Page 34 of The Merman's Betrothal
The blue menace contented himself with watching from the water. Perhaps after Rory’s furious outburst he’d had second thoughts about this whole soul mate business and was starting to back off.
Yet he still appeared every day that week, and often attempted to engage Rory in conversation. Fionn asked polite questions Rory was sure he either already knew the answer to or had no real interest in—what is that equipment called, how many creels do you put down at once, do you prefer lobsters or spider crabs?
Rory told himself that he tolerated it because Fionn brought Acha along with him. It was always a pleasure to see a seal up close, and this one was especially playful. And Fionn, with her, became playful too.
Rory caught himself stalling more than once in his work, distracted by the grey seal and her blue friend diving in and out of the water or throwing sticks for each other to catch.
‘Don’t you have a job?’ he remarked on one drizzly afternoon. Hunched inside his raincoat, Rory felt warmer than usual—but he wouldn’t admit it was because of the company.
The rain didn’t seem to bother the pair at all. Fionn pulled Acha to a stop and called up to Rory. ‘What do you mean, a job?’
‘Shouldn’t you be running your kingdom, or whatever?’ There was a smirk in Rory’s voice and he knew it. The pair looked ridiculous together, frolicking in the waves.
Acha rolled onto her back and playfully nipped at Fionn’s arm. Fionn, apparently offended by Rory’s comment, ignored her in favour of attempting to make himself look serious. ‘My father runs our kingdom, but that doesn’t mean I have not also got many important duties to carry out.’
‘Like what?’
Fionn’s cerulean cheeks caught a tinge of navy. ‘I… help protect our people from threats.’
‘Like humans?’
‘Indeed.’
Rory busied himself with spooling a loose rope. ‘Well, if we’re such a threat, why don’t you get your kingdom to wage war on us, then? Might be a good incentive for humans to stop fucking up the ocean if a whole army of mer-monsters marched out of it.’
From the corner of his eye, he saw Fionn crack a smile. ‘I like your thinking. But, as I am always being told, the uncertain complexity of diplomacy is more valuable than the certain chaos of war.’
‘Sounds nebulous.’
The merman chuckled. ‘One of Iomhar’s sayings. I find they are often meaningless if one digs too deep into them.’
Rory threw a spider crab out to Acha. She caught it with a happy snap just before it landed in the water.
‘Is Iomhar the one who helped you try to kidnap me that night?’
‘No, that was Neacel, who is a forager. Iomhar is a great warrior. He taught me well in combat.’
Rory found himself getting interested, despite his efforts not to be. He’d spent too many sleepless nights wondering about Fionn’s life under the waves. ‘So, he’s a soldier? You’ve got a whole army down there?’
‘Not an army. Again, you seem to think immediately of war.’
Rory rolled his eyes. ‘Sorry, my human is showing.’
To his surprise, Fionn barked out a laugh. The merman quickly reined it in with a tight frown. ‘Apologies, I don’t wish to cause offence.’
‘None taken.’ Fully ensnared by curiosity now, Rory leaned over the railing. ‘What do you need warriors for, then?’
‘To protect us against the monsters of the deep.’ Fionn tipped his chin up, shoulders straight as a rod. If pride could be visible to the naked eye, Fionn would be utterly drenched in it. Rory thought this a little too keenly while staring at the sea spray glistening on Fionn’s skin. And then the words sank in.
‘Monsters?’ he asked sharply. ‘What the hell do you mean, monsters?’
‘Sea serpents, kraken. Giant and ancient beasts beyond your comprehension.’ Familiar lofty arrogance re-entered Fionn’s voice. It was like he couldn’t help himself from being condescending while boasting about his knowledge. ‘We have patrolled these seas for centuries. Made them safer, to your benefit, and without your thanks. And then there are the threats from beyond the veil, from the fae realm and—’
‘I get it,’ Rory interrupted flatly. ‘I don’t want to know.’
‘My point is that humans owe us a great deal for—’
‘I said I get it,’ Rory cut in, suddenly bristling all over. For a minute or two he’d felt like they were actually getting along. And then the prick had to pull out his swagger and ruin everything and—fuck.
