Page 24 of Surfaces
I thought for a moment trying to dissect the problem and potential solutions. Sedara would never agree to stop its farming of course. That was off the table. My own powers might be able to help redirect the current … if I knew how to use them. I didn’t yet. I made a mental note to have Lizza help me practice at the first opportunity, while I tried to drag out the conversation and find another solution. “So, you’d like to move the soil?”
“Move it, get rid of it … even just reduce it. It’s gotten to be too much.”
That sparked my mind. Declan’s power! No … not Declan’s. Bloss’s husbands had swapped powers. Well, one of them could reduce the soil anyway. A smile crossed my face and I tried to coax it from a smile of relief to one of confidence. “Excellent. I happen to know one of the kings of Evaness does such things. I shall request he visit.”
Deacon’s eyes studied me shrewdly and I didn’t like the uncomfortable prickle that ran along the back of my neck as he did. I expanded on my answer, hoping that it would satisfy him enough not to question why I didn’t just flick my wrist and shove away the mud right now. “You know, I’ve been looking for ways to build goodwill between Okeanos and the surface kingdoms. And I think that this will be an excellent start.”
“Always wise, Majesty. But won’t the Queen of Evaness want something in return for the help?”
I sighed. “I’m sure she will. My stubborn sister being what she is.”
“Do you have any ideas as to what the price of such help might be?” he fished, trying to understand this negotiation that he’d suddenly been tossed into.
I put a hand on his blue arm. “Don’t worry. I’m the one who’ll have to pay it. I’m ninety percent certain that Queen Bloss wants to be invited back to my castle so she can lecture my ear off. It’s what older sisters do best.”
Deacon laughed. “I have one of those. And yes, you speak the truth. Well, so long as you think it would be good for both sides …” he trailed off uncertainly.
“I do. There’s been tension for too long. The sea people have lost many children to the shoreline. I think it’s time we start to reconnect.”
Deacon bowed his head as a herald swam up above the circle of the crowd and held his mouth to a golden conch shell. “I’m certain the people will be happy to see their extended families once more.”
It would be a small thing, the easiest step, to have my sister’s country begin to build relations down under the waves.
But I hoped it would help the people of Okeanos see that I was leading them in a new direction, a good one.
A band started up, signaling the start of the morning’s joust and the music lifted the crowd’s spirits, making my own soar in hope.
After my conversation with Mayor Deacon ended, I only had a few moments of reprieve before several competitors who had jousted yesterday sidled up to me, eager for conversation. As I saw several swim closer, my eyes traveled over the cluster of folk who stayed back, taking note of those who either didn’t want to approach or were too shy.
The four men who’d requested to leave the tournament stayed near the fringes, sulks evident on their faces, particularly Radford’s. He floated with his arms crossed, red hair plastered low on his forehead today, making zero effort at all with his appearance. His formal black shell shield was gone and instead, he wore a giant white and gray speckled shell on his back that was twice as tall as he was and rose from his shoulders in a spiral that ended in several barbed points. That must have been his traveling shell, the one that the guards wouldn’t allow into the palace. Hermit crab shifters were nomadic and slept in their shells as they roamed through Okeanos, though most stuck to the dunes of the Umbra desert, creating semi-permanent residences in the rock caves of Nowhere.
The message Radford sent couldn’t have been more blatant. He was done with the tournament and me. I ground my teeth at the way he was being so openly disrespectful, but to make a big deal of it would only draw more attention to the ass. My eyes narrowed in his direction. He could leave if he wanted and keep his tiny little shrimp cocktail forever. I hoped it pinched him. My irritation flared and suddenly my mind began to picture Radford curled up inside his shell, hands tucked under his cheek as he snored. The shell contracted around him quickly, growing smaller and tighter, bumping his head. He jerked awake but the shell contracted again, forcing his knees up toward his chest. And again, making him cry out. And again. I imagined the crunch of bone—I glanced away, trying to shake off that strange vision.
What’s wrong with me? I must be in a hell of a mood or something.I’d never had such a horridly and randomly violent thought. Not without good cause anyway.Well, shake it off, Avia. You have men to cheer on.
I found someone else to focus on. Keelan also floated off to the side, his feet rapidly vibrating underneath him to keep him from sinking into colder water. He chewed his lip nervously even though he wasn't going to compete and his eyes scanned the crowd, looking for competitors or judges or maybe even his mother.
I suspected he was debating whether or not he should have agreed to our deal, but we'd sealed the agreement with another kiss, which had been just as toe-tingling as the first one. Plus I'd told him that my kisses were just as binding as a magical contract. To me, they were.
Today, Keelan wore a deep blue lightning bolt in his hair instead of the normal bright green. He’d magically altered his hair in honor of Felipe’s choice to help him, which I found utterly adorable. Along with nearly everything else about him. Watching him eased the funky mood Radford had incited, and I felt much more myself.
Mr. Whelk paddled in circles around him, the little brown and green sea turtle snapping at his nose and distracting him. The sweet little creature carefully avoided Keelan’s injured arm, which was bandaged and tucked tightly against his side. Keelan started to poke at the silly turtle with his pointer finger and the two began a duel. Point. Snap. Point. Snap.
As usual, they gathered a small group of onlookers, including Mateo, who clumsily floated nearby, slightly canted to one side. My breath caught at the sight of him, just like it always did, sending a rush of tender feelings through me. He’d become a mer just to be with me, and now he’d have to remain one forever, since only citizens of Okeanos were allowed to join the tournament. He’d have to marry me and grow old with me as a mer. The fact that he was willing to do that… I had to look away.
Keelan spotted Mateo only moments after I did and produced a little white shell from his pouch, which Mr. Whelk apparently needed desperately based on the turtle’s wide-eyed squeal of delight.
It must have been either a treat or a toy.
Keelan tossed the little shell to Mateo who caught it clumsily. But his silver tail betrayed him, sliding sideways with a flick to the right and mussing his silver curls—which used to be brown, back when we were both merely human and desperately in love.
I pressed my lips together and fought the urge to swim over and help “Felipe’s cousin” recover. I couldn’t send the only guard who knew Mateo was actually human either, since I had roped Felipe into another favor today. I just had to watch from the sidelines and try not to draw attention to the fact that I was so heavily invested in one of the competitors already when we’d hardly met.
The residents of Okeanos would think I’d betrayed them by marrying a “sky breather.” They were having a hard enough time accepting me. And while I’d protested Felipe’s stupid scheme to pretend Mateo was his feeble-minded cousin, the damage was done and Mateo was part of the tournament now, which meant that he and I had to be careful, very careful, not to give up the ruse.
I could only imagine what the rebels would do if they found out. Immediately, the stuffed effigies that Watkins had made and hung in my castle, marked with black Xs for eyes, came to mind, turning my stomach into a cesspool. That helped motivate me to turn away, even though part of me didn’t want to. But I did catch Keelan swimming over and putting an arm on Mateo’s elbow out of the corner of my eye, which was comforting. Mateo wouldn’t be utterly alone today. Perhaps he’d even befriend the siren that I was pretty certain would end up another one of my husbands. I hoped so.
I glanced around at the crowd again, trying to focus on anyone else, and my eyes caught on my advisor.Dammit.Of course, Sahar was watching me. She was far too observant for her own good.
