30. Erin
Chapter 30
Erin
A llarick came home two days ago, though he might as well still be far away. I’ve seen very little of my husband since his return from the deep sea. He’s pulled to our kingdom’s borders, making sure the guards we placed there to protect our people know what to look and listen for. He’s met with groups of sirens—those he calls mages—to help make some sort of sound barrier to surround our castle.
He’s offered to bring me along, but I wouldn’t be much help. I know little about defending our borders and knowing what to listen for. I would simply be a hindrance rather than a help, so I opted to stay at the castle and aid where needed.
It hasn’t been bad though, minus missing Allarick. Iris has been glued to my side since the day Allarick left, and Delmare joined us as soon as he returned. I’ve grown fond of both of them, but especially Iris. She’s become more than my maid, though I hesitate to say friend. I’ve never been good at making and keeping friends, and this new, fragile relationship is not something I’m willing to let slip through my fingers so easily.
Over the past two days, the castle has experienced more activity than normal. People complaining of headaches. Some claimed blackouts in their vision, losing entire hours. Many more took to the castle out of fear. With the uptick in guard presence and the fear of missing family members, the kingdom feels unsettled.
The role of queen is thrust upon me, whether I’m ready or not. For the first time in my life, people flock to me for support. I understood the fear breeding in the castle like a plague, the constant anxiety of not knowing what would come next. The general consensus is that Allarick will protect his people. But even supporters have their doubts. Everyone's trying to remain as positive as they can.
Today I’ve decided to open up the first floor of the castle to the public. I didn’t run it by Allarick, but he said I had free rein to run things as I see fit. He trusts my judgment, which is refreshing. My fondness for him grows, especially during his absence.
The first floor of the castle is a large enough space to accommodate at least two hundred guests. Not that I think we’ll have that many merpeople coming in for sanctuary, but I want to be prepared if we do. Iris helps me greet the merpeople and directs them to the kitchen for food. Delmare stays by my side throughout it all, and I’m glad for his presence because the merpeople look at me like a diamond in the rough. I’m a marvel they haven’t seen in years, and everyone wants to question me. Delmare’s job is to mostly steer them away, and he takes it very seriously.
Interestingly enough, their stares don’t bother me like they once would have back in Grym Hollow. They aren’t staring at my poorly concealed bruises or looking at me with pity. They don’t see the sweet girl who fell in love with the wrong man. No, the merpeople stare at me out of curiosity and some with reverence. It’s…nice.
“More than yesterday came. It seems like people aren’t eager to spend their time outside,” Iris says as another family and their pet sea turtle swim in.
“Can you blame them?” I ask softly, not wanting anyone to overhear us. “People are nervous. They aren’t sure what’s safe and aren’t willing to risk their families.”
The songs of the Leviathan have reached the outskirts of our borders. It happened so quickly after Allarick returned. The voices are getting stronger. Most merpeople can’t hear the calls yet, which is a small relief. But a few civilians with exceptional hearing have made reports of a low buzzing call, hard to resist.
I fear for the day all of Tetria hears it and wonder if I’m doing enough.
“We need to lighten the mood, my queen. It’s not good for morale.” Iris frowns, hands clasped in front of her. She hasn’t stopped swishing her tail since we arrived. I know she’s on edge too. Just like most of the people in this room.
I rack my brain to think of something that might help soothe the crowd. At the very least, something that will provide a distraction. Visions of a pearly white instrument come to mind, and a thought occurs to me. I grin and quickly whirl on Delmare.
“Delmare, can you retrieve the harp from the music room and bring it out to the foyer? I think I would like to play.” My fingers itch to strum the strings and hear the beautiful melody it makes. I haven’t since our wedding night. Even then, it didn’t last long because Allarick and I got distracted.
Really distracted.
Delmare nods, though he doesn’t look eager to leave my side. “I’ll wait right here with Iris until you return. Danika is right down the hall too. We’ll be fine,” I say to ease his worry.
“Of course. I’ll be right back.” Delmare bows and swims away to the music room, looking back to make sure I don’t move. I can’t help but notice Iris’s eyes on him as he leaves. The way she stares longingly at him fills me with guilt because I’ve been occupying most of their time. As mates, I’m certain they would appreciate alone time.
Just like I would kill to have some alone time with my husband. Sacrifices must be made all around though.
A few moments later, Delmare swims out with the harp Allarick purchased for me on our wedding day and a stool for me to rest on while I play. He sets it up, and I thank him before taking a seat. “Music has a way of healing the soul. Do you think they’ll mind if I play?”
Iris and Delmare share a glance, as if thinking it over. Iris smiles, though it doesn’t reach her eyes. These last few days have done a number on her, and I know she’s tired. “I don’t think they’ll mind at all, my queen. You often get an audience when you play. I think it’ll be lovely and maybe even calm some of the restless guppies.”
I survey the room, seeing stressed parents trying to corral their children, merpeople holding their heads as if fighting back a headache, and others chatting, but their body language is too stiff. True fear hasn’t settled upon Tetria, rather a guarded caution. If I can make everyone’s mood just a little brighter, then I’ve accomplished what I wanted to do.
Like always, my eyes close when I pluck the first string. It’s a soft vibrato I let linger before picking back up the note. Music takes hold of me, and my fingers glide effortlessly. James really put a new meaning into starving artist after taking away my music. It felt like a piece of me was missing. A hole in my heart I couldn’t fill no matter how hard I tried.
The commotion around me fades away as each note rings loudly in my ear. I play a song of happiness and hope. I don’t stop at one though; my fingers eagerly pluck away at three more songs, all upbeat and full of hope because that is what we need right now.
When the last note hits, I exhale a deep sigh and sit back in my chair. My hands fall to my sides, and my eyes flicker open. The floor in front of me is suddenly occupied by a handful of children—guppies, as they call them. Merpeople who were once on the opposite side of the room have huddled close, a look of serenity on their faces.
Delmare isn’t next to me anymore, and Iris is hunched over an older kraken who had been sitting alone in the corner, holding his head. He had one of the stronger headaches of the bunch and was slouched over in his chair all morning.
But now the same man stands tall, speaking excitedly to Iris. She nods and says something to the man I can’t hear, then she hugs him. She visits two other merpeople who have all complained of headaches before swimming back to me.
“Are they okay? Do we need to call the healers?” I don’t think I need to, judging by their smiles, but I offer anyway.
“No, my queen. Those three merpeople I spoke with all came in with horrible headaches. You remember? Slouched over in corners. Well, they said as soon as you started playing, their pain went away. Just like that,” Iris says.
“Well, music is said to be healing.” I smile, but Iris doesn’t return it. She’s too busy spewing about others who have made comments of relief.
“And a mother who couldn’t get her newborn to sleep in days finally got the guppy to sleep. The woman was in tears, she was so happy.”
My cheeks flush. Iris’s tone teeters on excitement. I just don’t understand why. She’s happy, but also…suspicious? “Music is a good lullaby.” I shrug, trying to brush off her words.
“There’s more,” a voice booms behind me, and I jump as Delmare reappears. “The siren by the window reported hearing a strange call earlier. The moment the music started, he stopped hearing it.”
“Okay, well, that happens when you play music. You tend to hear the sound closest to you.” I laugh, trying to lighten the mood, but, in reality, my body is on alert. What are they getting at, and why do I feel like I’m in trouble? “Not to sound rude, but I’m not sure what you are insinuating.”
Delmare and Iris do that thing where they look at each other and seemingly have an entire conversation with just their eyes. Part of me envies them for having such a strong love over the years, they can tell what the other is thinking without asking. Right now though, it’s annoying.
Neither speak up at first, and the tension growing between us only heightens until Iris speaks. “We could be wrong, but we think your music might be healing.”
Now it’s my turn to stare. And stare. “You mean like…metaphorically?” Because she couldn’t possibly mean anything else by it. Right?
Except the way she bites her lip and the way her tail fidgets from side to side speak a different story. “I’m not explaining this well,” she says quickly. “Let’s just wait for King Allarick to arrive so we can tell him what we observed.”
I want to urge her to explain herself, but that’s when I feel something slither around my midsection, pulling me back into a hard chest. Then a voice that stars in all of my dreams asks, “What have I missed?”