Page 125 of A Kingdom Restored

“Oh, that,” Merletta said, a tingle of excitement passing over her. “Is the morning that far gone already?” She lowered the stone with a grunt. “I guess I should leave it for today. There’s just so much to do here.”

“Don’t be absurd!” Freja spoke scoldingly from beside Merletta. “I had no idea the wedding was so early in the day. Get out of here—we’ve got it under control.”

Smiling her thanks, Merletta followed Sage through the trees, swatting a particularly large insect with her hand.

“I don’t know why I need so long to get ready,” she complained to her friend. “Heath said he doesn’t expect me to wear any big fancy Valorian gown. He said I can get married in the attire I’m comfortable in, and any fastidious human guests can take a swim in the lagoon if they complain.”

Sage grinned. “As entertaining as that would be to see, I trust it won’t be necessary.”

She cast an appraising look over Merletta, taking in her friend’s shells, and the simple, fitted skirt she’d now taken to wearing over her legs. It was more secure, and more covering, than the one made from Merletta’s scales, but not long enough to hamper her in the water should she choose to transform for some reason.

“Do you have your heart set on wearing that?” Sage asked, an edge of uncertainty in her voice.

“Not really,” Merletta said, surprised. “I just didn’t want to be forced into a dozen layers in this heat. And I want to be able to actually move as I walk down the aisle.”

Sage shook her head at this reference to the coming ceremony. “Amazing, isn’t it, the similarities between our wedding rituals and the humans’?”

“Not so amazing, really,” Merletta smiled. “Just further proof of the fact that our origins are theirs.”

Their path took them not far from the beach where the ceremony was to take place, and Merletta could hear the sounds of preparation. Nerves swept over her as she peered through the trees, trying to catch a glimpse of the ship anchored just past Vazula’s protective coral ring.

“I’m not sure whether to be glad or alarmed by how many Valorians apparently took up the invitation to attend,” Merletta told Sage. “It’s a good sign for future relations between Vazula and Valoria, of course, and we’re going to need all the help we can get from them. But it’s a bit alarming to think of them all coming to watch Heath marry a scandalous sea creature.” She bit her lip. “I mean, apparently the crown prince is coming!”

“He’s already here,” Sage told her matter-of-factly. “With about ten guards following him around everywhere.” She saw Merletta trying again to look through the trees, and tugged on her arm.

“Come on, stop dawdling! You won’t see them there. All Heath’s family members are getting ready with him, over in the finished dwellings.” She waved a hand vaguely toward the jungle, in the direction of what they were fairly certain had once been Vazula’s central clearing.

When they emerged from the trees, Merletta blinked at the dwelling taking shape some distance back from the lagoon’s edge.

“It’s really coming together, isn’t it?” Sage said, sounding pleased as she looked at Merletta and Heath’s future home.

Merletta nodded, hardly paying attention as Sage half-shoved her toward the water, insisting that she wash herself off.

“I still don’t understand why Heath and I aren’t allowed to help,” Merletta complained, as she completed a rapid wash. “For some ridiculous reason, they’re making it the biggest dwelling yet, so you’d think the more workers the better.”

“People are grateful to you,” said a new voice. “You exposed the lies we were living under, and brought us out into the open. If they want to do something to thank you, I don’t know why you’d turn it down!”

Merletta turned to frown slightly at Indigo, who’d stepped out of the temporary canvas structure set up near the lagoon.

“Not everyone’s grateful,” Merletta said. Her thoughts strayed to the anger they’d all faced from those who didn’t like the shift in power happening in the triple kingdoms. Elfin had been particularly good with using his influence to push back against the complainers.

“Yes, well those ones are staying underwater, and good riddance to them,” Sage said brightly. “Indigo is right. Now come.”

She chivvied her friend toward the tent, and Merletta followed, casting one last glance at the partially constructed home. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate it—she was thrilled at the thought of living in the beautiful dwelling with Heath, building a future there, one day a family. But it all seemed…too much.

“I don’t remember there being a tower like that on the plans,” she commented. “Is it just me, or is it starting to look a bit like a miniature castle?”

“Hopefully not too miniature,” said Sage cheerfully. “We don’t want to be completely outdone by the other land kingdoms.”

“I don’t know if you can really call Vazula a kingdom,” Merletta said.

“Not yet,” Sage agreed, giving Merletta a sideways look she couldn’t interpret.

“Sage,” Merletta said warily. “Why would Heath and I need to live in a castle?”

They’d entered the tent by this time, and Ileana strode forward, her spear in her hand, as always.

“Well, you’re about to become a lady, aren’t you?” she said.

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