Chapter 42

  Four days after the thick fog incident, everything seemed to have returned to normal. Nereida watched her boys py chase with their new sister, who was teaching them every day how to get better at climbing. Soon they’d move with the grace of Sylphs. Her happy little boys were slightly less happy to be drilled in letters, reading and early politics, but she and Basiano were on the same page. Her children had to appear to be perfect. The court could not find a weakness to exploit. Much to Epelda’s shock and horror, Nereida did require her new daughter to also attend the lessons. While Ael had taught the girl to read, and do some math, there was much more that Epelda would have to learn as heir.

  “I’m going to stab you if you try and arrange a marriage for me,” Epelda signed, smming her hands onto the desk after. The adolescent looked positively mutinous after reading from one of the history books Basiano had smuggled to her.

  “I’ll not do anything without your consent,” Nereida signed back, her face calm and almost serene. “But you need to know the courtship steps, in case some noble or another catches your eye.”

  “Oh, courting my mom properly are you?” Epelda challenged sullenly. Nereida ughed, trying to ignore the heat in her cheeks.

  “You need to know the rules before you break them, love.”

  “These rules are stupid.”

  “So are the hair rules. But they mean things to some people. It’s awful to feel like you are hurting people by not understanding,” Nereida struggled through signing, giving up after a moment to whisper conspiratorially to Epelda. “Your mother saw me with my hair down the first day I was aboard this ship.” Epelda gasped in horror. “That. You see. I was just rexing, and did not know it was a thing yet.”

  “Fine,” the adolescent gestured sharply, puffing her cheeks out and blowing. “I will learn your stupid rules.” They were gathered on the deck, enjoying some sun as they studied. The boys had been listless inside, and Nereida found her patience running thin. The ocean’s song was particurly strong. The princess wondered if Epelda could hear it too, or feel it in her bones. Ael, too, had become withdrawn and twitchy. Since early this morning, Ael had been pacing about the deck of the ship, occasionally finding Evander to speak to him in hushed, hurried tones before one or the other of them yelled for a heading change.

  Nereida leaned toward her daughter.

  “What’s got everyone in a twist?” she asked softly. Epelda’s mouth drew into a line.

  “We are skirting the Cursed Waters.” She signs, dropping her hands low where they boys can’t see. They were pying on a bnket nearby, throwing dice with a pair of the younger crewmen. “We drifted off course during the fog and when we righted ourselves, it meant getting much closer than mother is comfortable.”

  “Why didn’t she tell me?” Nereida whispered. Epelda shrugged, a sullen shrug.

  “She didn’t tell me either, but we’ve been close to it before. I can feel it in my teeth. A… I don’t have the word, but it buzz-hurts.”

  “I hear singing.” Nereida looked up at her boys, actually watched them py. Alejo was making simple math errors in his game, suddenly having difficulty with six plus six. Egaz was rolling the dice but letting the adult do all the adding as he crocked his head as if listening to something. “The boys do too.”

  “Mom feels magic in her skin,” Epelda signed, her movements still low. “I have heard her say it. Shadow-casters feel like leeches, fire-casters burn, you make her buzz, I make her shiver.”

  “She told you this?” Nereida asked, signing low. Epelda just shook her head.

  “I listen.” She made a face, one of frustration. “They forget, sometimes, that I can hear because I can’t speak.” She blew air out again, snorting in derision. Nereida cupped her hand under her daughter’s chin.

  “Use that,” she advised softly. “You will never be the biggest or the strongest or the loudest, love. And that’s okay. Let them underestimate you. Ruffles are surprisingly good for disguising intent.”

  “Ruffles?” Epelda signed back, pursing her lips in disgust. Nereida ughed.

  “Let me tell you about the absolutely hideous dress my mother made me wear to my coming of age ceremony… and how I earned my knighthood in it.” Epelda perked up immediately, clearly excited for a story she hadn’t yet heard.

  Nereida wove her tale, feeling the pressure of the song less as she spoke. Several of the crew moved closer to listen as they went about their tasks. She projected her voice so more of them could hear, enjoying the audience, enjoying her reputation as a tale-teller.

  But she had not realized that the two new-comers were listening. One of them, his face weathered and worn and missing one of his front teeth, wandered over to her.

  “Are your stories true, ss?” he asked her. She smiled at him a little. No one had called her “ss” in a long time. She would be forty in two years, hardly a “ss”.

  “Not all of them are perfectly true,” she replied with a small smile. “That one, however, is.” She dimpled at him, an old trick her mother taught her. “I may have understated the ugliness of the dress.” He guffawed.

  “So, you’re a fire-princess and a sea witch?” his companion asked, looking doubtful. She eyed the doubtful one, spotted a mark of rank she recognized, a House she recognized.

  “You’d be a scion of House Razgo, likely a fourth or fifth born, given how old that pin is.” He gaped at her in astonishment. “My grandfather did trade with the Razgo’s, until the demons put up their blockade.” She smiled at him.

  “How do you look so human?” the Razgo scion asked. His friend kicked him, hard.

  “You’re an idiot.” The older of the two grumbled. “The ss saved our lives. She and her family deserve respect, not idiotic, prejudiced questions.” He rolled his eyes. “Kids, you know?”

  “I’m two years younger than you!”

  “And still an idiot kid!” He shook his head. “Carlos, m’Lady.” He took her hand, kissed it. She smiled a more genuine smile.

  “Nereida.” She motioned to Epelda and her sons, giving their names as well. Epelda nodded and gave a little wave.

  They chatted a bit, when a sudden whistle pierced the good natured comradery. Nereida looked over at Epelda, her transtor for all whistled orders.

  “Ships,” she signed. “Three. Coming in fast.”

  “Demon?” Nereida signed. The adolescent shook her head.

  “Moon.” She pushed herself to her feet. “I have to go.” The two new-comers watched the exchange, their eyes wide as they tried to follow what was happening.

  “Trouble?”

  “Expect an all-hands soon,” Nereida replied softly. “If you’ll excuse me, I have children to stow.”

  She took the children down to Dymion, kissed them both and told them to mind the gnome. Dymion csped her arm as she passed.

  “They’re good folk, they are just scared.”

  “I know.” She gave his shoulder a squeeze. “You don’t let them have my boys if they take me, yeah?”

  “Don’t be stupid,” he grumbled. “Ain’t no way that Admiral lets them take you.” She blushed at that. “Come on, Nereida. I have eyes, ears. Now go. I won’t be expected above, but you will be.”

  Coming onto the deck was stepping into chaos. Nereida saw one of the young crew women waving fgs. It clearly meant something, but to her it was just red and yellow chaos set to the rhythm of the ocean. Ael was next to her, a dark, worried expression on her face. She cked her usual bluster.

  “Nereida, you are wanted on the bridge,” Evander hollered down at her. Nereida felt a pit in her stomach. That could not be a good sign.

  She climbed the stairs, trying to put on airs of confidence. But this was not her world, here on this deck. She belonged to the sea, in it, not above it, or in the halls of a court. The dance here was so, so different.

  “They want you,” Ael said, her tone murderous. “If I run a white fg, they will take the siren from us, and all will be forgiven if I tell them how to control you.” Nereida felt the blood drain from her face. “We have an hour to decide. They are as fast as us, but none of them have the advantage of Epelda…” the Admiral looked out to see. “But the way the three of them have maneuvered, we only have two directions to flee… back the way we came, which would be a hard turn, and they may be able to block us again…” Ael’s hands grabbed the rail, her knuckles going while. “Or we venture into the Cursed Sea and lose them.” One of the officers swore. She turned and looked at Nereida. “If you sang… would your people… would they grant us passage?” Nereida closed her eyes, took a breath.

  “We are close enough… I can ask.”

  “Ask then.” Ael turned toward her, her Admiral mask slipping away. “Be careful, love.” Her face hardened and she turned to the officers. “Put out a call. Any not willing to risk the sirens can man a lifeboat and hope the Moonies don’t punish them for my sins.” Nereida snorted at the word Moonies, before she straightened her back, and walked to the front of the ship. It had a fancy name, Epelda and Ael had both told her, but she could only think of it as the front. The brow of the ship? That must be it.

  Standing at the rails, Nereida faced the ocean, felt the spray of salty water, felt the song that vibrated into her very bones. She began to sing, high and long, her notes echoing. It wasn’t a song with words, but the combination of notes meant, “please let me in.” The ocean whirled and she heard loud, panicked whispering behind her. She ignored it, as it was not part of the song.

  “Come,” was the reply. “We will meet you.”

  “Ael!” she called. “We have permission.” She leaned down, undid the anklet, and stowed it away. One of the officers yelped in surprise. They all knew she was masking her form, but seeing her change was another thing entirely. She turned to her beloved with a sad little smile.

  “I’ll stand here, and sing. Let them know we are friendly, that your ship is safe, and protected by me.” Ael nodded, her face tight with worry. Behind her, the fg girl was motioning wildly.

  As Nereida lifted her voice in song again, a song of protection and peace, she heard Ael issue the orders to unfurl all the sails.

  “Epelda! Now!” The Admiral shouted. Epelda’s song lifted in counterpoint to Nereida’s, a fast song, one of quickening paces, not one of peace and protection. But they were not in disharmony, not yet. The ship began moving faster, taking a sharp turn into what Ael called the Cursed Waters….

  No ships ever returned from the Cursed Waters.

  Nereida was ready to make history.