Page 109 of Midnightsong
A whisper floated to him, and Kaden held out his arm, stopping Hylin and the sentinel from going further.
“I thought I told you never to show your face here again,” a disembodied voice hissed.
Saeryn.
“I’m so sorry, Your Majesty. I went back to get the diving suit after I healed, but it was gone.”
“You worthless seascum. Did I or did Inotask you to destroy it? Now the prince lives, and it’s only a matter of time before he exposes us. I should kill you for your stupidity, have you joined your equally useless accomplice!”
“Your Majesty, he made me black out. And wh-when I woke up, I felt t-terrible, I had to go to the infirmary and, Goddess, that diving suit was so uncomfortable. I hid it in a cave!” The merman was rambling, his voice pitch rising.
Kaden glanced behind his shoulder, where Hylin had a hand over his mouth, and the sentinel’s jaw inched closer to the cavern floor.
“I. Don’t. Care. Get out. You are never to return to this queendom again, you understand? If I see you or hear of any trace of you lurking around here, you will be killed on sight. I will deem you a threat to the people,” Saeryn growled.
“Doesn’t seem like he needs our help,” Hylin said dryly.
Kaden swept his tail forward and arms in a semicircle, pumping himself backward. Behind him, Hylin spoke to the sentinel.
“Get the rest of the sentinels. We’ll wait here for him to ensure he doesn’t escape.” Kaden turned and motioned to their sentinel, who gave a nod and swam off.
Saeryn and the other merman left their space, and Kaden and Hylin floated side by side, blocking their exit.
“What is this?” Saeryn burst out as the four mermen faced one another.
“You plotted to kill Prince Kaden?” Hylin asked, tail flicking in impatience.
“No, it wasn’t my doing.” Saeryn held up his hands, and the desire to gut punch him rose in Kaden again. “He worked on his own. He’s a rogue mercenary. I only heard of his deeds when he came to me.” He pointed to the merman beside him, who gasped. “He will be exiled.”
“I did not! You hired me to murder him.” The unknown merman was yelling now.
“Uncle, we heard everything,” Kaden said softly.
Voices emerged behind them, and Kaden glanced over his shoulder. Four more sentinels and Shangjiang Marron, with Darya, had arrived.
“Arrest them.” Hylin moved aside to let Marron and Darya through. “For attempting and plotting to murder the prince.”
Saeryn’s face fell, drained of blood and cheeks pale and eyes round, but he didn’t resist as the sentinels and Marron closed in on him. They seized his and the strange merman’s arms, but Saeryn didn’t fight.
The other merman squirmed and needed three sentinels to subdue him.
“If it is the order of the council.” Though Saeryn’s words sounded of defeat, Kaden couldn’t imagine he would make it easy for him, king or not. He had given in much too easily, and Kaden’s hackles raised.
He passed by Kaden on his way out of the tunnel. “You’re too late.” A menacing grin formed across his lips. “The mer will never accept you. And good luck.”
“I don’t need luck,” Kaden whispered as the sentinels and Marron led Saeryn and the strange merman out of his sight.
Some luck wouldn’t hurt to get the citizens on his side, on top of being a monarch. But he wasn’t going to let Saeryn know that.
“I am truly sorry you went through this,” Hylin said, as soon as they were gone. “But we have matters of the empty throne to discuss.”
“If you’ll follow us back to our chambers.” Darya led the way. She took the shortcut to their chambers, leaving the caverns and heading inside from the back entrance.
Outside the palace, large groups of mer gathered in the courtyard, and outside the walls. He still heard their words as he passed.
“Traitor prince” in hushed whispers.
“Long live King Saeryn!” Louder.
