Page 12 of Whispers of the Starlit Sea
“I came to see why you aren’t singing. Mother was worried.” She moved just out of the way enough so Sorcha wouldn’t bump into her, but didn’t offer to help.
“Been a little busy here. Ouch!” Sorcha cried as the glass cut her finger.
“Ach, can’t you do anything right?” Rona sneered.
Tears filled Sorcha’s eyes as she spun away. Why did she think she could help? Everything she did was wrong.
Pushing past Rona, she fled the infirmary. She wanted the solitude of her cavern, but a group of merfolk gathered in that section of the grotto. She turned and headed for the entrance, needing to get away.
Away from her mistakes, away from Rona’s judgment, away from the countless expectations.
A sob threatened to choke her as she swam through the opening. Without paying attention to where she was going, she sped away. The knot holding her sea shells on her head came loose, and she let them fall away. Below her, the bioluminescents flashed in response to the lightning above.
“GotellHisMajestythere’s a storm coming,” Arick ordered, his training as an officer taking over any sensibilities of rank on land as the clouds continued to block out the sky.
MacIsaac paled. “Where are you going?”
“To find the captain. Go, but quietly. No sense in causing undue concern.”
MacIsaac nodded, then hurried off. Arick headed to the bridge, thankful he didn’t have to go far. A familiar head of ruddy curls caught his eye. He leaned over the rail.
“Thomas! What are you doing hiding back there?”
Thomas looked up from his hiding spot behind the sweeping staircase. “I don’t want to dance anymore.”
“You love dancing.”
“Not when everyone keeps asking me about you,” he mumbled.
Oh.“That’s just because I’m new. Come on, I’m heading to the bridge anyway.” If there was a storm coming, he wanted Thomas nearby, his need to protect the prince rooted in the days when young Thomas couldn’t speak.
As they started up the stairs again, lightning flickered in the distance.
In the short time it took them to reach the bridge, the ship was already rocking from the increased waves. Cries of alarm came from the main deck, and the music cut off abruptly as the ensemble packed up their instruments. Overhead, thunder rumbled.
“The king and queen are safe in the royal cabin,” Captain Blair informed them. “You should join them.”
Arick shook his head. “I’d rather stay up here, if that’s alright with you, sir.”
The captain nodded with a jerk, his focus on the sails as men raced to draw them in. Behind them came a shout.
Two men were winching in the secondary anchor that had been used to keep the ship steady for the party. But the wind had already caused the ship to shift, and the anchor was stuck. Arick raced over to lend his hand to the windlass. Thomas was right beside him. The lantern light glowed orange, but even so, Thomas looked a little green.
“We’ll be alright,” Arick told him, surprised that he had to shout to be heard. “We’re so close to shore.”
Thomas nodded.
With the four of them straining, the anchor finally broke free of its hold on the ocean floor. Without it, the ship whipped around in the wind, sending people sprawling. Arick hauled Thomas to his feet, and they returned to stand near Blair.
“The wind is coming from the east. Near impossible to reach the royal docks in this, but we should make it to the far side of the harbor.” The captain looked to Thomas for permission.
Thomas swallowed hard, his eyes darting to Arick. He gave him a slight nod. The captain knew what he was doing.
Thomas wet his lips. “Get people back safely,” he shouted over the wind.
The skies opened up, drenching them all in seconds. Thomas clung to the railing where he had stood earlier, cheering.
“Take him below,” Blair ordered, his voice nearly lost in the storm.
