Page 68 of A Kingdom Restored

Heath shook his head. “No. Well, yes. But not just them. All of them. The whole population of her kingdom.”

“But why?” Laura demanded.

Heath ran a hand through his hair, the release of letting this information out almost overwhelming. Laura had always been adept at weaseling confidences out of both her brothers, and she somehow managed to do it in such a way that they never resented telling her afterward.

Probably her mood-altering magic at work, if the truth were told.

“Because they have power…sort of,” Heath hedged, not quite ready to reveal all Merletta’s mysteries without even discussing it with her. “Not like ours—they can’t work magic. But there’s a magic about them, passed through the bloodline of every single one of her people. There’s a complicated history with the dragons, but the long and short of it is that the dragons resent their magic, and want to wipe it out.”

“Why are you telling me all this?” Laura asked blankly. “You’ve been so secretive about this girl for so long.”

Heath let out a long sigh. “Too secretive, probably,” he acknowledged. He scowled. “Although the reaction of the dragons probably justifies my reluctance to betray Merletta’s secrets to anyone. But I think we’re past that point. Especially given what the dragons know about her, and about me, I think I have to tell the king everything.” He grimaced. “I just hope Merletta can forgive me.”

“What do the dragons know about you?” Laura asked.

“About my farsight magic,” Heath clarified. “I told them yesterday—it was a distraction to hopefully stop them usingtheirfarsight on Elddreki while he went to Merletta’s rescue. You see, they don’t know exactly where Merletta’s kingdom is.” His voice turned gloomy. “Not yet, anyway.”

Laura massaged her temple. “Let me get this straight,” she said. “As of yesterday, you had your brother locked up in one kingdom, pending execution for rebellion against the crown, and your sweetheart in the identical situation in a different kingdom? With some murderous dragons thrown in, and then you…somehow in the middle of it all?”

Heath actually laughed. When she put it like that, it was all so absurd, he couldn’t help himself. “Well, the circumstances of their arrests were pretty different, but yes, that’s basically it,” he acknowledged.

“I don’t mean to accuse you, but you are the one and only common element,” Laura said, joining in with his humor.

This time Heath’s laugh was half groan. “Believe me, I’m aware. And I’ve had way too much of a hand in all of it. Especially in the disaster with the dragons—that’s pretty much entirely my fault.”

“I dispute that.” The soft voice made the siblings turn, to see Merletta framed in the doorway.

“Merletta!” Heath shot to his feet, glad it had been her and not a servant who’d been listening unseen. “I didn’t realize you were up.”

“I was drawn by the unmistakable and familiar sounds of you blaming yourself for the problems of the world,” Merletta said cheerfully, stepping through the doorway to reveal Sage behind her. The other mermaid still looked a little overwhelmed, but she wasn’t visibly wobbling now, at least.

“I like her.” Laura, also rising to her feet, grinned at Merletta.

Merletta flushed, although she returned the grin. “I’m guessing you’re Laura,” she said. “Heath speaks very highly of you.”

“And if he didn’t, I’m sure you wouldn’t tell me,” laughed Laura. She looked Merletta up and down unashamedly. “I’m very glad to finally meet you,” she said. “And I must say, my dress is an excellent fit for you.”

Merletta flushed again, this time thrown off balance. “I hope you don’t mind—” she started, but Laura waved her off.

“Of course I don’t.” She gestured the two girls into seats, and lowered herself again. “Although I am very curious about what you’re wearing underneath.”

“Laura!” Heath had been making to sit as well, but at his sister’s words he froze halfway down, the horrified protest slipping from him.

Laura just laughed again. “I’m not trying to scandalize you, Heath. I was asking about the clothing native to Merletta’s kingdom. Bianca gave me a very intriguing account of Merletta’s attire, and I’m a little disappointed to see her looking so Valorian.”

Merletta laughed as well, falling for Laura’s charm as readily as everyone always did. “Yes, Bianca helped me get ready for the Winter Solstice Ball when I was here last. She was very kind not to make fun of my confusion…conventions around attire couldn’t be more different between my kingdom and yours.”

She shot Sage a knowing grin—the other mermaid was fidgeting uncomfortably in her heavy gown.

“Rekavidur claims that the humans have to compensate with excessive coverings because they don’t have scales.”

“Well, I don’t see any scales on you, so what’s your excuse?” Laura protested, still smiling.

Merletta froze slightly as she realized her slip, and Sage let out a quickly stifled gurgle.

“Enough with the interrogation,” Heath cut in smoothly. “And you’re surprised I didn’t invite you to come meet Merletta last time!”

Laura raised her hands in mock surrender. “All right, all right.” She narrowed her eyes at her brother. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten what we were talking about. If it’s true that the dragons have decided to start eliminating unfamiliar sources of magic, don’t you think you endangered yourself by telling them about your farsight?”

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