The leader of the Mermaid Tribe

Yu Lian had finally managed to have a moment alone. She had ordered her servants to wait outside, while she inspected the pearl garden where the Mermaid Tribe cultivated the pastel colored deep sea pearls. Her clansmen had done a good job. Despite the war and the loss of the royal family, neither the supply of the clan nor the trade of goods with the other kingdoms had suffered significantly. The war had been too short for that. She stroked one of the thick seashells, which shimmered white-gray in the light of the Sea.

Actually, I am very grateful to Yan Da for bringing peace to us. It's a shame I can't show her my gratitude. I am still too fresh in office and they treat me as if I have no political counterweight to the decisions of the Council. I have to be careful. If I want to do something against the radical currents, I must first win their trust and establish myself as Predor. I wish Hye Qian was here.What had her friend anyway been up to lately? Shouldn't she train the palace guards and be her bodyguard the rest of the time? Hye Quian was the last of the Deep Sea Assassins. As she was most skilled in combat, she had been assigned to the Predor's personal protection on the day of her election. Since then, they had shared many afternoons together, discussing everything that got on their mind. The Predor had learned to enjoy the hours with the young well-educated assassin, and soon she felt that Hye was the only one she could talk to nearly as freely as if they were childhood friends. But since the Assassin stood under the direct command of the council, at least for the time being, she had no say in Hye's whereabouts. Yu Lian lately felt like a puppet under the council's control. And no one was left to help her.

"Maybe you should brood less and enjoy your surroundings more," she heard a voice say nearby. The tone was friendly, but also slightly mocking. Startled, Yu Lian turned in the direction the voice had come from. Ying Kong Shi, the Prince of the Ice Tribe, sat on a rock. The young Predor reflexively clutched her staff and assumed a defensive position. "Relax, my visit is free of bad intentions, Predor Mermaid. I just want to talk." Yu Lian looked at him suspiciously, but took her staff back. "What could be so important that the Prince of the Ice Clan visits me at this time of the night and disturbs me in my private gardens? Even for such a high-ranking ally this is more than improper behavior." Ying Kong Shi nodded in agreement. "I am sorry, but the matter at hand cannot be postponed." Now he had the Predor Mermaid's attention. "What is it, then?"

"I want to know if you truly want Yan Da dead." The young leader stared blankly at him. Then she started laughing. "Who cares what I want and what I think? It doesn't matter what my personal opinion is on that matter. My clan and all kingdoms have been severely affected by the mad Huo Yi's war. Not only have many good immortals died, the countries themselves have suffered. Huo Yi asked my predecessor to create a land bridge for his army to cross. The Endless Sea will take a long time to heal the damage it caused." She looked contemptuously at Ying Kong Shi, an amused smile played around his mouth. "I would still like an answer, though. I think that our long-term cooperation and the ongoing protection of the Mermaid Tribe are worthwhile for us to learn to speak openly with one another, even if we have met only weeks ago. "

Yu Lian pulled her head back, slightly defiantly. Her frown showed Ying Kong Shi clearly the confusion of the young Predor Mermaid, who hadn't learned to mask her feelings yet. Or she was very clever, and tried to wrap him up with her show of naivety. "If you care that much, Ice Prince, I will answer you with the truth. I can only judge people according to how I experience them myself. I have no personal grudge against Queen Yan Da, as she seems like a righteous, caring, and peaceful leader to me. I also notice that many of the leaders of the other clans are on friendly terms with her, including your Majesty himself."

Interesting. She may be naive, but her mind is sharp. „The way the Peace Council treated her was also one of friendship and gratitude. Few expressed open distrust towards Yan Da. All in all, I am very surprised. My advisors drew a completely different picture of the Fire Queen. I was told she was arrogant, loved to threaten others, whipped innocent servants to get her way, and tortured and killed without blinking an eye."

Ying Kong Shi sighed, looking backward in his memory at those uncountable moments when Yan Da behaved exactly the way the Predor had just described her. He smiled. "Let's say, that the start of her career in the Fire Tribe was not easy. When I first met the Fire Queen, she already was strong-willed, but she hadn't found her way yet. Your Clan encountered her in that time, too, so I can't say that the Mermaid Council got it all wrong. But since then, Yan Da has changed a lot. We sometimes were forced to collaborate to overcome some obstacles. So we came to know each other quite well, and I and my friends had a chance to see her good heart. That's why so many of the Clan Leaders trusted her even before the war was over. Without her, I wouldn't be alive. She contributed to this peace in so many ways that only few know of. But it was always hard for her, to follow her sense of morality and friendship, and, at the same time, having to carry out her father's despicable plans out of fear to be killed by him. Sometimes, when she was desperate to find a solution, Yan Da even let herself get caught willingly, so we had a chance to prevent the Fire Tribe's attacks. She was bold enough to try to talk sense into her father and her brothers, and she was more than once severely punished for that. I don't know how much you know about my past, but I can assure you, that without Yan Da to talk and help me through, I would have done even more unforgivable things."

Yu Lian had taken place on a stone across from Ying Kong Shi and listened to his story with interest. Now she raised her arm and, with her magical power, let a book appear on the palm of her hand. „I know some of your adventures. I got this a few days ago. An author named Yun Fei describes Yan Da's late biography. I don't know what I shall think of it. I can only say that these stories make it hard not to like the Fire Queen. Ying Kong Shi, even if my opinion would count anything in the late circumstances, you must understand that the Mermaid Council truly hates the Fire Tribe. I know that you came tonight to convince me in helping Yan Da, but I am but one against many, and they don't trust my leadership. They stated it clear that I am only an Interim Leader, and my momentary role is only representative."

Ying Kong Shi looked up, his eyes flashing angrily. "What nonsense. I can understand that this approach was a good solution shortly after the war. But in her message, Princess Lan Shang named you her rightful successor. Continuing to view your position as an interim solution seems like an attempt to undermine your leadership. After Lan Shang's official appointment, nobody can depose you. The councilors may be in the majority, but you are the Predor, and the supreme authority of the mermaids. Yu Lian, I came tonight to learn what kind of person you are. I can see that you don't mean to harm Yan Da or this new peace. I know I cannot ask you to stand up for the Fire Queen. But I would ask you to have the courage to follow your heart if the Council is considering taking secret actions against her. I am very concerned that the test is not intended to judge Yan Da's abilities, but to kill her. Somebody sent the assassin to the Ice Palace, and if it wasn't you, it must have been someone from the Mermaid Council."

Yu Lian frowned. She had long ago noticed that there were councilors who liked to fuel the anti-fire tribe debates, above all was Hye Qian. Should she be involved too? Her new friend had impressed her with foresight and wisdom in all subjects. Only when it came to the last war and the Fire Tribe, her protector could hardly hide her hatred. But Yu Lian was not ready to suspect her only friend in the political chaos. "How do you come to the conclusion that the attacks came from the Mermaid Tribe, and not from someone who just wants to point to us?" Yin Kong Shi cocked his head. „Who else should have access to ancient artifacts from the Endless Sea? If you want a chance to get to know Yan Da like the rest of us, I ask you to protect her when no one else can do it, especially not me. If I intervene during the test, the Mermaid Tribe will feel betrayed, so I am bound to watch no matter what will happen. But if Yan Da dies, someone in the Fire Tribe will rise to avenge her. This peace will then be history forever."

The Mermaid Saint examined his face. After a while she nodded slowly. I cannot believe it. The cold and nefarious Ying Kong Shi has fallen in love with the Fire Queen. He's hiding his love behind his arguments, but the way he speaks about her - it couldn't be more obvious. She got up and took a step towards the Ice Prince. "I now understand why, despite your actions and the chaos you wreaked in the past, your people still want you to be king. You spoke with great frankness this evening. Even though I know that you haven't told me everything, I can sense your good intentions. I can only hope that you don't make me regret this. But I am ready to give you a chance, Ying Kong Shi."

Ying Kong Shi got up, too, and a slight smile spread on his face. He bowed to the Predor Mermaid, a gesture that amazed Yu Lian. "Thank you, Predor Mermaid." Don't thank me yet, your Majesty. I'll try my best to keep the Council in check, but I can't promise that I will be able to find out about the Assassin in time to protect your… friend. "She nodded to him and was about to leave when she turned to him again. "Your Majesty, is there a chance at some point to meet the author of your book? I'm sure this mortal named Yun Fei still has a lot to tell about the two of you that didn't fit in the book." Ying Kong Shi opened his mouth, and such a joyful smile appeared on his face that, for a short moment, it appeared to Yu Lian as if there was no longer the distant Ice Prince but another man in front of her. "If that is your wish, it can surely be arranged when this turbulent times are over."