The leader of the group stepped forward, his jade vest bared his muscled arms, the crown on his head glistened like the inside of seashells with swirling colors of creams and lilacs and mint.
He raised his chin in greeting. “Are you the daughter of the selkies?”
I stepped forward and inclined my head.
He ran his aqua eyes over me and cocked his head to the side. “It surprised them, didn’t it?”
“What did?”
“That the most powerful, sought for being in this war of our worlds should be a daughter of the water?”
“I suppose it did.” Daron certainly seemed surprised by it, at least.
“Long have the earth types disdained the water types. But perhaps you have come to change that?”
“I can’t say,” I said, feeling tired. So very tired. The temporary burst of energy from anger had already faded.
“Where are my manners?” The prince raised his hand to the sea and with the next wave, two large chairs made of white poles came forth into the sand. “Would you please have a seat?” He gestured to one of the chairs.
I sat, my cloak puddling around me.
He placed his hand on his chest and offered a warm smile. “I’m Marious, crowned prince of the merfolk.”
“Faye,” I said. My hand slid across the smooth surface of the arm of the chair, hard and creamy white. Could it be made of bone? My heart jumped.
“Well, Faye.” Marious leaned back into his chair, draping his arms over the armrests and crossing an ankle over his knee. “Perhaps we can create an alliance between our two groups.”
Daron stood beside me, his hands crossed in front of him. A wave came and lapped against our chairs. “Perhaps we can.”
Marious smiled. “We could potentially offer scouting into Typhon’s side of the Ether, sending regular reports, and so forth. The details we could work out with the council later. But we would have requests of our own, of course. If we were to offer something that may cost some of our own lives, we would expect to have the favor returned to us.”
Daron lifted his chin, his muscles tensing. I bit back a groan. God, I hated that I suspected Daron had been right about him. Not that I would ever admit that to Daron.
“And what would that be?” I said.
“Two things really,” Marious said with a shrug. “One is for you to be a spokesperson to the selkies on our behalf if the time should come that we need it.”
“To share what kind of messages?”
“I can’t say fully.” Marious flashed another bright smile. “But my father desires to open our races up to each other. He needs an ambassador between the two.”
“The selkies aren’t likely to agree with that.”
“That’s irrelevant,” Marious said, tapping his fingers together. “We only ask that you take our message to them as they will grant you an audience.”
“I will not deliver any threats to my people.” Marious smiled in a way that reached his aqua eyes, like he was glad I was clever enough to see that loophole. I sighed. “And the second request?”
“That you join our court in the sea during the three days of the full moon each month.”
“No,” Daron growled.
Marious lazily shifted his gaze to Daron, a bored smile on his face. “I’m sorry, are you her keeper?”
Daron’s eyes glinted. “No, but I am her protector.” He looked at me. “This has the makings of a trap.”
Marious sighed, switching his ankle to the opposite knee. “I have it on good word that she has the power to freeze hundreds of beings to death from the inside out.” Blood drained from my face, my hands shook, and I tucked them up inside my cloak’s sleeves. Marious continued, “Why would I risk my own life and my court’s life in an attempt to harm her?”
“Why me?” I said.
“Once again, two reasons. The first is for your own benefit. Your magic is rooted in water magic. You need to learn to use your powers, and if I understand correctly, you’ve scarcely unearthed your potential. You need a water-type instructor.” He smiled rakishly. “And I happen to be an excellent instructor.”
“The second reason is for my benefit.” He trailed his eyes over me. “We have a pageant for magical types to perform their skills on the evening of each full moon, and I never have anyone of interest to attend with me.”
“You want me to go to a magic show with you?”
He raised his eyebrows. “You could put it that way, I suppose. Do you enjoy magical spectacles, Faye?”
Something coiled up in my stomach, but I shrugged. “I think that scarcely matters for the bargain.”
His only response was another bright smile.
9
Daron
A sword shrieked as a protector pulled it from its scabbard. Faye paled, shrinking in towards me. I put an arm around her. She trembled.
We trekked down the path towards our camp, the sun splashing bright colors as it set. Fir trees breathed alongside us, their needles grasping at each other in the breeze.
“Maybe it’s a good idea,” Faye whispered. “Maybe a change of pace could help me. And maybe I would actually do something useful to help with the war.”
“No, it’s not safe. They could be planning anything to sabotage you.”
“He made a good point. Are you my keeper? Do I not have free rein over my own choices?”
I narrowed my eyes. But I was glad to see some fire in her again. “He made that point on purpose. He’s trying to cause dissension between us. You know I’ve stood up for your right to make whatever decisions you’ve wanted in the past, regardless of my feelings on it. I’m just advising you it’s a fool’s trade. Merfolk are known to be slippery and Marious has that all over him.”
We had made it to our camp. Most of the group sat at the table eating dinner.
“I don’t know,” Faye said, shrugging. “I liked him. He kind of reminded me of Alec.”
I huffed a laugh. “Take it back.”
“No, I don’t think I will,” she said with a smile.
“Take what back?” Alec said, walking over with a drink in hand.
I rolled my eyes. “Faye thinks the Merfolk prince and you are alike in some ways.”
Alec smiled. “So he’s charming and handsome then, is he?”
Faye laughed and raised her eyebrows at me in victory. A smile tugged at my lips. She walked over to the dinner table, sitting beside Telanes.
Alec’s head cocked to the side. “That’s the most like herself I’ve seen her since the days after the battle.”
“It is, isn’t it?” I sighed. Would it be good for her to go to the mercity? But what if they planned to sabotage her? What if they tried to harm her down there and we couldn’t do anything at all to help her?
“What’s wrong?” Alec said.
“Nothing new.” I reached out and squeezed his hand. “Come on. I’ve interrupted your dinner.”
The group stood in a circle, eyes on Alec and Scyla who demonstrated the sword drills we worked on—facing a sword weaponless, something new now that shields that cut off your access to the Ether and your ability to draw weapons were in play.