Seaweed (15 page)

“Breakfast!” he shouted proudly. We tore it apart like savages, and I was glad I couldn’t watch myself do it. I was sure it wasn’t pretty, but boy, was it good. I sucked in the juice of its pink flesh and quenched my growing thirst.

“You’re a good fisher merman,” I said with a grin.

“Years of practice.”

Which took me back to the events of the day before. To Shava’s story of how she grew up with Tor, how Tor had always been merfolk, while I was new to the clan, and not welcomed. My heart dropped as I recalled Tor and Kon’s conversation.

“Dori?” Tor said.

“I’m remembering yesterday. It didn’t go at all like I’d imagined.”

“And how was that?”

“Well, I thought your family would be happier to see me,” I said, leaving out the part where I didn’t exactly expect an old lovelorn girlfriend, either. Or my Disney-esque imagining of what the actual dwelling place would look like. I hadn’t expected castles and treasure, but I had expected something…more.

“I’m sorry about that. You were a surprise to them, that’s all. Don’t take it personally.”

“Why am I a danger?”

Tor skimmed around on his back.

“Tor, you promised.”

He stopped and faced me. “There is another clan…”

“You mentioned that.”

“Many generations back, there was only one clan. Legend has it that two brothers, Lars and Rai, were promised the blessing of their father, but only one could reign royally over the sea.

“The older brother, Lars, thought he had the crown for sure due to his birthright. Except that he and his mate didn’t conceive. When his younger brother, Rai, had an heir, Lars was consumed with jealously. Rai would now inherit the crown, and the royal title.

“So Lars took Rai’s wife against her will and they conceived. Rai, of course, was enraged, and took his complaint to their father, who sided with the younger son.

“The father accused Lars of impatience and imprudence. If only he had waited and stayed true to his mate he would’ve eventually conceived an heir and would have had rightful title to the throne.

“But, because Lars had disgraced his family with his actions, he and his mate were banned from the family.

“Lars did eventually conceive with his mate, but it was too late for the blessing of his father.”

“Lars is the other clan,” I said.

Tor nodded. “Part of the blessing that Lars missed out on is the ability and the choice to go ashore. To live with the humans.”

Tor looked to the sky, measuring how far the sun had risen. “We should go back now. We’ve been away too long.”

I was about to protest. I still didn’t have all the answers I wanted, but Tor had already disappeared under the water.

I followed him, watching his tattoos swirling on his broad shoulders as he swam gracefully through the currents, certain where he was going.

I, on the other hand, still had no idea, and would be horribly lost if I had to find my own way back to Eastcove. Obviously, my instinct skills were underdeveloped as well.

A reddish-green swoosh of motion startled me. Something encircled us. Something fast.

Tor pulled me close, shielding me with his body. Fear rocked my heartbeat.

I heard Tor’s voice.
Reveal yourself!

The blur slowed and an image formed.

A merman? He was smaller than Tor or any member of Tor’s family. His tail had more red than green and though he looked muscular, his skin was smooth and glossy like a jelly fish, not like the human skin that Tor’s clan had. His tattoos had the same rosy sheen as his tail. He must be a member to the clan of Lars.

When he spoke, I could hear him.
Prince Mol wants her.

Too bad.
Tor scoffed.

Why would he want
me
? This little merman was antsy, swishing around us. I scanned the area looking for others. The way Tor’s head swiveled, I could tell he was doing the same.

Are there more?
I said, trying really hard to focus my thoughts on Tor. I didn’t want the creature to hear my fear.

I don’t think so. If there were other spies, they would’ve showed themselves by now.

I stumbled on the word, “spies” but another part of my brain understood that if there were others from the Lars clan, Tor would be injured by now, or worse, and I would be captured.

I wondered how gross it would be to throw up underwater?

Shall we fight it out, Cho?

Cho, the spy, didn’t jump on Tor’s offer. I was encouraged by this. His homely little face twisted in thought.

You’re alone, aren’t you?
Tor continued.
They sent you out by yourself again. Do you ever wonder why? I believe it’s because they don’t think you’ll ever find anything of interest and this is how they get you out of their hair.

Cho’s face scrunched up until he looked like a blowfish, turning as red as his tail.

Shut up! I see her, she’s real and Prince Mol will want her and he will have her, one way or another
.

He might be a small upstart of a spy, but he freaked me out.

Why should they believe you? You’ve never produced anything of value before, and you have no proof.

Tor shouldn’t have said that.

In a flash, the water swooshed and I felt a pinch in my head.

Ouch.

Cho!
Tor shouted, but the weasel was gone. And he had a chunk of my hair as proof.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

How did he find me?

Tor led me back to the cave, and hopefully out of harm’s way.
He could smell you.

He could smell me? I serendipitously sniffed my armpit.
If Cho could smell me, why didn’t he find us at the surface last night?

The clan of Lars doesn’t surface,
Tor said.
They don’t have lungs, at least not lungs developed enough to breathe air. Plus, they have more predators than we do.

Why’s that? The curse?

Tor’s head bobbed.
Because of that, they’re shy of open water, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t go there if they wanted something bad enough. They’d just do it with larger numbers.

How many of them are there? Are the clans the same size?

Ironically, the clan of Lars did grow more rapidly than the clan of Rai. That was the one blessing that remained.

More Lars than Rai. I wasn’t happy to hear that.

Are they all as homely as that?

No.

I puzzled over that answer. Was there a pretty mermaid in that clan, too? Maybe Shava wasn’t my only competition. But I wasn’t in Eastcove anymore where I could obsess over petty things like that. I had real problems now. Life and death problems.

Why is he so interested in me? And who is this Prince Mol?

Tor stiffened.
It’s complicated.

I think I can get it.

All right. You deserve to know, but let’s get back to the cave first, where you’ll be safe.

Kon was waiting outside the cave when we arrived, his face stern.

What is it, Kon?
Tor said.

Kon’s eyes flitted quickly toward me, his brow wrinkling in a scowl. He so obviously didn’t like me. I wondered how two brothers could be so different. The bigger older brother hadn’t gone ashore when he’d had the chance, the younger brother had—despite Kon’s objections, if Shava could be trusted as a reliable source of information.

He focused back on Tor, but I could still hear him.

It was here. A spy.

Tor moved protectively in front of me
. We know. We ran into Cho on the way here. One of them is nothing.

Kon folded his arms over his—I’d have to admit—impressive chest, and huffed
. One for now. More later, and who knows how many more. Tor, she’s not worth it. You have to take her back.

I wasn’t worth it?

If you don’t, I will.

Watch it brother
, Tor said, matching Kon’s tone.

Kon swam up to Tor, until he was only an arm’s length away, his hands curling into fists at his side. Tor’s shoulders rolled back, his chest puffed out.

Were they really going to fight each other because of me?

Wait, wait, wait
! I shouted.

They pulled back.

Don’t I have something to say about this?

This isn’t your business,
Kon spit out.

How is it not my business? You’re talking about me.

Only in how your presence presents a danger to
our
clan.

Oh. Not my clan. I didn’t have a clan. What did that make me? A merfolk type of lone ranger. An anomaly?

I waited for Tor to come to my defense. I shot him a pleading look and when he didn’t speak up, my heart sank.

Let’s take this inside the cave, Tor,
Kon said.
I have a feeling the king and queen will side with me.

He swam away quickly. I felt sick. Would Tor really send me home? I literally felt myself sinking.

Tor dove to grab my arm and pulled me up. He pointed over my shoulder.

Look who’s here?

Dex! I was so happy to see a familiar and friendly face that I swam to him, and made a fool of myself by wrapping my arms around his thick neck.

He laughed.
Hello, Dori.
He put his log-sized arm around me in response and squeezed. This act of kindness almost brought me to tears. I wasn’t used to being the outsider. Back in Eastcove, people liked me. They thought I was talented and intelligent, cute and fun to hang around.

It’s so good to see you, Uncle Dex
. I didn’t know why I used the familiar term, “uncle.” We were in no way related, but besides Tor, he seemed like my only ally here. So much had happened in the last few days that Dex had gone from being Tor’s aloof uncle, to my personal friend who understood me! I never said I was being rational.

Dex’s white hair and beard floated around him, much like my hair did. I took a moment to absorb his new look. Bare shoulders with strength that could lift a boulder were covered with intricate tattoos complex in pattern and color. I’d never seen him without a shirt on before, and I was taken aback by his beauty. His massive deep royal-blue tail swished gently, keeping him upright.

He suddenly seemed so regal that I had to fight the urge to bow in deference.

You look different, too,
he said with a smile. Then added kindly,
We should go inside
.

We swam past the royal guards, who never moved out of position but acknowledged Dex with a bow. I wondered where they got their weapons from, but of course, Dex and Tor could’ve provided them.

Again, I was blind inside the cave but this time it didn’t take as long for my eyes to adjust. The king and queen and Shava were there. Kon took his position on the right side of the king.

Dex,
King Playo said. He bowed slightly then moved in to shake Dex’s hand. I found it odd that the king would bow to anyone, but then I knew next to nothing about merfolk customs.

The queen, Kon and Shava, all bowed when they greeted Dex. Must be a custom reserved for elders. I’d have to remember to bow to Dex next time, instead of mauling him like a crazed fan.

There is activity stirring up from all sides
, King Playo said.

Kon added,
Spies have entered our territory
. He looked accusingly at me.
They can smell her.

I hated how he made it sound like I stank. I didn’t, did I?

We’ve got pods of Rai situated strategically
, Dex said.
We’re in a good defensive position.

Still, we haven’t much time,
Kon insisted.
We shouldn’t wait for them to come to us, and now we have something they want.

A little fear-filled shiver slithered down my spine.
I
was what they wanted, but I still didn’t know why.

We need to leave as soon as possible
, the King said.
It would be best if she weren’t here as an excuse for them to attack.