles. “Well what are you waiting outside for?” he says. “Bring the guppy in.”

  I remember visiting the palace as a girl, being awed by the royal chamber. Even compared to Thalassinian standards, it had been impressive. In American colonial times, Acropora had been the center of a lot of pirating activity. That, in turn, led to a lot of pirate loot winding up within their borders.

  A lot of times, the reason a pirate couldn’t find his hidden booty—even with an X-marks-the-spot treasure map—was because some crafty Acroporan merperson had snuck up on land, dug it up, and claimed it as his own.

  The royal chamber had been decorated with priceless gems and pieces of eight and other precious human treasures.

  As I swim inside now, I’m shocked to see the walls and ceiling stripped bare. All the wealth that was on display is gone, leaving a chipped surface.

  The situation here must have been deteriorating for years. Decades, even. They must have gradually stripped the valuable decorations to boost the treasury, to pay royal employees, and to buy goods from other kingdoms. Their backup reserves are all gone now.

  At my gasp, Tellin cuts me a warning look.

  I nod. He doesn’t want me putting his father on the defensive about the state of the chamber. I draw my gaze away from the condition of the room and instead focus on the king himself. Seated in his throne, surrounded by several guards and what look like advisers, he sends them all away.

  King Gadus looks like a shell of his former self, even worse than when I saw him at the council meeting. His skin is pale—not fair-skin pale, like mine, but ghostly pale with a grayish tint. There are dark bags under his eyes, and he is hunkered over in the throne, like a merman far older than I know he is.

  It’s heartbreaking.

  “I can guess why you’re here,” he says to me, throwing his son an angry glare. “You can’t talk me out of it.”

  “Your highness,” I say, swimming closer. “You can’t think—”

  “Call me Gadus, girl,” he barks. “We’ve known each other long enough.”

  “Gadus,” I say, beginning again, “you can’t think that this is the way to fix things.”

  “I witnessed your first attempt to fix things at that absurd council meeting. I’m an old merman,” he says. “My kingdom is dying, and so am I. There aren’t many choices left.”

  “This is not the right one,” I insist. “Tellin and I are working on a plan to get help for your kingdom—for all the kingdoms.”

  “Working on a plan.” He practically spits. “How long will that take? Weeks? Months? Years? Neither I nor Acropora have that kind of time.”

  “Then we’ll make it happen faster,” I say. “I will personally raid Thalassinia’s stores and send everything we can spare. My father has already agreed to accept and provide for as many Acroporan refugees as we can support, and I’m sure we can get other kingdoms to agree to do the same.”

  Eventually, I add silently.

  “It is not enough!” Gadus slams his fist against the arm of his throne.

  “And you think starting a war will solve things?” I have to get through to him, and if he’s worried about his kingdom, I have to make him see that this is the worst choice for his people.

  “War comes at a great cost to a kingdom,” I say. “It takes resources you don’t have and risks the lives of the very people you’re trying to save.”

  Gadus drops his head, and he’s silent for so long, I start to think he’s fallen asleep. I look at Tellin, but he’s staring blankly at the ceiling.

  I swim closer.

  When Gadus lifts his head, I’m shocked to see his gray eyes sparkling. My heart aches for his pain.

  “What other choice do I have, Lily?” he asks, and I get the feeling he is actually asking. He really wants my advice.

  I wish I had an easy answer. I don’t even have a certain answer, but I give him the only advice I have.

  “Have patience,” I say. “As much as you can find. And faith. You have to trust that your fellow merfolk will do what’s right in the end.”

  Gadus snorts. “My fellow merfolk are idiots. They think breaking oil rigs and sinking ships is going to solve the ocean’s problems. How can I expect them to help me when they’re too dumb to help themselves?”

  “You know about the sabotage efforts?” I ask.

  “Of course,” he grumbles. “That damn fool clownfish Dumontia came calling at my door, asking Acropora to join the cause. Threw her out on her ear, I did.”

  “Dumontia?” The queen of Glacialis. “She’s behind it?”

  Gadus nods, and I kick forward to plant a kiss on his wrinkled cheek. This is exactly what I needed to know. If I know who’s behind the sabotage, then maybe I can talk her out of her plan.

  “Promise me you won’t start a war,” I say, “and I think I know how to turn things around.”

  Gadus shakes his head sadly. “You’re right,” he replies. “We don’t have the resources to feed our staff, let alone an army.”

  “I promise you, Gadus,” I say, “I will find a way to get you more help.”

  “I hope so,” he says. “My kingdom is fast running out of options.”

  “Come on, Tellin,” I shout, pushing away from the throne and grabbing him by the wrist. “We have to get back to Thalassinia. We have a long journey to prepare for.”

  “Where are we going?” he asks.

  “To the arctic,” I reply. “We have to talk to a queen.”

  Chapter 19

  First thing Monday morning, I see Quince off with a pair of royal guards to swim him home. Daddy and his advisers—and Peri, who came for the meeting and stuck it out to the end, even though I wasn’t there—have agreed that a series of royal visits from the king himself will convince the other rulers that the sabotage plan is a big mistake. I doubt that’s going to help, but they clear his schedule, and he and his advisers will leave for Marbella Nova shortly after Tellin and I leave.

  Maybe a kingly presence will make a difference, but I’m not betting on it. I’m starting at the top.

  When I told Daddy my plan, he wanted to delay his first visit and escort me to Glacialis. After some arguing and insisting and giving him the same argument I gave before my confrontation with King Zostero, he relents. He understands this is my mission, and I want to do it on my own, without Daddy’s weight behind me—if I can.

  So, o
nce Quince is safely away and Tellin, Peri, and I have a dozen guards to escort us, Daddy uses his trident to whip up a powerful enough current to get us to Glacialis in record time.

  “The return current will begin about two hours after your expected arrival time,” he tells me.

  “That should be long enough,” I say. “Either she’ll see reason by then, or she’ll have kicked us out.”

  Daddy nods. “Be careful, daughter. And good luck.”

  “Thanks,” I say, giving him a quick hug before swimming back to join my group. “We’ll need it.”

  We leave the palace, swimming east, where we run into the enhanced current. Usually Daddy’s current boost is at the fast end of normal for the given waters, but I doubt the Gulf Stream has ever flowed this quickly before. I give Peri a look that says, “Here goes nothing,” and we move into the fast-flowing water. Tellin and the school of guards swim in after us.

  Staying streamlined, the flow speeds us north, through the kingdom of Trigonum, into Nephropida and then Rosmarus. Every mile brings us into cooler and cooler temperatures. Even though it’s practically summer, the water around us is freezing cold. Everyone in our group uses mer powers to warm the sea around us so we are traveling in a bubble of lukewarm water.

  Finally, as the current takes us through the Strait of Belle Isle, we emerge in the southernmost tip of Glacialis.

  The water up here is different. Not just colder, although it definitely is that, but it feels different. It looks different. Crisper blues and denser liquid. And whether because of its geography or the melting ice caps Dumontia claims are desalinating their waters, the salt content is far lower than in Thalassinia.

  “The palace is just on the other side of that ice wall,” Peri says.

  She has really done her research.

  I nod and follow her direction, swimming toward the vertical sheet of ice and then around it. On the other side I see a palace that looks like something out of a fairy tale.

  The entire structure is pure white, so white the glacial blues of the world around it reflect off its surfaces. I count at least a dozen spires, sharp angular things thrusting up toward the surface like icy stalagmites.