Page 5 of Waves
Her death would become a nightmare that haunted people for the next millennium.
An idea sparked.
An idea that required help.
I had to find the rebels.
Chapter 3
Avia
My sleep was rattled by strange nightmares and even stranger emotions. I jerked awake more than once, coated in sweat as strange bursts of bitterness and lust battled in my stomach, threaded with glistening guilt.
Several times, I was tempted to swim to Stavros, pull him from his tent, and admit to my selfish plan to use him. But Queen Gela would have had my head for that. She had chanted about a queen’s duty to her station and using whatever means necessary so often that her words were engraved deep inside. If Lizza fed me more X-ray fish, she would probably find those sayings carved into my bones.
So, I remained silent and stewed, staring at a frayed hole in my tent wall, mind replaying the attacks and steeping in self-loathing.
When my maids finally arrived and prepared me for the day, they had to do extra work to hide the hollows under my eyes. I paid almost no attention to the solemn navy skirt and sheer top someone slid onto me, my head already creating long lists of sad to-dos. The families of the deceased needed to be notified. Funeral rites had to be funded and planned.
This morning, when a seashell tiara slid into my curls, it felt weighted with lead.
Schooling my face into something I hoped was a placid expression to calm everyone around me, I lifted the flap and swam outside. Very few were up and about, making it easy for me to spot Sahar near the outer ring of tents where the servants had slept. My closest adviser, the siren chatted with several bulky male mermen who were in their full armor.
As I swam up, I heard her crisply issuing orders. “…and four of them are from Sky Stones, so we will need a contingent of at least four soldiers, one per body, to return them to their families.”
The men gave sharp nods. Their eyes darted to me as they turned, and it might have been my imagination, but I perceived judgment in their gazes. The people-pleasing part of me wanted to curl inward, but I remained still, stiffening my spine and giving them what I hoped looked like a nod of appreciation for their work.
Turning to my advisor and trying not to notice how last night had seemed to multiply her gray hairs, I asked, “You want the dead transported to Sky Stones? Shouldn’t we have a public funeral for everyone in the capital first? Given that this was an attack on me and my reign, I would think?—”
Sahar gave a slight bow, though her eyes held steadily onto mine as she countered, “It would delay the tournament too much, Majesty.”
I blinked, taken aback. “Delay? No one can possibly expect to continue. Not after all that’s happened…”
The soldiers swam off, disinclined to stay for our conversation when they caught the look on Sahar’s face. She struggled to contain it, but she probably slept as well as I had.
She took in a long, deep breath, gathering patience before she stated, “These men signed magical contracts.”
I gave her a sharp look but she quickly continued when she realized that argument didn’t sway me. “The Syzgos Tournament is a ritual just as much as anything else. The people expect it. To cancel it would be to give in to the rebellion.”
“A man died!”
“The soldiers are tightening their rounds.”
“There have been multiple attacks.”
“It always starts with an inch. Just one concession.” Her tone was a slap to the wrist—a tutor disappointed in their pupil. Gela’s voice sounded in my head, echoing those words.
I sawed my teeth back and forth but didn't argue further. My silence prompted her to continue. “You’ll declare today a day of mourning. I have an announcement drafted. But then we need to move on. Show we are undefeated. That their terror has gained no foothold. We cannot be weak.”
I opened my mouth, not fully convinced, but Keelan and Mr. Whelk appeared behind her just then. The sea turtle’s flippers were slung over the handsome siren’s shoulder near his ruined arm, allowing Keelan to do all the work of swimming and his pet to ride, bobbing in his wake.
In the morning light, my suitor’s golden skin glistened, his white hair was nearly blinding, and the purple lightning bolt shaved into the side of his scalp stood out even more starkly than usual. While his smile wasn’t quite as bright as it would have been another day, it was still there. It had survived the night…unlike some of his competitors.
I managed a shaky grin for Keelan and Mr. Welk opened his mouth, his tongue dangling out almost as if he was sticking it out at me. The silly turtle managed to make a soft chuckle burst from my lips.
Sahar noticed my gaze and turned to see her son, her expression softening. “He has you well trained,” she commentedwryly to Keelan, tipping her head toward the turtle, who was still enjoying his piggyback ride.
Keelan only shrugged. “He deserves it. He’s too adorable not to spoil. Kind of like me.”
