“We do not think of ourselves as common. Humans flourish when divided. We live among those who speak the same language or happen to live in neighboring countries.”
“I do not understand your word ‘countries.’”
At this time, Cora returned to my side and pulled her lovely body from the pool. She sat in the sand, her sparkling fin fanned in the water. “Hello, Manta. Hello, Jacob.”
“Greetings, Cora,” he said. “Jacob was explaining the human concept of ‘countries’ and how man lives better divided. Strange.”
Cora said, “Land and ocean are not so different. Countries are territories. Just like the many seas. Our home is in the Caribbean. You are a native of the northern coast. You see?”
“Ah, yes. I understand now. Thank you.”
“You came from the north?” I asked the large green Merlord.
“The Atlantic was once my home. That is why I am much larger than the others, and that is also why my color is green. The Atlantic Merfolk are bigger and stronger. They must be if they wish to survive the icy water. My old tribe parted ways many years ago, after our lord was killed. I swam for warmer waters and was welcomed by Lord Sydin. I am happy here. These are good Mer, and the Mermaidens are the most beautiful, as you can clearly see.”
“Thank you, Manta.” Cora smiled. “Come, Jacob, the others are anxious to speak with you.” She took my hand and led me away from Manta.
“It was a pleasure talking with you, Manta,” I said.
“We will speak again.” The massive Merlord slipped quietly into the pool, hardly disturbing the water. After a small ripple and chorus of bubbles, he was gone.
Grant sat at the edge of the pool with his feet dangling in the water. A Mermaiden with frothy pink hair drifted in the water beside him, caressing his curly red hair. Her eyes were piercing emeralds, her skin peach-colored and fair. She wore strings of pearls around her body. The pearls snaked around her arms and wrapped about her waist like sparkling, beady vines. She had rosy lips and wore heavily jeweled bracelets and rings. Her lower half was slender, silver, and white.
“Jacob, I’d like to introduce Pearl. Pearl, please meet my good friend, Jacob.”
She held out her hand in a pretentious manner as if she were royalty. “Cora, you’ve brought such handsome walkers.” I took her fingers and lightly kissed the back of her hand.
“They are men,” Cora said sternly. “Do not call them ‘walkers.’”
“Jacob,” said Grant, “Pearl was telling me that she’s able to grant wishes.”
Cora interrupted, “That is not true!” She swam between Grant and Pearl and forced the jewel-covered Mermaiden aside. “Why would you tell our guests such a thing, Pearl?”
“But I
can
make wishes come true, Cora.” She looked at Grant with lusty emerald eyes. “It depends on the wish, doesn’t it?”
“It sure does,” said Grant.
“It seems the fun is over for now,” said Pearl. Her wet hands slid through Grant’s hair. “I will see you later, Grant. Here.” She took a string of pearls off her wrist and slid it over his hand. “A welcome gift blessed with virtues of pride.” She slid into the water and was gone.
The sound of our laughter caught the attention of a Merlord with blue and gold striped hair. He smiled at us, his silver-brown eyes filled with wonder. On his chest dangled a pendant in the shape of a sea turtle. His skin was bronzed from the sun. This Mer wore bracers on his forearms made from turtle shells. There was something overwhelmingly pleasant and calm about him. From what I could see, his lower half was bright blue and gold.
Cora greeted him in a warm embrace, took his hand, and led him closer. I felt a sting of jealousy when she wrapped her arms around him. Pushing aside the foolishness, I smiled at the Merlord.
“Jacob, Grant, I would like you to meet my older brother, Driften.”
The jealousy dissolved. The suntanned Merlord extended his hand. His smile was kind and bright. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Grant and Jacob.”
“Likewise, Driften.” Before letting the Mer’s hand go, Grant turned Driften’s wrist around to better examine the shell bracers. “Does this truly make effective armor?”
Driften grinned. “Has the turtle ever asked for anything more?”
Cora wrapped her arms around her brother’s neck playfully. “Driften is a Keeper of the Sea Turtle, like me. He is the fastest Mer in our tribe.”
“Are you trying to embarrass me in front of our guests?” He slipped away from Cora’s grasp and splashed her.
“Keeper of the Sea Turtle…what does that mean?” asked Grant.
Driften caressed his turtle-shaped pendent. “In our tribe, the sea turtle embodies balance and peace. I am the Keeper of Balance and Cora Star is the Keeper of Peace.”
“And Manta and Pearl are Keepers of the Shark,” I added to show my understanding. “Pearl holds the virtue of pride and Manta holds strength.”
“That is correct, Jacob,” confirmed Driften. “Our Lord Sydin and his son, Brine, the young Mer, are the Keepers of the Dolphin. Sydin holds true to the virtue of wisdom while his son values family. The three totems are sacred and can be seen in many seas. They remind the Merfolk and serve as guides by which one may live his life.”
“Your culture is pure and fair,” I said. “I admire it and a part of me wishes that I lived as you do.”
Driften smiled, and Cora came near me again.
“From what I have heard about you, Jacob of Rosewing, your way of life is not so different. You value the same things. Asking for help for your crewmates proved it to us,” said Driften.
“It was your people who supplied us with the provisions?”
“Of course,” he chuckled. “Cora Star is the head scout of Azu Terra, Cerulean Isle by English name. She watches the fringe of our territory. Since your ship wrecked, she has watched and listened.”
“Thank you. If not for the compassion of your people, we would have perished.”
“And Jacob really enjoyed the wine,” added Grant. “He has refined tastes.”
“Well, I must be going. I believe Lord Sydin awaits you both. My sister will remain with you and be your guide. Until next we meet.” Driften nodded and sank slowly into the water. His striped hair flowed and waved. In a flash of blue and silver, he was gone.
I stared into the water. Its center was dark and bottomless. Then the mirrored surface began to tremble. I looked up and saw the Lord of the Merfolk before me.
“I would like to introduce my son, Brine.” Sydin motioned for a young Mer to come closer. The youth swam to his side.
The Merchild had short, muddy-brown hair. His face was freckled from the sun, and he wore a band of leather around his forehead bearing a bone-carved dolphin similar to the one embossed on the gold plate of Lord Sydin. At the tops of his arms, he wore bands of leather, and around his waist was a belt of pouches. This one had the look of a young adventurer, and his colors were right for it. I imagined his brown and gray lower half would allow him to blend with many surroundings.
Their eyes were the same dark blue, a definitive confirmation of lineage. Lord Sydin turned to his son and spoke strange words. “Du kanna ah’lo tay.”
Brine nodded his understanding and reached behind his back to produce two gleaming swords. He handed the weapons to his father. I recognized them as my broadsword and Grant’s bejeweled rapier. The Merlord offered the hilts to us.
“My people are not thieves,” said Lord Sydin, “but we take precautions when appropriate. The Keepers have welcomed you. The need for precautions has passed.”
We took back our weapons with a respectful bow.
“Though you have regained your strength,” Sydin continued, “it seems your troubles are far from over. Tell me, Jacob and Grant, what led you to these waters? What would force skilled seamen to sail so recklessly?”
I did not know if speaking of L’Ollon or the
Obsidian
would be wise, but the fact remained that we shared the same enemy. As Sydin had said, the need for precautions had passed. “We are being pursued by murderous pirates. Their numbers are great and they will not be satisfied until we are all killed.”
Sydin’s brow lifted with intrigue. “What have you done to render such a bounty?”
“Ten years ago I killed their captain.”
My reply troubled the lord of the Mer. “That is not the way of pirates,” professed Sydin. “Normally, the crew elects a new leader or they divide whatever wealth is aboard and go separate ways. I have even heard of pirates aligning with rival bands. If a captain perishes in combat, so be it. Never have I heard of a crew wasting a decade to avenge the death of a captain.”
“It is a perplexing situation,” said Grant, “but it is happening. The
Obsidian
sails in our wake and it won’t be long before they come upon our ruined ship and finish us off.”
“The
Obsidian,
you say?”
“Yes, the one and only. According to one of our mates, the Merfolk fought against her years ago, is that true?”
Sydin’s piercing blue eyes studied us. The young Mer beside him remained quiet.
“Yes,” he answered. “Long ago, a terrible storm jostled a barque with a corpse on the bowsprit into my territory. The storm tossed the ship around as if it were a toy. Two other ships sailed with her, a galleon and a sloop similar to your own. The fleet was doomed. I called for my tribe to assist them. We were not well-received. A pirate opened fire on a Merlord, wounding him. Our only intent was to guide them out of the storm, but their captain was foolish. He ordered his crew to war, and so it was that we defended ourselves. If not for the raging sky and sea, we may have been defeated. The captain, Jean L’Ollon, abandoned his sinking fleet and escaped with his life.
“Fate is the reason for our meeting and for your hardship. Strange that such a terrible man has poisoned both of our pasts. Your situation is unsettling. I do not believe that Jean L’Ollon died. What happened after you stabbed him?” asked the Merlord.
“He sank into the sea, and we rowed away as fast as we could.”
“Then you do not know if his men dove in after him. Let us imagine that his crew pulled him from the sea. If your blade went anywhere other than the heart, he could still be alive. Did you stab him in the heart?”
“I…I don’t know.”
The Merlord fell silent. His face darkened with distant thoughts. “The answer is obvious,” he said. “Captain Jean L’Ollon is still alive and commands his crew. He has been commanding them to search for you for ten years.”
I was struck by a sudden realization. “We are not all he is searching for, then.” I turned to Grant. “Do you remember his plan?”
Grant looked away to recall the days aboard the
Obsidian.
His eyes widened as he remembered. “Yes, He planned to kill Shanley and use the sea chart and Owen’s journal to find Cerulean Isle. He wants his gold.”
“Lord Sydin, I must ask you; do you have Jean L’Ollon’s gold?”
“As I have already stated, we are not thieves. However, what falls to the ocean floor is free for the taking. Yes. I have it. I have gold and jewels from many fallen fleets. We use it to forge azumetalla, the same metal that is folded within your blade. When the rock of this isle is heated and combined with melted gold, it becomes buoyant and resistant to the harshness of the sea. It is harder than any man-forged ore. Azumetalla is the most versatile and most coveted material for all Merfolk. We use it to craft everything from tools to weaponry and armor. We do not value man’s gold as currency. We cannot get the precious land metals by any other means. In essence, we are scavengers or collectors, as my son likes to say.”
I said, “Then we are as good as dead. Our ship is beyond repair, and even if we hadn’t wrecked, they outnumber us in manpower.”
“And,” added Sydin, “that would also mean that my tribe is in danger. We must work together, your crew and my tribe.” Sydin paused to think. “I would like to invite all aboard your ship to meet and discuss this. I ask only that none come bearing weapons. This is a sacred island, and I will not permit tools of violence.” He turned to Cora. “Meet the men of the sloop
Destiny
before the noon sun and guide them to the courtyard. The water of the Sacred Lagoon will give us the clarity to choose the right action.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Jacob, Grant, this night has been an honor for our tribe. Take my invitation to your men. Share with them all that you have learned. I bid you both a good evening.”
Lord Sydin put out his hand and we accepted. His black and silver form disappeared in the crystal water. His brown-finned son gave us a quiet smile and followed after him.
“I will meet you at the rowboat,” said Cora.
I watched her slip into the pool. The rippling water lapped over her face and lifted her rainbow-streaked hair. She stared at me as she went below. I saw a white glow take light in her eyes. The luminance banished the remaining shadows in the water.
Cora Star pulled our boat to
Destiny’s
hull, swimming out of sight just below the surface so as not to alarm the crew. Grant awkwardly climbed the rope ladder with one arm. Once on the deck, he engaged the watchmen to distract them so I could say goodnight to Cora.
“Thank you for everything. You saved me a lot of rowing,” I said, in awe that I spoke to the creature I had dreamt of as a child.
Cora smiled and reached for my hand. Though her fingers were wet, she was still warm. The soft light in her eyes dwindled and went out. Two clear amethysts stared at me. Her skin shimmered in the pallid moon. “Thank you for being kind to my tribe.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t be?”
“It is hard to guess the true intention of men.”
“You have known others, then?”
“No. You are the first man I have ever spoken to,” she admitted with a smile. “As a scout, I have watched many ships pass along the fringe of our territory. I have seen men treat each other in surprising ways. I often find the bones of seamen rolling along the ocean floor, and I wonder how they could let these remains fall away from their world. Humanity is mysterious and unpredictable.”