“Sirris, would you do us the honor of reading the new banns?”
I laughed, passing a small platter of roasted ranch potatoes to Thomas. “Of course. Try to stop me.”
“Mirra and I will take care of giving the Mer-folk of Tarus an idea of some of the changes coming in the next few weeks regarding the new Tarus Council appointments and the changing laws.”
The Major looked up from the lovely shank chops he’d grilled for the occasion. “Keep in mind, not everyone is going to be as enthusiastic as you imagine they will be. There will always be those that oppose change in any form—those that are comfortable with the way things have always been.”
“You mean like the Council? Yeah, I’m hoping that most will applaud the changes, and the rest will at least give it a chance to succeed,” Dael added.
“For both your sakes, I hope so. Make sure and surround yourself with good people, and that will help. Replacing the Council with more forward thinking Seascrill and Tarians should serve you well.”
Mirra’s expression turned rueful. “You know, if this all works, the term Tarian will no longer mean Sylvan, but it will simply be a term to indicate Mer-Folk from Deep Lake who live in Tarus. I believe I will be quite good with that.”
Dael gave her an affectionate look. “Way past time, if you ask me.”
“Perhaps. Could someone pass me another one of those chops? Sirris ate all the trout.”
“That’s because there was no shrimp left.”
Thomas gave a grunt of disgust. “I’d be good if you three ate every lick of anything that came from the water. Give me a good slab of rare beef any day. Or a pizza, loaded, and I’m good.”
“You are such a wolf, Thomas Tuttle,” I teased him.
He waggled his bushy brows, two caterpillars taking a bow on his forehead. “Yes, I am, and I’m positively wolfish for you, Sirris Waverly.”
I groaned. “Idiot. Eat your chop.”
He gave me a goofy grin.
#
The waves covered our heads and we dove, my mermaid tail maneuvering me with effortless grace. Following close behind me were Mirra and Dael. Sadie, Nick, and Niel were behind them. I glanced back to where Fern brought up the rear, our eyes an eerie glow in the dim light of Deep Lake as we swam steadily out and down towards Tarus. We stopped long enough for Mirra to call on the Abaneki’ one more time, the song eerie and high. My heart expanded with delight when they came, their silvery tails flashing and causing clouds of bubbles to explode towards the surface. I watched as Fern reached out to a dark blue female, who leaned in as she smoothed her hands gently down her hard side and then up to give her a scratch beneath a scaled chin. We all took hold of the knobby protrusion along the back of our dragons and were off.
The last time I’d made this trip it had been with a heavy heart, anticipating a lifetime of service to a system that held no sympathy for me. The circumstances made all the difference. This time I laughed as we raced through the waters of Deep Lake, looking forward to walking those streets, sharing that other part of my past with my besties and Thomas.
When we arrived, the guards at the entrance stared at us from exhausted eyes. I had my first tingle of unease. Standing at the entrance to Market Street, I realized the Council hadn’t exaggerated. In amazement I watched several teens run by us, various items dangling from their fists that didn’t look like they belonged. Hot on their heels, shouting for them to stop, were several guards chasing them. No children ran and played, and most of the shops stood closed to business, the doors and windows shuttered.
I looked at Dael and Mirra, grim at my side. No wonder the Council had taken it upon themselves to seek us out. They were clearly out of their league and desperate. This was no longer a town seeking blind obedience from anyone. I wondered then if our impassioned speeches when we turned down the throne had undermined their faith in the Council and those of us belonging to the Royal court.
We moved up along Market Street towards the castle, trying to remain unobtrusive and draw as little attention as possible. Trouble had a way of finding us despite our best efforts to stay out of it.
In our apartment, we found Leta sitting in front of the window, Sans at her side, offering silent support. She was twisting her fingers and staring down on the square just beyond the front gates in consternation.
Dael spoke to her back, but she never turned around. “I’m not sure we should wait to post the official banns. We do need to get a message to Misen Caverns to let the Seascrill community know and with invites to any who wish to attend.”
“I supposed you see that as necessary?” she asked, her voice raspy and bitter.
Dael didn’t respond to her question. Instead, he added. “It’s not much time, but I want to post the banns tomorrow, and shoot for coronation of myself and Mirra three days hence. I know it’s quick, but the people need direction, and soon.”
“On that much, we agree.”
“Has there been any word on where Draco Rebellion is holing up or what they are planning?”
She shook her head. “No. Shade still seems to be of the opinion that we should attack Misen Caverns and that we will find the head of the snake there and can cut it off before it’s too late for any of us here in Tarus. All of this? What’s happened here in Tarus? I’ve put him off, but he is getting antsy to have things done with.”
“I disagree with attacking Misen Caverns at all. Mirra is right. There are women and children there. We need to deal with the Draco Rebellion, but I am not of the same mind that innocents be considered collateral damage. Besides, that part just doesn’t make much sense to me. Why there? Where all the locals are watching? Seems an awful risk to take that someone will see more or say more than they should.”
I’d thought the same thing when we’d been there before, saving the members of the Council right out from beneath the noses of the Seascrill community. It had been easy then—maybe too easy.
“So, if not there, then where would they be?” I asked him.
Dael scowled, and Mirra looked thoughtful. “That’s what we have to find out, and sooner rather than later. But first steps first. I think the good people of both Tarus and Misen Caverns have waited long enough for an end to the unrest that has plagued them. They want answers and it’s about time we gave them some.”
By early evening, the Council had rounded up a small detail and sent them on their way to inform the Seascrill of the upcoming banns and to extend the invitations to attend and hear what Dael, Mirra, and I had to say. We were hoping their response would be swift, as Dael had no plans to wait if they didn’t. Time was of the essence.
In the meantime, Dael went to Shade and together with the rest of the guard, he enacted a brief martial law and temporary curfew, until the reading of the banns the following evening on the outskirts of the castle grounds. I hoped the crowd would be more receptive to what we had to share this time than they had been the last. I had no reason to believe otherwise, since many of them were getting exactly what they were hoping for.
Sadie, Nick, Niel, and Fern came with us, gaining several curious stares as they stood toe to toe with some of the more belligerent civilians and informed them that cooperation would be in their best interests. In their Onlander forms, and with us in human form, we were physically difficult to tell apart. But they sensed the differences they couldn’t see, and it made them suspicious.
Fern and Sadie joined Mirra and me in our room for the night. We stayed up late, staring at the ceiling and catching up on the mundane, staying away from talk of wars and dying, and the battle we all knew was coming.
“I can’t believe all that tonnage is above my head. What if there’s a leak?” Sadie groused, lying on a pallet beside Fern we’d made up on the floor.
Fern giggled, which surprised none of us. I said, “You weirdo, what are you laughing about?”
I could practically feel her cheeky smile in the dark. “I get the same feeling when we go through a portal into another dimension. Wyndoor is
the worst. I mean, what if the doorway to that world should decide to close when we’re right in the middle of it? Pop, just like a zit, that’s what. And then, of course, what if we make it and a Juggat Dragon is waiting for a snack on the other side?”
“How is that even related?”
I heard the covers move as Fern turned to look at me in the dark. “I know. Just saying.”
I rolled my eyes, though I knew even Fern couldn’t see that well in the absolute dark of the room.
Mirra spoke up. “What’s a Juggat Dragon?”
Sadie, who I thought had fallen asleep, snorted. “Death, and us on the dinner plate. Trust me, you don’t want to know.”
#
The next morning Dael greeted us with a grim smile in the main room.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, grouchy and missing my coffee.
“The detail we sent to Misen Caverns hasn’t returned. They should have been back last night.”
Mirra frowned and moved to his side, laying cool fingers along his arm. He covered them with his own, absently.
“Have we sent anyone out to look for them?” she asked.
Dael shook his head. “No, I was waiting for the rest of you to get up. I’m heading down to talk with Liia and the rest of the guard. I figured we’d decide from there. We aren’t putting things off, though. We continue as planned regardless. The quicker we put the people’s worries to rest, the better. They have to know they are safe and their concerns are being addressed. We can’t be fighting two battles at once.”
Mirra nodded. “How is Shade doing? Have you checked?”
“Yeah, he wasn’t in.”
I frowned. “I thought he was recovering from his wounds?”
“Me, too,” Dael admitted.
Mirra spoke up, looking anxious suddenly. “Let’s go then. See what we can find out.”
We found Liia and about a dozen troops training inside the castle walls in the central courtyard. We were Mer-men and women, but the nature of what we were required us to at least be passably decent fighters on land and in the water, both.
The clang of steel knives and the whir of bolts being fired at targets from their hand bows reached our ears as we arrived. I watched Sadie’s expression turn sour with disapproval as two Tarians grappled in the dirt in a parody of hand to hand combat. Sadie didn’t look impressed, and I imagined she could have taught them a thing or two.
Liia looked over, saw us, and immediately abandoned what she was doing to come our way. She ignored the rest of us, addressing Dael and Mirra.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
Dael’s brows rose. “Oh? We were just checking in to see if anyone has heard from the detail we sent to Misen Caverns?”
She hesitated. “That’s what I have to tell you. They were ambushed near the entrance and taken hostage. We don’t know where.”
We gasped. That wasn’t the news any of us had been hoping for. “How do you know this?”
Liia’s mouth drew down, and she turned, walking away from us and tossing over her shoulder, “Because one of them escaped and made it back. They fair beat him up something awful. I was getting ready to take him to see you and the Council when you arrived. We can all go together.”
I felt like reminding her that the Council was no longer in charge, but that wasn’t quite true. Nothing was official yet.
The young man that looked up at us when we approached was pretty banged up, holding his elbow cupped in his hand and blood seeping from a rather nasty cut high on his forehead.
“Are you ready, Mio?” Liia asked. He nodded and stood, grimacing.
The Council was in the apartment when we arrived. Leta immediately stood with a gasp when we entered, her eyes flying to Mio in alarm. “What is this? What happened?”
Liia stepped forward. “Mio was part of the guard we sent to invite the Seascrill community to the posting of the banns this afternoon.”
“What happened to him? Where are the others?”
“We don’t know. Hopefully, just imprisoned somewhere we can get to,” she finished.
Leta’s eyes flashed to Dael and Mirra and then back to Mio. “Tell us what happened. Leave nothing out.”
The young man visibly trembled, and I wondered if maybe he should be sitting. He looked like a small wave would wash him away.
“We followed directions and went to Misen Caverns. Had no problems getting there, were right at the entrance preparing to go in and deliver the message when we were attacked. They came out of nowhere.
“Our commander, Paet, saw them coming, told me to flee back here and sound the alarm. They almost caught me, but I broke my way through and got here. Ma’am, I think they knew we were coming.”
Her scowl darkened in disgust and she turned to glare at all of us, like somehow we all shared the blame.
“See, what did I tell you? Ridiculous to assume this was ever going to work, Seascrill and Tarians living together. Natural born enemies!”
Mio was looking at her strangely and I had a thought. “Um, your attackers, they were all Seascrill?”
He shook his head vehemently. “No, that’s just it. There were around a dozen of them, all heavily armed. At least four of them weren’t Seascrill, they were Tarians.”
Mirra added, looking suspicious, “And did they come from the caverns when they attacked you?”
He seemed to give a jolt, comprehension lightening his features. “No, actually. That’s right, we never made it into the entrance, and they didn’t come from there. They attacked from the west, coming out of nowhere before we knew they were there. I think they were members of the Rebellion.”
Leta scoffed and said with disgust, “The Seascrill are the Rebellion…”
Mirra spoke up, gaining everyone’s attention. “Clearly, that’s not the case. Stop ignoring the facts because they aren’t convenient for you. The Rebellion isn’t any one race of Mer-men or women. It’s a combination from both communities—disgruntled Mer-folk being led by someone who has obviously fed them misinformation to soothe their own hidden agenda.”
“Oh, and what is that?” Leta sneered, her lip curling scathingly as she glared at Mirra.
“They want your jobs. They want to take over the Council and put their own versions of a king and queen on the throne. But I don’t think their leader has anyone’s best interests at heart except his own. They are trying to pull a coup. But if they are successful, nobody will win.”
Sadie, who had been standing silent, stepped forward. “You need to figure out where they are holing up then, where their base is. It doesn’t sound like it’s Misen Caverns. Too many innocent eyes there.”
“No…what about Addius Cave?” Mirra suggested.
Dael frowned. “We’ve been there. That wouldn’t be smart. We know about it already and they know we do.”
She looked suddenly sheepish. “I’m not talking about that lovely house-sized geode, all those colorful crystals. There’s another entrance, farther along the wall of the lake—easy to miss. Leads to a chamber a fraction of the size of Addius Cave.”
“And you’re just telling us this now?” Leta demanded angrily.
“It wasn’t important before now, was it?” she returned, equally upset.
Dael turned to Liia. “Have you seen Shade this morning? Last I knew he was recovering in his apartment and left you in charge.”
She shrugged. “That’s right. I haven’t seen him, though.”
“We need to find him. We could really use his help on this.”
I bit my lip, wondering at his convenient disappearance, putting two and two together and not liking what I was coming up with. I caught Mirra’s eye and knew I wasn’t the only one with a few unwelcome suspicions.
“Well, the banns will be announced as planned. I don’t think we can afford to put that off. Meanwhile, Liia? I think we should gather our forces. It’s time we put an end to the Rebellion once and for all. Neither community is safe until we do,” Dael stated, his voice flat.
<
br /> Thomas and Niel stepped shoulder to shoulder with Sadie. “We’d like to help if we can.”
“This isn’t your fight,” Leta started.
“If it concerns Sirris, it is. Best you don’t get in our way,” Thomas warned.
For once, the Council was silent.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The courtyard filled up at first with a trickle of Tarians, the nervous energy of a suspicious crowd filling the air and making me stand close to Thomas. We all stood silently, watching and waiting for the “festivities” to begin on the upper parapet, staring into the crowd who craned their necks to get a better look at all of us. Several boos were heard when they caught sight of Dael and me. We weren’t their favorite people at the moment.
The Council wasn’t exactly ecstatic either, with matching expressions of anger on their faces. Leta stood at their head, waiting for the last of the Tarians to arrive and assemble.
A disturbance near the entrance to the courtyard caught our eye, and in wonder we all watched as a small crowd of Seascrill, led by a young girl that could have been Mirra’s sister, entered.
We watched with bated breath as the first of the Tarians gathered there realized they weren’t alone. The voices in the crowd dwindled to a heavy silence as both groups stopped and stared. It didn’t last long.
I gasped in momentary panic as several members, mostly teenagers from the look of it, surged towards the Seascrill.
Mirra chose that moment to give a cry of recognition. “That’s my cousin, Sian!” Even as we watched, several members of the Seascrill group met the advancing Sylvans. I wondered if I was about to watch a blood bath unfold on the grounds of Tarus. Instead, I watched in wonder as they embraced freely. It was clear they knew each other from the animated chatter that swelled in volume. Within a matter of minutes, the crowd had blended so completely it was impossible to tell them apart from the distance.
I glanced up to catch a look of surprise on the Council’s face before they could hide it. Leta stepped forward then and held up both hands. It was several long moments before the crowd stopped chattering and gave her their attention.
Rule 9 Academy Series Boxset: Books 3-5 Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy (Rule 9 Academy Box Sets (3 Book Series) 2) Page 75
