Chapter 8: Day 9

Rainbow's eyes darted around the hallway as she carrying huge bundles of seaweeds toward the prince's sleeping quarter. She was tasked to swap the old worn seaweeds bed with a fresh set of green. It was a simple job but she couldn't help herself to feel somewhat anxious about it. For every servant swam by her, she felt as if new pairs of eyes were staring at her. Judging her every action she made.

However, whenever she tried to steal a glance back at them. They were just chattering along or doing their own things. Nothing of her concern.

It's alright. You're just doing your job. There are rules, laws, and justices here. No one would do anything in the board daylight.

She did not feel so sure about it. After the time when she heard how the councils was plotting against each other like that. It put an extra stir into her worried mind that already had been filled by her grandfather's health, the little prince's punishment and her own safety.

Rainbow moved herself into the sleeping quarter and began tidying the old seaweed and placing the new ones. A task so routine that her talons grew a mind of their own. All these muscle memories were probably only possible only due to the numerous amounts of children that Queen Coral had. A rare skill of accomplishment, she amused.

It was only a school of SeaWings swam passed the hallway that broke her trance. Something was amiss. Scent of curiosity and anxiety loom in the atmosphere. Down the corridors of the hallway, flashes of light boomed out from the doorway where the servant was gathered. Chattering among themselves as they peek through the doorway.

It's the audience chamber, one that usually nobles and other council members gathered and attended matter with the royalties. At the centre of the room, a small group of SeaWing was flashing bright as the sun against the other. Pattern of flashes seem to repeat themselves with various degree of intensity. Some were so intense as if someone was shouting right in her face. She felt sorry for the dragon on the receiving end of that flashes.

"WHERE IS IT?" flashed the foremost SeaWing of the group.

She flared her gill so wide they might as well allowed water flowed back into it. Her deep navy scales shimmering with rage that almost could boil the water around her. The SeaWing on other receiving end, who had aquamarine in his scales, planted his foots firmly against the onslaught of flashing lights. He shook his head apologetically.

"I have no idea what is it. We have returned everything we know of Snapper's possession."

"All but the only precious thing she had! You Liar!" she retorted.

Snapper?

A name that had been a while since she last heard and it still gave her a jolt. And wasn't that… Butler Tidal. The only dragon on the receiving end. Trying calmed the angry SeaWings. If it was her, she would have collapsed right there for the sheer amount of pressure those angry SeaWing were exerting.

"All of you saw it with your own eyes. There was no treasure in them. I have shown you all her belonging were. Her chests and her room. Nothing's there."

"You could have hidden them!"

"One of servants stole it!"

"They stole it!"

And on and on. The rage of the SeaWings mob seem to reignite themselves again to a new blaze. Tidal seem gradually grew helpless for every moment passed.

Snapper's Treasure.

Rainbow clasped her talons against her satchel. Her heart did a loop as she felt it around her chest. It was still there. The shape of long rectangular bulge in her satchel. Snapper's memorial. The piece of jewellery she found Snapper's cold body the day when she followed Prince Turtle out in the sea. The horrible scene of Snapper clutching it in her talon as last flow of sea past through her gill.

"Is this what you are searching for?"

Rainbow flashed as she braved herself out into the open. She could definitely feel it now. Tens or hundreds of eyes staring into her back. Watching her. Judging her every move. But it doesn't matter, she doing the right thing. The right move.

From deep in her satchel, she pulled out a ruby crystal and held it out towards the angry mob. Rays of light struck the ruby and through it, burst out various shades of red all around the hall. Gasps and awes flashed by all surrounding SeaWings. Even the raging mob had to put a pause to their anger and admired the view.

No wonder those angry SeaWing wanted it back. This was definitely a prize among treasures.

"Thief!"

The flashed knocked everyone out trance and now stare at the treasure holder. It took a while before Rainbow registered that the 'thief' was referring to her.

"What!? No. I'm here to return this ruby."

But it was useless. The angry SeaWings were advancing towards her. Sandwiched between the angry mob and the group of servants. Rainbow braced herself for those imminent outstretched claws and talons.

And once again, he gracefully placed himself between her and the angry mob. Shielding her against the onslaught.

"Hush now. We are civilized dragon. Not some jellyfishes." Tidal said.

"Civilized!? You talk of civil when the thief is just right in front of us." The foremost SeaWing flared. "The culprit is her. No doubt of it. We are just getting back what is rightfully ours."

"Yes. Right. But could you get it back by a little more… gentle means."

She scowled at Tidal but he was unfazed by it. He turned to Rainbow and locked his eyes into hers. It was a look not of a disgust and anger. Rather, of a gentle and warm trusting aura emitting through it. It held only for a second and he turned back towards the SeaWing and flashed.

"Have ever heard a thief who return the things that they stole? Does a seagull steal a fish and give back to the fisher? Of course not. This young dragon here must have intention of a good heart to return this treasure. With that, she also has a story of her own to speak of. Would you mind tell us about?"

Story? Of What?

Cold as the deepest trench. Her mind froze in search for an answer to an unspoken question. Her eyes glanced from the group of angry SeaWings to Tidal then to her talon.

Right. The ruby.

"I was planning to return the ruby. And erm… I- erm… Got it from Snapper after she died. And-"

That didn't sound right. It sounded like she robbed it from her corpse. Oh, by the seas, how would she explained that she had intended to return the ruby to its next rightful owner. She was supposed to just safekeeping it in her satchel. But after she placed it in her satchel, she had forgotten all about it. She continued her life about as servant who cleaned the deep palace. Instead, she could have given it to Tidal to handle it. Or anyone else in the council, they would have known.

Plus, the truth behind how she acquired was a bizarre story. How could she have explained that she chased Prince Turtle all the way from the Deep Palace to the Snapper's body. Only to discover the treasure held tightly in the Snapper's talon.

"You must be one of the servants that help returned Snapper's body to them. We entrusted you the object but only you forgotten to return it."

Rainbow stood there staring at Tidal. Her face filled with questions waiting for answers.

"Forgotten! Right…" The leading SeaWing snapped.

"What else?" Tidal replied calmly. "For if she is a thief, she would had been the worst thief anyone would have known. She could have kept it, ran off with it, or even hidden it with someone else outside the palace. And there would be no way that you would have known. None of us would."

Rainbow thought that there might be a tiny chance that the SeaWing was going to retort. But then again, Tidal's argument was solid. The leading SeaWing seem convinced and so did the rest of the mob.

"Maybe. But still. If anyone stupid enough carry it around. I'm sure that we would recognize it in a heartbeat." She said.

"Are you by any chance, related to Snapper?" Rainbow asked.

"As much as water to sea." The SeaWing said. "I'm her mother. Angler."

Oh. Which means those were Snapper's family behind her.

Rainbow handed the ruby in her outstretched talon. Which was then quickly snatched by Angler and examined it through the rays of light. Only upon having satisfied, she kept it back into her bag.

"To think that I trusted Moray to pass this jewel to Snapper. Only to end up in someone else's talon." Angler said. "Rumours of corruption seems to run deeper than I expected."

"Moray?" Rainbow asked.

"Yes, the council of communication. I thought that since Moray was in the council would easily pass this to her. But the council is just another bunch of-"

Tidal stepped in.

"Since we have settled this case, might we move on to discussion about Snapper's compensation?" He gestured towards the open hallway. "Please proceed to the Great hall while I will inform Pearl, Council of Treasury, to have a meeting with you. Meanwhile, we will prepare refreshment while you wait."

Just like that, Tidal led the group of post-angry SeaWings out of the hall and into the corridor. Before he turned the corner, he gave her a thumb-up, a nod and he was gone.

Rainbow heaved a sigh. Too close. Had it not for Tidal; who stood up and covered her. She might have to explain the curious incident of that night. One she still hasn't had any answer to.

"May I have a word with you?"

A SeaWing scales coloured in pea-green with eyes of mossy green appeared in front of her. Though his size were larger than hers for another half her neck long; for some reason, his calm and relax demeanour made prevent her scurried away at first sight. It was only when her eyes landed on those pair of gold bands fasten around his ankle that she realized who he was.

"Y-your majesty." Rainbow stumbled her flashing scales. "How can I be of your service."

"At ease. I just need something clarification of some… recent events." King Gill replied. "Why don't we take a little swim."

She was so bewildered by such invitation that It took the King couple of more flashes before she managed to follow him into the hallway. He swam in relax pace that even a dragonet would able to catch up easily. He led her through couple of turns and hallway. Only finally upon reaching the backyard garden filled assortment of corals, he finally flashed to stop.

"Here will do." He spun around and faced her. "Away from prying eyes, just in case."

Rainbow felt a sudden stream of cold sea current flow through her wings. Chills went from her wing tips to her tail as she realized her current predicament.

Is the King one of the dragons who was 'higher ups' not pleased with me? Now, alone and helpless against anything he would done to me? I'm I going to end up like Abalone?

"What's wrong?"

King Gill flashes snapped her out of her thought. She shook her head.

"Anyhow." He flashed. "Are you the servant who taking care of my son, Turtle?"

Rainbow hesitated a nod.

"What's your name?"

"Rainbow."

"Rainbow." He echoed and paused. Placing a talon over his chin. "I'll cut to the chase. I saw you the night with my dragonet when the princesses had died. Could you explain yourself?"

That night? Oh right. The night when Tidal assigned me to take care of Turtle.

"I was assigned to look after Prince Turtle. He was depressed because two of the princesses die that day. So I went looking for him and found him in an empty room."

The King was staring hard into her eyes. Somehow, he knew she was hiding something.

"That night. Deep into the dark. I saw you were out in the open ocean. And not just that. You had appeared to have visited Snapper's body." He lift of his eye brows. "Was that how you get the ruby?"

"How did you-"

But was interrupted by King Gill's flashes.

"Snapper was one of my best guards. I wouldn't had left her like that. So, I return to her that night, to retrieve her body. That's when I found her precious jewel was missing." He messaged his temple as he spoke. It seems to put him at pain in just to mention her name. "Let just put it as that."

"So, what's your story?" The king asked. "A thief doesn't return what was stolen. That I gathered much. So, if you did intend to return the ruby back to its rightful owner. Why were you there in the first place?"

Rainbow knew she couldn't worm her way out of this one. For some reason, King Gill knew she was there. Truth was the only way.

She explained. How she was first taking care of the Prince Turtle at Deep Palace. Then, a sudden outburst which led her to follow Prince Turtle out in the open ocean. Not knowing that it would end up at Snapper's body. Which then led her to discover the ruby in Snapper's talon.

"Turtle…" King Gill furrowed his eyes. "That was not something he should see or know. Pardon my ignorance but do you know how he is now?"

"He's doing okay. He regained his appetite since the day they laid down the punishment. Though he is still pretty depressed of it." Rainbow said.

"Punishment? What punishment?" The King flashed in a shock. "Was it the 'solitude' treatment? Hm… It's not the first time they do such a thing behind my back. I will see what I can do for him. Though, they were usually quick to forgive and forget."

"However, I just couldn't figure out why Snapper left her post. It was so uncharacteristic of her. She should have at least had someone temporary filled for her. Or even, inform anyone of her whereabouts. But…" He rubbed his weary eyes as he sighed. "Now I'm the one acting uncharacteristic as a king."

"You must be tired with all the things that had happened." Rainbow flashed.

He nodded in response.

"I don't think you happened to know why Snapper left her post, do you?"

She shook her head.

"Still, thank you for helping me in this investigation. I'm sorry that I unable to treat you to anything as I have many things to attend. Things had been rather busy since the death of the princesses."

Before he turned to leave, he said.

"Beware. The recent volcanic earthquake might cause strange things to happen. Last time, a huge group of jellyfishes swam into one of the villages and stung everyone there. We had to send a response team to migrate everyone to safety." He flashed in concern. "Best if you stay within the safety perimeters and only go out during day. Just in case."

With one last gratitude, he flashed a goodbye and swam back into the palace.

So, Snapper wasn't being dragged out into the open sea and being punished. She left on her own violation.

But why?

A note to reader reading by the release: This is the finish chapter for Part one (as in the Three part story structure). It's going to be awhile until releasing the next chapter because I like to finish the whole part before moving on. But Part Two also ties heavily with Part three. And I have to at least get some scene in Part Three down before I have the confident to finalize the Part two.