I reached out a hand, failing to grasp her long sleeve, and sighed when my friend was able to stand in front of her. She turned, eyes wide.
"Please, just wait." I asked, struggling to stand as she watched.
"Why should I?"
"Because I need help, and you're the second one who may be able to."
"Second?"
"The first one is right in front of you, but cannot hear my explanations. He doesn't know enough, I don't think. Now, can we go to talk somewhere private?"
"... fine. Come with me." She said, stepping around my friend. She took us to a space behind the tavern, and heard the ocean's waves just beyond the fence.
"What do you want from me?"
"This kingdom, what can you tell me about it?"
"Why would I tell you anything?" She huffed, and I thought through my words with care.
"They're keeping my people in their castle, or on their grounds. I need to know how to get in." This news seemed to give pause.
"Do you know how many?"
"Enough for them to differentiate during conversation, but not enough to fill a city."
She shifted her feet now, taking a defensive stance, and said, "And how do you intend to get in, get them, and get all out?"
"Well, I have a few different ways. If one doesn't work, I'll just need to try another. Now, are you going to answer my questions or not?" I crossed my arms and mirrored her stance, relishing the threat I could so easily become for people who knew who I was.
"I don't really know what you want from me-" I looked up at my friend, who shifted to block the door slightly. Even without knowing quite why, he was helping. Is this what humans were like the whole time, and not just drunken sailors?
"Are you mer, by any chance?"
"No." Her answer was automatic, but sure.
"The song had to be taught somehow, your pronunciation is perfect. But, the ruins of Neridora are off limits for singing. Sacred seas, and all that. Plus, you knew my title and wanted to run for it. So, there's a few different ways that it could be possible, right? You could be mortal, and from another sea. You could have learned the songs from there, sure. You could also be lying, and you want to save your skin in some way. But my favorite theory?" I leaned in close, "is that sure, you're mortal. But the mer in captivity taught you the song and such themselves. If that last one was the truth, you could help them-and me. Now, tell me the truth. Was I close?"
"Yes," she whispered, "I… I was a criminal. The pod, they were my own. But I was the reason they were taken, and..." her shoulders shook, eyes downcast.
"And you thought I was here seeking justice?"
"Naturally, Hu-weh." She chuckled, bowing her head.
"Why are you here, then? So close to your pod?"
"I've been working in the palace to figure out how to get them out, but it is impossible."
"You've been working there?"
"Yes, as a maid. Eventually, they started letting me into the hall where our artifacts are being held, and a door was locked. That is where they are being held, but four guards bar the door."
"So, this makes it all easy, then. You will take me into the halls of the castle, and we will leave with none the wiser." I stretched out my arms, listening to the popping joints with a smile. Over a week without swimming, my arms were going to be useless. A shadow moved over my face, and I looked up to see my friend trying to tell me something.
You need help?
Not now, she's saying what I want.
This… he shook his hand side-to-side… means you want help, okay?
Okay.
"I suppose, if I could disguise you as a maid, the guards might not notice the extra. But how are we supposed to get pass the guards and get them all out? They are fin-bound."
"How is it that you can walk?" No help, all is good.
"My mother was a siren, and she had taught me the spell before she left."
"Very well. I suppose we could have enough time for the two of us to change them all. We only need to get them to a balcony." The spell known by most sirens grants legs for only a few minutes. It depends on the mer, but rarely lasts very long. A different spell was used for me to be able to walk for as long as necessary. But, one of the few flaws of this kind of magic was that it wasn't able to be reversed by anyone other than the caster.
"There is a balcony off of their room. I've seen it from some other windows, but I couldn't see anybody from there. And I don't know how they're keeping them, so it could be difficult to pull them out."
"It won't be a problem if they were planning on hauling me into the tank."
"...pardon?"
I went into the story, pacing clumsily. Once I was done, I looked at the young Zoa to see tears in her eyes. It reminded me that I had stopped pitying myself ages ago, instead turning to determination. But it didn't make the story any less tragic.
"I can help you find somewhere to stay until morning, and I can come by to pick you up in the morning before I go in." She sniffled, and I just nodded. We walked back into the tavern, and I tried to tell my friend what was happening, but still felt uncomfortable with the sentence structure.
Eventually, we were able to buy two rooms for a night, and my friend and I stood awkwardly while saying goodbyes.
"And your name?" Zoa asked my friend, and he smiled.
"He cannot hear, but his name is… one moment."
How do I call you?
I have not said?
No, but I also have not asked. I smiled, realizing that there was no need for names, not until now.
C-a-e-l-u-m. Like this, Caelum. He made a sign using his cupped hand, the sign for 'dark', and covering his eye. He then spun his hand open, fanning it slightly over his face.
"His name is Caelum." I said, copying the gesture.
"Nice to meet you." Zoa smiled, holding out her hand for him to shake. This is Z-o-a. She is a mer, I swiggled my hand in the fish pattern, like I am.
And you?
A-t-h-e-n-a.
So… Zoa, he cupped his throat and swished his fingers like a fan, and Athena, he made the 'A' sign and swiped it across his hair. Giving me a crown. I couldn't help but smile at his joke, making my name. He was a human, and didn't truly understand the power that the Queen of the Sea had.
Goodnight.
Goodnight, Caelum.
"Goodnight, Zoa." I nodded, and she bowed before running off. I turned back to the bedroom, and took notice of the open window on the far wall. It faced the sea, and although it was quite dark, I didn't need to see the ocean in order to feel it. So close, but also so far. The seas were still rough, and I could think of nothing better.
The pod would be able to tell Triton that I was alive. And he would come for me. The power of The Trident of the King was strong enough to reverse everything. Or, if not reverse it, then to put another spell over the top of another one.
Tomorrow's success was everything. If not for the safety of these mer, my people, then for the future of my family. My daughters, still too young. My husband, too soft.
I had to make it back.
Hey, I hope you're enjoying it so far! I've been holding onto Caelum's name for a while, so I finally just put it out there. I might explain the names later on, but I'll probably wait for that one just a bit longer. If you enjoyed, or have questions, go on ahead and review!