Page 16 of Secrets Among the Tides
I cast my gaze around the darkness, at the shadowed bodies of the other selects lying around me. Some of them slept soundly, others shivered, though most of them tossed and turned, groaning as if they were plagued by nightmares. I almost wondered what they dreamt of. If they created a bloody battle in their minds with dozens of Kappurin soldiers tearing them to pieces.
I myself dreamt of lying down on the butcher’s block, watching the epic swing of the axe come down on my neck. But dreams of death would not help me through this journey. And sleeping was beyond me now.
I got up and went to the entrance of the tent, tossing the flaps aside. Guards floated at attention outside and the second I stepped fin out, their weapons were at the ready, their gazes dark and tense. I froze, hands going up in total submission.
“I just need to relieve myself,” I lied breathlessly. Their spears pointed at my faces made me nervous.
“No one is allowed to leave the tent after dark.”
Captain Saber hadn’t told me that. He hadn’t told me much of anything, honestly. All he seemed to do was scrutinize me instead of actually taking the time to go over camp rules as they would with any other select. I supposed I had to remind myself that I wasn’tlikeany other select. I was supposed to be the Princess. But of course, these mer didn’t know that.
“I promise I won’t be long. I really need to go.”I really need to go and get away from the haunted sounds. I can’t stand the torture.I needed a breath of freshwater, needed to calm the beating of my heart. I knew if I said this to them, they’d take no pity on me. Not these soldiers with their cruel faces and weapons poised to kill. I wondered if they were hoping for me to fight back, to argue. If only so they could stick me through the heart.
“At ease.” Captain Saber was suddenly there, between the two soldiers. At the sight of their commander, they relaxed their grips and postures, however slightly, and saluted.
“Captain Saber,” one of them said, “this mer—”
“I will deal with her,” he interrupted. His piercing eyes swept over my frame, landing on my face with just enough intensity to make my cheeks heat. I didn’t doubt there’d be a tongue lashing after this. “Come, Select. I’ll escort you.” He turned abruptly and began to swim away. I followed behind at a much slower pace, already dreading the upcoming conversation.
He led me away from the cluster of tents, hippocampus’, and soldiers, into a small forest of grass that flowed and slapped against the icy movement of the current. He stopped suddenly, forcing me stop with him. When he turned to face me, I almost expected stern hatred to flash in his eyes, but his expression was surprisingly calm. And that scared me all the more.
“I think this provides enough cover for you. Unfortunately there aren’t better accommodations for you, nor will there be throughout the journey until we reach the palace.” When I did nothing but blink at him, his eyebrows furrowed. “You wanted to relieve yourself did you not? I can turn around…”
Laughter bubbled out of my chest that I released in a soft sigh. “I lied,” I murmured, bringing my fingers up to my lips. “I just needed to get a breath of freshwater. I was suffocating in there.”
He frowned and I waited for it. Waited for the demands, for the chastising. But he surprised me again by nodding as if he understood what was plaguing me. Then, he cast a cautious glance around before turning back to me. “I can give you a few minutes only. But you must promise me you won’t swim off.”
“I promise.”
He gave me one tight nod. And I wondered why was it he believed me so easily. “I’ll be over there.” He gestured little ways away. “When you’re ready I’ll come for you.” And then he turned and swam away to where he’d indicated. I watched him go before I turned and went over to a patch of grass and sat in it. It was scratchy and cold, the texture of it against my skin and tail reminding me so much of my own cattail forest back in Lagoona. Sighing, I tucked my tail under me and wrapped my arms around myself.
My thoughts wandered to my home, to all that I’d left behind and all I planned to gain. Even if I told myself why I was doing this, who I was doing this for, it didn’t hurt any less. There was still this pressure in my chest that threatened to suffocate me. I was giving up my life for the freedom of my people, to help end a war. I had no idea what my life would be like from now on. I had no ideahowI’d even go about with stopping this war that had plagued us for years. But I knew I had to try.
CHAPTER NINE
Tiberius
IWATCHED FROM THE SHADOWS.The freshwaters were nothing like the salty expanse of the sea. Here, there was brightness. Being closer to the surface of two-legger territory meant more light. The beams of moonlight pierced passed the surface of the water and moved along with the movement of the waves below. The light was blue in its hue, illuminating Maisie and the tears she wept.
Small bubbles rose from her eyes, swirling around her. I knew that two-leggers cried tears of the salt of the ocean, but the mer cried tears of air. And something inside me clenched at the sight of those bubbles rising through the water. Once again I was struck by how much she looked like the Princess but no, this couldn’t be right. The Princess hadnevercried. When she did, something about her tears seemed…artificial…as if she were provoking them in order to manipulate those around her. Even I, for as much as I cared about her, had noted her flaws.
But Maisie cried and it was so genuine, I wanted to put a stop to it immediately. Because I did not want to think that maybe I had been the one to cause her harm.
Slowly, I swam up to her, hovering over her small frame. Startled, she wiped at her eyes with the backs of her hands, but the tiny bubbles swarmed freely, even as she looked up at me. She did not force a smile on her face, and didn’t glare, either.
I didn’t know what to say to her, how to offer comfort. Doing so seemed beyond my abilities and besides, I straightened my posture and hardened my resolve, she knew what she’d signed up for when she came with me. “You’ve had enough time,” I said tightly. “It’s time to get back to the tent before anyone starts asking questions.”
In that instant, her gaze sharpened and she clenched her jaw, almost as if she was biting back words she so desperately wanted to slice out at me. Good, I thought. It would be quicker for her to learn now how to hold her tongue, that way when we got to the castle, I would not have to lecture her constantly on court etiquette. I could already imagine the scandal she might be capable of causing before the Queen and King. If she placed a fin out of line, it was quite possible she’d lose her head.
Tensions were high in Eramaea, especially at the palace. With the war plaguing and the disappearance of the Princess, nothing seemed safe and no one could be trusted. The minute we arrived, I’d have to be on high alert, watching her every move. To protect her from others and to protect her from her own defiance.
Maisie floated up, her movements slightly jerky. I’d noticed she swam with a limp, though she tried to hide it. I didn’t ask her what had caused it, but it made her clumsy and it was just another thing on my list of things to teach her. The Princess always swam with grace and her head held high. Maisie would have to, as well.
But not tonight. Tonight, I would not criticize her. The tears flowing from her eyes prevented me from doing it. I’d wait until tomorrow. As we rode on Geronimo, I would go over the rules and etiquette so that by the time we made it to the capital, she would know exactly what she was doing.
She smoothed out the front of her jacket then stopped herself, closing her palms into fists mid-action and then dropping them to her sides. She still wore the dark hat, hair hidden under it. At least she’d done something right. I watched her every movement closely, my own body tense. From the jerk of her wrists to the tilt of her chin.
“How kind of you,” she said slowly and there was enough ice in her voice to slice at me. “Thank you for giving me all of thirty seconds to take a breath.”
