Chapter 8 #4
I smile at her. “Really? My mother had one of those. I used to play with the charms when I was little.”
She exchanges a look with Sigurd that I don’t think I’m supposed to see and then turns to me. “Ah, no. This is designed for one charm only.” She digs into the case and holds up a small merman charm. He has long, carved hair, and his eyes are two sapphires. “Like this. Do you like this one?”
The atmosphere in the shop suddenly changes. The air grows warm, and I hear a sound like wings beating. Then the shop door blows open, and a hot breeze rattles the shutters and makes the wind chimes jump and give off a cacophony of noise.
Morveren doesn’t seem bothered. Instead, there’s a wild look in her eyes, and she laughs. Then she puts up her hand. “Peace. So possessive.”
I look around, but there’s only Sigurd standing there. He’s watching her, his head cocked to one side.
“Sorry?” I say.
She turns to me. “You shall pick your own charm. A gift from me.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I immediately protest.
“But I do,” she says steadily.
“Really? That’s so kind of you.”
“I like you, Cary.” She waves her hand at the display. “Choose carefully,” she says as I lean over the case, and there’s a warning note in her voice. “Let your heart guide your hand.”
I hesitate, my hand hovering, and then I see it. It’s a little white dragon.
“Ah, that is made of whalebone,” Morveren says. “It lay at the bottom of the sea for many hundreds of years. Many were the days that my brother and I played amongst it.”
The dragon’s carving is intricate, and Morveren obviously possesses a great deal of talent. It has small, amber-coloured jewels for eyes that seem to glitter in the light. I touch the tiny head delicately, and blink when tingles run up my fingers and spine.
I drop my hand and find Sigurd and Morveren are watching me intently. Sigurd’s eyes seem to sparkle.
“That one?” Morveren asks.
I nod. “It’s so beautiful. The prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Of course,” she says simply. “You would say that.” She takes out the charm. It’s even more beautiful close up.
“Do you have to hook it on the bracelet?” I ask.
“No need.” I look down and blink. The charm now sits on the bracelet.
“When did that happen?”
“Ah, I am quick with my hands.” She holds the bracelet up.
Sigurd stirs. “Let me.”
His voice is deep, with an unexpectedly thrilling note, and I stare up at him as he fastens the bracelet on my wrist. His face is calm, but I sense deep emotion lying underneath.
“How do I tighten it?” I ask huskily and then gasp as the bracelet moves.
It coils around my wrist, the leather warming against my skin.
Then it settles, and the charm rests against my pulse point.
For a second, I think the tiny dragon winks at me, but that can’t be true.
At next glance, it’s just sitting prettily.
I look up. “I’ll treasure it forever. Thank you.”
“That’s—” Sigurd clears his throat. “That is good.” He rests his fingers against the leather.
Morveren stirs. “Before you go, Sigurd, I must ask a favour.”
“You do not need to ask,” Sigurd says. “For the sake of our long friendship and the courtesy you just showed to my mat— er, friend, I would do anything. You know that.”
She inclines her head solemnly. “It is Melusine.” She turns to me. “She is kin to me.”
“Another mermaid?” I ask cautiously.
Her eyes twinkle. “Yes.” She turns to Sigurd. “She has gone missing.”
“What? When?”
“Last week. She has always roamed the waters. She’s a wild young thing, so at first no one raised the alarm, but she has not come home. Her family grew anxious and then…”
Sigurd raises his eyebrows. “What?”
“There was talk of a fisherman with her comb.”
His eyes widen. “Is that true?”
I tilt my head. Why the fuss over a comb?
As if sensing my question, Morveren turns to me. “A mermaid’s comb is a serious thing, Cary. Without it, she cannot go home.” I gasp, and she says, “Yes, you see the problem.”
“Who told you of the fisherman?” Sigurd asks.
“The gulls. They spoke of him, but you know them. They are such loud and silly creatures. They only told of him possessing it, but could not say his name or what village he hailed from.”
“But you believe them?” I ask, forgetting my resolve to be quiet.
She nods. “Her family can feel it is no longer in her possession.” She sighs.
“You know Melusine, Sigurd. She’s a silly, foolish girl, but the comb is the source of her power.
If she has lost it, she will be powerless and cannot go back.
If it can be found, she can return to the sea.
” She sets her hand on his arm. “Please, old friend, could you help me?”
“Of course,” he says at once.
When she releases him, she turns to me. “I am sorry indeed to take his attention from you at such a time.”
“It’s not a problem at all,” I assure her, but inside I’m reeling. Does this mean I’ll have to go home? I feel a sense of deep sadness at the very thought. I don’t want to go home.
Sigurd looks at me, his face solemn. “So, do you fancy searching for a foolish mermaid and her comb?”
“You want me to go with you?”
His brow furrows. “But of course. Where you go, so do I.”
The simplicity in his words sounds somewhat formal. I smile. I can’t help it. “I would love to help,” I say, unable to hide my enthusiasm. “Shall we go now?”
His wide smile rewards me with happiness, and he bends to take my mouth in a sweet kiss. “Then we shall go together, yes?”
I nod, and Morveren sighs. “It is a pleasure to see you in such good humour, Sigurd,” she says. She turns to me. “I think I will see you again, Cary. In fact, I am sure of it.”
“I’m only here for a few days.”
“Like many of my kind, I have the gift of prophecy. I will see you again.”
I have a wild, fervent longing that her words will come true, and she nods, giving me a sudden wink as if she can hear my thoughts. Maybe she can.
We leave in a whirlwind of thanks and set off down the narrow street. When we come out between the tall cottages, I take one last look back and blink.
The street and shops have vanished.