by Starla Night
Anik was less injured than Oska and King Falki had been, so he could stand easily on the Sea Opals. His jaw flexed, and his eyes reddened. He swallowed hard and vibrated. “Father. I am disappointed.”
Warlord Yashu nailed his son with a look. He was more than betrayed. He was wounded. “I did everything for you, my son.”
Anik flinched. “I would rather serve Syrenka as the lowliest warrior than as the puppet king of the All-Council.”
“You have undone decades of work. Decades. You must be king.”
“Warlord Yashu.” The head elder floated before the rest; they were all in agreement. “You tried to kill Prince Oska and King Falki. The punishment for treason is exile.”
“You cannot exile me.” Warlord Yashu glowered. “I promised a worthy king would rule Syrenka.”
Anik twitched. “Father.”
“No, you will not take this away from me.” Warlord Yashu made his hands into claws. “None of you will take this away from me. I have made a pact. If you do not send Anik out as king, the All-Council army will destroy Syrenka.”
The warriors exclaimed in shock.
“This is not what I want, Father,” Anik snarled.
“It is what you deserve.” Warlord Yashu’s grin twisted into sick triumph. “And whether or not you like it, I have arranged it so you will get what you deserve.”
The Life Tree shrieked.
At the edge of the city, the first castle groaned as army saws sliced into its stem. It turned black and collapsed to the seafloor, shattering coral.
The army had begun its attack.
Thirty-Five
The pain of the city screamed through the Syrenkan warriors’ veins.
Lotar’s father arched in pain and Oska clasped his own chest.
But Lotar felt only a distant unease.
The elders had declared him king, but Syrenka was not his home. He was no longer fully linked with its Life Tree. He had given it up.
Now, his home was Atlantis.
And that meant he had the advantage.
“First Lieutenant Anik, gather your warriors.” Lotar’s vibrations cut through the chaos. “Leave a force to protect the Life Tree. The rest will come with me. You.” He ordered the messenger. “Tell them to cease the attack. The king comes to parlay.”
The messenger whirled and kicked, in agony but forcing himself to swim. He disappeared.
“These are all the warriors fit to fight.” The first lieutenant gritted his teeth at the small group as though battling a migraine. “We cannot win. We are too few, and they are too many.”
“We can win,” Lotar said.
The first lieutenant looked at him like he was crazy.
Warlord Yashu laughed. “How can you win? There is an army destroying the city, and you will face them with a handful of warriors? You will be the downfall of Syrenka, Lotar. The disappointing second son Falki always said you were. No wonder he prefers to sleep at the Life Tree, so he will not see your crushing defeat.”
“I will fight at your side, Lotar.” Lotar’s father rose with a groan and leaned on Irina. “Stay back where it is safe, my bride.”
“Falki.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “You know you cannot keep all the fun to yourself.”
Oska paddled slowly. “I will make this stand with you, Lotar. As brothers.”
His father rumbled, “As a family.”
“See? Falki does not trust your abilities, Lotar. And he is right to doubt. You cannot win. Cede your position to Anik and let him preserve Syrenka while there are still castles to save.”
“I do not join my son out of doubt.” His father vibrated, slow and resonant, holding his gaze. “I join him because he is king. And if he says we will win? We will win.”
Warlord Yashu sneered, but Falki turned away and faced Lotar. “Where do you want me?”
Oska waited for his assignment as well.
Lotar’s heart swelled so large, it ached.
The city was on the brink of being torn apart, and finally his father looked at him as his son. Not his second son. His son and king.
“Swim close behind me and Hazel,” Lotar said. “It will be most effective.”
“Effective?” Warlord Yashu choked. “What do you mean, effective?”
But his father simply nodded and assumed the position, moving carefully but managing his injuries.
“Oska, you swim with Father and Mama.”
Oska took his position, and Lotar sorted the rest of the warriors with First Lieutenant Anik. This was not unusual for a parlay. Lotar would speak to the general while also showing off their greatest warriors. The general would do the same.
“This is ridiculous,” Warlord Yashu muttered. “You follow a warrior you have always treated badly. He wants to kill you and destroy the city.”
The warriors and elders all regarded each other uncomfortably.
Lotar should probably bind the slimy male’s chest so he could no longer vibrate his lies.
Hazel nudged him. “You should explain why he’s wrong.”
“Explain?”
She nodded, eyes twinkling. “You keep too many things inside. You’re the king now. You can act like it.”
Drawing attention to himself still made him uncomfortable.
But with Hazel at his side, he would conquer the world.
Or at least one All-Council super army.
He vibrated for attention. “Warriors of Syrenka. You are forgetting something.”
His father turned to listen.
Even that made his heart squeeze.
And yet, even when his father had thought Lotar was a jealous threat, he’d always given his full attention. Now, without Warlord Yashu’s influence, his expression was open.
“Traitor Yashu has promised the All-Council a city in chaos. Unsolved assassinations, no first lieutenant, a newly chosen king. Instead, we present a stabilized city with experienced warriors.” He looked at Hazel and his mother. “And two queens.”
Irina grinned.
The head elder hummed. “Is it wise to bluff the All-Council general?”
“It is no bluff. You have not seen the power of a warrior with his queen.”
And so they hadn’t. They fell respectfully into line.
“Fine lies,” Warlord Yashu muttered, and the warriors nearest him, making a final ring of protection around the Life Tree, frowned.
They could not wait until after dispersing the army to deal with the traitor.
Lotar motioned to his warriors. “Rearguard. Bring the traitor.”
First Lieutenant Anik stiffened. “Overseeing the punishment of a traitor is the role of the first lieutenant.”
Lotar’s father murmured. “No king would ask a warrior to oversee the execution of his own father.”
The first lieutenant stiffened further. “It is my role.”
King Falki looked at Lotar.
Family relationships were complicated. First Lieutenant Anik felt guilt from being the center of his father’s murderous plot. If this gave him the closure Hazel talked about, Lotar would not deny him. “Very well. Bring him, First Lieutenant Anik.”
With stiff, trembling hands, First Lieutenant Anik bound his father with bolas. His father did not fight. The son’s soul fluctuated with harsh emotion, but his loyalty demanded unwavering obedience.
They kicked through the city. No more castles had fallen, and the army had reformed. They passed the nervous messenger, whose relief battled with anxiety at their small, injured numbers, and exited the last band of castles to face the All-Council army.
The army was vast. Hundreds of warriors loomed over them, weapons drawn, as they approached the point to parlay. A general kicked forward to meet them. A river of warriors fell in behind him.
They were outnumbered by so many.
But the All-Council army did not have two queens.
Hazel vibrated quietly. “And if all else goes wrong, I’ll just summon the kraken.”
It would not come t
o that.
But her vibration must have carried, because Irina responded. “You can summon her?”
“Well, maybe.” Hazel jerked her thumb at the cluster of warriors floating with their general. “They don’t know I can’t.”
Irina laughed.
King Falki smiled, and his chest glowed brighter.
They hung back at the prearranged area.
Lotar and Hazel kicked forward to meet the general and his entourage.
Hazel glowed brighter and more beautiful than ever before. Using her power successfully had energized her. She glowed, gorgeous and full of determination.
His heart squeezed.
How had he ever thought he was stronger alone?
Lotar stopped before the general.
“Syrenka king.” The general bristled with weapons and harsh certainty. “The All-Council has accepted your request to settle the succession and will enforce your rule for as long as your fellow citizens need. In exchange—”
“No need.” Lotar gestured behind him. “When I leave, my father, King Falki, will resume his duties.”
The general squinted at Lotar’s father. “King…Falki?”
“And my brother, Prince Oska, will succeed him.”
Prince Oska waved. Both warriors were pale and gaunt, but they were also both upright, in full control, and not dead.
“This is not the information I received,” the general said sharply.
“You should have investigated before making the long, pointless journey to our city. But as compensation, I gift you the honorless exile responsible.”
First Lieutenant Anik dragged his father forward. His expression was immobile, but his soul light fluctuated. He had to hand over his father to certain death. It was a punishment no warrior should endure, and yet, he had insisted.
An All-Council warrior swam to meet him, collected Warlord Yashu’s bola, and dragged him into the mass of the army.
The general raised an irritated brow. “What am I supposed to do with a useless exile?”
“That is your choice.” Lotar lifted his trident. “But you have trespassed too long and destroyed one of our castles. If you withdraw immediately, we will let you go.”
The general’s lips cracked in amusement. “You will let us go?”
The vicious warriors behind him laughed uproariously.
Syrenka’s warriors behind Lotar tensed.
The sheer volume of the All-Council army would unsettle him as well.
Except for one thing.
Hazel squinted at the general. She tapped her pursed lips.
The general cut off the laughter. “We will not withdraw. Your exile promised us our pick of the best warriors, the finest hunting grounds, and shelter to rest from the kraken. You will have to drive us out.”
“Gladly.” Lotar lowered his chin. “The army of Syrenka will hunt you across the ocean. We will fade into the reef, snipe you on patrol, pick you off one by one until only you remain on this side of the blacknight sea. Alone.”
The All-Council warriors rustled and murmured.
The general’s eyes widened.
Behind Lotar, his fellow warriors had faded into the ocean. Only Lotar’s family remained visible, mostly because they were injured, but also for support.
The reputation of Syrenka. Ghosts of the ocean. Lurking, hidden, ready to strike.
“Your warriors may disappear, Syrenka king, but we are the net. You cannot escape.” The general lifted one brow in challenge. “Perhaps I should tighten that net. Your warriors will reappear when I raze the city. Destroy the Life Tree. What would you say to that?”
Lotar gripped his trident.
Tension filled the ocean.
Hazel had the power to shield his family. They would retreat to the Life Tree. His mother would push the enemies back. And then they would—
“Hey.” Hazel wagged her index finger at the general. “You. Don’t I know you?”
The general’s brows dropped. He motioned to his bellicose second. “I thought this city had no queens.”
“They did not. They do not.”
“I see…” The general squinted. “At least two.”
“Two?” His second curled his lip in a snarl and peered at the assembled warriors. Males who had never seen brides sometimes could not pick them out.
“I totally know you.” Hazel craned her neck to get a good look. “Giru. Right?”
The general twitched. “Retreat.”
His second jolted. The All-Council warriors behind him gaped.
“Yeah.” Hazel shook her index finger. “You broke into our hospital one time. Aren’t you with Nora?”
The general turned away. “We are leaving. Now.”
His second chased him. “But General Giru, we fight only a few warriors.”
“And two queens. I dislike those odds.”
“But—”
“If you want to test your mettle, guard our retreat, but withdraw before you get too many skilled warriors killed.”
Hazel pulled free and linked one hand with Lotar. “Oh, hey. Giru.”
The general paused, dread affixed to his face.
“General!” his second snarled.
“Sorry. General.” Hazel straightened formally. “We’re having a party in Atlantis when the platform is done and you’re all invited. Your moms might be there. Might. No promises, but Lotar’s mom took early retirement, so you might get lucky.”
General Giru turned fully to face Hazel. “You know I am an honorable general of the All-Council, sworn to defend the ancient covenant, and I will annihilate all who blaspheme it?”
“Right, but things are very ‘it’s complicated’ right now. You’ve lurked in the ruins of lost cities, but have you ever visited a city full of new life? It’s not too late to make a different choice.” Her arms widened to encompass the rest of the general’s warriors. “For anyone.”
The army seethed down at her.
But she represented herself perfectly. She conveyed the invitation without hesitation or stumbling. She glowed with confidence.
Lotar was so proud.
“Anyway, if you want to see your mom or someone else, you don’t have to sneak in. You’re invited.” She curled against Lotar.
“I have no mother,” the fierce second snapped as though she’d issued a personal invitation to him.
“No? They found you in a row of cabbage?”
“In a seaweed forest.”
“Oh. Uh, wow. I had no idea that happened.”
“So there is no reason to invite me.”
“Right. Gotcha.”
General Giru shook his head at the whole exchange and kicked away. “We are leaving.”
And just like that, the army withdrew.
The Syrenka warriors reappeared and watched in shock.
“We did not even raise a trident,” Lotar’s father said.
Lotar’s mother gripped his father’s trident. She slashed it experimentally. “Pity.”
“I didn’t have to summon the kraken.” Hazel flexed her fingers. “If I can even do that.”
“Is she near?” Lotar asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe…” Hazel pointed. “There?”
Everyone turned to look.
It was an empty ocean.
Hazel deflated. “Haha. Never mind.”
A distant shadow moved. Ripples in the ocean tossed sea creatures out of the way.
Lotar fitted her more snugly to his side. “Shield.”
“What?”
“Against the current.”
“She was there?” Hazel squeaked. Her soul glowed, and she threw the shield around the city just in time.
The chaotic tumble of debris whooshed over the top and carried on the other side. Syrenka’s castles and Life Tree bobbed gently in place.
“This shielding is useful.” Irina poked the white light until Hazel released it and it faded away like the swirl of bioluminescence. “Pushing is more fun. I must practice.”
“By the time I see you at the party, you’ll be an expert,” Hazel assured her.
Thirty-Six
They returned to the city.
With Irina at his side, Lotar’s father grew stronger. He focused on securing Syrenka, undoing any more sabotage, and double-checking everything that Warlord Yashu had touched with the elders. And he was careful not to exceed his authority since Lotar was still king.
Following his lead, the city warriors deferred to King Lotar with respect.
And every time Oska heard “King Lotar,” he smiled.
In a short time, the city flourished, and the open ocean beckoned.
Once, Lotar had dreamed of becoming the second prince. Ruling with his father and brother. Enjoying the new respect and appreciation in his fellow warriors’ eyes.
But now…Syrenka was not his city.
He had a mission to complete for his king.
And while this had filled a deeply held need, he knew it was time to go.
Hazel moved to him, sensing his thoughts as always, and nestled in his arms. “Ready?”
Lotar gazed upon the city’s buzzing activity one last time, fixing it in his memory. It had been a home of great striving and great frustration, but he was glad to have returned, if only for a little while.
His brother broke free from the elders he’d been speaking with and swam to Lotar’s side. He had always seen more than Lotar had realized.
Oska clasped his forearm. “You are leaving? I know you must. No one else could complete the All-Cities Gyre.”
Lotar gripped his brother’s forearm.
If only he had realized Oska was an ally, perhaps he would have endured. But Oska had been silent, like Lotar. They had both been young and uncertain. Now? They were true brothers.
“Will you come to Hazel’s party?” Lotar asked.
“Very likely.” Oska grinned. “You know what ‘they’ will say. You are an exceptional warrior. I must study your successes so I can improve.”
“They” would never say such a thing, but Oska’s genuine kindness buffeted Lotar’s heart.
He squeezed Oska’s forearm and released him. “May your spears be dulled by bounteous hunts and your castle walls burst from too many young fry.”
