Page 27 of Secrets Among the Tides
How generous.
I was wearing a beautiful pink silk dress with long, shimmering sleeves that were threaded through with the thinnest strings of gold. The waist was belted with a thicker golden rope, the ends of the dress billowing out around my tail. My hair had been adorned with the most subtle of gold clips, as I’d refused the extravagant headpieces the Princess apparently liked to dress in. I shimmered with each careful stroke I took.
These past few days, my fins had been hurting more than usual. Perhaps it was the constant use, the trying methods Captain Saber used to get me to swim without the limp. So far, nothing had really worked. My limp was still prominent and it wouldn’t be something that could just go away after a lesson or two.
So together, we swam the halls of the palace, passing row upon row of royal portraits painted with colored squid ink. He kept a respectable distance behind me, as was usual for a guard. I almost wished I could swim ahead, if only so I could have a moment alone.
“You are swimming too fast,” the Captain judged from behind me. “Slow your pace and keep your head up.”
I rolled my eyes and, just to mess with him, flipped my fins behind me and put a small burst of speed. I heard his audible sigh and gave a small smile of satisfaction. He would probably grill me over a pot of boiling lava later, but out in public, he seemed to mostly keep his commentary in check. It made me love the freedom from the confines of that room.
“Oooodeeeelleeee!”
The shriek was unexpected. I startled as a sudden heavy body pushed against me and wrapped me in the most crushing hug I’d ever experienced. The mer who was hugging me was also shrieking in my ear, leaving me nearly deaf. I struggled beneath her heavy weight and was glad when she finally pulled away.
Her hands were clasped tightly to my upper arms, and her smile was wide, toothy and white. Her skin had a slight pink tone to it and her tail was more blue than purple. Bright eyes regarded me with happiness and I smiled tentatively back.
“I’ve missed you so much!” she screamed—said?—I wasn’t sure. Her voice was booming and loud, and I tried not to flinch. The rotund mer was wearing a dress in an alarming shade of yellow and an enormous tube hat with dozens of dangling jewels that twinkled together as she bobbed before me.
My eyes darted to the side, where Captain Saber rigidly floated, his own eyes screaming in panic. He obviously hadn’t expected this turn of events. He probably expected me to mess this up entirely. I told him I was ready and I would prove it.
I smiled an incredibly wide smile, the kind I imagined Princess Odele would give. “Jessinda!” I greeted happily, kissing either side of her cheek. “It’s so great to see you!”
“Iknoooow! We all thought you’ddied. They told us you were ill.”
I gave the most flippant, shallow look I could muster. “Iwaaas,” I exaggerated. I had no idea if the Princess spoke like that, but Jessinda did, so I would, too. “It was terrible, to be confined to my room with nothing but the telly to keep me company.” I pouted, jutting my bottom lip out. From the corner of my eye, I saw Captain Saber’s surprise slash across his features. Yeah, I’d told him I was ready.
“Tragic, O, tragic.” She took a stroke back and looked me up and down. “Although…” She paused, her eyes narrowing over me. I held my breath. “Something about you seems different…”
The captain shuffled closer to us. I wondered if he’d panic and pull me away from her and shut me off in that room again. My heart was pounding frantically in my chest at this exchange, but I tried as hard as I could to keep the façade going. I flicked my hair over my shoulder and struck a pose, hand on my hip. “You think so?”
She laughed loudly and nodded. “You lost weight, didn’t you?”
“You noticed!”
“The tides will love it.” Eramaea slang. It was a term used to describe the popular mer, or the crowds. “I have to go now, but wehaveto get together for tea and catch up on all the latest gossip spinning through the tides.”
After nodding vigorously and promising I’d meet her for tea, she swam away. It wasn’t until she was well out of range of sight and hearing did I turn to Captain Saber with the biggest eat-squid grin I possessed. “You were saying, Captain?” He rolled his eyes. “C’mon!” I gestured wildly and so not Princess-like that he frowned. “Tell me that wasn’t epic?”
“It wasn’t.”
“Whatever. I did a good job and you know it.” Without waiting for his reply, I started forward again, swimming with much more lightness in my fin and a heavy weight off my shoulders. If I was able to fool Princess Odele’scousin,then I was positive I could fool everyone else, too.
The captain caught up with me. Instead of trailing behind, he swam up to my side. “Fine,” he sighed. “You did well for your first time. Is that what you want to hear?”
“I should have brought a recording conch with me,” I said playfully. “Because I doubt I’ll ever hear that again.”
“Do not let one success get to your head. There is still a long way to go.”
I snorted. “I’m ready to take on the royal court. I’m ready for tea and I’m ready for that stupid anniversary dinner—” I stopped short as we rounded the corner and bit down hard on my lip. Like a reoccurring nightmare, he was there. Finely dressed, and beautiful in a silk black and white kimono, long hair swept low behind his head and dark, penetrating gaze. At the sight of him, the hand he’d pressed his lips to tingled and I cursed myself to the abyss and back for my loud mouth.
Because before me, once again, was Prince Kai.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Kai
STUPID ANNIVERSARY DINNER...
