Page 129 of Midnightsong
“Yes, of course.” Of course, Raina hadn’t told him that, and he wasn’t sure if she truly didn’t know about a poultice, or if she purposely withheld the information from him.
The healer swam out of the room and returned with a cylindrical tube filled with a shimmering violet liquid inside. Kaden popped the kombu covering off, swallowing it in one gulp. He didn’t feel immediate effects, but he took the healer’s word that it would ward off any aches, pains and weakness he would experience while swimming at his usual speed.
He bid farewell to Cyrus, Hadrien and the healer, and left the infirmary to swim to the air chambers for a crisp seaweed snack, before he was due to hold his first court as king.
Cautious, he picked up his swim speed on the way back to his quarters. His chest didn’t ache, and his muscles didn’t scream for rest. His skin was still dull when he glanced at his arms, and his hair hadn’t grown back to its usual thickness.
He stopped short in front of his bedchambers, his dorsal, caudal, and pelvic fins adjusting for him to maintain his balance.
Aiereka, his cousin, and Shangjiang Narea awaited him at the doorway.
They were holding hands, and Aiereka had a large crossbody pack donned.
“Aiereka? Narea?” Kaden arched an eyebrow. “Am I missing something here? A-And Narea, thank you for your help in relocating my family during the attack.”
Narea bowed her head. “It was my pleasure, Your Majesty.”
Kaden thought back to when he caught Aiereka hastily talking to someone on her seaflute, putting it away once he approached her. “I had no idea you two were together. How long?”
“Nobody did,” Narea said. “And we’ve been together since before she and Saeryn came here.”
“We made sure to keep it secret. My father–may he rest with our ancestors–found out and didn’t approve. He demanded I cut her loose,” Aiereka said quietly. “It’s strange he’s not here anymore.”
“I’m sorry,” Kaden murmured.
“No, don’t be. You did what you had to.” Aiereka ran her thumb over Narea’s knuckles. “Though I miss his presence, I feel free. I quit the racing league, and I can be with who I love.”
“By the Goddess’ blessing,” Narea added.
“My father pushed me to serve in a royal court, marry a merman, be queen one day, and forced me to do and know everything,” Aiereka continued, speaking faster, as if releasing the words lifted a weight she had been carrying for far too long. Kaden listened, and Narea’s attention was rapt on her, as well. “I want to be the mer’s princess, do charitable work for communities in need.”
“Then be free to do that, cousin,” Kaden said with an encouraging smile.
“I will. Calm seas, Your Majesty,” Aiereka said.
“We’ll be in touch!” Calora chimed in as the two mermaids left together, their hands still entwined.
Kaden watched after them until they disappeared around the hall’s bend, and he returned to his chambers.
He counted ten cycles of the sun, moon, and tides until he received word from his high sentry. The throne room doors peeled open, and he coiled his tail tighter around the coral pillar, pressing against its smooth, polished surface.
Rebuilding efforts had returned to the palace, and burial services were provided for the dead.
It would be a long time before the mer and humans could learn to trust one another, but he would relish this peace for as long as it would last.
“King Kaden.” The high sentry approached him in the throne room and bowed his head, one hand over his heart. “I’ve received news from Haibei and Nanhai that mer and landwalker attacks have begun to cease on both sides. They are adhering to the truce. There have been no conflicts since the past tidesweek.” He paused, onyx eyes scanning his piece of kombu kelp. “The landwalkers are meeting with Haibei’s sentinels to return the last of the mer they kept under their watch.” He folded the piece of kelp in half, rolling his shoulders back and relaxing his sky-blue tail.
At the stained-glass window across from Kaden, a horn appeared, and he locked eyes with a single-horned dujiaojing, her mottled gray and white skin and stocky body visible behind her. Prickles rippled across his skin. Was she back for more of the sanctuaries’ fish? Was fish scarce toward the surface again?
“Thank you.” Kaden smiled warmly, never taking his eyes off the hovering female dujiaojing. She floated in place, staring back at him. “This calls for a celebration. And if you could do me a favor? Well, two.”
The sentry lifted his chin at attention.
“First, can you ensure these sentries are given ample time off for their duties, and they and their families are provided for?” He gave the sentry the names of the trainer and sentries who assisted him with unearthing information about Saeryn.
The sentry scrawled their names onto his piece of kombu kelp. “Certainly, Your Majesty. What’s the second favor?”
Kaden faced the dujiaojing, who hadn’t moved from her spot, swaying with the currents. “Could you assist me in ensuring the dujiaojing outside is fed? Otherwise, she’s going to invade the sanctuary again.”
