Chapter 39
Thirty-Nine
Kaden
The waters around Kaden cooled, signaling the coming of high tide. The sentries would be returning with their information on Saeryn, and Kaden’s tailfins tapped against the corner of his hammock, anticipating their return. What would they find? Would there be anything he could use against Saeryn?
A knock drew Kaden out of his hammock faster than a yu darting away from an oncoming predator, and he opened it, his face falling.
No sentries to be found outside, but only a single sentinel, who gave a customary head bow when Kaden slid open his door.
“Prince Kaden, the King is asking you to attend his banquet tonight.”
Kaden thinned his lips. He had been hoping to avoid the banquet since he got the invitation two tidesdays ago, but it wasn’t looking like that was a possibility.
He followed the sentinel to their spacious banquet hall where the roar of cheers and festivities greeted him.
An upward of a thousand mer were gathered in the spacious hall, with Saeryn, Cassia, and Varin at the front of the room. Their Shangjiangs gathered round, congratulating them.
“What’s going on?” Kaden approached his uncles and aunt, his brow furrowed.
“My boy! You’ve made it.” Saeryn’s cheeks were flushed. His greeting boomed throughout the space. He was drunk, and when Kaden’s gaze swept the room, he found their workers serving fermented seaweed, sea cabbage, and sea grapes. “We are celebrating our strikes against the dirty landwalkers.”
“Congratulations, Your Majesties.” A group of sentinels approached, bowing in unison to the three monarchs. “That was a brilliantly coordinated and planned strike.”
“Thank you, thank you. It’s good to have a king who knows their role and acts, isn’t it?” Saeryn beamed and took a handful of spiced seagrass when a server came by. “This tidesday, we celebrate. At the turn of the tide, we will join Princess Calora in Haiping and celebrate with them.”
Another raucous cheer.
Kaden stiffened, his stomach folding in on itself, and a shiver coursed down his spine. He couldn’t stay anymore and he slipped away when another group of sentinels came to offer their congratulations.
Despondent, he stopped by Adrielle and Cyrus’ chambers. Sliding the door open a touch revealed Raina and another healer some tailspans away, and she turned to Kaden.
“I’m sorry, Prince Kaden. We are administering Prince Cyrus his medications, and Princess Adrielle and the children are asleep.”
“I see. I’ll come back.” Kaden turned and left them alone.
His last conversation with Angie stayed in his mind. The tsunami at her school. Zixin injured. She was on her way home to Creston and he wouldn’t be able to see her.
Soon she would be so close and he couldn’t stop the wave of dejection that consumed him.