by Starla Night
Milly pulled back, still smiling, and turned to face Queen Zara.
Queen Zara swooped and tackle-hugged her.
Their twin lights exploded.
Love.
Xalu and Dosan tensed.
Uvim did not.
Milly’s light remained calm and happy. The sisters somersaulted in the water.
“I was so worried!” Queen Zara laughed and cried. “Why can’t you stay out of trouble? You’ll make me crazy!”
“It’s payback.” Milly rubbed her shoulders, also laugh-crying. “You went to war on a besieged city. I had to watch from the shore.”
“Okay, we’ve got to finish here.” Queen Zara pulled back and held Milly’s hands. “I’m sure you can’t hold off your ceremony until after we get done so you have to delay the wedding feast.”
Milly’s soul light flared.
Queen Zara approved their wedding.
Shock vibrated in Uvim’s chest. She approved. Did that mean…?
Milly’s chin wrinkled and her eyes reddened. She hugged Queen Zara once more. Her heartbeat stumbled. “Thank you.”
And then she returned to Uvim’s side and twined her arms around his neck.
Queen Zara rubbed her own reddened eyes and whirled on Uvim.
He stiffened.
Queen Zara’s gaze nailed his. “Warrior Uvim. You were one of the three warriors who forced me to the surface against my will.”
Her gaze flicked to Dosan. They had made amends long ago.
She refocused on Uvim. “During the battle for Dragao Azul, you were the first warrior to come to my aid. Elan reminded me. I had forgotten.”
The First Lieutenant nodded to Uvim, showing him the fairness and clear-sighted respect that had marked his original career.
“So let me tell you this.” Queen Zara rested a palm on her chest. “I’m a queen but I’m not infallible. Nobody should rule with life-or-death control. That’s not the new way. Don’t you ever let anyone — not even me — stand in the way of protecting Milly. Are we clear?”
His greatest wish was now a reality.
Emotions tumbled in his chest. Acceptance, forgiveness, encouragement. Queen Zara bestowed all on him.
Uvim nodded, unable to speak.
“All right, take additional warriors back with you to make sure you’re well-protected.” She grinned at Dosan and Uvim’s brides. “I can’t let anything happen to our new residents. Welcome.”
“Thanks,” Brides Jen and Sydney chorused.
Milly curled her arms around Uvim and laughed at Queen Zara. “You’re doing great at this ‘queen’ stuff, Zara.”
“Well, I still can’t keep Zain in his travel toddler bed.” She bid them farewell.
Elan reached out to her.
Queen Zara reached back without looking and took his hand. They meandered, together, to the dock to rejoin the grand party.
Uvim turned to Dosan, Xalu, and the new warriors who had joined as their escort.
All awaited his command.
He was still Second Lieutenant. Queen Zara had threatened to strip his title but now she supported his promotion.
“Take point.” He directed the fastest, most keen-sighted warrior and then pointed his trident to the cautious warrior who had once been his trainee. “And you, guard our retreat.”
Both warriors assumed their positions.
He ordered the other warriors to surround the brides and give total protection. Surface predators were a problem in this region. All-Council terrorists rarely trespassed here but three warriors with new brides created an unprecedented target to protect.
When they organized to his satisfaction, Uvim ensured Milly was secure in his protective arms and kicked hard. They flew through the ocean. Dosan and Xalu matched his speed, but they outpaced their guards.
Milly held on tight. “We’re leaving everyone behind. Did we hit a fast current?”
He slowed and signaled to the other couples to allow the guard to catch up. “Our resonance fuels our speed.”
“My resonance?”
“Yes.” He stroked her smooth, unscarred back. “We are more powerful together than apart.”
“Of course we are.” She pressed her grin into his bulging shoulder. “Resonance is another word for ‘synergy,’ right? We’re unstoppable when we work together for love.”
Her words filled him with steady warmth.
On the now relaxed descent to Dragao Azul, the three women chatted.
“This is my second wedding,” Jen, Dosan’s bride, mentioned. “Ian’s sad to miss it. I reminded him he ate the groom’s cake by himself, so his waistline will not share his regret.”
“His wife said she helped,” Sydney, Xalu’s bride, interjected.
“Ian’s married?” Milly asked.
The women nodded.
“She couldn’t get the time off,” Jen said. “She wasn’t expecting to be invited on my honeymoon. Obviously! She’s joining with the kids next week. Boy, are they sorry to have missed the party!”
“So, can I ask?” Milly eyed Jen. “You almost married someone else. Now, on your former honeymoon, you’re marrying a total strang— uh, I mean, an extremely honorable warrior. Didn’t you have any doubts?”
Uvim focused on Bride Jen’s answer. She and Bride Sydney had claimed their warriors overnight. Milly had taken much longer to yield to her soul’s desire.
How had they decided so quickly? Did they harbor secret doubts?
“I wasn’t worried,” Bride Sydney said.
“Yes, I was worried,” Bride Jen said.
The males looked at Dosan.
He kicked steadily, firm in his love for his bride.
Bride Jen explained. “My awful ex wouldn’t rescue me from a flat tire at night, in the rain, on a highway all alone. Yet Dosan rescued me from thugs while he was still recovering from the dynamite. I couldn’t let the ghosts of my past destroy my future. And I couldn’t let a guy this heroic go off with any other woman.”
“And I could not let a woman with such insight choose any other male,” Dosan said.
She laughed and hugged him. Their duo glowed with happy resonance.
“Get a room,” Sydney joked, and then gasped. “Can I still say that? Are there rooms in Dragao Azul?”
“There are chambers,” Xalu told her, in his deep voice. “And castles.”
“Chambers and castles? Oh, my. I could get used to this.”
“Good. You will do so.”
“Sydney,” Milly said, “you said you weren’t worried about marrying Xalu?”
“Heck no. I waited for a jerk for 10 years. This huge, muscley, gorgeous guy proposes after one day. And it’s not just his looks. Xalu valued me. He listens. He’s forthright and says what he means. No guesswork. I knew he was what I wanted right away. And he didn’t hesitate to put a ring on it, either, if you know what I mean.”
“You desire a ring?” he asked.
“See?” She squeezed him. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
And their resonance also glowed.
Uvim held Milly close. There was no greater satisfaction than her in his arms where she belonged.
“You’re being extra quiet,” Milly murmured.
“Your conversation is fascinating.”
“Oh? Are you learning about human culture?”
Yes, he was doing so. But he had noticed another facet. “Some of your conversations are informational. But some are not.”
“Oh, it’s all new. We’re getting to know each other.”
“No.” He shook his head. “There are two types of conversation. I have noticed this.”
“What? No.”
The brides disagreed, but Xalu and Dosan had also noticed two types.
He identified the types for Milly. “One conversation is for information. But the other conversation is for increasing your resonance with each other.”
“Oh.” She checked with the other brides and they agreed. “That’s normal. We don’t have th
e biofeedback to see each other’s soul lights so we have to say supportive things and hope for the best.”
“Fascinating,” he said.
She snuggled him.
While the brides discussed their lives and futures, Uvim conferenced with Xalu and Dosan about the main issue — himself and Dosan wooing a bride out of turn.
“They will not exile our brides,” Dosan vowed.
Xalu pledged his agreement. “Not so long as I wield a trident.”
That was very generous of the number one warrior.
“I will try to avoid conflict,” Uvim promised.
Dosan grinned. “Since it is you, then I am sure the elders will listen with respect.”
He swelled with the warmth of his friend’s confidence.
“You befriended and commanded thousands of humans.” Xalu lifted his chin. “The elders would be fools to ignore your wisdom.”
A lump formed in his throat.
He vibrated his thanks. “It is an honor to speak for you.”
The most honorable warrior nodded. Dosan grinned.
Uvim used the rest of the journey to prepare for the confrontation.
At the edge of Dragao Azul territory, a patrol of barely trained warriors and one shaky elder met their group.
They exchanged greetings and led the way. Their brides gasped and spoke with amazement as Dragao Azul emerged from the barren sea bottom.
The first sight of the city always lifted his heart.
In the center, the Life Tree glowed with holy brilliance, its branches stretching up. A thick stem anchored it to the sea floor.
Around the Life Tree, anchored on similar thick green stems, floated the giant orb “castles” of the city.
Summoning the army had been dangerous. It left the already-depleted city a skeleton defense. If invaders killed the Life Tree, the castles would rot and the warriors, who carried the sap of the Life Tree in their blood, would also sicken and die.
But now Uvim’s warriors had returned with three powerful queens. They would well-protect the city once more.
They flew to the king’s castle. It was the largest bulb growing closest to the Life Tree.
Uvim flew through the long entrance tunnel and emerged into the ancient central courtyard. A great garden flourished on the soil-covered floor, well-tended over the decades. Its walls were thick with inner chambers ever-expanding as the castle itself grew.
In the center of the venerable courtyard, the city’s most honorable elders floated around the king. Daggers and tridents at the ready, they prepared for war.
All turned for his greeting. In fact, the elders kicked forward and swarmed them.
The loudest elder did not notice he carried his bride. “Second Lieutenant Uvim, you returned from the surface. You must eject the Newas hunting … wait, what is all of this?”
Xalu and Dosan floated behind him with their brides, forming a mated trio.
The other warriors — their escorts — moved to the periphery for Uvim’s report.
“My king.”
Uvim bypassed the elders to greet his king as was proper.
Although the elders had, in their excitement, interrupted his progress, they approved him adhering to proper form.
Dragao Azul’s elderly king lowered his head with respect. His gaunt cheeks and weakened, though piercing, soul light was still recovering from the torture of the All-Council’s last attack.
“This is my bride,” Uvim announced. “Queen Milly.”
The elders muttered amongst themselves.
She untangled from Uvim, turned, and bowed to the king. “Nice to meet you.”
Her soul light brightened. Sweet and friendly.
Friendliness had been missing from this city for some time.
His king smiled. “Welcome, Queen Milly.”
She returned his smile. Their souls shone brighter in shared resonance. A deep, penetrating calm flooded the castle.
Loud elder Veno kicked forth. “Queen? This bride has not performed the ceremony or taken the flower. She is no queen.”
Milly smiled at the elder. Unlike Queen Zara, she remained calm after his true observation. “Well, I better get on that.”
Elder Veno frowned in confusion and repeated her phrase. “Get … on … that?”
Uvim addressed their confusion. “Do not doubt her power. She has made fins. And, from her first swim, she used her healing powers to tame a giant cave guardian.”
“Tame!”
The other elders muttered about the revelation.
Elder Veno harrumphed. “As Queen Zara’s sister, perhaps, Uvim’s bride has a precocious ability.”
Milly raised a brow. “Um, ‘Uvim’s bride’ is named Milly, and please speak directly when I’m right in front of you.”
The mutters grew more heated.
Dragao Azul had always sequestered sacred brides in the husband’s castle. The elders — and warriors — had no experience speaking with females.
Queen Zara had made Milly’s same demand. Modern brides would not be shut away, ignored, or silenced.
Dragao Azul’s elders struggled with the change.
Uvim growled. “You will speak directly.”
The king bowed again. “Many apologies, Queen Milly.”
Milly handled it better. “Oh, you’re fine. I love Zara. I hope someday you’ll find me as impressive.”
Veno blinked. The others quieted.
“My apology also, Queen Milly,” a quiet elder said. “We have never seen two queens. Change is trying.”
“I’m sure we’ve got lots to learn from each other.” She pressed her hands to her glowing chest. “It is nice to meet you. I’m thrilled to be in a mer city. I have so much to discover about my new life. We’ll have lots of chances to get things right.”
They warmed to her.
“Yes,” the quiet elder nodded, and the other elders also glowed with hope. “Many chances.”
Already it seemed Milly’s transition to Dragao Azul would go more smoothly.
Queen Zara had been hurt badly. She remained abrasive, on guard. The elders struggled to re-forge their relationship. They had made many mistakes.
With Queen Milly they could start from friendship. She was willing to try. The elders must be willing too.
And Uvim would encourage this new start.
He moved aside for Dosan and Xalu to present their brides.
The king and elders were amazed.
“Three queens at once,” one elder chortled, ignoring entirely Uvim’s worst fear he and Dosan would suffer consequences for taking brides out of turn. “We will have four queens now. More than Atlantis!”
“The army has surfaced,” another said. “Who knows how many more queens may return?”
“More queens!”
The king smiled with real warmth. “Congratulations, my warriors. Well done. Welcome, Brides Jen and Si-do-nee.” He pronounced her unfamiliar name with three syllables. “Now, you marry.”
Xalu corrected him. “My king, my bride’s name is pronounced—”
“I don’t mind,” Bride Sydney blurted. “I like it.”
“Shall I—”
“No. You mastered my name. Let’s get to the ceremony.”
“Sid … o-nee,” the king said, frowning with concentration.
“Sid-nee,” Dosan corrected.
“Sydney,” Uvim said.
Everyone looked at him in surprise.
Milly elbowed him. “How come you said her name right on the first try?”
“I listen.”
Her grin widened. “All right then, good listener, let’s make us ‘official’ queens!”
Uvim flew Milly to the Life Tree.
Around its huge girth, the Life Tree radiated peaceful silence. Bare branches stretched toward the surface. Beads of resin formed at its joints; some rolled off in the rustling currents and piled at the exposed roots on its wide, floating dais. Above the surface, these resin jewels were known as Sea Opals.
&n
bsp; Beneath the dais stretched the thick stem anchoring the Life Tree to the sea floor.
Uvim retracted his fins to human feet. He landed on the rim of the dais and bounced.
Milly’s face glowed with awe. “This is amazing.”
She retracted her fins also and bounced after him across the piles of mating gems.
Dosan and Xalu landed at two other places on the dais so each couple approached the Life Tree from a different direction. Its trunk was so broad they could each marry in privacy. The Dragao Azul Life Tree was a worthy, ancient tree.
It stood because of Queen Zara.
Now, warriors could take queens and embrace a new life.
The city’s elders, king, youths, and the escort warriors from the surface spread around to watch the triple wedding ceremonies.
Uvim knelt and bowed his head to the trunk. “I, Uvim of Dragao Azul, present Milly as my chosen bride. Please shower your blessing and healing on our union and bless us with a young fry son.”
He kissed the glistening white bark.
Then he turned to Milly.
Milly knelt beside him. “I, Milly of Faial, present Uvim as my chosen husband. Please shower your blessing and healing on our union and bless us with a young fry son. Or daughter. That would also be cool.”
She pressed her lips to the trunk.
Tinkle-tinkle-tinkle. The Life Tree chimed in harmony.
Now, they were married. Soon her blossom would grow. She would drink the nectar and be one with this Life Tree.
She was already one with his heart.
The others completed their rituals. The Life Tree tinkled, a shining beacon, and their city had never glowed so brightly.
Milly chose Uvim.
He chose her.
She chose this life as his queen beneath the ocean.
They rose in tandem. He led her away from the Life Tree and introduced her to the one mer who mattered even more than the king.
An old warrior kicked forward. He shared Uvim’s same amethyst markings only more faded. After a long absence, Uvim always noticed that detail. “Milly, this is my father.”
“I am honored.” His father bowed low. “Queen Milly.”
“It’s very nice to meet you.” She returned his bow, startling him, just as she had startled the elders and the king. “Father. Wow. Any other relatives I should meet?”
“Uvim’s grandfather is that elder there.” He pointed to the quieter elder.
