Chapter Two- Fallen Hard
Gasps and claps sounded as Mahad levitated a heavy load of hay off a cart and beside a horse trough. Mahad had studied spells to practice on himself but hadn't used them yet. He was content on practicing his levitation spell to strengthen it. This latest application was his first public use and it was clear that his small audience was impressed with his skill.
"Young man," one woman said. "Keep up your studies and you could become a royal sorcerer."
"Thank you madam." Mahad beamed as the crowd dispersed and the owner he helped began forking hay into the trough and storing the rest. He had been a bit worried that his display of magic would be received negatively. But, instead of fear, there was awe and impressed expressions. Everyone knew magic existed but not many possessed the ability. The thing was most sorcerers used their powers for personal gain, torment, or destruction, proving the saying that power corrupts was true. Mahad, however, was determined to prove that not all sorcerers were corrupt or evil.
He strode along the docks, watching sailors load ships that would soon set sail before moving on to the shoreline. He discarded his shirt and shoes before wading into the water. The three days of study had yielded some interesting spells. He decided to try a spell that would allow him to breathe underwater. The spell would remain in effect until his head broke the surface which was perfect. I'll be able to swim down to incredible depths. Who knows what I'll see.
He exhaled slowly before putting a hand to his chest and chanting the spell carefully. He felt his magic wash over him and then gasped as he tried to breathe, but it felt as if his throat had closed up. His hands went to his throat, his eyes wide with panic. I can't breathe! The water! I need to get under the water. Mahad desperately threw himself into deeper water and under its surface and his throat immediately opened up. He took deep breaths and his panic and pounding heart subsided. He shook his head; he had no idea that would happen. Next time, I'll take a breath, go under, and chant. That should work.
Now that he could breathe, he looked around for the first time. Thus far, all he saw was empty waters. Mahad swam down, hoping to see something. He kept looking around as he swam down. Just then, a school of fish quickly swam by. He turned to follow their progress and smiled at being this close to fish that weren't in nets. He continued to head down a little more and saw some amazing sea life far below. He stared in amazement. This is astonishing. The sea is like another world and I love it. I wouldn't be able to see this if I didn't know magic. This spell is wonderful and I will certainly use it often. I think I'll head up and practice other spells. I studied one that will give me wings. He smiled at the thought of flying.
A quick flash of colors went by overhead, drawing his attention. His mouth dropped at a gorgeous and astonishing sight. A young man with purple eyes and spiky tri-colored hair went by, a fishtail where his legs should be. It started out blue at the waist and faded to purple at the mid-point. His fins were purple with a horizontal blue stripe each one. Mahad felt as if he had fallen head over heels in love for this…merman. His astonishment came from the fact that merpeople were real. He had heard sailors tell tales of seeing people who were half-fish, but he wasn't sure if the stories were true. But now I do and that merman is so handsome. Mahad swam in the direction the merman had gone, missing a white-tailed merman go by overhead.
Atem swam quickly through the water, his guard hard-pressed to keep up. Seto and Isis had insisted he have someone to keep him safe on his trip. Atem silently disagreed. He could take care of himself and he was usually careful. He couldn't reason out of having a guard so his solo trip was no longer solo. The guard was armed with a long stone that had been sharpened to a sharp point and hung from a thick seaweed holster that was attached to a thick seaweed belt around his waist.
Atem was surprised to find the docks weren't too far from his kingdom; more like half a day away than a whole day. He could see the upper bodies of humans moving about and he paused under the water to watch them. He had never seen humans this close before and he noticed that they didn't look too different from merpeople…until he moved near a gangplank. He slowly surfaced under a dock and gaped at the two limbs they had in place of a tail. Those must be the legs I've heard about. Amazing. They're attached so naturally to them the way our tails are naturally attached to us.
His eyes slid from the humans to the ship they were boarding. So this is what an unwrecked ship looks like. It's magnificent, so majestic. I still have no idea how it stays afloat…but maybe I will if I follow it. His tail swished excitedly at the idea.
The guard swam up under the surface and saw the pharaoh's upper body above the water. Frowning, he reached up, seized Atem's hand, and pulled the young merman back under. "My pharaoh, please be careful. We cannot be seen by humans."
"I am usually careful," Atem said, pulling his hand out of the guard's.
"Pharaoh, I was made aware of your interest in humans, but it is imperative that our existence remain secret from humans. If they learned of us-,"
"They would attempt to capture us, study us, and put us on display," Atem interjected. "I know the need for us to remain safe. I just wanted to see these legs the stories mentioned. Plus how a ship floats on the water and not sink despite its size and weight."
The guard looked up at the vessel. "That is a curiosity," he said slowly. He watched as the ship started out across the ocean. "Fascinating," he murmured, finding himself understanding Atem's interest. "I suppose we could follow it for a little bit, pharaoh. Pharaoh?" He looked around and saw no one. He inwardly cursed. He had lost sight of his charge, but had a good idea where he was. He took off after the ship, unaware of Mahad floating below him.
A pharaoh, Mahad thought as he struck out after the ship as he had seen Atem headed that way. I've fallen for royalty and a merman on top of that. From what I just heard, he has an interest in my race, something I'm guessing is different from other merpeople. He definitely seems like someone worth knowing and, for me, loving. He kicked his legs as hard as he could toward the ship, determined to meet the pharaoh, give his name, and hopefully strike up at least a friendship. He could answer the pharaoh's questions about humans and maybe he'll answer Mahad's questions about the ocean and merpeople. Of course, he'll swear to keep their race secret. He completely understood the guard's reason to staying out of sight of humans. He kicked furiously, wishing he knew a spell to change his legs to a tail in order to keep up with the pharaoh and the ship.
Atem swam alongside the ship, far back away where he could see the legs as the humans moved on the ship. His eyes drank in the sight. He swam under the ship to the other side to see the other side. He felt like he was living a dream: He was seeing humans and a ship moving over the water. I wish I knew how they move their legs and about how they made those ships. Oh, I wish I could ask a human. I have so many questions. He swam to the back and saw a vertical slab of wood moving back and forth like a shark's fin. Could this be how it moves through the water? But, what's making it move? The ship's not alive, so the humans must be using something to move it. The wooden fin stopped and the ship glided to a stop, too. Atem smiled. This was his chance to try to see how they got the ship's fin to move. He started to swim around to the side to get to the front.
Suddenly, a net came over the side and Atem swam right into it. He wheeled around to head back the way he came but the entrance had closed up. He turned again and some of the net wrapped itself over his fins. He kicked his tail but the net didn't move. He felt it rise and his eyes widened. He couldn't leave the water! He wouldn't be able to breathe! He gripped the net and tried to pull it apart, but it resisted his efforts. He cursed silently. He had been so confident in being careful, he had declined carrying a sharp stone and now he was in trouble.