Page 92 of Midnightsong
In the meantime, he could track down Aiereka and the citizens in their village. Perhaps, Cassia might hold secrets for her brother, as well.
Aiereka wasn’t in her bedchambers, or the dance or racing halls, and Kaden, fatigued from what felt like constant swimming this tidesday, looked in the last place she might be.
He found her in a study room with her tutor and she looked positively exhausted. Dark circles hung beneath her eyes and she rubbed at them before stifling yawns. Her tail grip was loose around the rocky protrusion beneath her and her posture was slumped. Her tutor was still speaking to her, though Kaden couldn’t hear either of them through the glass pane.
How did she ever have time to herself?
Still, this was one of the scarce times he saw her, and he waited outside the room. High tide transitioned into low tide when she exited and their gazes locked. “Kaden? I didn’t expect to see you.”
“I came across you on low noontide and thought I’d stop by and catch up. I haven’t seen you much.”
“I’m sorry, I’m exhausted. Can our catchup wait?” She kicked her tail, but Kaden put a hand on her tailfins before she could glide past him.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Uh, sure, that should be fine.” Aiereka rubbed her eyes, and a pang of guilt struck Kaden. She needed to rest, and so did he, but he didn’t know when he would catch her again.
Kaden glanced at Aiereka’s tutor, still gathering materials in the study space. “It’s sensitive. Can we go somewhere a little more private?”
“We can go to my chambers.” Aiereka motioned for him to follow, and he did. “Just don’t mind the mess in there. I haven’t had the opportunity to reorganize my belongings since Father, and I moved in.” Once they were inside and the seaglass door slid shut, she urged him to continue.
“It’s fine. I wanted to ask about your father, and if he’s ever done anything, erm, unsavory?”
His cousin quirked a curious eyebrow. “Why do you ask?”
He hadn’t thought of an answer to that, and he racked his mind for a plausible explanation. “Mostly curious. I’m his high advisor, and I feel like I don’t know him beyond what he shows me.”
“Oh.” Aiereka’s lips parted, as if she were going to say more. She appeared to decide against it when no more sound emerged, and she turned her head away. “It’s late, and I really should be resting. I’ll see you soon, okay?” She swam to the door and pulled it open; her body angled toward the entryway.
“Aiereka, what–?” Kaden stopped before he left her bedchambers. His shoulders and chest slumped. “I’ll see you another time, then.”
After muttering another goodbye, Aiereka slid the door shut. Kaden floated in place, his expression slackening.
What couldn’t she tell him?
Thirty-Nine
Kaden
The waters around Kaden cooled, signalingthe coming of high tide. The sentries would be returning with their information on Saeryn, and Kaden’s tailfins tapped against the corner of his hammock, anticipating their return. What would they find? Would there be anything he could use against Saeryn?
A knock drew Kaden out of his hammock faster than a yu darting away from an oncoming predator, and he opened it, his face falling.
No sentries to be found outside, but only a single sentinel, who gave a customary head bow when Kaden slid open his door.
“Prince Kaden, the King is asking you to attend his banquet tonight.”
Kaden thinned his lips. He had been hoping to avoid the banquet since he got the invitation two tidesdays ago, but it wasn’t looking like that was a possibility.
He followed the sentinel to their spacious banquet hall where the roar of cheers and festivities greeted him.
An upward of a thousand mer were gathered in the spacious hall, with Saeryn, Cassia, and Varin at the front of the room. Their Shangjiangs gathered round, congratulating them.
“What’s going on?” Kaden approached his uncles and aunt, his brow furrowed.
“My boy! You’ve made it.” Saeryn’s cheeks were flushed. His greeting boomed throughout the space. He was drunk, and when Kaden’s gaze swept the room, he found their workers serving fermented seaweed, sea cabbage, and sea grapes. “We are celebrating our strikes against the dirty landwalkers.”
“Congratulations, Your Majesties.” A group of sentinels approached, bowing in unison to the three monarchs. “That was a brilliantly coordinated and planned strike.”
