Page 62 of Surfaces
Well, if you’re nervous, do something about it, ninny. Talk to her!
As always, scolding myself drove me to action. I swam over to where several of the guards huddled, those assigned not just to protect me, but to protect the mayor’s home. Though they’d soon spread out, they’d congregated on the back corner of the roof, drinking bubble and eating their lunch before their shifts officially began.
They bowed upon my approach. “Does anyone know the mage, Lizza?” I asked.
“Yes, Majesty,” A shifter wearing Navagio city shell and chain mail spoke up. I glanced up at the tall man. He had a black stripe that ran across his eyes and a bright pink forehead. His chin, on the other hand, was a pale green that almost made him look ill. He pointed off to his right. “She’s actually stationed nearby in order to keep an eye out for you and the mayor.”
That was good to know. Part of me liked that Lizza would be close. But another part of me wanted her to do a spell to duplicate herself—was that even possible?—so that she could be everywhere.
I smiled up at the guard and asked, “Could you fetch her please?”
He gave me a quick salute before swimming off with his trident.
At my side, Paavo grumbled. “I could have done that.”
“Not and protect the queen, you couldn’t,” Ugo retorted, his orange brows dipping down in judgment.
Paavo sighed and added, “No offense, Majesty.”
“He’s used to wall watch, pacing all the time.” Ugo stated, the jolly guard trying to ease whatever annoyance he imagined I had toward Paavo.
Actually, I couldn’t have cared less what Paavo thought right then. There were too many other things on my mind. I started to wave them both off when Ugo added, “Sides, he’s probably jealous you just sent off a slippery dick. Paavo hates them.”
“Ugo!” I said, a bit scandalized he’d use such language.
“Oh! What? Wait. No. It’s a type of fish shifter, Majesty.” Ugo couldn’t contain his snort. “Sorry. Sorry. It’s not funny.” His laughter belied his words.
I turned drily to Paavo. “And what don’t you like?”
“Cause they slide right in. Get it? Slippery dick! Gah! Sorry. Can’t help myself. Their hammer-throwing team always beats Paavo’s. Those dicks give them a pounding! Oh. I’m dying. I’m dying.” Ugo started chortling and couldn’t stop.
Eventually, I just had to roll my eyes at him and turn to Paavo. “I can see why you prefer the ramparts.”
Ugo’s jaw dropped in offense before I nudged him with an elbow. “But apparently, a requirement to be my guard is you don’t only have to like dicks, you have to be one.”
I didn’t know if Paavo’s laughter was real or faked, but I didn’t care, because Ugo said, “Well, if you’re insulting me, I know I’m not in danger of getting fired. It’s when your boss is polite that you’ve got a problem.”
I chuckled at his wisdom. “That’s right. You’re family now.”
He waved his hand in an “awe shucks” manner. But the banter with my guard came to an end when Lizza flew up over the edge of the rooftop on the back of a giant black stingray. The creature flapped its triangular wings and gently lowered itself so that she could climb off, her leather armor nearly as crackled and careworn as her face.
“Majesty.” She didn’t bother to bow and I didn’t bother to remind her because who knew what flap of flesh might come flying off if she tried.
“Can I have a word?” I asked, leading her across the roof to the doorway that led from the roof into a small access room. The entire rooftop was treated like a veranda or porch on land, and there was a small attached room set up behind Gorgono, the contestants, the judges, and myself. It had been filled with drinks and snacks for the comfort of the mayor and his guests during the competition. Thankfully, a group of male servants was leaving as we entered, so we had the space to ourselves.
Lizza swam immediately over to the right wall, where a round table was set with food. I grimaced when she dipped a finger into a large serving bowl of soup and then licked the rotten appendage.
“Well? What’s more important than watching for attackers?”
“Myissue,” I said in a low strained voice, very aware that anyone could come up the stairs or walk in from the roof at any moment.
Of course, Lizza immediately caught on to the fact that I was speaking about my magic. “You did just fine when we practiced.”
“Once! That was once!”
“What about the parade thing-a-ma-jig? You did fine then too!” Lizza said as she moved over to some little clam dish and peered down at it suspiciously.
I followed closely behind her, a bit perturbed that she wasn’t taking this seriously. Then again, it wasn’t as though I had physical side effects. Just emotional ones, which were much harder for anyone else to see or recognize…until I went completely mad.
