Well, it was best to obey the rule if you liked your head upon your neck. The Merfolk Kingdom took this very seriously, and acted immediately should someone disobey.
I looked up to see my soul mate grinning at me, with his tiny caster-spelled seashell on his right temple. “Elf, once you apply it to your skin it won’t come off until a merfolk touches it for removal.”
My eyes widened. “I’d wondered how it would stay on in the ocean.” I squinted at him. “I suppose I looked a little foolish shaking my head about. You may laugh.”
King Athon simply shook his head at me, with eyes full of mirth. “I would not dream of it, Princess Trixie.”
I waved him off and headed toward the stairs. “You are ridiculous. And a liar. A ridiculous liar, Your Royal Highness.”
Once the three of us were standing larboard on the rim of the boat, we looked down upon the deep blue water that sparkled in the sunlight. Soft waves splashed against the side of the vessel and rocked it gently. And a Merfolk Queen crested the surface of the water, her face and shoulders sparkling from the droplets running down her soaking, multihued hair.
Queen Alora peered at each boat and remarked—screeched, “What are you all waiting for? The water is fine.”
