by Amy Sumida
“You're such a party popper,” Declan said.
“It's 'party pooper,'” Banning corrected.
“No; it can't be.” Declan made a disturbed face. “That's disgusting.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The ride to the Sgáthan Sea took less than half an hour. Declan's kingdom was the only Jewel Kingdom that bordered the Sgáthan, and the castle had been built close enough to benefit from that fact. Before Declan and I had become consorts, he had taken me to go skinny dipping in the sea in the middle of the night—while Torin was sleeping, no less. Yes; Declan had ulterior motives, but mainly he'd wanted to show me what an ocean in Tír na nÓg was like. Well, it was magical and full of Lesser Fey.
At the time, I had met only one lesser fey; an asrai named Tell. We'd made a deal; I carried a portion of his water into the Human Realm—a type of birth for an asrai—and the new him contacted the Asrai of Earth to help me find some missing sirens. But there was more between us now.
I had helped defend Primeval from being taken over by Jotun. The Primeval Forest was home to most of the Lesser Fey of Tír na nÓg and it encompassed nearly all of the oceans. The Sgáthan was the only one the sidhe could reach, and even then, they could only get to the shore that abutted Alexandrite. So, when I had defended Primeval, I had also defended the oceans. In gratitude, the Sea Fey had brought my aunt back to life as an asrai and had offered me an alliance.
I wasn't sure what an alliance with the Water Fey entailed, but I was about to find out.
“The ability to throw my voice is really coming in handy,” I said as I shucked off my shoes.
“Will it carry far enough?” Banning asked.
“Not as far as sonar,” I said. “But Tell heard me the last time Declan brought me out here.”
Banning, Gage, and Torin looked at Declan in question.
“After the battle, I brought Elaria here so she could thank Tell for speaking highly of her and influencing the other water fey into forming an alliance and reviving Daphne,” Declan explained.
“Ah,” Torin said, and the other men nodded.
I pulled off my dress to reveal my swimsuit; it was one I had brought over from Earth specifically for the purpose of swimming in the Sgáthan. The men had loose pants on, and they shirked off their shirts before they joined me to wade into the water. Gage was the only one with hair short enough that he didn't have to braid it; the rest of us had plaited our hair back so it wouldn't get in our way while swimming.
This time, I wouldn't need Tell's Kiss of the Sea in order to breathe underwater. Declan had brought underwater breathing potions for us instead. They would give us the ability to stay beneath the surface for over eight hours, but one gulp of air would negate the spell. So, we had to be careful to stay submerged until we wanted to leave.
“Drink all of it,” Declan said as he handed out the potions.
We had brought a group of knights with us, but they were staying behind to guard the horses and the shore. They started making a fire on the beach as my consorts and I drank our potions.
“Now, quickly.” Declan motioned us into deeper water. “Get beneath the surface.”
We dove in, and as soon as the water covered me, I felt the magic take hold. It shivered through my body; making me gasp uncontrollably. But when I drew the water into my lungs, it transformed into air. I steadied myself and looked around for the others. They were only a few feet away and drew closer after their potions had taken effect. When we were all together, I projected my voice into the water and called to Tell.
Asrai could become water. This ability allowed them to be able to sense things happening at great distances away, and also to cross those distances rapidly. They simply dispersed and reformed. So, it wasn't long before Tell took shape before me.
Tell's puckish face—nearly feminine with its delicate features—became solid first; his full lips lifting into a smile. Deep green eyes focused on me with sparkling happiness, and an elegant hand reached out to take mine.
Welcome back, Queen of Song, Tell said in my mind.
Thank you, I thought back, and he seemed to hear me.
You're surprised that we can communicate? Tell cocked his head at me as he floated back a foot and eyed the men. We have done so before.
I thought that was because of the kiss, I said.
The telepathy wasn't in the kiss but in me. I can project my thoughts into your mind, and listen to yours, he explained. Unfortunately, you will not be able to hear your companions thoughts, but I can be an intermediary, if necessary.
Thank you, I said. Because we're here—
To ask the Water Fey to allow you to use the Golden Girdle, he finished for me. I saw it in your mind; as I saw the reason for making this request. I would give it to you now, but it's not my choice alone. So, I will take you to the Coral Court.
Like a jewel court, I mused.
Yes; that's what King Torin said. Tell sounded amused.
You're talking to both of us at the same time? I asked.
I'm talking to all of you at the same time. He grinned broadly. Though they're leaving most of the talking to you.
Well, I am the one with the alliance.
Yes, Tell nodded, and that will help as well. There is just one issue; the Coral Court is in the middle of Sgáthan. We'll need to travel faster than you and your companions are able. So, I will call for some assistance. Do not be alarmed.
Seahorses? I teased.
Tell just smiled secretively and closed his eyes. I felt something pulse through the water around us. It wasn't sonar—there was no accompanying sound—but a message was definitely sent. It was confirmed when Tell opened his eyes and nodded.
They will be here shortly.
A few minutes later, a trumpeting sound echoed through the sea, and a swirl of color appeared in the hazy distance. Within seconds, the swirl became the fluttering of silky, multicolored fins; flying out like ribbons from the bodies of five creatures the size of horses—the land variety. They had sleek bodies that ended in those swirling tails, powerful limbs with webbed paws, and long necks that held fierce, elongated heads. They swam in circles before us; twirling around each other in shafts of filtered sunlight before coming to a graceful stop.
Are those dragons? I asked in wonder.
Seadragons, Tell said with a proud smile. And they are only the first of many magnificent creatures you'll see in the Coral Court, Your Majesty.
I can hardly wait.
Then mount your seadragon, Queen Elaria. Tell waved at a bright magenta one that was closest to me, and it turned about to present me with its back. I would tell you her name, but I doubt you could pronounce it.
I just grimaced at Tell, and he laughed.
Wrap your arms around her neck and hold on, Tell said.
I did as he instructed and saw the others doing the same with their dragons.
Hold on very tightly. Tell amended.
I had a moment to grip my seadragon more tightly before she shot out like a torpedo.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
It was hard to keep my eyes open with the speed at which we were moving. I ended up laying my face against the seadragon's neck and just closing my eyes. When the beast finally began to slow, I ventured a peek and found that I could look around without the salt-sting. Next time, I'd bring goggles. Because the undersea world of the Water Fey wasn't something I wanted to miss.
Even though we had reached the shore at mid-afternoon, it was shadowy in the depths of the sea. But the Water Fey didn't dwell in darkness. As we reached the center of the Sgáthan, a soft glow greeted us. It brightened the closer we got until the light was more radiant than the daylight we'd left behind. Thousands of floating, fairy orbs illuminated one of the most magnificent castles I'd ever seen.
Spiraling, glassy spikes of crimson and coal-black coral wove together to form walls that also caged the glowing orbs so that the entire edifice shone. The tips of coral trailed above the castle like undulating fingers waving
at the surface world. Or maybe they were mocking us because their world was so very beautiful.
Gates, doors, and window frames were formed of polished gold; most barriers flung open to allow schools of fishes to swim through. Shells—the like of which I'd never seen before—were tucked into the coral walls; adding shimmering shades of blue, green, and pink as they magnified the light of the fey orbs. Glass bulged out of windows in bowl shapes; mimicking the giant pearls set around the base of the castle. Gardens of fluttering seaweed were laid out in orderly beds before the pearls; each section bordered by a golden fence. The seaweed was delicate and included sprays of berries that resembled blossoms; turning the weeds into flowers. A path led up the center of the garden; straight to the main entrance of the Coral Castle.
We swam up to the double doors, and as we did, all manner of creature and fairy turned to watch us. Serpentine heads popped up out of the soft sand and peered at us with ebony eyes. Jellyfish-like cones with layers of rippling ruffles floated up and down gracefully. Massive manta rays glided above us; trailing glowing ribbons behind them. Selkies in their seal form twirled around majestic Mermaids, and Asrai formed from the water like phantoms becoming solid. The haunting calls of larger creatures carried through the ocean, and I shivered from both the temperature and the eerie sound. I should have worn a wetsuit; I may be numb by the time we returned to land.
Something with the speed and shape of a torpedo zipped by us suddenly but had to recalculate its course when a herd of kelpies came stampeding up; sending sprays of sand blossoming in their wake. The horse-shifters reared and pawed at the water as they changed into their more human forms; sleekly muscled men with strong jaws and eyes that were completely cocoa-brown. They strutted up to the castle; wrapping woven loincloths around their waists as they came.
There was so much color and movement that I was frozen still; I just stood on the mammoth clamshell that served as a porch and stared about me. I wasn't alone in my astonishment either. My consorts were there beside me; swaying a little in the gentle current as they gaped at the wonder of the undersea world.
The undersea world, I said to myself.
Yes; so it is. Tell lifted a brow at me.
Oh; it just reminded me of a song.
A song! Tell's eyes lit up. That would be the perfect way to convince the court to decide in your favor. A gift puts everyone in a better mood.
But I can't... oh, yeah; I can. I smiled at him excitedly and then projected my voice to say, “I can even play music down here with Kyanite's help.”
Music of the land played beneath the waves, Tell said wistfully. Now, that would indeed be a gift. But perhaps keep to speaking internally for now; your voice carries a bit too far for privacy.
Oops. I made a face. Sorry about that.
It's quite all right, Your Majesty. Tell smirked. Everyone already knows of your ability to project; they hear you when you call for me.
Of course, they do. I rolled my eyes; I hadn't considered that I'd been broadcasting my call to the entire ocean.
No one minds; you rarely visit.
Oh, good. I said with relief. Then could you tell the sea folk I'm here to sing for them?
Already done, Your Majesty, Tell said.
Then he frowned at the Kelpies as they walked by. The Kelpies laughed, Tell bared his teeth, and one of the horse-shifters winked at me before he followed his friends through the main doors.
What was that about? I asked.
I saw a similar question on my consorts' faces, and I assume Tell gave them an explanation, but I don't think it was the same one he gave me. At least, I hoped not.
I doubt they would have reacted as well as I to Tell's comment of; They were commenting on how you stared at their manhoods.
I what? Then I thought about it. Okay. Yeah; maybe I did. But I hadn't expected them to be, well; hung like horses.
Tell laughed boisterously, but underwater it was more of an echoing clang. I hoped my music translated better.
It will, Kyanite said. I am magic, after all.
Tell's eyes went wide. Is that your stone?
You can hear him? I was just as shocked as he.
If it's in your head, I can hear it, Tell said.
Yes; I am Kyanite, my jewel declared; immensely pleased to be heard by another being.
It's an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. Tell bowed.
Did you just make Kyanite a king? I smirked.
He is the power behind the throne, is he not? Tell asked shrewdly. I believe that makes him royalty.
I like him very much, Kyanite said to me.
My consorts were frowning again. I waved away their concern as Tell and Kyanite kept conversing through my mind.
And it is our honor to be welcomed here, Kyanite went on grandly. Thank you for being hospitable to my lady.
We are most pleased to be allied with a jewel queen for the first time, Tell kept speaking formally.
I widened my eyes at Tell. The first time? You've never allied with a jewel monarch before?
Never, Kyanite and Tell said together.
You are a connection to more than the world above, Song Queen, Tell explained. Through you, we can reach other realms. It is a good alliance; worth the break in tradition.
Queen Elaria, a feminine voice said in my mind.
I turned to see a mermaid treading water behind me; a mermaid I actually knew.
Janae! I leaned out and hugged her. I never got the chance to thank you personally. There aren't enough words to express my gratitude— I had to pause to collect myself; tears were gathering in my eyes, and even though they immediately dispersed into the sea, I still had to blink them away.
Your Majesty, it was our great pleasure and honor to call your aunt's soul back into life. You are most welcome.
On behalf of my family as well; thank you for Daphne, I went on despite her gracious acceptance.
How is she adjusting? Janae asked kindly.
Very well, I said. She loves living in the ocean. Although, I think she would like this ocean far better than those on Earth.
We would love to have her visit, a new voice came into our conversation; this one male.
A mermaid—I mean, merman—with a chest hard enough to bounce golf balls off, swam up beside us. He had an indigo tail that shimmered green which matched his hair perfectly. But his eyes were as dark as my hair and had a calm look to them that I'd only seen on very old Beneathers. He nodded to me respectfully.
Queen Elaria, I am Lord Danyon; it's lovely to meet you at last.
Your Majesty, Lord Danyon is our most respected leader, Janae added. He is the man who gave me the shell for your aunt.
Lord Danyon—I held my hand out to him, and when he took it, I wrapped my other hand around our joined palms earnestly—you have my deepest gratitude as well as that of the Sirens and Spellsingers.
It was the least we could do for the queen who freed the trees and saved our seas, he said smoothly. And I'm told that you will honor us with a song. Now, that is something I have never witnessed beneath the surface, and I have seen a lot, Your Majesty.
Then I'm looking forward to showing you something new, I said.
We both are, Kyanite interjected.
He just couldn't get enough of speaking to strangers.
Lord Danyon widened his eyes and then chuckled. This, as well, is new for me. Welcome to the Coral Court, Your Royal Majesties, Royal Consorts, and Royal Jewel. Please come inside; my people are eager to meet you.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lord Danyon and Janae shifted their tails into legs so they could walk beside us. They did it with such casual swiftness that they were covered with glittering swaths of cloth before I realized that they had briefly been nude. I guess underwater, where fairies were often shifting, public nudity was common but in an ironically civilized way.
Lord Danyon waved out his hand, and a strong current swept by and opened the golden double-doors of the Coral Castle for us. I had expected t
he floor to be sand, and, in a way, I guess it was. Or at least it had been once; before it had been melted into glass. And these weren't glass panels either; the sand had been melted where it lay—as evidenced by the way the glass rippled out from the center of the hallway and up against the opalescent white walls like waves on a shore. Beneath the thick layer of blue-tinged glass, the remaining sand showed through; adding a creamy gold to the blue. It was truly the loveliest floor I'd ever seen. Looking up, I found carvings and etchings in gold, ivory, and stone adorning the silky walls, and the ceiling was speckled with the little fairy lights.
It was a nice, neutral background, and I was grateful for that. Because the denizens of the deep were a vibrant lot. Mermaids draped in pearls and jewels swam by with tails of poppy-pink, cardinal-red, ivy-green, iris-purple, and sunshine-yellow. Undines strode by wearing only garlands of shells, but they were magnificent shells; from miniature to massive. Asrai took shimmering shapes that went from transparent to opaque, and tentacled creatures pulsed from ultramarine to orange. Even the Selkies wore vibrantly colored costumes, with only the dark umber of their seal cloaks to tame them. And among them all, swam glistening fishes of every shape and size; schools of them maneuvering in ways that reminded me of the ballet.
I was glad that I was barefoot; otherwise, I may have slipped on the floor. And falling underwater wouldn't have been a quick humiliation. I imagine I would have tumbled about in a ridiculous manner for a good minute. Amid the graceful Coral Court, that would have been horrifying. It was bad enough that I was wearing a black swimsuit. I felt drab and very underdressed. Oh, and cold; let's not forget cold.
Your Majesty. A selkie woman held out a lime-green gown to me. For your visit.
Thank you. I accepted the gown with sincere gratitude.
My consorts were slipping into coats that they had been simultaneously offered.
Was it that obvious? I asked Tell.
You were thinking quite loudly, Tell explained with a smile. And we want you to be comfortable here.
