Page 14 of Secrets Among the Tides
Meaning to ease her nerves, I pulled Geronimo forward. He pawed at the water and started to follow, but Maisie let out a small shriek and darted backwards, only to trip and fall into the muddy ground. I halted Geronimo, ordered him to stay with a gesture of the hand and then reached down to help Maisie up.
Her face was flushed and I was glaring at her. Annoyance, I couldn’t help it, flowed through me. “You’d best get over this fear of yours before it can even fully develop.” I tried pushing the harshness away, but it slipped into my words, making her flinch and pull her hand from mine quickly. “The real Princess is a skilled rider.”
Her glare was mutinous, but it affected me none. “I’mnotthe Princess.”
“I know.” She didn’t need to remind me. It was apparent in her lack of good sense and education. “You needn’t say so.”
Maisie huffed loudly and opened her mouth to say something, but caught herself. Good. I did not want to argue in front of my soldiers. It was time to leave. Ignoring her, I turned back to Geronimo and took his reins. At my signal, the whole camp would begin marching out of this town. And I was beyond ready to go.
“Time to move out!” I called to the camp. Affirmatives responded all around and they began mounting their hippocampus’. I looked down to Maisie, who was glaring at me from her position. I loomed over her, gripping tightly at the reins as if that could help control the anger and annoyance I felt inside because of her cowardice. “It is time to go,” I said firmly, reaching my hand down for her to take. She stared at it a long distrustful moment. “Nothing bad is going to happen to you, Maisie,” I promised. “You will be safe with me.”
My words burned past my lips, though my chest felt hollow as I said them. I hadn’t been able to protect Princess Odele, what made me think I could protect Maisie? What made me think that I could even begin to keep her safe? Those words were my haunting, my greatest sin. But I vowed I would keep her alive and well, if it cost me my life. Because if she went missing because of me, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to live with myself again.
“Please,” I whispered, quieter.
Maisie visibly swallowed, nodded and took my hand.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Maisie
THE BEAST THRASHED TAIL AND HEAD,darting through the water at an easy pace that felt too fast, the height too high. I gripped the reins and didn’t let go, my knuckles white and my stomach churning unpleasantly for what felt like hours. I’d closed my eyes tight against the cold waters that slapped at my face, the current a fast sting against my skin.
Captain Saber’s arms were like a firm cage, locking me in, preventing me from falling. The hard press of his chest was tight on my backside, muscles bunched and tense. After a while, I focused on that instead of the speed, focused on him instead of the beast beneath us. The captain was holding me tight, making me realize that he would indeed protect me as he’d said.
Hours later, we were out of Lagoona. I knew I’d seen the last of my home when the scenery began changing, when gone were mer with webbed features, long, thick whiskers and sharp teeth. The waters seemed to change as well, becoming thicker, denser. I knew soon we’d reach the saltier waters of the ocean. Soon we’d be in Eramaea, the capital of the kingdom of Thalassar and then the palace. Soon, I’d meet the King and Queen.
It was hours later that we stopped in a kelp forest of a neighboring town to make camp. I was glad for it. My tail and backside were saddle sore from sitting for hours, my hands going numb from gripping the reins too tightly.
Captain Saber brought his large blue beast, Geronimo, to a halt. The hippocampus pawed the water before settling down. The captain hopped off first with incredible ease. I looked at the drop below. Easy to just hop off, stretch my tail and swim. But I was cramped up and my fins didn’t make swimming easy.
But when the captain made no move to help me down, I decided to do it myself. I was independent, I could do this. I’d lived my entire life without him there to guide me through it and I could do this without his help, too. Setting my palms against Geronimo’s side, I leaned against my tail and hopped down. I fell lightly through the water, fanning my fins out at my side. My left fin, the torn one, didn’t catch water, so I nearly tripped but righted myself quickly.
My face flamed when I looked up to find Captain Saber scrutinizing me. I fought hard not to snap at him, though everything in me wanted to. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. He was right and it wouldn’t be wise. I’d hated the attention back home, hated the stares I got at Tides’ Tavern because of my appearance. I didn’t know how I’d handle it if I were dressed as the Princess. All eyes would be on me. I dreaded that part the most.
But for the greater good of Lagoona, for my people and the lost souls of Thalassar, I’d do it.
I watched as Captain Saber started forward and began barking out orders to set up camp. It was amazing how quickly everyone moved when he spoke, how they watched him with rapt attention. He was powerful, influential. That much was evident.
Soldiers started hopping off of their hippocampus’, going to the carts and began pulling out supplies. Once everyone was hustling, even the new selects, he turned to me and gestured with a jerk of his head that I follow him.
He led me to a cart, a very large scallop shell that was clamped closed. He propped it open, revealing the contents inside. It was the material of a tent, thick seal skin with bamboo poles and braided rope.
“Selects usually sleep in a supervised area together,” he explained quietly, firmly. “Yours is a special case. I do not want you staying with them but I do not want them asking questions either.” He pulled out the hefty tent, barely grunting as he lifted it.
“I think, to avoid rousing suspicion, I should sleep with the other selects.” The idea of drawing attention, even worse, the idea of sleepingnear himwas nerve wracking. I didn’t need him scrutinizing my snores along with everything else he already scrutinized.
He shot me a look as he turned with the tent in his arms. I quickly grabbed the pile of bamboo sticks into my own and followed him. They were slightly heavy, but nothing I couldn’t handle.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
I rolled my eyes, hoping he’d see it in his peripheral vision. “The idea is to not draw attention to me, right? If I sleep in my own private tent, or even with you, don’t you think everyone will raise their eyebrows in our direction? Don’t you think they’ll try to figure outwhy? Try to figure out who I am and what I am to you?”
He was quiet so long, I thought he wouldn’t reply at all until he finally nodded. “You’re right.” He came to a clearing and dropped the tent into the muddy ground, causing silt to fly up in a small cloud.
“Just treat me like you would any other select,” I added, placing the bamboo down with much more gentleness. “When we get to Eramaea, things can change. For now, no attention.”
I straightened, watched him tighten his jaw. I wondered why he was so at war with himself, why he looked so…torn. I watched as he let loose a slow breath and then bent to begin putting up the tent. “Fine,” he conceded. “But I’ll supervise you and the other selects. You’ll ride with me until we get to the palace and don’t, for the love of the gods, slip up.”
