“My friends,” I called to the remaining crew, “there is someone I would like you to meet.”
Cora heard this and instinctively began to fall under the waterline.
“Do not be afraid,” I said to her, “please.”
The rainbow-haired Mermaiden gave me a cautious smile and remained in view. The other crewmates gathered around.
“Men, I’d like you to have the honor of meeting Cora Star.” I pointed to where she drifted.
They greeted her, several dropping to a knee to show respect and amiable intent. Cora was put at ease. I motioned for her to come closer. Slowly, and without taking her eyes off the group, she swam to the shore. I walked into the water to meet her halfway. She came close to me, and I took her hand and looked to the others. Like the previous night, her aquatic lower half slid over the wet sand of the shore. The men saw her body and gasped. Their stares made her uncomfortable.
“Don’t worry,” I whispered, “they need to see what you are to fully understand. It is better that you be the first Mer they see and not one like Manta.”
“Why is that?”
I smiled. “Because you are beautiful, and even I remain enchanted.”
Cora squeezed my hand and her face blushed. “I have never had so many humans look at me. I am nervous.”
Cora gave the group a shy wave. She was completely out of the ocean with her lower body slightly coiled in the sand. The lapping surf rolled over her rippling violet fin. It swayed and flowed from the water’s touch like a shimmering silk garment.
“Hello, everyone,” she said softly. “Welcome to Cerulean Isle.”
The crew gathered around us. The meeting took an awkward turn when Owen stepped forward. “Greetings, Mer,” he said rather smugly.
Cora looked up at the old seaman and recoiled a little. “Hello,” she said. Her bright purple eyes fell onto his. He quickly looked away, as if trying to foil her attempts to know him better.
“Cora Star is your name?”
“Yes. What may I call you?”
“My name is Owen. I look forward to meeting the rest of your people.”
Cora did not respond. Owen nodded and stepped away, disappearing in the crowd.
She pulled me close and spoke softly in my ear. “That man is not good.”
You have been to the Sacred Lagoon once before,” Cora said to me. “It is the courtyard with the statues. That is where Lord Sydin waits. Go there. I will be waiting for you as well.”
Cora moved back into the rolling surf as the water wrapped around her. She waved to the others before disappearing. Her magnificent fin emerged from the waves, sending glittering beads of water into the sky. There was a splash as the fin shattered the surface of the ocean.
Waylin, Bart, Konopo, and I led the crew into the crystal forest. Grant walked with me and marveled over the blue stone formations and towering reflective crystals. Owen trailed behind.
With the help of Konopo’s memory of the terrain, we arrived at the Sacred Lagoon. The statues of the sea turtle, dolphin, and shark stood proud along the far wall. Endless jewels and gold pieces littered the sand. Waylin reminded the crew to leave it alone.
We sat along the edge of the pool. Once all were settled, the water began to tremble. The Mer arrived one by one and took their places in the designated stone thrones that rested in the water. The first to arrive was Cora Star. With a graceful thrust of her lower half, she leapt from the water and into her throne.
Cora’s brother, Driften, broke from the water and took the throne beside his sister. Driften studied the crowd of seafarers, adjusted the turtle shell bracers on his arms, and then wrung the water from his gold and blue striped hair.
Grant gasped as though startled by something. Instead of sitting at the edge of the pool, legs folded like everyone else, he had his feet dangling in the water. A flowing mass of pink swirled in the water near his feet. Pearl tugged on Grant’s legs playfully and slowly emerged. Her thick pink locks clung to her face and neck. With her hands on his knees, she lifted herself up and out of the water. Grant took hold of her and helped the Mermaiden onto his lap.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “It is so very nice to see you again, Grant of Rosewing.”
“And you as well, Pearl of…uh…the ocean.” He cleared his throat. “How are you?”
“Lonely,” she whispered, her mouth nearly touching his.
“Pearl!” Cora called to her. “Take your place at once.”
Pearl slid off Grant’s lap. She took her throne but did so with teasing movements. Cora glared at her.
Pearl lost the attention of the group when the water erupted and sprayed us all. The hulking Merlord named Manta hovered in the middle of the pool and studied the surrounding seamen. His muscular barnacle-laden chest heaved as if he had traveled a great distance in little time. Water dripped from his mossy green beard and matted hair. His presence and challenging posture made the men uneasy. Some recoiled from the edge of the pool.
I lifted my hand to greet him. He saw me and nodded. The pool seemed small with him in it. He took his place with the others, sitting beside Pearl.
“Anu-yah, Cora,” said Manta. “Anu-yah, Driften.”
“Anu-yah, Manta,” replied Driften.
Grant nudged me. “I guess that means ‘hello.’”
Pearl reached over to Manta and caressed his shoulder. “Anu-yah, Manta. Nee alu-ay. Woe be nah essa oh?”
“What is she saying to him?” whispered Grant.
“I don’t know.”
Manta responded in English, “Have respect for our guests and use their words. And no, I have not been avoiding you. I have been very busy. That is all, I assure you.”
I chuckled. “Looks like you’re not the only one Pearl is interested in.”
“What’s he got that I don’t?”
“Do you really want to talk about this?”
“No.”
“Good. Now be quiet.”
Lord Sydin emerged from the water. His gold breastplate gleamed, and his long wet hair looked like black ink spilling over his shoulders. He regarded Grant and I with a friendly nod and then panned the group of seamen. I looked at the crew and saw Owen standing with Hammock, Smirks, and Miley. The two divers looked anxious, while Owen’s face was void of expression.
What is wrong with him?
I wondered.
“My name is Lord Sydin. I would like to extend kind greetings to you all. Welcome to Cerulean Isle.” He opened his arms and raised them over his head. The Mer cheered behind him. Sydin lowered his arms and smiled. “This meeting of man and Mer is a great honor for us. Forget your fears and doubts.
“We live by six virtues that are not unknown to mankind. Peace, balance, wisdom, family, strength and pride. Take these now as blessings and understand that we who dwell in the sea are not different than those who dwell on the land, at least not in the heart and mind.
“Your ill fortune has been a challenge for you all. We are sympathetic to your troubles. However, now you are our guests, and I hope that I may also call you allies.”
Waylin stood up. If he was the least bit apprehensive, he did not show it. “Lord Sydin, thank you for the aid that your people so selflessly brought to us.”
“You are welcome. Please, you need not address me formally. Sydin will do. I am not a lord among your people.”
Waylin nodded.
“What is your name?” asked Sydin.
“I am Waylin.”
“You shine with experience, and I feel only goodness coming from your heart. Am I wrong to say this?”
“No, Sydin. I like to think of myself as a man of the sea.”
Sydin’s presence was powerful and commanding. The other Mer looked at him with respect and devotion. “You are all men of the sea. Not foul thieves and murderous warriors.”
I stood up and nudged Grant to do the same. “Anu-yah, Sydin,” I said.
“Anu-yah, Jacob. You have learned our customary greeting, I see.”
“Sydin, when last we spoke, we agreed to devise a plan. I would like to move this meeting in that direction, if I may be so bold.”
“Of course.” Sydin raised his voice loud enough for the entire group to hear. “We know of your feud with the pirates of the
Obsidian.
We know that they search for you with cruel intentions. Your presence here places us in danger as well. We must work together in this matter. Join forces, as your people say. We will repair your ship so that you may continue to elude your enemy. It will be stronger and faster; ready for war, should it come to that. After your departure, we will be safe once more. For our services, we must ask you to do something for us, something that has never been done before.”
“And that is?” asked Grant.
“Help us relocate our cache of gold and silver. If the
Obsidian
finds this island, the men who sail her will raid it and plunder all that we’ve accumulated. This island is home to the largest store of man’s precious metals. Gold and silver are the only metals that can be forged with cerulean ore. From this comes azumetalla, a metal critical to our survival.
“Once your ship is repaired and afloat, take our gold and jewels aboard. Sail northwest into the Gulf. You will find many deep grottos and caverns along the shores. Find one suitable to hide our cache. Do this and swear to keep its location a secret and you will all be rewarded. Now, what say you to my offer?”
Bart stood up. “At the risk of sounding disrespectful, why are you being so trusting? You seem to have no reservations about filling our cargo hold with your gold.”
“I must do what is best for the welfare of my tribe. My personal reservations, if any, must never cloud my judgment. By coming here unarmed, you have proven to me that you are worthy of my trust. You are good seafarers, unlike the lawless pirate clans that sail abroad. Do you understand?”
“I do,” answered Bart.
I turned to address the crew. “You’ve heard the offer made by the lord of the Mer. An ‘aye’ if you agree to the conditions, a ‘nay’ if you do not.”
A bellow of ‘aye’ filled the air. The Mer slipped from their thrones and swam to the edge of the pool to speak with the crewmates. Pearl joined Grant once more, and Waylin and Bart shook hands with Sydin.
Cora came to me and wrapped her arms around my neck. “Things will be just fine now, Jacob,” she said in my ear. “The Merlords will fix your pretty ship in no time at all.”
Her embrace was strong and wet. Her hair was cold and smelled of sea salt.
She pulled away and giggled. “It seems I have got you all wet. I am sorry.”
I had often dreamt of what it would feel like to hold a Mermaiden in my arms. At last I knew.
The lord of the Mer pointed a dripping finger at Owen. “You there. Come closer, please. Do not be afraid.”
Owen came to the edge of the pool. “I am not afraid of you. In fact, I’ve waited many long years to see you.”
Sydin drifted closer to Owen, who took a small step back.
“I have spent my life learning all I could about Merfolk,” said Owen. “I traveled to distant lands and learned every yarn and shanty there is. I was regarded as a madman for this.”
“Belief is something that many give up early in life,” said Sydin.
“Not me, Merlord. I believe that even the Merfolk can lie.”
Sydin looked confused.
“Ah. No retort, I see. You claim to be a peaceful race, yet your society prospers from gold that is not yours. You are thieves! The strong Mer tear apart ships and the cunning ones wield the bows and whalebone arrows. You kill seamen for sailing in waters that you claim to own. No one owns the sea. No one!”
“Owen, you have gone too far!” I yelled. I needed to silence him. “I thought you would be honored to be here among the Mer, that you wanted to know of their truths. Finding this island has been your passion. What is wrong with you?”
“As I’ve said before, many things.”
“What changed your heart?”
“I keep several hearts. When one sours, I go to the next.”
There was a splash in the pool. Brine, the young Mer with the brown hair, swam toward Sydin. “Amu la ee’rah,” he said excitedly. “Nay’yoo, es nay’yoo!”
The other Mer heard his words and looked over, alarmed.
“What is he saying?” I asked.
Sydin calmed his son. “He says there is a ship in the distance.”
Brine tried his English out of respect for us. “I have saw one boat. Three armed boat that swim far away.”
“Three arms?” asked Bart.
“He means masts,” replied Grant. “It must be the barque.” He turned to Brine. “Is it sailing in our direction?”
“Yes.”
“And on schedule, as always,” said Owen. He reached into his shirt and pulled out a pistol. Hammock stepped beside him, as did Miley and Smirks, who also drew pistols. Owen aimed the barrel at Sydin.
“Lower the pistols,” Waylin commanded.
“Ach! Yours is the last voice I want to hear,” said Owen.
“What is happening here?” demanded Grant. “You owe us an explanation.”
“Agreed,” Owen said. “I am bound by article to inform you of what is to come.”
“Whose articles?” Grant demanded.
“Jean L’Ollon’s!” Owen broke into a fit of laughter. “You think you’re cunning enough to outwit the greatest pirate captain that ever lived? Nay. Let me fill you in on the details, Lords of Rosewing.
“When I arrived in Grenada, I searched for you. During my silent searching, I met up with some of L’Ollon’s men at the Cod Fish Tavern. They told me that you, Jacob, stabbed Jean L’Ollon with his own sword and watched him sink to the bottom of the sea. You killed him. At least…you thought you did.
“You left the blade in him. If you had pulled it out, he would have died. His men tended to his wounds. Fools!”
I lunged for him, but Waylin’s tight grip on my arm stayed me. “No,” he said in a hiss. “They’ll open fire. Control yourself.”
“Aye, Jacob! Wanting a fight, I see,” said Owen. “There’ll be time enough. You’ll see.”
Cora spoke up in a voice calm and sweet. “Please. Do not succumb to such wickedness. I do not believe you are a bad man in your heart. Lower your weapon and we can help you. You are still welcome to be our ally. You must know that Jacob and Grant care about you and have valued your friendship. Look within yourself and find the truth. What is true wealth?” She swam closer to Owen, her purple eyes pleading with him.