Pretty Fin

by Smokey Moment

  “Sir! There’s a woman in the water,” the young ship mate said, as he ran into the ships bridge. “Excuse me! What did you say? Carter… Have you been drinking?” the captain asked. “No Sir. Come quick,” he said, running out onto the deck and towards the bow.

  “There!” he pointed. Fin could see the men pointing at her. Her anxiety about the strange new world took hold. The ship blew its horn. Fin covered her ears and ducked under the water. “What the… Did you see that! She ducked under the water. She actually swam down,” the young man said.

  “No! Something grabbed her. Maybe a shark. Call the coastguards for help,” the captain said. “Should we drop in the water?” the man asked. “Whatever got her, took her under. There’s nothing we can do but report it. We’ll stay for a minute. But I’m sure she’s gone son,” he said to his young helper. The ship called in the sighting but were asked to update them on whether it was a search and rescue or a recover.

  After an hour, the ship’s captain confirmed that she was no longer visible. The coast guard stated they were in route. They asked for the coordinates in case the ship had to leave the area. The ship’s captain was asked if he could stay in the area but he stated it was not safe to do so. They had a ship full of oil and it was important to get to their destination.

  “Let’s get underway. There’s nothing here. We couldn’t save her,” the captain said. His men walked away. The youngest ship mate stared intensely at him. He knew what he saw. A woman had ducked into the water. She wasn’t pulled down, as one would expect to see if someone was dragged under. The captain nodded and walked away. It would not be discussed. He too was still puzzled by what he observed. He didn’t want to spook the young man. But the woman ducked. And he had no way to explain it. Her movements were unnatural.

  “Fin!” Rae exclaimed when she emerged from the dunes. Rae stood alongside Andreus and his men. “We looked for you. Were you ok? Where did you go?” the prince asked. Fin looked fiercely at him. “I’m fine. You should go. I’m surprised my father isn’t here. I suspect his personal guard saw me get in the water. If he finds you here, he will not be happy. Please go,” she said of Lark. Andreus looked intensely at her. He did not fear her father. He did not fear anything. But he wanted to make a good impression. He liked Fin’s tenacity. He liked her energy. Her fearlessness.

  “This area is not safe. I will go if you leave here now,” he replied. Fin looked at his men. Then at Rae. She paused, then turned from him and swam away. Rae turned and followed. Andreus watched her. He wondered about her. Why she swam so fast. Why her tail was a different color. How she was able to handle the gases of the dune. Only Eulachonians were able. And not all of them.

  “Where did she go. We looked everywhere?” the guard asked Andreus. “I don’t know. We covered the whole area pretty good. She’s crafty. I like her. She has no fear. I want this place searched thoroughly once more. She went somewhere. She seemed shaken. Somethings got her spooked.”

  I

  t was a quiet afternoon. Fin sat on her bed. She counted down the time until her door would open. It was the same routine. Never a surprise to look forward to. No leisure games or fun. No freedom, to go and enjoy life. Everything was about following the rules her father had in place. The only joys in life was the discoveries she made. She had become quite skilled at making things. Homemade beauty products that she tested and improved on. She had refined her processes and was making things for her body. Lotions and balms scented from flowers were her favorite. And when she discovered an ant that when squished, left a red stain, she got to work finding the right ingredients to create a paste.

  Soon she was using the ants to make colorings for her nails and toes. She used petals from flowers to make lipstick and blush. Fin was crafty. And Rae was using the items to trade for other things. Fin’s only request was pearls. And Rae searched the arapaimas for more. She found three and Fin promised to make her several containers of the colored paste to apply to the face. It was fun. Fin enjoyed it. She didn’t need the money. She did it for the love of creating the product.

  The king and queen were loving but strict parents. Fin knew that they too lived sheltered lives. They were the royal family. Expected to be available to the citizens. Expected to stay safe. To be ready for anything which meant staying home. Making good of one’s time. Fin had tired of it all. She wished to be normal. And she wished to be in love. She had noticed men. She noticed Lark. He was handsome. Built to perfection. Charming. And intense. But he was like a brother. She felt torn. They were close. They’d known each other since she was a child. But the king would never allow it. And so, he would need to stay a close family friend. And even though Fin had come to the conclusion, she still noticed him. And she knew he noticed her. He tried to hide it. But it was clear.

  “Time for studies,” Aterra said, as she opened her daughter’s bedroom door. Fin sighed. “Can I do it at dusk mom? Please! Rae and I are painting our nails tonight. I am going to teach her how to prepare the mix and make the colors,” Fin said. Aterra gave her a sharp look. “We spoke about that Fin. No! You are not to do such silly things. You can visit her. But you are to mind yourself. You are a princess.”

  Aterra wanted Fin to stay home. To start her studies. It was important. She was studying the laws of the city for the day she would be queen. There was a lot of ground to cover. She was expected to know the land. The price of all their commodities. Each rare and precious jewel. The minerals that they came from. She was expected to know trade values. And all the local citizens who made life possible by helping harvest the items for consumption or for sale. Aterra had taught Fin a lot. She worried about pushing her daughter too much. Fin could be unpredictable when cornered or pressed to do something she didn’t want to do. She lashed out and ran away in defiance. And so, Aterra would allow the break. So long as the guards tagged along.

  “You can go. But you must take Lark and a few of the others with you,” Aterra said. “Fine,” Fin huffed. It was better than not going. She was ready to go. She hoped to visit her friend Rae before it got late. The nights were spectacular but she was the princess. It was still not respectable for her to be out at night, amongst the commoners. Fin planned on taking Rae her hemini plant. It glowed brighter than the moss and ferigone plants that grew on mountains and the bark of trees. Hemini was rare. A gift from King Nephrus to her father. It grew naturally in Panga. And it was highly sought after for its ability to shine bright. Fin had two. And she was expecting more. The king of Panga sent them when he discovered that King Zanders daughter loved them. A gesture to improve trade between the two cities.

  Fin was ready to go. The two talked about attending a gathering at one of Rae’s classmates house. Fin kept that part of the plan private. Her parents would never allow it and so she decided against going. King Zander had rules and he had become tougher on enforcing them. And as much as she wanted to run free, she couldn’t. The source of her lifelong frustration with her parents. There was no time for such nonsense. Only what her father had planned for her.

  But Finora was maturing. She had grown into a responsible young lady. Even still, Zander had reason to be concerned. Fin was a princess and her protection was vital. She would be “Queen of Mojarro” someday. She was becoming a woman and was growing into a position she was reluctant to fill. It would come with a husband she had never met. Fin was unaware that Zander had bequeathed her to King Orfe’s son. A decision he had not yet relayed to the cities of Madaka. He was still hoping to meet Prince Andreus. To endure he was suitable.

  Fin walked the halls of the castle looking for her father. She wanted to ask a favor. To be allowed to leave, this one time, without the guards. “Mom, where’s dad?” she asked. “He is in his quarters. Please don’t disturb him. He is having a meeting with the King of Panga. It is important.” Fin walked out of her mother’s quarters and down the hall. She bent the corner and headed for her father meeting chambers. A room stocked with wine, gold jewels and any other valuables her father somet
imes used to bargain on the spot. Finora approached the door. She was stopped by a guard.

  “Your father is in a meeting. He asked not to be disturbed,” he said. “This is important. He’ll want to speak to me. Now if you’ll excuse me,” Fin said, as she walked past the guard. This wasn’t the first time Finora disobeyed her father. The guards were used to it.

  “Fin…I asked not to be disturbed,” Zander said, looking sternly at his daughter. “Excuse me King Nephrus. This is my daughter Finora,” he said, as he stepped away to see what she wanted. King Nephrus bowed. Finora smiled nervously. She could see her father was not happy with her entry into his chambers.

  “I specifically asked for privacy. I am speaking about important matters,” he said. Finora glanced back at King Nephrus. He hadn’t taken his eyes off of her. He had never seen King Zander’s daughter. Finora smiled and then turned her attention back to her father.

  “Father… Please! I have to ask a favor,” she said, looking desperate. “What is it Fin?” he asked. “Well…,” she hesitated. “I want to go out alone. Please dad. This one time. It’s just to Rae’s house. I will only be there for a little while,” she stated. Zander looked at King Nephrus. “Excuse me. I need a private moment with my daughter,” he announced. King Nephrus was shown to an adjoining room and the door was closed.

  “You have disrupted me to ask what you already know the answer to? No! You must follow the rules. Why is this so difficult? I put them in place for your protection and happiness.” Fin looked down. She felt ashamed for being so demanding. She had been, since she was a little girl. She didn’t like to see her father upset. Usually he huffed and gave warnings. But she never took him seriously because he never followed through on any of his threats.

  “I’m sorry dad,” she replied. The King sighed. Fin looked around. King Zander felt her pain. His daughter was always too large and bright of a spirit for the confinements of their life. “It's not important dad. Sorry to interrupt. I promise I will start listening,” she said. The king chuckled. “No… You won’t. It’s not in you. You are just like me when I was your age. And no, you cannot go there without an escort. Now, can I get back to my meeting. King Nephrus has travelled a long way to meet with me. He travelled by land and by water. So, I must finish up so he has time to get back.”

  Fin shook her head and left the room. She walked slowly though the castle, disappointed that she was still being treated like a child. She walked past a locked room. A reminder of her limitations in life. “This house and its secrets. Can’t do anything. Can’t go anywhere. Can’t even go inside that room,” she mumbled.

  The castle was a house of secrets. There was a locked room Fin never entered. A room she had tried to gain access to, so many times in the past. The door was made of thick hard wood and iron. The handle, sturdy and impenetrable. She wondered what was kept inside. What item was so important, so valuable, that it needed to be locked away. Even her mother never entered. The room had never been opened. Finora used to go up to the door and listen. She thought she heard noises. She tried peeking in the peephole. Other than being able to see bright colors, there was nothing noteworthy. Zander had the only key. And its location was also a mystery. Fin was sure it was hidden somewhere in their vast castle. And one day she would find it. If it took a lifetime.

  King Nephrus was escorted back into the room. “Please…Sit,” Zander said. King Nephrus had a devilish grin. Zander already figured what the smile was about. “I never seen the princess before. She is the most beautiful in all the land. Her hair. Those eyes. She’s perfect. Instead of due trade with soil and gold, I would like to make a proposition. Your daughters’ hand in marriage to my son Osiris, for enough soil to cover most of this land. I will have my army carry it here on their backs. Plenty of soil,” he offered.

  King Zander paused. It was quite an offer. He wanted the soil. It was rich in nutrients and their city was mostly black sand. Soil meant other species of flowers and plants for consumption. There were trees and plants that thrived in the black sand. But they were inedible. Most were poisonous. It would benefit the city, to grow their own versus trading for it with Panga and Piratchu. Other than fish, mussels, shellfish and jellyfish, there wasn’t much more to consume. The world of Madaka had limited items safe for consumption and so rich soil was just as valuable as the taaffeites, alexandrites, diamonds and gold.

  It was a thought. King Zander pondered it. It would mean the joining of the cities and access to all the soil they needed. But he had already had this conversation with King Orfe. And had already promised his daughter to Prince Andreus.

  “She is already spoken for. I am waiting until she gets a little older. I’m sorry. She is to be married to Prince Andreus one day,” he said. King Nephrus was shocked. He shook his head slowly back and forth. He was disappointed. And he was verbal about it.

  “Prince Andreus! That boy is an abomination. Pure evil. I noticed it when he was just ten years old. You mark my word…You will regret that decision. It will end bad for her.” Zander looked puzzled. He had heard nothing of the sort. But if there was any truth to it, then he would need to find some way of backing out of the deal. Prince Andreus had laid eyes on Fin. He spoke of nothing else. He was smitten with her and was looking forward to her being his queen. A promise of joining the lands would make life easier for both sides. But not at the expense of his daughter’s happiness. King Zander stood up. The men bowed instead of shaking hands. Nermeins refrained from touch. It was considered dirty. Foul. Forbidden. And they never kissed. Babies were made in water. In pools of sperm secreted by the males. It was an informal and planned event. That was their way of life.

  King Zander’s army led King Nephrus and his men to the westerly arapaimas. One of the main arteries for traveling west. The men dove in and changed. Their legs immediately taking form. Their tails now propelling them quickly through the water. King Nephrus was strong. Fast. His army would need to work hard to keep up with him. He swam thinking of King Zanders words. He wanted another meeting. He was sure Osiris would love Fin. He had failed at setting his son up. Two failed attempts had him worried. But not anymore. Fin was perfect.

  W

  hat Fin called home, was a large castle that sat high on Mount Sabalo, in a world called Madaka. Madaka was split into four lands. The four lands were eventually turned into four cities; Mojarro, Eulachon, Piratchu and Panga. The land was unequally divided and occupied by a race of mermaids called Nermeins. A half-fish, half-man species, able to survive in water.

  The nermeins were capable of changing their legs into tails for speed in water. Once in water, their gills, small folds of skin on the sides of their chest, opened up. They were a unique species with two sets of lungs for life in and out of water. The largest set of lungs were the ones built for water. The smaller lungs were for land but were just as efficient. Nermeins were better in water, and many preferred to live in it in small pockets of water beneath the surface like miniature lakes. Others chose to live on land. But even land dwellers frequently entered water. Water was a way of life. It sustained them. Avoiding water was not an option.

  Water was their method of travel. Their speed in water was ten times that of walking on land. Madaka was equipped with thousands of small rivers called Arapaima’s that flowed through each city. Some rivers were wide and deep. Others thin and shallow. Many rivers flowed throughout the lands, connecting some of the four cities like a railroad and making travel to a neighboring town quick and easy. Not every city connected by small rivers. Pitachu and Eulachon were far away from Mojarro. Travel happened by way of a vast body of water called the Palimora Sea. Travel from Mojarro to Panga, was much faster. They were closer in proximity, separated by the Trojian Sea.

  The seas were guarded by water soldiers called Uaru. Each city had their own guards who protected their own cities natural resources. Travel was limited in and out of the cities. And each of the four cities had its own lakes and rivers that were not accessible by the seas. It was intricate. A
natural way of life for them.

  *****

  One of the four cities was the city of Mojarro. Fin was lucky. Her father was king of the most sought-after land in Madaka. It was known as the land of riches. Abundant in diamonds, jadeite, red and green emeralds, gold and several other metals. Precious stone such as alexandrite and the rare black opal, were also found in its mountains and in rock inside its streams. The presence of the jewels embedded along the surface of the mountains and their cone-like rock structures scattered throughout the city, made Mojarro a beauty like no other.

  King Zander mined them carefully. Jewels removed by force, took a long time to be re-created. It was better to wait until the elements caused them to loosen and fall. There was always a crew working the ground near the mountains to collect the casted gems for trade. A full-time job since the city had hundreds of mountains covered with thousands of gems.

  No other city sparkled with such radiant charm. And the addition of soil imported from Panga over the years, helped the land. They were able to grow their own plants and trees, lessening the need to acquire it in trade. Something that had Piratchu and Eulachon nervous. If Mojarro got to the point where they were saturated with soil, it could affect the value of trade. But Mojarro was too vast. And half the land was covered in useless black sand. They would always want soil, mud and plants.

  Part of Mojarro’s charm was the many waterfalls they had. Some were a beautiful blue hue. Moss and dark blue waters gave the massive rocks their beauty. Some were green and gold. A result of gold metal and the rich green color of the water and the algae. The winds and moisture in the surrounding air, resulted in all the mountains being covered in vibrant blue and green colored moss and algae. Adding to the beauty were the addition of stones such as; emeralds, alexandrite and jadeite embedded right into the surface. Making Mojarro the most beautiful in all of Madaka. Rubies were found on some of the more northern mountains. And King Zander had soldiers protecting the jewels twenty-four hours a day.