Chapter 85

  Nereida’s hair, short as it was, had been twisted and twirled into one of the fancy braids that Ael’s people held in high regard. She was certain her head had more hairpins than it had hair now. She wore soft slippers not truly meant for the outdoors, but they were the only footwear she had left that had not been ruined or lost. Her corset was tightly ced, and she wore the dress she had worn to greet Matthias. They had managed to salvage about half the fabric from her wedding dress and Ael’s fancy jacket, enough that Kana, who was a tailor for her people, had managed to make an overdress that would fit Epelda so that she, too, looked the part.

  The Wind Dragon offered no compints when Ael expined that they would need to go ashore as a family, regal and commanding. She allowed Epelda to be in control of the body as Ael fussed with her daughter’s hair, quietly cursing each time one of Epelda’s thin flyaways escaped. Nereida was charged with making her sons look presentable, expining to them that they were to stay next to her, being on their best behaviour, that they must act as little princes, not farm children. They nodded seriously, though Egaz always made sure he was on the opposite side of her from Epelda. If the young woman was hurt by his fear, she never expressed it.

  Landing in port this time was a much grander affair. Ael had ordered the fg-bearers to announce their intent to dock. Nereida had watched the fgs dance, knowing it was a nguage all its own, amazed. There was a long pause before the answer came from the ship between them and the port.

  “We do not recognize your fg. Permission to board.” Ael transted what she saw through her spygss. She looked to Nereida, her expression sliding into her Admiral mask. “Someone fetch Jules, put him on the deck at work. Any task. Let them see him as well as her. Answer them, let them come aboard. We have nothing to hide. Send for Basiano, his Highness will likely need to be visible as well.” People jumped to follow her orders, scurrying about. The mood about the ship was nothing like she had seen it. Gone were the jokes, the teasing. These were sailors at war, soldiers. Even Evander’s face was a mask of cool indifference. In another life he’d have made a good noble.

  It was slow, coming in beside another ship. Those summoned were on deck, Epelda and the boys standing half a pace behind her. Ael, done in her Admiral finery, looked every inch the part, her feather crisp and red, her cloak billowing in a wind that Nereida did not feel. She gnced at Epelda, and the young woman smirked at her.

  “Forgive me my dramatic fir, but this is fun.” Epelda signed. Or perhaps it was the Dragon. It was getting harder to tell. That terrified her to her core, that soon she would not see the difference between them.

  The contingent of Sylph that boarded did not y a pnk but soared over from their ship to the Tooth, graceful and beautiful as they conquered the sky itself for a moment. Epelda looked on with a longing expression. Their captain stepped forward, his three crewmates waiting in a defensive position. Their wings fluttered behind them, delicate looking things that resembled the gossamer wings of dragonflies. It was said that one in ten dragon-blooded sprouted the wings. Nereida had a sudden, fluttering worry, that Epelda’s wings had been taken along with her tongue. She prayed that was not the case.

  “I am Admiral Ael D’Igna.” She had been practicing, Nereida could tell. Her voice did not waiver on introducing herself by her new name. “Formerly Admiral Ael Kyverna. I welcome you to the Dragon’s Tooth.” She held out her hand, and Nereida stepped forward, taking it. Theater. A game she knew. The Sylph captain narrowed her eyes, taking in Nereida’s blue hair, blue skin and cws.

  “This is my wife,” Ael continued unperturbed. “Princess Nereida D’Igna, fourth child and only daughter of King Illium.”

  There was a tense moment where the three Sylphs in the back drew closer to one another, but the captain put his hand up and they stilled.

  “Thank you for your names. I am Captain Andreas. I am familiar with you, Admiral, though I had not heard of your wedding.” He bowed to Nereida, a simple gesture, but one that put his crew at ease. He looked over at Basiano, standing off to the side. Basiano’s arms were crossed and he stood with his back to the cabin, a frown on his face. “Your highness,” the captain continued, “a pleasure to see you are well.”

  “You’ve met my brother before?” Nereida asked, attempting to sound bored. Andreas smiled.

  “No, but we sailors do love to gossip, Princess. It has been nearly eight months since he left our ships, and we had begun to fear he had failed his task to bring home his sister.” He gave her a little smile, but it did not reach his eyes. “I had not realized from the stories that one of your people had been taken in by the prince’s family.” Nereida bristled. “Admiral, surely you must know that to fly a siren’s heraldry would draw the ire of the sirens. Are you trying to drown your crew?”

  “No.” Ael looked down her nose at him, an impressive feat considering he stood a head and a half taller than her. “I am Emissary to the Siren people. I am here to speak on their behalf, and to see my wife home. We have come from the Cursed Waters with their blessing.” The captain’s eyes darted around the ship, saw Jules, shirtless and sweaty, working without compint. His skin was more blue than Nereida’s, his status as a siren impossible to hide without magic. “They are wanting to increase trade, and have sent me with an underwater fg design, so that your people interested in trading with them may do so without peril.”

  “And the cost?” There was an edge to his words. The Grand Admiral smiled at him serenely, as if she had no care in the world.

  “The world is changing. Change with it, or be left in the dust. The sirens are greater in number than previously believed, and are not pgued by madness. They wish to be known. The time for hiding is done.”

  “I will send word back to the port. It is not a free port, and we cannot have you approach us if the council rules against it.” The Captain turned, and then hesitated. “May I ask a question that will likely be asked of me?”

  “You may.”

  “You flew your fg under Seliniakos, Grand Admiral. They gave you your rank, your ship. Why do you fly the siren fg?” To the Captain’s credit, he was clearly trying to keep his consternation from his tone ; failing, but trying.

  “I was betrayed by some.” The Grand Admiral’s voice was hard, and Nereida could hear the barely controlled rage trying to edge in on Ael’s words. “Two Admirals believed that I had a “pet” siren. They wanted her. Or to kill her.” She moved back a step, taking Nereida’s arm. “Mine," the motion said. The Sylph saw the movement, it was clear, and his posture changed subtly. “And while I have no ill will toward my Queen or Country, I will not serve either so long as there are Admirals who would kill my wife for existing.” The Captain nodded, his eyes falling on Epelda. He signed something at her, something quick that Nereida did not catch. Epelda signed back, fshing her mauled hand at him in a rude gesture, but Nereida could not see what else was being signed without turning fully around.

  “If you would communicate with our daughter, Captain Andreas, I ask you keep it respectful,” Ael said, her voice cold. One of the Sylph sailors flinched. “I am not enchanted by my wife. Epelda is not a prisoner, she is my daughter.” The Captain flushed in embarrassment, clearly not expecting the woman to understand. He mumbled apologies, ducking his head like a chastised child. Ael signed her next words, her movements crisp and precise. “I await your welcoming missive.” The Captain made a face as if he had swallowed his tongue, and he retreated back to his ship, whistling a tune as he and his crewmates lifted themselves into the sky.

  Once the four Sylph were clear, the heaviness settled over the crew seemed to lift.

  “You put him in his pce.” Epelda stepped forward as her hands went. Her face was set in a serious expression, her eyes calcuting. “My people won’t like that.”

  “They were rude,” Ael grumbled. Epelda’s ugh was high and cruel. Egaz and Alejo withdrew from her, both staring at her as if she were a stranger.

  “Dragon,” Alejo whimpered. He moved to put himself between Epelda and Egaz. “Sissy’s got a dragon!”

  “Don’t fret, your sister is fine,” the dragon signed. She looked up at Ael. “You did not tell the Sylph of your mission.”

  “It's not their bloomin’ business,” Ael muttered. “And I don’t want busybody bureaucrats or, worse, would-be heroes getting involved.” The dragon ughed again, clearly appreciating Ael’s choice. She shifted, and her face softened, becoming Epelda again. The young woman looked at her little brothers who cowered in fear, and fled to seek comfort with Jules. Nereida watched her go, wanting to comfort her but knowing there was no comfort to be had.

  Word came just before sunset from the other ship. They were welcome to dock, and would be offered a tow as they got closer.

  “No one goes on nd until tomorrow,” Ael warned to those gathered. “We need to assess how welcome we are.”

  “Our gold should be good, if nothing else.” Gregors’ grumbling tone carried over the crowd of sailors who had gathered for orders. Ael chuckled.

  “We have siren gems to spend, and should start with that. Make them see who we are.”

  It was fully dark by the time they were securely in port. The children had been allowed to stay up and watch, their excitement clear. Epelda, fully back in control, allowed them to “help” her tie ropes that she cimed were important. The boys were so excited to help her that they forgot their earlier fear of her. The moon was fully in the sky before the little ones finally allowed their mother to take them to bed. Nereida wanted to sleep as well, but she needed to make sure Ael was alright.

  Ael was sitting in front of the main mast, leaning against it for support.

  “I hate politics, Ner.”

  “Love… you married a princess.” Nereida shimmied down next to her wife, leaning her head on the Admiral’s shoulder. She let her eyes close, flirting with sleep since she had no real energy left to flirt with her wife.

  “We will have to go do the “politics” thing come morning, love. Are you ready?” Ael’s hand was suddenly on hers, holding her fingers tightly.

  “I will be, and you need not worry about me. I can be charming enough for us both.”

  “Hey!”

  Nereida chuckled as exhaustion won over her. She fell asleep in her wife’s arms beneath the light of the moon.

  Nereida awoke alone some time after midnight. Ael was standing at the railing, staring out to sea. The princess hurried to her wife’s side, fearing that she was sleep-walking again.

  “Love?” Nereida said softly, approaching with light feet. Ael did not turn. “Love?” She slid up beside Ael. The pirate was staring up at the moon, her eyes strangely silver.

  “Do you think, my Ocean, that we can start again? We failed Shadow the first time. Must we fail him again? Or can we bring our son home?” Her voice was wrong, but not unfamiliar.

  “We will see what he chooses when we wake him,” Nereida soothed, reaching for her wife’s hand.

  “Oh, Little Ocean… he’s not asleep. No more than I am, or the Ocean is. Will you let me lie with my wife, little Ocean? We will not leave you with a second egg, but I wish to hold her.”

  The Dragon’s words filled her with inexplicable dread, as she imagined a dark, serpentine creature curled up on a throne of obsidian. But she heard the goddess’s pain, too.

  “Just for this night. I want us both back in control in the morning.” She pced her right hand on Ael’s hand, holding her left up, over the railing. She wasn’t even sure if it would work, if she still had any connection with the Ocean.

  “I promise, little one.” The rushing sound of water filled Nereida’s ears. She knew she could fight, but she let the presence in, welcomed it. The st thing she saw before she lost consciousness was Ael’s strangely silver eyes filling with joyful tears.