Page 19 of Fletcher

He chuckled. “I ken men who’d rather face death than what you’ve endured, Mistress.”

“Lady Valerie mentioned that all the MacMar share the same father.” When he nodded, she thought of how Shaw and Fletcher seemed so similar, while Nyall looked completely different. “Why aren’t there any female members in your clan?”

“Fae males, they’re much like the Finfolk, in they may sire only sons,” the captain said. “Although we now count Lady Valerie as a MacMar since she wed the laird.”

“I see.” Lark experienced a twinge of envy as she added, “That means all the men in the clan are your half-brothers.”

“Some share the same màthair,” he said. “The laird, Shaw and Fletcher do, so they’re full blood-kin.”

That surprised her. “Really? He doesn’t seem anything like the chieftain or the laird.”

“Fletcher’s a different sort of man—and one you never wish to see angered.” Nyall frowned. “Now what do they here?”

Lark followed the direction of his gaze, and saw the seneschal standing in the dunes above the shore with a huge, bald man who was dripping wet. They both seemed to be in deep conversation. “Oh. Maybe this is a bad time.”

The captain glanced at a cluster of trees shading a small inlet. “’Twould seem something’s amiss. Give me a moment, Mistress.” He trotted off toward the other two men.

Glancing in the opposite direction to see if anyone else was involved, Lark saw what appeared to be the ruins of two huge spherical structures. Only after studying the two circles of short stone and shell walls did Lark realize she was looking at some kind of spiraling maze.

How beautiful.

She went to the opening on the stone side of the labyrinth, which had strange symbols etched into the inside of the walls. They reminded her of ancient hieroglyphics, but as she crouched down to look closer she saw vertical columns of what seemed to be a written language. She reached out to touch the scrolling script, and something tingled in her hand. The ring on her finger seemed to glow for a moment, too.

“’Tis a charm etched there to protect all those who walk the labyrinth,” a deep voice said.

Lark straightened and turned to see a golden-haired man dressed in a silvery-gray wet suit standing right beside her. For a moment she wondered if she were hallucinating, as he had inhumanly vivid blue and gold eyes, and three deep slits on both sides of his neck. He stood barefoot, and both his hands and feet were webbed. A circlet of violet and gold metal held his long hair back from his stunning features. He had to be one of the Finfolk Valerie had mentioned when she’d told her about the clan and the island.

“Hello.” She didn’t know how to curtsey, so she held out her hand. “My name is Lark.”

“I’m Merrick.” He took hold of her fingers and bowed over them, his webbed hand gentle. “You’ve just come to the island from the future, I’m told.”

“I did, yes.” Although the aquatic man looked like someone out of a comic book universe, he seemed nice enough. “Lady Joana’s ring rescued me after I was attacked and nearly drowned in my time.”

“’Twas a fortunate thing, then.” Merrick looked her over for a moment. “You’re a woman grown, Mistress Lark?”

She couldn’t help chuckling. “Oh, yes. Fully grown and gainfully employed.” At his puzzled look she added, “In my time I work as a seamstress. What do you do, Mr. Merrick?”

“I’m king of the Selseus.” He grinned as she stepped back in shock. “Dinnae mind my lofty title or my presence, lass. Here, all walk the same.”

Lark had never met royalty, and Merrick seemed so down-to-earth and friendly she wondered if he was joking with her. Then she recalled something Meg had said: In time I might wed a fine lad. No’ a king, but a good man who works hard shall do. If Merrick was the man that Meg liked, then she could understand the chambermaid’s dilemma. How could a maid aspire to be with a monarch?

“Shall we make our way through the labyrinth together?” the king asked, gesturing to the path in front of them. “’Tis calming to walk. I’d also hear more about your time.”

Hoping she wasn’t making a huge mistake, Lark nodded and joined him on the stone-walled path. Merrick asked about her work, so she briefly described the lively, colorful and often exhausting job of creating and maintaining costume wardrobes on Broadway. He then related fascinating details about the underwater settlement where he and his people, whom he referred to as the Selseus, lived. They farmed kelp and hunted fish, and patrolled the waters around Caladh to assure no one discovered their settlement or the island. To Lark it sounded like Merrick’s people were an aquatic version of the MacMar Clan. He also mentioned that his people only had male children, no females, a remark that seemed almost calculated.

Why is he telling me all this?

By the time they reached the center of the two interlocked circles of the labyrinth Lark had grown more at ease with Merrick, who didn’t seem to have any ominous agenda. The promised effect of calm also settled over her, making her appreciate the mysterious structure’s purpose. People in the future might benefit greatly by using some ancient ways to relieve stress and work out their problems, she decided. Still, how could she tell anyone what had happened to her if she ever went home? They’d lock her up in Bellevue permanently.

Lark regarded Merrick, who seemed to be watching her closely now. “Thank you for telling me about the Selseus, but I have to ask: Why would you bother to give me so much information?”

“Before I saw you, I wished offer a longer life for you,” the king said, stopping and turning to regard her. “We offer a bountiful life, immortality and protection for all females who we transform.”

Lark mentally noted to listen better to her own instincts. “That’s very kind of you. I’m sure there’s a catch, though…some kind of condition that comes with the immortality?”

Merrick nodded. “Females who join us wed a male of my choosing, and bear a son for him.”

Any modern woman would have laughed in his face, she thought, but in a strange way she understood. If the Finfolk could have only male offspring, that would create a constant need for women to join them. The arranged marriage made sense, too. If anyone could claim a transformed female as a wife, then there would probably be a lot of fighting among the single men whenever a woman joined the undersea settlement. The king likely arranged all the marriages.