“How did you know?”
“Some sea fae can see, not really see, but they sense things in the water. The womb is water, isn’t it? And they can see the baby. So it was a healthy girl. At that time, Selena… Her family wanted her to marry me. My counselors wanted that too. I was going to marry Kary, though. This time, I was more careful, and protected our future queen, but then Selena told me it wasn’t my child, and that Kary had a lover on land. I did not believe those words, and asked Kary to go through the truth ceremony. It’s when a sea fae is questioned in front of the council. Lies will cost their life. I was so sure of Kary that I thought it would be a good idea. But she ran away. The night before the ceremony, she disappeared. I never found her, and the only conclusion I could come to was that she had indeed betrayed me. Now I wonder if her betrayal was in hiding our son. I can see now why she would do that, can see her reasoning. The thought that she had to hide our own son from me hurts, but now I understand the dangers she was facing. I can imagine what Selena might have done to assure she’d marry me, to assure I’d have no other heirs. I never heard of Kary. I searched for her and never found her. Until that day, when her daughter was on a boat above our court.”
I can’t imagine what it must have been like to lose the woman he loved. “I’m truly sorry.”
He shakes his head. “I’m glad my children survived. Despite everything, they survived. So something good came out of it.”
“Something more than wonderful.”
“Indeed. I want to meet them.” He looks down. “When the time is right.”
We spend a few moments in silence.
As I’m sitting there, something suddenly shifts inside me, as if a weight is lifted, or a bond cut.
I transcend quickly to the surface and back, and feel no pull, no thrall. Nothing. All the weight of worry and anxiety gets lifted off me. I can transcend! This is such amazing news.
Did they succeed? Did they kill the Witch King?
I wonder if the sea water will be unnecessary, but decide it’s better to take it.
At least I learned something important, but I also learned that Lidiane’s life is in danger. My chest tightens as I consider that living near the shore is likely too dangerous for her.
Then, a bell made of a shell rings on the wall. The king swims up, opens the door, brings a large bag made of some kind of animal skin, and passes it to me.
“This is the water. Regular sea water will help too, but this is better. The poisoning should be gone in a week, but keep washing your body with sea water for at least a month.”
I nod, pull some of the air from the breathable equipment, and then remove it.
“I have to go now,” I say. “I can transcend away.”
The king stares at me with wide eyes. “With no circle?”
I smile. “I’m a good transcender.”
In my mind’s eye, I see the Queen’s River and transcend to its bank. No pull. No Witch King calling me anywhere.
I breathe a sigh of relief. Can everything be that good? Can I hope again? Hope for the first time? I still carry the large bag, even though it might not be important now.
Using air magic, I float to the island and yell, “Lidiane!”
I’m so eager to see her, to touch her, to tell her everything I learned. If she lets me, I think I’ll keep holding her for the next few days, and won’t let go.
“Lidiane!”
There are people standing by the house. Four Nymph guards. They obviously have some kind of deal with Marlak, and protect Lidiane too, even though they’re enemies of the Sea Court. Something for me to mull over later. They wouldn’t have come to the surface for nothing. My chest feels heavy again, and my body shivers with dread, shivers so much that makes my heart tremble.
The Nymphs’ faces are grim.
Panic surges through my veins, and I choke, “What’s wrong?”
“Your Highness.” One of the guards bows. I’m too distressed to wonder how they also know that. “The Sea Court. They came in a carriage pulled by dark moths, and took Lidiane. When we noticed it, they were already flying away.”
A hole opens up inside me. How come I didn’t feel it? Didn’t stop it? Why didn’t I stay here? I try to quiet my breathing, try to calm down my thoughts.
“The Sea Court? Are you sure?”
“We say royal guards.”
