by M. E. Rhines
“I don’t know that I could live with the guilt.”
“I know you couldn’t. Your heart is too pure to risk anyone for your own gain.”
“What if we disappeared and started a new life out in the open ocean? Let them think we’ve been swallowed up by sharks on our way to Finfolkaheem.”
“Clever idea.” Lennox tapped his chin. “But I don’t think it would work. The ocean is a dangerous place, Angelique. There’s an undeniable safety to be found in numbers. It wouldn’t take long before we truly were eaten. Or worse yet, starve to death. Fish population has dwindled down to nothing, thanks to the humans. And any patches of sea grass worth harvesting already have a clan somewhere close by.”
“There must be some alternative.” I rubbed the back of my neck, freezing as my gills flapped open and brushed my palm. An idea sprang to mind—a wild, crazy, reckless notion, but one that might work. “Would King Odom dare wage war on land?”
“Not for all the silver to be scavenged. Humans have weapons that make our daggers look like harmless chunks of driftwood.”
“And the water… do you require it to survive?”
“Well, no, I don’t need it. But you do, remember?”
“Not necessarily.”
He took a step forward, tangling his fingers in my hair as he studied my face. “What’s that brain of yours conjuring now, Angelique?”
“A brilliant plan,” I answered with a grin. “As usual.”
“I think I understand the gist of it.”
“Is it completely insane?”
He chuckled, planting a soft kiss on my forehead. “Only moderately insane. If you’re willing to go topside, so am I. Just think about what you’re giving up first. It’d be a much bigger change for you than it would be for me.”
“I’m aware of the loss, but the way Myrtle’s magic works, the transformation wouldn’t be permanent. I could come back to visit on occasion once things have calmed down.”
“Do the princesses visit?”
An involuntary frown played on my mouth, sinking the corners down. “They’re too busy. Human life and responsibilities appeal to them more than what they left behind.”
“Should we head back to Atargatis, then?” he asked, seeming to understand I wished to change the subject. “Seek an audience with Queen Myrtle?”
“Not yet. We still have business with King Odom.”
“Let it be, Angelique. He will have her head either way. Queen Calypso is not worth saving.”
My nostrils flared, and I pointed a finger into his chest. “You don’t get to decide who is worth saving, Lennox. I was tasked with meeting with your king, and I will not return to Myrtle with my assignment incomplete.”
“All right.” He held up his hands in submission. “You’re too stubborn to be persuaded, I know that by now. If pleading your former ruler’s case is that important to you, we’ll meet with King Odom in the morning. Tonight, we require some rest. It’s been days since either of us slept for more than an hour or two.”
“Deal.”
I followed Lennox to a formation formed from a jutting rock, then curled up next to him. A chill jolted through me, but the Fin-man’s skin provided enough heat to keep me from freezing. More than anything, I wished I was back in the warm tropics of the Bermuda Triangle, basking in rays of sunlight.
Soon enough, I told myself. And better yet, Lennox would be there with me.
“This place is massive.” I dawdled behind Lennox as we passed through the gates of Finfolkaheem. An enormous palace stood in front of us, white and glistening to blend in with the surrounding icebergs. The waves above water just barely covered the highest point. At low tide, I imagined it would be entirely exposed. Thanks to the brilliant camouflage, any human who saw it would likely brush it off as another hunk of ice scattered among hundreds just like it.
Meadows of thousands of colorful flower beds, their names unknown to this tourist, surrounded the palace. A flourish of brightness that seemed out of place in an otherwise white wonderland. As foreign as they appeared, like everything else in this land, they luminesced from the inside out. I licked my lips, only just realizing I hadn’t eaten in some time. My mouth watered, and I wondered if they’d taste as delicious as they looked.
“How are your people starving with all that food surrounding your kingdom?”
“Those aren’t edible,” he explained. “You see how they glow from the inside, like me?”
“Yes, it’s enchanting.”
“It also means they’re off limits. Take it as a warning—anything that glimmers will make you sick as a crab during molting season. They’re contaminated by magic. King Odom injected them with a potion to provide light in the dark.”
“But every fish I saw last night glowed that way.”
“You can’t tell the fish not to eat the poisoned ones. The potion doesn’t kill them, though. Their gills filter out the toxins, though not entirely. Traces stay in their gut, infecting them for life.”
“Which means you can’t eat the fish, either?”
“That right.” He nodded. “Solving one problem ended up causing a much bigger dilemma. Now you see why food is such a problem.”
“How terrible. My council meant what they said. We’d be happy to help in any way we can.”
The lines around Lennox’s eyes pulled tight. “That’s generous of you. The Finfolk can only hope King Odom will listen with unbiased ears.”
See-through glass doors opened as we approached. I swam through the doorway, keeping myself hidden in Lennox’s shadow. For all I knew, these people had only encountered mermaids on a battlefield. Their reaction to my presence couldn’t be predicted.
The inside was constructed with as much elaboration and attention to detail as the exterior. A stunning, pristine staircase met us in the foyer, rising the entire height of the palace. It split off in several places, winding through the entire castle like a maze. Left to my own devices, I found myself certain I would get lost in here within minutes.
Fin-men scattered the halls. An entire civilization, confined within the same walls. Free to leave, yet tied to this marvelous place by duty and tradition. Each had their place, busy and concentrated on their tasks at hand. For the moment, my arrival had gone largely unnoticed. Only one of them stepped forward, a welcoming smile pinned on my guide.
“Lennox,” the man shouted as he descended the stairs. His voice boomed, carrying through every inch of the castle. A few eyes flitted in our direction, but only for a moment. “You’ve returned.”
Lennox greeted him with a masculine, animated chest bump. “Ainsley, my friend!”
“What took you so long? We thought you’d gone rogue.”
“We ran into a few snags along the way, but we made it in one piece.”
“We?” Ainsley peered over Lennox’s shoulder, his eyes widening at the sight of me. “Well, what’ve you got there?”
Lennox reached back, wrapped a protective arm around me, then nudged me forward. “This is Angelique. Angelique, this is Ainsley. King Odom’s first in command and a Fin-man I’ve known since childhood.”
I cringed as the other Fin-man dragged his gaze along my body, hesitating as he reached my breasts. My face burned with humiliation, seething words stinging my tongue. Myrtle’s words circled my mind. Her constant reminder that not every situation needed my commentary resounded over and over. I clung to them, recognizing my life could very well depend on it.
No less than a hundred Fin-men littered the halls. There was no telling how many were contained in adjoining rooms. This was not the time or place to start a quarrel. As long as he kept his hands to himself, I would at least attempt to bite my tongue.
“Picked up a stray, did you now? My, my. She’s a pretty little thing, isn’t she? As much as I love the view, I’m not sure King Odom will approve. Distractions, Lennox. You know how he feels about them.”
“Angelique isn’t here to be ogled at, nor is she a drifter I found wandering the ocean.
” He stepped in front of me again, a domineering presence overcoming him. “She is here as a representative of Atargatis. It is Queen Myrtle’s wish that she meets with him immediately.”
The Fin-man chuckled, his blond beard bouncing. “A female ambassador? That may make things worse for you yet, my friend.”
I glowered at him. As I inched forward to speak my peace, Lennox lifted a hand, cutting me off, then said, “I assure you, Angelique is just as intelligent and qualified as any of King Odom’s diplomats.”
“Then why can’t she speak for herself? Are you a mute, pretty fish?”
I lifted my nose into the air, insulted at his condescending tone. “Of course I’m not a mute, you chauvinistic minnow. Do you really think the queen would send someone to negotiate who couldn’t speak her terms? As brutish as your clan is, you couldn’t be expected to know how to read.”
“She sent a woman to do a man’s work,” the man said with an unapologetic shrug. “Sending a mute makes just as much sense.”
“It’s no wonder you behaved like such a simpleton when I first met you, Lennox. It’s obvious to me now you’ve been surrounded by them your entire life.”
“Well, aren’t you a mouthy little mermaid?”
The muscles in my face twitched. “And you, sir, are nothing more than a mutated human who reeks of decaying fish. What’s more, I’m through wasting my time on someone who clearly has no sense or title. Alert your king to my arrival or I shall swim through these halls until I find him myself.”
Ainsley’s eyebrows shot up, and he looked to Lennox for defense. Lennox smirked, cocking his head to the side.
“You better do as she says,” he insisted. “I have little doubt she’ll tear this castle apart looking for him.”
A frustrated blush splashed across the Fin-man’s face, flooding me with a sense of pride. Just like Lennox, a quick jab to the pride had shut him up. If starvation didn’t take them first, the uncontrollable ego of the Finfolk would be their downfall.
He cleared his throat, regaining himself. “You’re going to have to wait. He’s just left for a hunt two days ago, I’m afraid.”
“Perfect timing,” Lennox grumbled, then turned to me. “King Odom should return tomorrow, I suspect. He’s usually not gone long. Until then, perhaps I should find you a room.”
“You want me to sleep here? Inside the kingdom?”
“It’s safer inside the castle than in open waters.” He leaned in and whispered, “Unless, of course, you wish to just turn back now.”
“No, that’s not an option.”
“I didn’t think so. Ainsley, what do we have available?”
“Only half a raiding party returned last week,” he explained with a curious lack of emotion. “Worthless bunch of recruits. They deserved the slaughter. I’m sure we can toss her in one of their quarters.”
“No,” Lennox protested, a firm edge in his voice. “She is a royal guest, not a peasant. Angelique needs a room on one of the upper levels. Nothing less than the best we have available.”
My chest swelled at the demand, and I smiled at how far he had come in such a brief time. Only days ago, in Atargatis, he regarded me as nothing more than a peasant. Now, without even knowing my royal status, he spoke about me as if I were a princess.
I placed a hand on his forearm, ignoring the suspicious side glance the gesture garnered from Ainsley. “That shouldn’t be necessary,” I said. “I could stay in your quarters with you, Lennox.”
“You want to sleep with Lennox?” Ainsley chuckled. “Not very proper for a royal, is she?”
A suggestive smile dimpled Lennox’s cheeks. “As much as I’d prefer that, I bunk with the other warriors. Sharing a room with a bunch of deprived, bloodthirsty Fin-men is not a suitable arrangement for you.”
“I don’t know what you’re telling me for,” Ainsley said with a snort. “I’m not in charge of this B&B.”
“What’s a B&B?” I asked.
“Bed and breakfast,” Lennox explained. When I drew my brows together in question, he added, “It’s a human thing. Something we take advantage of when we wander on land. Don’t worry, I’ll find you worthy accommodations.”
“I’m sure you will.”
Ainsley brought a rough hand down to slap Lennox on the back, wobbling his comrade from side to side in a rough grip. “How about you let Margaret handle this one and you come with me? It looks like we have some catching up to do. Matters to discuss.”
“Who is Margaret?” I asked. “That is a woman’s name.”
The other Fin-man regarded me with the same smug look Lennox dawned from time to time. A look this man didn’t wear with nearly as much charm as my Fin-man did, I decided.
“Nothing to be jealous about,” Ainsley teased.
“I’m not jealous,” I insisted. “I am, however, curious, since Lennox mentioned something about Fin-women living on land.”
“Margaret is a mermaid,” Lennox explained. “She cleans the palace and looks after our female offspring until they’re old enough to survive on land. That sort of thing.”
“You mean she’s a servant?”
“She’s a prisoner of war from a nearby clan. When we raid, we offer those who wish to surrender the opportunity to save their life.”
“By living it out at your feet?”
“Aw.” Ainsley stuck out his bottom lip in mockery. “I think the soft-bellied mermaid disapproves.”
“Of course I disapprove! You released your human servants only to replace them with mermaids? That’s a bit backward. I would much prefer you kept the humans captive and let the mermaids go free.”
“The humans were harder to maintain,” Ainsley claimed. “They don’t live as long, plus the magic it took from the king to keep them alive down here… not worth it. This way works out much better for us.”
“Look at this place!” Ainsley held out his hands, gesturing at the extravagance surrounding us. “You can’t imagine how hard crystal is to keep clean.”
I planted my hands on my hips, challenging the two narrow-minded fools. “Then you should clean it yourselves. Perhaps if you did, you’d work harder to keep from messing it up to begin with.”
Lennox sighed, giving up the fight. Ainsley, on the other hand, kept at it. He hadn’t had the chance to learn how smart mouthed and stubborn I was.
“We’re warriors, not handmaidens!”
“And what about the distraction your king is so bent on preventing? How can your men remain celibate with mermaids floating about?”
“You haven’t met the merrows, have you?”
“What difference does that make?”
He laughed, then threw Lennox an irritating wink. “You’ll see once you meet Margaret.” Ainsley drew his fingers into his mouth, then whistled before screaming at the top of his lungs, “Margaret! Front entrance.”
“You sound like a dying whale shouting at her like that. You’ve got the manners of a slug and should be ashamed of yourself.”
Ainsley rolled his eyes, then pointed toward the stairwell at a hideous, monstrous creature headed in our direction. The torso of a woman and the tail of a fish was where her similarities to my kind ended. Green, scaly skin covered her entire body from fork to head, blending with stringy black hair that covered a bulbous nose. Her pointed ears stuck out, lopsided and uneven, but bigger than her head. Crusty, fungus-infested fingernails graced bony, wart-ridden fingers.
I shuddered before leaning closer to the Fin-men and hissing. “So she’s a bit unsavory to look at. You’re no prize yourself, Ainsley.”
Lennox coughed into his fist, and Ainsley’s jaw dropped. “You’re going to need to watch your tongue in front of the king. He’ll cut it out if you talk to him that way.”
“I trust the king will have a shred more class than you.”
“Damn, Lennox. How’d you cross the ocean with this mermaid?”
“What can I say?” Lennox said, grinning at me. “She grows on you.”
The woman ap
proached, timid with eyes plastered to the floor. She curtsied before asking, “How may I serve you, Sir Ainsley?”
Ainsley faked a gag at the mermaid’s expense. “For starters, you can start wearing a mask.”
“How dare you?” I interjected on her behalf. “I guarantee you’d never dream of saying such a thing to a girl who was capable of defending herself.”
“I’d never ask you to wear one, if that’s what you’re asking. It would only be hurting myself to hide such a pretty face.”
“How you speak to your servants outside my company is your own business, but I would ask that you show her a shred of decency in my presence. I am an ambassador of a neighboring clan on a mission for peace. The least you can do is show me that respect.”
“I don’t have—”
Lennox stepped between us, separating the quarrel before we could draw attention. “C’mon, Ainsley. Play nice, would you?” He turned to the green servant. “Margaret, would you show my friend Angelique to one of the vacant rooms near the top of the palace? She’s an honored guest of King Odom and will be staying with us for the night.”
Margaret curtsied, but did not look up at him. “Yes, Sir Lennox. Of course.”
“Wait,” I protested. “You’re leaving me?”
“We’ll see each other again soon. I do have some matters to tend do, and I’m sure you’ll be more comfortable with Margaret than with the brutes I have to meet up with.”
I tried to hide the disappointment on my face, not wanting to give Ainsley any further indication of my dependence on Lennox. Instead, I simply nodded. “You’re probably right. If the other Fin-men are as terrible as this one, I might stay to my room until your king arrives.”
“Will this be all right for you, Miss Angelique?” Margaret stood in the doorway, extending her hand at the accommodations in front of us.
We swam almost to the top of the palace, three stories below the ice-white pinnacle. The top two floors, she explained, belonged to the king. They were off-limits to all others unless an expressed invitation was extended.
