Oh.She didn’t know about the labour camp.
“Your spies haven’t told you?” said Meela.
The queen opened and closed her mouth. She seemed to struggle with herself, too curious to be offended.
“He’s going to cause a tsunami, unless we do something to stop it,” said Meela.
The queen stared at us for a long moment. “How?”
“He’s digging into the earth, Your Majesty,” I said, heading off Meela before she got carried away. “There’s a massive labour camp in the deep sea. He’s rounding up civilians—Queen Evagore’s kingdom, former humans, anyone who opposes him.”
Medusa looked between us. Barely perceptibly, her shoulders slumped. For the first time, I saw the ordinary mermaid beneath that translucent crown.
“You must understand,” she said. “I am hesitant to offer information that would lead to Adaro’s death.”
“Why?” said Meela.
I looked sharply at her in warning.
The queen hesitated. “Because Adaro is my son.”
The words took a moment to sink in. Meela looked as stunned as I felt.
“Your son? But he’s so …” I trailed off, not sure how to end the sentence without insulting her.
“I have known for some time that my son is leading himself to an untimely end. When I heard about his South Pacific expansion and the disappearance of Queen Evagore, I feared for the Pacific Kingdom. I have tried to contact him, to send advisors, even to send troops to resist his expansion. I have come to accept that my efforts are futile.”
“You’re giving up?” said Meela.
“I will not order my civilians to fight a war that is not theirs.”
“This war affects everyone!”
I put out a hand to silence Meela, but she pressed on, voice rising.
“Whether he’s your son or not, you can’t ignore how many deaths he’s causing. These are merpeople who once belonged to your kingdom. These are the humans you claim to care about!”
Queen Medusa’s eyes flashed red. “Do not doubt my loyalties, girl.”
“Then what are you doing to protect those innocent lives? What happens when the tsunami wipes out every coastal city and you’ve done nothing to stop it?”
“Meela,” I whispered, grabbing her arm.
Yes, I’d expected more from the queen who was supposed to rule with compassion. But Meela’s tone was too severe, too dangerous to be addressing royalty.
“What she means, Your Majesty,” I said, “is that the kingdoms are all connected. King Adaro’s actions might affect our relations with humans worldwide.”
The queen looked to the far wall. I glanced back to find the entrance vacant. We were alone with her.
“While I can help you, I will not mobilise my army,” she said.
Meela opened her mouth, but stopped when I squeezed her arm and cast her a warning glare.
My heart pounded. Something in the queen’s demeanour had changed. She was less defensive, now. Was the concern she showed for her son, or for the innocent lives at stake?
She traced her hands along her throne, seeming to weigh her words.
Meela glanced between us, tense.
