Page 2 of Depths
“Yeah, well, this is late sign-ups for the royal tournament to wed that new Queen Avia. I ’eard she’s a looker. I’m excited me-self. You ’eard the speculation that we’ll be asked to wrestle a puss? Eight-legged blighters, they are.” He clicked his tongue. “That will be a bit of a rush. But this late sign-up has no guarantees.” The siren scoffed as he turned to face me fully and looked me over for the first time, unaware he didn’t speak in proper sentences, painfully unaware he was missing the letterhentirely. “What the ’ell are you wearing?”
I didn’t bother to answer. I hadn’t stripped myself down to heathen level like the imbeciles who paraded shirtless around me. I wore decent breeches and a full shirt, and I didn’t need to explain myself. Though I’d probably need to blend at least a bit in the castle. My hand closed over my ring, and I nearly twisted, nearly wished this idiot’s head to expand like a puffer fish until it popped. But I couldn’t use my wishes so freely any longer. Not without giving myself away. I had to practice restraint and only use them in the most needful of circumstances.
The line moved again. Good, they must have quickly rejected that last ass. The merman hung his head as he swam off from the table.
Idiot number one in front of me, the siren with pink hair who’d gone on about eels, approached the wooden table where a handful of royal guards floated, spears in hand, full armor reflecting the little magical bobbing ball of glass that was tied to the corner of the table. Inside that little sphere, an enchanted, waterproof orange flame flickered. On the table sat some water-sealed parchment and an inkwell. And a large black box.
“Good day, I’m ’ere to sign up for the tournament andmarry that queen.” The siren smiled brightly.
I watched in mute pleasure as the guard in charge, a mer fellow with a blue tail, merely said in a dull voice, “Sign your name here to prove you can write, and pay the ten sandies.”
“Ten! I heard it was five!”
The guard didn’t bat an eye. “It was five, three hours ago. But we’ve got nearly eighty applicants right now, so we’ve had to narrow it down a bit. You have to sign your name, pay the fee, then answer a question.”
“What kinda question?” The siren curled his lip in offense.
“We don’t ask until you’ve paid the fee,” the guard replied with a sigh. “We only have so many questions. So we don’t want to use them on men who aren’t serious.”
“Sarding hell, this is ridiculous! Riptide robbery!” The siren stormed off and, to my delight, his dullard friend followed.
Guess eelsand queenswere out of their pay grade.
I grinned and swam forward, digging into the sealskin pouch at my waist. I took out eleven sand dollars and pushed them across the table. I couldn’t knock the stupid, enchanted grin off my face even though I was internally seething about the fact that I had to stoop to peasant levels.Disguise,I reminded myself.This is all just practice for your greatest deception, your greatest triumph.
The burly, blue-tailed, blue-haired guard shoved one back. “Only ten.”
Hmmm. So, he was a fair one then. Or at least, not a cheap one to bribe. Duly noted. I’d kill another few mermen tonight and steal their sand dollars to bulk up my purse. I signed the name I’d created for myself on the parchment and then looked up with a grin. “I’m ready for your question.”
“Who is the current queen of the land realm of Evaness?” the guard asked, reading off a list before his brown eyes flicked to meet mine.
It was ironic that was the question I got, because thatbitchwas the very reason I was here. The very reason that I’d sworn to compete in this foolish tournament for a queen. Because I owed Bloss Hale a debt of revenge. And I was going to make her little sister pay it … in blood.
The guard cleared his throat expectantly. “Look, if you don’t know the answer, you need to move along.”
“Queen Bloss Hale,” I responded quickly, not wanting to give him the chance to dismiss me. It was difficult, but I managed to say her name without cursing, without breaking something. Without giving myself away.
The guard sighed and nodded, folding back up his list of questions and making eye contact with me. “Your name will be entered into a drawing. Two random competitors will be chosen to fill our final spots. The names will be posted in the town square in two days’ time.”
His “Good luck” was flat and insincere.
But I gave a wide grin anyway as I reached for the ring on my finger and twisted it. “Oh, I wish you’d chooseme.”
1
Many men understand the thrill of murder. Many don’t understand the thrill of crushing a person’s soul while they still live and breathe.
—Sultan Raj of Cheryn
* * *
Avia Hale
A shaftof sunlight pierced the ocean and shone down on me, giving light but no warmth—like an empty promise. Like everything thus far in my life. False. Appearing one way but actually another.
They’d said my rule would be graciously accepted. After all, I was the true heir to the most powerful sea sprite between the shores. It shouldn’t have mattered that I was raised on land. I’d still been raised in a castle, taught to rule, navigate courtiers, create treaties, encourage trade.
Lies.
