She reached out and touched the pearl very gently. ‘Sing,’ she whispered.
The pearl began to give off the high, sweet note that she had heard before. Then suddenly a second note joined in, as sweet as the first but deeper.
Startled, Lizzy looked up at Jack. ‘It didn’t do that before!’ she said. ‘That second note – what is it?’
Jack smiled. ‘This.’
He reached to his own neck, and drew out a mother-of-pearl locket exactly like her own.
‘I made them for you and Kes when you were born,’ he said. ‘This one has a secret compartment too – look.’
To Lizzy’s delight a tiny section of Jack’s locket opened. Inside was another shining pearl. But where Lizzy’s pearl was silver, this one was deepest black – and the black pearl was also singing.
Lizzy gasped in astonishment as the sounds of the two singing pearls grew louder and louder, until the air was filled with a beautiful harmony.
‘Better close them away now, before anyone else hears them,’ said Jack. He shut his locket, and reluctantly Lizzy did the same. Slowly the singing faded, then it was gone, leaving only the sounds of the sea and the wind.
Lizzy looked up at Jack. ‘Wh-what does it mean?’ she asked in a whisper.
‘These two pearls have a very special link,’ Jack replied. ‘When one of them sings, the other answers, and if it isn’t far away the first pearl “hears” it and echoes its voice. The closer they are, the louder the singing becomes.’ He smiled. ‘When you were stolen I hoped that the black pearl would help me to find you, so I took it with me in the locket I’d made for Kes.’ He gave a little laugh. ‘I must have sailed three times round the world in the last eleven years, and every day I asked the black pearl to sing. But the silver pearl never sang in reply.’
‘Because they were too far away from each other?’
‘Yes. But not long ago I arrived in Brittany – how I got there is much too long a story to tell now – and, when I asked the black pearl to sing, I heard the silver pearl too. It was very faint, but it was there. I knew I was getting close to you at long last. I went to a fishing port on the coast, and I listened again. This time the silver pearl’s voice was stronger, and I had a feeling that I must come back to Cornwall.’
‘That’s why you were on the French trawler!’
Jack nodded. ‘And you know what happened after that.’
Lizzy looked out to sea. She was thinking about the lifeboat rescue, and how nearly Jack had been lost forever. She swallowed. ‘There’s still so much I don’t know, though,’ she said at last. ‘What are the pearls? Where did they come from? And why is Morvyr so afraid of anyone knowing about them?’
‘Ah, that’s the other part of the story.’ Jack looked around to see if anyone else was nearby. There were some people on the cliff path, but they were too far away to overhear anything, and he continued.
‘These pearls were once part of the mermaid Queen’s crown. There are nine of them altogether, and they all have their own magic. But the black and silver pearls are the most magical of all. If they are ever restored to their proper place, whoever wears the crown will have enormous power.’
‘Is it Taran’s crown?’ Lizzy asked.
‘Taran has it now. But Kes is right; she isn’t the true Queen. She’s a usurper. Whatever happens, the black and silver pearls must be kept out of her clutches. That’s why your mother told you not to take your locket to sea. Taran would do anything to get her hands on those two pearls and make the crown complete again. If she knew you had one, you’d be in great danger.’
Lizzy felt a shiver go through her at the thought.
‘Taran was always a troublemaker,’ Jack went on. ‘She was jealous and ambitious. She wanted to be Queen, and she was determined to get her way at any cost. So eleven years ago she gathered a group of followers – creatures as greedy and unscrupulous as herself – and they planned to attack the true Queen, Kara, and steal her magical crown.
‘The attack took Queen Kara completely by surprise. None of her loyal people were close by. When they realized what was happening, they went to the rescue, but by then it was too late. Taran got away, and they found Kara lying badly wounded in her undersea home.’
Jack’s eyes became misty. ‘Kara told them that Taran had stolen the crown and kidnapped her daughter, Karwynna. Everyone was horrified, because the nine pearls in the crown give great power to whoever wears it. But Taran didn’t have all the pearls. During the struggle Queen Kara managed to prise two of them free.’
‘The silver one and the black one…’ Lizzy breathed.
‘Yes. Taran and her henchmen fled without them when the loyal merfolk arrived. The Queen entrusted the pearls to Morvyr, and Morvyr promised that, if they could, she and her friends would somehow find a way to defeat Taran and restore the crown to the rightful heir.’ He paused. ‘A few minutes later, Queen Kara died.’
Lizzy felt a choking mixture of sadness and anger. Tears stung the backs of her eyes and she had to bite her lip in an effort to stop them from falling.
Jack understood, and reached out to squeeze her hand. ‘Your mother hid the pearls in your lockets and sealed them with protective magic,’ he went on gently. ‘Taran proclaimed herself Queen a few days later, and even with only seven pearls the crown gave her great power. But she wanted the black and silver pearls too. They’re the most powerful of all, and if she could get her hands on them, she would be almost invincible.’
‘Did she know where they were?’
‘Not for certain. She suspected that Queen Kara had given them to your mother, but she couldn’t do anything about it because I was there.’ Jack’s eyes glinted angrily. ‘I wasn’t afraid of Taran, and she knew it.’
Lizzy was beginning to understand. ‘So that’s why she kidnapped me! She wanted to lure you away, so that there was no one to protect Morvyr!’
‘That’s right. She laid a false trail that made us think you’d been taken far across the sea, and I followed the trail to search for you.’
‘But what about Taran? Weren’t you afraid of what she’d do to Morvyr if you weren’t there?’
Jack shook his head. ‘We both knew she wouldn’t do anything. She could search every cranny of our home, but she wouldn’t find the pearls, because they were hidden in the lockets. You were wearing yours when you were stolen, and I took Kes’s with me.’
‘Taran must have been furious!’
‘I’m sure she was. But if she harmed Morvyr she’d never find out where the pearls had gone. So we knew your mother would be safe.’
Lizzy nodded. ‘And now,’ she said musingly, ‘we’ve both come home, and so have the pearls.’ She looked up. ‘Do you think we can make Morvyr’s promise to Queen Kara come true?’
Jack smiled at her. ‘Is that what you’d like?’
Lizzy didn’t hesitate. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘More than anything.’
They walked home an hour later. The picnic had hardly been touched, which was a shame, but neither Lizzy nor Jack could think about food while so much else was on their minds. Lizzy felt as if her head were whirling. She had learned so many things, and all of them so astonishing, that she could hardly begin to take it all in. Only one thought was becoming clearer and clearer. They must find a way to defeat Taran and restore the mermaid Queen’s crown to Karwynna, the rightful heir.
She looked at Jack as he walked along beside her and said, ‘Where do you think Queen Kara’s daughter is now?’
‘Karwynna?’ Jack shook his head. ‘I wish I knew, Lizzy. But nobody does. Taran kidnapped her when she attacked the Queen, and Arhans says that nothing’s been heard of her since then.’ He frowned. ‘We don’t even know if she’s still alive.’
‘You think Taran killed her?’
‘I wouldn’t put anything past her.’ He looked at Lizzy, his eyes suddenly serious. ‘And that’s why I want you to be very careful when you go into the sea. Yesterday, for instance – it was wonderful to meet you like that, but
you shouldn’t have done it. Until we know more about what Taran’s up to, you could be in danger.’
Lizzy nodded soberly. ‘I understand that now. I’m sorry.’
‘Well, there was no harm done, thankfully. But in future make sure the dolphins are with you. Creatures like Tullor won’t try anything while they’re around.’
They were nearing the harbour now, where they would go their separate ways: Lizzy to her home and Jack to the Treleavens’. When they reached the road, Jack stopped.
‘I won’t be here for the next day or so,’ he said, then saw Lizzy’s expression and added, ‘It’s nothing to worry about! Jeff Treleaven is taking his fishing boat to sea early tomorrow morning, and I’m going along as extra crew.’ He smiled. ‘It’ll be good to be back at work again.’
‘Even after what happened to the French trawler?’ Lizzy asked in surprise.
‘Oh, yes! When the sea’s in your blood, you can’t stay away from it for long, no matter what.’
‘When are you coming back?’ Lizzy didn’t want him to go, though she tried to keep the disappointment from her voice.
‘Oh, we’ll only be away two or three days. Rose will soon know; Paul’s coming too, and they’re sure to be constantly texting each other!’
Lizzy laughed. ‘And when you are back,’ she said, ‘maybe it’ll be safe for Kes and Morvyr to come out of hiding.’
‘Let’s hope so. Oh – I nearly forgot. I’ve got something for you.’ He dug in a pocket and gave her a piece of folded paper. ‘When Taran usurped the throne, the merfolk made a rhyme. They used to whisper it to each other as a sign of their belief that Taran’s rule won’t last forever. No one dares say it now. But I remembered it, and I wrote it down for you.’
Lizzy unfolded the paper. The verse on it was quite short:
Red is the sunrise, Orange the sky,
Golden the shimmering sand.
Green are the pools where the small fishes lie,
Blue water rolls to the land.
Indigo shadows hide secrets in caves,
Violet the glow of the night.
But Silver and Black will call them all back
When a terrible wrong is put right.
She looked up, blinking. ‘It’s lovely.’
‘It is, isn’t it? And let’s hope it comes true.’ Suddenly he bent and kissed her forehead. ‘Take care, Lizzy. I’ll be back again soon.’
‘Can I come and see you off tomorrow?’
‘Of course you can – that would be good. See you then!’
Lizzy watched as he walked away. She thought about the rhyme and what it meant. But Silver and Black will call them all back, When a terrible wrong is put right…
Carefully she folded the piece of paper until it was as small as she could make it, opened her locket and placed the paper carefully inside. Then, with one last look at Jack’s retreating figure, she turned and headed towards her home.
Chapter Twelve
Kes woke up sluggishly and rolled over in the water, yawning and feeling muzzy-headed. He was glad to wake, because he’d been having a nightmare. In it he was swimming at night with his mother, and they had been attacked by… by…
A jolt went through him as his mind cleared and he remembered. It hadn’t been a nightmare at all – it was real!
His eyes snapped open and he stared around.
This wasn’t the open sea – and it wasn’t night. There was a strange glow all around him, a bit like sunlight but yellower and… thicker was the only word he could think of. It made everything hazy and dim, as if he were swimming in milk rather than water. There was something in front of him, a vague, undulating image – Kes swam towards it, and to his surprise bumped into a wall as solid and smooth and hard as glass.
He peered through, trying to see what was on the other side, but the thick yellow light made it difficult. There was something that looked like a pool, with a ledge running all the way round it. Above the ledge were smears of colour. They reminded him of something, though for a minute he couldn’t think what it was. Then it came back to him. A cave – his captors had brought him through the undersea tunnel into a cave, with mirrors of rainbow colours set in a circle round it –
He was behind the yellow mirror!
Quickly, feeling his way, Kes explored further along the wall. He soon realized that his suspicion was right – the wall curved round until it came back to the mirror again. He was imprisoned in a sphere of water, with no way out.
‘Hey!’ He hammered on the mirror with both fists, feeling angry now as well as frightened. ‘Let me out!’
His hammering made no sound, and he felt sure that no one beyond the mirror could hear him. Where was this place? And where was his mother? Pressing his face to the transparent surface he tried again to get a clearer view, and this time he made out something, or someone, sitting on a rock at one side of the cave’s central pool. He was sure that the figure hadn’t been there a minute ago, and his pulse quickened as he recognized the familiar shape of a long shining tail.
‘Mother?’ he shouted. ‘Mother!’
The shape moved. It was a mermaid, but her hair was black, not gold. Kes’s hope turned to alarm. Then the mermaid raised one hand and pointed towards him.
Instantly the clear wall dissolved. Suddenly freed, the whole weight of water behind it erupted outwards, carrying Kes with it, and he tumbled out of the mirror and into the pool.
Kes plunged under and down, thrown this way and that by the churning water. At last it calmed enough for him to right himself and he surfaced. As he gasped and shook his head in an effort to clear water from his eyes, a voice said, ‘Welcome, Kesson. I am very pleased to meet you.’
The mermaid he had seen through the mirror was gazing down at him with a smile on her face. Black hair with a blue sheen cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes were brilliant emerald green. Her face was very beautiful, but it was also cruel and spiteful. On her head was a golden circlet set with seven pearls. At the foot of her rock couch another pair of eyes stared too. Tullor was there, coiled round the rock. His mouth was open and he looked as if he were grinning.
Kes stared back at them both in horror. The thought flashed across his mind, Tullor’s an eel! How can he survive out of water? but he had no time to do more than wonder before the mermaid spoke again.
‘Well?’ she demanded. ‘Haven’t you got anything to say for yourself?’ She leaned forward and the look in her eyes made Kes shiver. ‘Do you know who I am?’
Kes did know and, trembling, managed to find his voice. ‘You are… Taran…’
Tullor snarled ferociously. ‘She is Queen Taran! Say “Your Majesty” when you dare to speak to her!’
‘Be quiet, Tullor!’ Taran raised a hand and the giant eel cringed. ‘Kesson is very young, and no doubt his mother hasn’t taught him manners.’ She looked at her servant. ‘You’ve done well and you will be rewarded, but now go. I want to talk to our new friend alone.’
Tullor slid off the rock into the pool. Kes shrank back, but the eel only gave him a cold, ominous glare before disappearing below the surface without a ripple.
With Tullor gone a little of Kes’s courage crept back and he said, ‘Where’s my mother? What have you done with her?’
‘She’s safe and well, for now,’ Taran replied carelessly. Then her expression changed. ‘But if you want her to stay well, you must do as I tell you and answer my questions truthfully. Do you understand?’
Kes swallowed and nodded.
‘Good. Then come out of the water, and sit beside me.’
It was the last thing Kes wanted to do, but he dared not argue. He tried to haul himself from the pool and onto the couch. It wasn’t easy with his mer-tail, and Taran smiled as she watched his efforts.
‘Why don’t you change back into your human form?’ she asked, amused. ‘Oh, don’t look so surprised. I know all about you and your twin sister, so there’s no point in trying to hide what you are.’
Kes flushed crimson
. He willed himself to change, and when at last he managed to climb out of the water he looked like an ordinary boy.
‘That’s better,’ said Taran sweetly. ‘Now, let us talk. Do you know why you’ve been brought here?’
He shook his head. ‘No… Your Majesty.’
‘It’s very simple.’ Suddenly Taran reached out and gripped his arm. Kes winced; she was amazingly strong. She stared into his face, and her voice turned from sweetness to venom as she hissed, ‘I want the silver pearl!’
Kes started to shake with fear. ‘Th-the… silver pearl…?’ he echoed.
‘Yes! Don’t pretend that you don’t understand. I know you do. Your sister has it, in the locket she wears. And you’ve seen it, haven’t you? Morvyr revealed the secret to you and your sister.’
‘No, Your Majesty –’
‘Don’t lie to me! I know!’ Taran’s voice rose shrilly, then with an effort she got herself under control again. ‘I will have the silver pearl, Kesson. And you will help me to get it.’
Kes’s mind was spinning. How did Taran know about the pearl in Lizzy’s locket? There was only one possible answer. When Lizzy and Morvyr met for the first time, Morvyr had shown them the locket’s secret compartment. They had seen the silver pearl, and had heard the strange, high-pitched singing note it gave off when the compartment was opened. Morvyr had closed it quickly. But if Taran’s servants had been spying, they too might have heard the pearl sing.
‘Let me show you something.’ Taran took off her golden circlet and held it out. Her voice was sweet and reasonable again. ‘This is my crown, Kesson. The crown of your rightful Queen. Look more closely. See?’ She pointed to the pearls set round the circlet’s edge. ‘It’s incomplete. There should be nine pearls, but two of them are missing.’ She stared intimidatingly into his face. ‘Do you know what happened to them?’
The Black Pearl Page 7
