Chapter 5 #2
Xaydin swam in behind Mersin, noting the brightly colored corals and shiny clam shells that decorated the inside of the building.
Interesting plants swayed in the cracks, oblivious to them as they went down a long, narrow hallway that led to a large throne room.
Six Ningyoan guards were there. Unlike Mersin who had a blue tail, theirs were all green.
Were their tails similar to a unicorn’s horn? Or were they simply a product of birth, like eye color? He would ask them, but this didn’t seem like the right time for such chit-chat.
King Mardyth’s tail was a vibrant gold, and he didn’t sit on a throne. Rather, he lay on a chaise. His chest was bare, and he had gold bands around his wrists and biceps. With gold hair and bright gold eyes, he had skin that was slightly translucent.
“Thank you, Captain Mersin. You’re excused.”
Mersin bowed before he quickly swam back the way they’d just come.
Xaydin quirked an eyebrow at his hasty retreat. “Hope he’s not my only ride out of here.”
The king laughed a lot harder than Xaydin expected. Especially since it wasn’t that funny.
After a few minutes, he sobered and shook his head. “You’re not at all what I expected, given what I’ve heard.”
“Not sure how to take that.”
Mardyth smiled. “Relax. It’s a compliment. Most of the ogres and trolls we meet are those who are drowning.”
“Let me guess…you help them along on their death journey?”
“Depends. If they’re kind and respectful, we help them home. Those who aren’t—” He sucked at his teeth. “Let’s just say sharks have to eat.”
“Of course, they do. We have them on land, too. Only we call them vultures.”
The king scowled. “Not a compliment, given your tone.”
“Not really.”
The king’s tail flicked.
Xaydin wasn’t sure if that was irritation or just habit. Since he knew very little about the Ningyoans, he had no idea how to read their monarch.
“I’m sure you’re curious as to why you’re here.”
He had to bite back a sarcastic retort. Clearing his throat, he nodded. “Very much so.”
The king held his hand up, and a servant swam toward him with a small box.
“In case you don’t know who I am, I’m King Mardyth.
My family has ruled here since the day the goddess left the land and became the bride to our god.
Back when the world was young.” He took the box but didn’t open it as his servant left.
“As I’m sure you know, we don’t participate in the politics of the land dwellers. ”
“Except to try and drown me when I visit Oath Island.”
“An unfortunate history that I’m hoping you’ll overlook.”
Of course. Why would he think otherwise? But the real question was what game was the king playing? “Why?”
“Because my idiot son has run away from home, and I need him returned to me.”
That was an interesting bit he’d never considered.
“Your idiot son?” He couldn’t help repeating that. Mostly because he found it hysterical.
The king nodded. “Marstyn thinks he’s in love.”
“I’m assuming it’s with a land dweller.”
“Yes. A two-legger. Like a fool, my son made a pact with a sorcerer so that he’d be a legged beast as well.” Now that tail flicked with fury. Xaydin was slowly learning to read the king’s mood.
As well as the fact that the king’s eyes began to glow more. “Find him, return him and I will make sure that you will have fair and easy passage for the rest of your life.”
That seriously got his attention.
The king moved from the chaise to approach Xaydin. “More than that, once you finish, I’ll give you this.” He opened the lid to show him what appeared to be…
“A baby pacifier?”
Unamused, the king glared at him. “It will allow you to breathe underwater without having to be in the presence of one of my people.”
Now that was even more helpful.
Xaydin reached for the box. “May I?”
“Please.” The king held the box while Xaydin pulled the pacifier out to examine it.
Seriously, it looked like one of the objects his brother’s nurse used to place in his mouth to quiet him when he’d been a baby.
But who was he to question that?
“Put it in your mouth and try it.”
Xaydin obeyed the king, then realized the difference between what he’d been experiencing and the true gift the king was offering. With the pacifier in place, it was like breathing on land.
Until that moment, he hadn’t realized how heavy the water was to breathe.
With this though…he’d be just another fish in the sea. No different than his host.
The king held his hand out for it.
Xaydin reluctantly handed it over. Normally, he’d fight, but since he couldn’t survive underwater without their help, resisting them would be exceptionally stupid.
“All you have to do is return my son. It’s that simple.”
“That hard.” Xaydin jerked his chin toward the pacifier in the king’s hands. “I’ll be back for that.”
He closed the lid on the box. “I’m counting on it.”
Just as Xaydin moved back in the water, he heard a terrible struggle from outside their room.
“What have you done with him! I’ll have all your bloody fins!”
The sound of the shrill, belligerent voice made him laugh.
Gisela.
He’d know that outrage anywhere. And for once, it wasn’t directed at him.
When two guards came in with his favorite assassin squirming between them, it was all he could do not to laugh. Not at her, but at the effort it took her guards to keep her contained.
She was exceptional.
And the moment her gaze focused on him, she stopped her tirade against them. “Xaydin! You’re alive. Thank the gods!”
For reasons unknown, that expression combined with those words touched a part of him that he’d all but forgotten existed. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she cared for him.
But they barely knew each other. More than that, they were at odds.
Except in this.
She rushed toward him as if she intended to embrace him. But just as she would have been able to do so, she stopped short.
A becoming blush stained her cheeks.
Xaydin smiled. “I’m glad to see you, too.”
Her cheeks darkened even more.
“I take it she’s a friend of yours?” the king asked with an amused glint in his eyes.
Xaydin actually smiled. “She is, and I’m glad your soldiers didn’t kill her.”
“We never kill royalty. Not even bastard ones.”
Those words caught his attention. Xaydin turned back toward the king. “Pardon?”
“Being friendly with the gal, surely you know. She’s Queen Meara’s bastard.”