Page 4 of From the Mouths of Sirens

“Don’t think for a moment that I’ll be sharing any stories of my dallying with Flora with you,” Rook replied with a chuckle. “That’s something I’d like my elder sister not to know about.”

“I’m the Queen,” she quipped back. “I hear and see all. Nothing is hidden from me.” She laughed, tossing her silky, dark hair over her shoulder and leaving the common room.

Rook let the smile fade from his lips as his sister left, pacing over to the hearth. He leaned against the solid wood mantle, staring into the crackling flames. A seed of doubt had begun to wedge itself into his heart. He wasn’t afraid to die for his people, that much was certain. He was, however, afraid to die and leave Raven with no one. He chewed on his lip anxiously, worrying for the first time about the Tournament.

“I will win,” he said decidedly to himself, pushing off of the mantle and crossing the room. He gazed at the ancient Crown on display, shining in the firelight like a beacon of hope.

“I will win.”

3

SAOIRSE

Saoirse approached the outer gates of Kellam, nodding at the guards who were stationed in the towers on either side of the ancient doors. The breathtaking gates were hundreds of years old, built to withstand the might of sea creatures and attacks from the neighboring Revelorian nations. The carved granite gates were smooth and worn with time, moss and other soft corals growing up the walls. On each side of the massive doors, giant open lanterns hung like stoic guardians, burning with enchanted blue flames that gleamed as if on land. Throughout Kellam, the crackling flames hung in doorways and on street corners, lighting the city with eternal warmth.

Saoirse stopped before the gates, looking up at the dome that rose up from the top of the protective wall. Rising high above the city, the defensive dome stretched out across Kellam and kept out any threat. Intricate shapes were cut out in the dome, casting brilliant patterns of light and shadow onto the city. Below the arched web of granite, buildings unfurled across the city as far as the eye could see, built from vibrant sea glass and glittering stone. In the windows, glowing orbs lit the streets below in a swath of colors that shifted with the waves above. Lush gardens of coral and greenery sprung up from the seafloor and crawled up buildings in vibrant veins, connecting the city like a living beast. Her heart swelled with pride as she looked out upon her home. This was what it was all for. She would've stolen a thousand pearls for her people.

Saoirse swam purposefully through the city, heading toward the training arena of the Torqen, the elite protectors of the sea. The undying flames at every corner cast the city in a stunning blue hue, and the buildings seemed to undulate with reflections of the sun. With the upcoming ceremony only taking place once every ten years, anticipation was palpable in the faces of every person Saoirse passed. Energy pulsed through the streets as the city held its breath, expectation and hope looming around every corner like a tangible force. Garlands of ceremonial flowers lined the streets and banners of Eloshin’s crest drifted proudly from rooftops. Though only the wealthiest Mer would be able to attend the Tournament and witness the trials in person, even the lowest-born Mer hoped that this would be the year Elorshin won.

When Saoirse passed through the vibrant coral gates of the Torqen training arena, her heart finally slowed to a normal pace. She swam through the familiar training grounds with ease, passing by several dueling Mer. She watched as one pair clashed swords, their weapons ringing out through the arena. Another duo fought with tridents, their agile bodies fluid and lithe in the water.

“Where have you been?” a female voice called from one end of the training ground. Saoirse turned to sound, grinning as she faced Aurelia. The Torqen captain stilled when she saw Saoirse’s expression, a frown tugging at the corners of her mouth.

“I don’t like the look on your face,” Aurelia said wryly. “You’re up to something, and by the looks of it, it can’t be good.” Her blonde hair drifted around her face as she moved, pooling around her shoulders in a cloud.

“You won’t believe what I found as my Token,” Saoirse whispered, lowering her voice as other members of the Torqen looked over at them curiously.

“Out with it, then,” Aurelia ordered, her turquoise eyes bright with interest.

“I found my Token in Kaja’s Trench,” Saoirse answered, still barely able to believe the words coming from her own mouth.

“What?” Aurelia breathed, her eyes growing even wider. “You what?”

“I found a Málmr pearl,” Saoirse continued, grinning as shock erupted across Aurelia’s face. “And it’s my ticket into the Revelore Tournament.”

Aurelia blanched. “But the Elders wouldn’t dare hide a Málmr pearl in Kaja’s Trench,” she retorted. “They scattered the Tokens in dangerous places, but that seems extreme even for the Elders.”

Saoirse dug into her satchel, searching for the crumpled pamphlet that the Elders had given out weeks before. Anyone interested in becoming a tribute had gathered in the Elder’s temple, listening as High Elder Adda Carew had explained the rules of entering in the tributary:“The Tournament of Revelore is a sacred event, one that only occurs every ten years,” she had said, her unnerving eyes passing over the crowd of young soldiers. “It is an enormous honor to be selected as a tribute. Therefore, you must prove yourselves worthy of representing our nation. Decipher our riddles, and you will be led to great treasures. Those of you who find our Tokens shall be considered in the tributary in three weeks’ time. Three of the most worthy among you shall be selected as tributes.”

The High Elder had given each of them a pamphlet of riddles that described where the Tokens had been hidden. Saoirse had poured over the words by candlelight every night, trying to piece together the puzzling clues. Each verse was arranged from the least valuable Token to the greatest. Saoirse’s eyes had darted straight to the final riddle, the one that described the most valuable prize among them all. If she was to enter the tributary, then she wanted to be the best.

Saoirse unfolded the crumpled parchment, pointing to the final riddle. “This describes the pearl,” she explained breathlessly, tracing a finger over the words she had read at least a thousand times.

Aurelia’s eyes widened as she read over the verse, her eyebrows furrowing as she turned the words over in her head. Slowly, a grin crept across her face. “You really did it, didn’t you?” she breathed in disbelief. “I don’t think any Mer has ever stolen from Kaja. The Elders would have to be mad if they didn't choose you as a tribute.”

Anticipation fluttered in her heart at the words. After years of training with the Torqen, her dream of being chosen as a tribute and representing the Mer in the Revelore Tournament would finally be a reality.

“Tonight, you and I will both be selected,” Saoirse assured her. “You’re the most talented warrior I know, and your combat abilities are unmatched.”

“My Token is only a crown of silver though,” Aurelia replied doubtfully. “I claimed it from the wreckage of one of the Tellusun ships off the coast. I know for a fact that the riddle I deciphered was one of the simpler ones. You know I’ve never had a talent for verse.”

“Only a handful of Mer are clever enough to make sense of the Elder’s riddles,” Saoirse assured her. “The fact that you found one of their Tokens in and of itself is remarkable. Moreover, you hold the highest rank in the Torqen. You’ve proven yourself worthy a thousand times over.”

Aurelia sighed and said, “We’ll see if all my training has paid off tonight. Sune will no doubt be a pain in my ass,” she added. “There is not a Mer in Kellam more unsavory than him.” Saoirse laughed, trying to imagine them becoming tributes together. Their constant bickering would likely result in disqualification before the first trial even started.

“You’ll be fine tonight,” Saoirse promised. “Don’t worry about Sune. Don’t let him get in your head.”

“I’ll try not to,” Aurelia replied with a half-hearted shrug. Sighing, she said, “I suppose we’d better get ready. It’s nearly time.” She looked up at the waters above, watching the golden rays of sunset drift down to the city. At dusk, the potential tributes would gather for the tributary at the heart of the city, where the Elders would select three of them to represent Elorshin.

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