Page 12 of Midnightsong
Saeryn would be a good fit for the throne, Kaden was sure. The merman was always kind, authoritative, and understanding when their families spent time together, as well as a second father to him and Cyrus.
“Okay. That’s all we ask.” Cyrus pursed his lips. “It’s good to see you again, but I probably should get back to my rest.”
Kaden inclined his head toward each of them, taking his leave when Adrielle and Cyrus turned their attention to each other, and she reached a hand to touch his cheek, her visage reflecting care and worry.
He found Uncle Saeryn in the guest quarters at the base of the palace after asking a sentry, their messengers, and observers, of his whereabouts, and knocked on the frosted seaglass door.
“Come in!” His uncle’s familiar gravelly voice trickled through the door.
His uncle was seated on the hammock in the small, circular room. His blood-red tail hung off the hammock’s side, tailfins resting on the rocky floor, his thin frame held taut as he appeared to be focused, reading off a slate.
“Hi, Uncle.”
He placed the slab on his lap when Kaden entered, breaking into that wide, bright grin he wore whenever he saw him and Cyrus. Saeryn rose into a floating position and opened his arms; Kaden swam into them, his uncle’s greeting comforting him.
“Kaden. Wonderful to see you.” He pulled back, looking Kaden in the eyes, keeping his hands on his shoulders. Their momentary silence was telling, his mother’s loss weighing in the space between them. “I’m so sorry. Your mother—”
“I’m sorry too. She was also your sister.” Kaden let his arms hang slack at his sides. Saeryn mirrored him.
“We will have time to grieve properly—once the matter of her funeral and the throne have been settled, yes?” Saeryn began.
“Yes. I’ll help plan her funeral. And—” Kaden looked to the fins encircling his waist, bobbing up and down with the sea’s movement. “—I also wanted to talk to you about the throne. It sounds like it’s between you and me.”
The older merman nodded. “What are your thoughts? Would you feel prepared to hold such a high station?”
That would be an easy question. Saeryn knew as well as Kaden did that Kaden wouldn’t be fit to oversee the queendom. Saeryn answered his silence with a single nod.
“I’ve noticed the people’s approval of you is dangerously low. You would have to spend so much time regaining their trust.” Saeryn’s tone was one of care and concern, and Kaden found himself agreeing with his uncle. “That would be a lot of pressure on you, while you’re still learning your new important role, but I will stand by whatever decision you make and will help anyway I can.”
He had a point and Kaden nodded. Perhaps Saeryn was the natural choice to succeed his sister. They grew up together, and Kaden knew from stories his aunt and mother told him and Cyrus, that his grandparents taught all three of their children the ins and outs of being a monarch.
“What would your plans for the queendom be if you did take the throne?” Kaden’s neck and shoulders tensed.
“Build this queendom up to the best she could be. I would promote peace among our people, and I would ensure my sister did not die in vain.”
“You would seek revenge for her death?”
“When the criminals who killed her are found, I would make sure they are punished accordingly.” Saeryn rolled his shoulders back and puffed out his chest, his jaw tightened.
If he were king, Kaden would do the same. “You can have the throne. I will speak to the council and decline.”
“Then it will be done, Nephew.” Saeryn bowed his head. “And I will allow you to keep the title and duties of prince.”
From what he knew of the council’s schedule, they would reconvene at high tide. In the flick of a tail, he felt the gentlest of caresses from the sea. The temperatures were dropping. High tide was approaching and he needed to make his way to the council chambers quickly or he’d miss them.
Kaden swam in the opposite direction of his quarters, past the common areas, and entered the room to the right of the throne.
Pulling open the polished, rock door revealed the three of members of the Mer Council—two mermaids and a merman, their tails wrapped around thin, coral pillars with stone slates in hand.
“Ah, Prince Kaden. Welcome, please.” Darya, a mermaid with a striped, black-and-silver tail held out her hand, and Kaden moved directly into her line of sight.
“What can we do for you?” A different mermaid spoke, this one with a golden tail, Allie. She lowered her slate, her tourmaline-hued gaze piercing into him.
Kaden swallowed hard. “I’m here to speak about the throne my mother left.”
“Very well. As Queen Serapha’s son, you would be the next successor after your brother, and before Saeryn. It is tradition that we give ten tidal cycles from the death or abdication of the previous ruler for their immediate heirs to take rule uncontested. The immediate heir must declare their refusal to allow the current ruler to keep their place.” Allie went quiet, and the merman spoke next.
Kaden tightened his jaw. “I—I know all this.”
