“I am going for a quick trip; I should be back tomorrow. Keep your ship here and wait for me,” he told the women, as he transferred several items from his pack to the waxed canvas bag that awaited him. He stripped off his boots and his shirt.
“Don’t try to sell those!” he said with a grin, then he grabbed his bag and dove from the ship into the water.
Streak came up beside him and Marco immediately grabbed hold of the creature’s fin, as they started in motion.
Ten minutes later the dolphin swerved left, then came right, and Marco knew they were entering the lagoon of the merfolks’ village.
“Thank you,” Marco told his companion. The flaming circle in the center of the lagoon was burning brightly, just as Marco had left it late in the previous fall. “Take me to the fire please,” he requested, and Streak adjusted his course to head directly to the stony platform where the fire burned.
“I will be okay now,” Marco told Streak. “Thank you to you and to all the dolphins, who have been my friends and allies. May you always have open seas and easy fish to catch,” he intoned the formal phrase that Kieweeooee had taught him.
“And may you always swim with a pod of friends,” Streak correctly replied, as Marco released his grip on the dolphin. The sleek shape smoothly turned and swam back towards the exit to the sea, as Marco sat by the fire, contemplating his arrival at the village.
When he had last left the village of the merfolks, he had been a different person, it seemed. He hadn’t known Cassius or Pesino, hadn’t journeyed through the winter mountains or faced the wrath of the Echidna, nor gone through the underworld. He hadn’t traveled with a spirit or revived Iasco or married Mirra. He had been seemingly innocent and unaware of all that was expected of him, and he momentarily wished he could have that innocence back.
There was one obvious way to announce his return to the village and get the attention of the merfolks as well as Glaze and Porenn. He stood up and placed his waterproof bag on the stone platform, hoping that it had really been waterproof, then he turned and faced the fire.
Marco pointed his right hand at the fire, then closed his eyes and focused his attention on undoing the magical power he had done before; he willed the fire to go out. There was a momentary whooshing sound, and when Marco opened his eyes he was surrounded by darkness. He heard a pair of voices in the surrounding village exclaim in surprise, assuring him that the loss of the flame had been noticed. Marco turned, and sat down, and waited for visitors to arrive to examine the end of the fire.
A minute later he saw a head pop up from the surface of the water, and two more quickly followed.
“A human!” one voice gasped, and all three heads disappeared beneath the surface again.
There was movement taking place within the village; Marco could see merfolk moving among the homes and buildings in the distance, and minutes later, a number of heads popped up out of the dark water.
“Who has come into our village?” Marco recognized the voice of Neptin, the leader of the village.
“My name is Marco. I am a friend of Kreewhite. I came here last year seeking shelter from a storm, and started this fire. Tonight I have returned,” Marco said in a calm voice. “I have come to find my friends who remained here; I want to take them home.”
There were startled gasps among those who surrounded him, some of whom had spears, Marco could faintly see.
“We remember you, Marco,” Neptin said. “I am surprised to see you return after so long an absence. Was your journey to find the Echidna successful?”
“It was,” Marco said calmly. “We found the lair of the Echidna, we fought the monster, defeated it in battle, and escaped with some of its scales.” There were gasps from those in the water upon hearing the claim of success in a confrontation with the mother of all monsters.
“And where are your companions, Cassius and Pesino? We sent two strong and wily merfolks to travel with you,” Neptin probed.
“I do not know where they are now,” Marco admitted. “They were wonderful companions. They were loyal and faithful, honest and resourceful, everything I could have ever asked for in companions on a long and perilous journey. But we became separated on our way back from facing the Echidna, and I have not seen them since. I think they could be safe and happy.” He believed that claim; their path out of the underworld should have been less perilous than his.
“You were lost from them? Lost at sea?” Neptin probed.
“No,” Marco sighed. He was about to unleash a storm of controversy he knew, but he was only going to tell the truth. “We were separated when we journeyed through the underworld; our escape from the Echidna led through many strange caves that led us to the underworld. It was while we were preparing to leave the underworld that we ran into a problem and were separated.”
The crowd around him stirred and whispered uneasily.
“That’s quite a story,” Neptin said in a deceptively calm voice. “What river of the underworld did Cassius and Pesino swim in?”
Here it comes, Marco thought to himself.
“They were not swimming; they were walking. They had taken a potion to transform from merfolks into humans,” he said.
There was a tremendous uproar all around.
“They can change back, if they wish,” he spoke loudly, and repeated himself, as the group of merfolks slowly quieted.
“They were changed into humans?” Neptin asked ominously.
“They did it voluntarily,” Marco said. “They knew that my quest required us to follow an overland route. And they did very well as humans. They were tough and reliable and overcame all the challenges,” he hoped he made Cassius and Pesino sound heroic. They had been heroic, in fact, he reflected.
“But they are not here now. I do not know where they are, but Ophiuchus told me they were doing well,” he said.
“Who told you?” Neptin asked.
“The spirit of the island, Ophiuchus. She is the one who sent me on the quest to get the Echidna’s scale last time,” he explained. “She has guided my steps for much of my journey. She has told me that the battles we fight are for the good of all creatures and people.”
There was a murmur among the merfolks who were gathered.
“Ophiuchus is our own patroness. If Marco is doing her work, we should support him and help him,” Marco heard Kreewhite’s voice call from the edge of the gathering.
“What proof do we have that this boy really is doing the spirit’s work?” a different voice asked.
“She revealed her island to us,” Kreewhite answered. “When Marco and I were swimming by, she lifted the cloak around the island so that we could see it and go there. And the human girl here, Porenn, is one of her acolytes.”
“I have her mark on my chest,” Marco added, remembering the flower shape that had been marked upon him in the cavern of the island on his first trip there.
"May we see this mark?" Neptin asked in a tone that Marco thought was less adversarial than prior.
"Yes, certainly," Marco agreed, and he proceeded to remove his pack, exposing the flower tattoo that had been hidden beneath the strap. "Let me help you to see it," he offered as he raised his hand and caused light to burst forth.
"You're a sorcerer!" someone in the crowd exclaimed.
"I don't think of myself as a sorcerer," Marco replied. "But I do have a gift," he agreed.
"Here is the mark," he pointed as he bent lower to let Neptin and those nearby see clearly.
"Please release my friends," Marco repeated his request. "I want them to have freedom."
Neptin did not answer immediately. "I will consider your request in the light of day," he said at last. "Let Kreewhite carry you to the land for the evening so that you may be with them, and we will address this in the morning."
Marco doused the light from his hand, and accepted the postponement of the decision. It was not a flat denial, and he could say more in the morning to try to plead his case further, if necessary.
"Marc
o!" Kreewhite came splashing up to the platform enthusiastically. "I didn't know if we'd ever see you again!" the merboy cried. "It's so good to see you! Grab on," he said.
Marco dropped down into the waters of the lagoon and placed his hands around Kreewhite’s shoulders as his friend began to pull him towards the shoreline.
"Glaze and Porenn will be so happy to see you," Kreewhite exclaimed. "They must be dying to know what's going on out here."
Less than a minute later Marco released his hold on his friend and stood in the surf of the beach, where gentle waves lapped at his thighs.
"Is it Marco?" Porenn's voice called anxiously as two figures approached from the shoreline.
"It is!" Glaze confirmed as he reached Marco and embraced him in a vigorous hug. Porenn reached the spot and joined in the physical expression of joy seconds later.
After a long, silent hug, Marco released his grip on the others and stepped back, surprised by what he had seen.
"Let me look at you," he said. And he raised his hand to add light to the faint glow of the stars above.
"There's more of me to look at," Porenn replied before Marco’s light had even flared forth, confirming what he suspected and what was confirmed a moment later as his hand shed light on the tableau. Porenn was pregnant.
Chapter 20 – The Memories Lost
"We're in love," Glaze immediately spoke up.
"All the merfolks approve of them as a couple. They seem suited to one another; they are together every time we see them," Kreewhite spoke up from the surf.
“We are together all the time,” Porenn agreed with a smile. “We’d love to leave the island, but how can we leave?”she asked.
“There’s a ship anchored offshore waiting for me,” Marco told the others. “They are taking me to the Lion City," Marco answered, "but we could ask the captain to take you to Barcelon afterwards. She probably won't take you to the Isle," he looked at Glaze with a straight face.
"It depends on Lord Neptin," Kreewhite spoke up. "He may not want to let you leave until Cassius and Pesino return."
There followed a retelling of the conversation by the fire platform, and then a long conversation as Marco recounted some of his adventures during his journeys after leaving the merfolk’s home, and it was nearly dawn before he fell asleep, exhausted, in the simple hut that Glaze and Porenn had constructed for their home.
"We need to get up for breakfast," Glaze told Marco just a short time later as he nudged the newcomer’s shoulder. "Porenn gathered some fruits, and we don't want her efforts to go unappreciated." Marco smiled at Glaze's concern for the girl. Glaze was now his brother-in-law, and it appeared likely that Porenn would be his sister-in-law in the near future. They only needed to get off the atoll to do so.
After a healthy meal, the three walked down to the shoreline. Already, several of the merfolk were gathered by the fire platform, and a small fire was burning, fueled by wood once again. Kreewhite and his mother soon approached the humans, and transported them to the fire platform.
"Marco, human and sorcerer," Neptin began, "after careful consideration of your request, I am mindful that it would be merciful to allow these two young humans to live among their own kind once again, especially since the female is expecting a pup.
"Yet I am also mindful that our original agreement called for the return of our two members who accompanied you, and they are not only not present, but we have only your word as to their well-being," Neptin continued. "And this morning several members of the village raised a new point that took me by surprise. So I have a proposition for you.
"You and your friends will be allowed to depart if you can address two conditions. The first condition is that you assure me that word of our location will not be released and spread among humans, for if that were to happen, our safety would be gone and we would be forced to flee. Can you satisfy me on this account?" Neptin asked.
Marco sensed that the wily village chief believed that he had outfoxed the human with a reasonable but impossible condition.
"My lord, I can give you satisfaction," Marco answered immediately, raising a murmur among the assembled crowd.
"I realize your need for secrecy, and I brought my alchemy kit that will allow me to prepare a potion that will be given to the members of the ship's crew, so that they will forget that the past day ever happened. And Porenn and Glaze will pledge not to reveal your existence or location, and because they are not sailors, they couldn't tell anyone where to find you anyway.
"What is your second condition?" Marco asked, as he noted the thoughtful expressions on the faces of those nearby. He had managed to convince at least some listeners that he had an answer.
Neptin stared silently at Marco, weighing his words. "That may be satisfactory," he said slowly, and Marco suppressed a grin, knowing that he had won the first contest.
Neptin smiled, surprising Marco. "This morning we discovered that over the past several months, we have enjoyed having your eternal flame available to use for cooking without having to continually carry wood to the platform. Would you re-establish a smaller, less visible flame that we may continue to use?" the village leader asked.
Marco did burst out laughing at the irony of the second request, so much at odds with the initial dissatisfaction the village chief had felt about the fire. He turned to where dying flames rose from a bed of embers. He focused his thoughts on the requested fire, and made new flames arise, then slowly closed his fingers partway together as he adjusted the flame size down. He reached a point that he thought would produce enough cooking heat without being visible from the sea, and stopped. He released his focus and dropped his hand, then turned back to Neptin.
"Is that satisfactory, my lord?" he asked.
"Perfect!" a female voice cried from the audience, and the group broke into laughter.
Even Neptin smiled. "Well human, perhaps you've satisfied my conditions. I'm still concerned with what you tell me about Cassius and even Pesino."
"My lord, they were the best companions, better than I could have asked for. You did me a great favor when you sent them with me; I love them both. If ever I can help them in any way, I shall," Marco said solemnly.
"Then your human companions are released, and your dolphin friends may take you out to your vessel. We will trust that you are true to your word that there will be no memory among the others about this place," Neptin said.
Some of the merfolk came to speak to Glaze and Porenn, clearly friendly with the freed hostages, while Neptin and most others swam away.
Marco pulled items out of his alchemy kit and began to concoct the potion he had planned to remove the memory of the island from the crew members of the sailing ship that waited out at sea. Within an hour the three humans were climbing up the side of the ship to the astonishment of the women on board, who had been ready to sail away without Marco.
"Thank you captain," Marco said as he helped Porenn climb onto the deck, followed by Glaze.
"Who are these, where did they come from, and why are they on my ship?" the young captain asked.
"My lady," Marco began. The next steps would be delicate, he knew. The manner of his sudden departure the night before had made him suspect in the eyes of the sailors he was sure.
"My lady, these are refugees and companions of mine, and I will ask a favor of you on their behalf. First though, I ask that you do me a favor and drink from this jar, all of you. Then we will discuss my friends," he said.
"Is it rum?" one of the crew members asked with a laugh.
"If it is, I want double," someone else laughed.
"Try it and see," Marco offered. "It will do you no harm." He held the jar out, and the rough-looking woman took a swig.
"It doesn’t taste like rum," she said thoughtfully, "more like gin."
The jar quickly passed through the hands of the other crew members, until the captain held it as the only person not to drink. "What is this?" she asked Marco.
"You'll never have any regrets about dr
inking it," Marco said with a twinge of guilt over the clever phrasing. He wanted the captain to take it quickly, before it took effect on the crew and aroused her suspicions.
She glanced at him suspiciously, then tipped the jar up to her lips and swallowed a swig.
"What's that, skipper?" one of the crew asked, no longer remembering her own drink of the potion.
"Who are these?" the woman added in surprise at the sight of Porenn and Glaze, still dripping seawater after climbing onboard.
Another crewman looked at the newcomers in surprise as well.
"I can answer," Marco tried to sound reassuring. "May we set sail away from here first?" he asked.
The captain gave the orders for the crew to raise anchor and set sail, then turned to Marco.
“I can explain,” Marco began, stalling to make sure that the captain fell under the influence of his potion as well. “This is Porenn, a former acolyte of the Temple of Ophiuchus, and this is my brother-in-law,” he paused for a moment to grin at the title, “Glaze. These two were stranded on an island several months ago,” he said. He paused and waited for the captain’s reaction.
“And so how did they get on board our ship?” the captain asked.
“You probably don’t remember,” Marco began.
“No, I don’t. I was standing here, and suddenly here you and they are. Dripping wet,” she answered.
“We have rescued them. You won’t remember when or where, and you’re not supposed to. There’s no harm done, but this is how it must be,” Marco said firmly.
The captain stared at him with her hands on her hips, then shook her head and walked away.
“She doesn’t remember! They really don’t remember!” Glaze said in wonderment. “Marco, you’re extraordinary!”
Marco smiled, as he thought about the time he had developed the cure for the plague that had been decimating the population of Barcelon. He had developed it to treat Glaze, at the request of Mirra. That had been a more miraculous feat of alchemy than the forgetfulness potion, he thought, but for Glaze the perspective was different.
Scarlet From Gold (Book 3) Page 23
