The Mermaid's Madness (35 page)

Read The Mermaid's Madness Online

Authors: Jim C. Hines

“We have a welcoming party,” Snow said as Danielle and Talia joined her.
Prince Armand waited at the dock, surrounded by a handful of guardsmen. His hair was a rumpled mess, and he seemed a little short of breath. Had he run all the way from the palace rather than waiting for a carriage? No, looking back along the boardwalk, Danielle could see several horses tied near the barracks.
Her stomach tightened as she spotted Captain Varisto standing with her husband. He wore the same red sash as before but had changed into a bright yellow sleeveless tunic which left his muscular arms bare. Gold bracelets shone at his wrists.
The men rowed harder, pulling alongside the dock. They braced the boat as Armand reached down and helped Danielle onto solid footing. She had barely caught her balance when he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed. “I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” Danielle kissed him hard enough to earn an appreciative whistle from Snow. She pulled back, studying Armand more closely. His eyes were red and shadowed, and she could feel the tension in his neck and shoulders.
Captain Varisto coughed. “Princess Whiteshore.”
“Prince Varisto.” Danielle drew herself up the way Beatrice had taught her and did her best to match Varisto’s formal tone. “Welcome to Lorindar. Thank you for not firing on us this time.”
He merely bowed his head. “Your husband tells me Queen Beatrice is in dire health. My sympathies.”
“Thank you,” said Danielle. “When Lirea attacked—”
Varisto held up his hand. “Please consider your words carefully, Highness. I have no quarrel with you personally, but if you insult my sister, I’ll be forced to take offense.”
“Your sister?” Snow stood on her toes and studied his neck. “I don’t see any gills.”
“When my brother married Lirea, she became my sister by Hiladi law.” He turned back to Armand. “Much to the dismay of my parents, I’m afraid. For months I kept his secret, but after his murder, I had no choice. Only my mother’s intervention stopped Father from striking Gustan’s name from the imperial histories.”
Snow folded her arms. “He never—”
“We were told Lirea and Gustan never wed,” Danielle interrupted. “That your brother merely used Lirea.”
His face darkened, and he started toward Danielle. “My brother was a good man.”
Talia moved between them and folded her arms, almost as if she wanted him to attack. Armand cleared his throat, and the guards stepped closer.
Varisto visibly composed himself, then turned to stare at the
Phillipa
. “I was there when Lirea saved my brother’s life. She swam through the night, holding him against her. The journey would have exhausted even the strongest undine, but Lirea was determined. I remember the infatuation on her face, the way her gaze lingered on him as he stumbled onto shore. She was such an innocent girl, full of joy. I . . . worried that Gustan might take advantage of such love. My brother had his share of conquests, the more exotic the better. But you’ve seen how the wind obeys Lirea’s wishes?”
“The air spirits, yes.” Danielle looked upward. The sky was clouded, but the malevolence of Lirea’s winds was gone. “We’re familiar with them.”
“Those spirits have served my family for generations. My family and no other. No mermaid could command them unless she was joined to that family.” He was still watching the ship. “For the past year I’ve tried to find a way to reach Morveren. I couldn’t protect my brother, but I vowed to see his murderer punished.”
“You know Morveren was responsible for Gustan’s death?” Danielle asked.
“I know Lirea’s sisters were no more pleased with her love for a human than my family would have been. I know they conspired with Morveren to end that relationship, and that it was Morveren who used her magic to force Lirea to kill my brother.” He sighed and turned back to face Danielle, stepping just close enough to make her aware of his greater size and strength. “Lirea would see her sisters dead for that betrayal, but I won’t ask for Lannadae. Just give me Morveren.”
Armand spoke up for the first time,his voice hard.“That sounds suspiciously like a demand, Your Highness.”
Varisto bowed slightly. “No offense was intended, Prince Armand. But I must point out that it was your wife who invaded Hiladi waters and attempted to murder my sister. Were my father to learn of this, he would be far more . . . demanding . . . than I.”
Now it was Snow’s turn to stare at Varisto. “The northern coast of Hilad is a wasteland. How would you know about any invasion?”
Varisto’s lips pressed into a tight smile.
Danielle put a hand on Snow’s shoulder. “Our queen is dying, Prince Varisto. Morveren’s knowledge might save her life. I will not sacrifice Beatrice so that you can have your revenge. Now please step aside.”
“Yet you delayed your return in order to invade my country and attack my sister?” His bracelets rang together as he hammered a fist into his palm. “If you continue to conspire with this murderer, you will—”
“You attacked the
Phillipa
without warning.” Danielle’s voice broke, thinking of the bodies they had lowered into the sea. Between the Hiladi and the undine, almost thirty people had died since they left Lorindar. James had been one of the last. Hephyra had given them all a burial at sea. Danielle could still see his pale form sinking into the water, rejoining the rest of his crew.
She moved closer to Armand, drawing strength from his presence. “I expect you to answer for the deaths you caused. But not today. Queen Beatrice is dying, and you are preventing us from bringing her the help that could save her life. So you will either stand aside of your own will, or you will be thrown aside.”
Armand winced, but said nothing. The guards were holding their breath, watching Varisto. Danielle could see Talia shifting her weight, lowering her body as she prepared to make good on Danielle’s threat.
Varisto laced his fingers together, bringing his hands to his mouth as he glared fire at Danielle. He took several deep breaths before saying, “I
will
have the mermaid who took my brother from me. If you try to protect her—”
“That’s enough,” said Armand. “I understand your grief, Highness. There will be time to talk later. You and your crew are welcome to stay as guests—”
“Forgive me if I mistrust the hospitality of liars and murderers. I will stay with my ship.” With that, Varisto backed away, never taking his gaze from Danielle. “I have spent a year of my life hunting that mermaid. Do not test my patience.”
Danielle watched him leave. “He might try to sneak his men onto the
Phillipa
to take Morveren. We should—”
“I wouldn’t worry,” said Talia. “Captain Hephyra will be watching them, and I’m sure she’s just waiting for an excuse to play with the people who hurt her ship.”
Armand took Danielle’s hand in his as they walked toward the horses. “Remind me to have Ambassador Trittibar talk to you about diplomacy. Did you really invade Hilad?”
“Only the very edge,” said Snow. “And it was only the three of us. There was no looting or pillaging or anything like that.”
Talia coughed and looked away. “I might have pillaged a few things.”
“Perhaps it would be best if you don’t tell me,” said Armand.
Danielle quickened her step. After so many days at sea, it was strange to feel solid ground beneath her feet. She had finally grown accustomed to the rocking motion of the
Phillipa
. “We’ll need a carriage for Snow. She’s hurt, and riding wouldn’t be good for her injuries.”
“A horse is fine,” Snow protested. “I’ve been riding since I was five.”
Danielle pointed to the barracks. “If you can tell me how many horses are tied there, you can ride whichever you please.”
Snow adjusted her hat and squinted, her lips moving silently. She closed one eye, then switched to the other. “I think . . . it looks like there are . . . oh, go fondle a dragon.”
Armand ordered one of the guards to prepare a carriage. To Snow, he said, “I’ll have Tymalous look to you as soon as we reach the palace. Will your injuries keep you from being able to help my mother?”
Danielle glanced back at the ship. “We should arrange to have Morveren and Lannadae brought—”
“No,” said Snow. “Varisto is right not to trust Morveren. I can help Bea without her help.”
From the way Talia’s brow wrinkled, she didn’t like that answer any more than Danielle. They had both heard Snow express such determination before. She would do whatever she had to in order to save Beatrice . . . no matter the cost to herself.
When they reached the chapel, they found Father Isaac trying to spoon broth into the queen’s mouth.
The queen had never been a large woman, but this was the first time Danielle had ever thought of her as fragile. Her face was taut, the cheekbones protruding beneath sunken eyes, but it was her hands that chilled Danielle’s heart. Beatrice’s hands were clasped over her stomach. Her fingers were like interwoven sticks. The skin was dry, sagging from the bones beneath. She wore no jewelry save her wedding band, which was so loose it could have fallen off.
A pair of silver incense burners hung on the walls to either side of the altar. The smoke was heavily perfumed, making Danielle’s eyes water.
“Tymalous and I have been able to protect the wound, keeping it from turning gangrenous,” Father Isaac said without looking up. “In the beginning, she appeared to be healing, albeit slowly. But being unable to swallow means her body has lost the strength to repair itself.”
“She’s starving,” Danielle whispered.
Snow had retrieved Lirea’s knife from Talia. She carried it in both hands as she approached the altar. Her movements were stiff from pain, but she said nothing.
Isaac stared at the knife, his expression a mix of curiosity and revulsion. “She’s trapped in that thing, along with another. Can you free them?”
Snow glanced back at Danielle. “Beatrice is so weak ... I don’t know what will happen when both souls are released. There’s a chance Gustan might try to take her body. I had hoped Beatrice would be strong enough to help fight him off. I could try to enter the knife myself, to restrain Gustan until Beatrice is able to—”
“No!” Danielle wasn’t sure who spoke first—herself, Talia, or Father Isaac. She hurried to Snow’s side. “Talia, will you stay with Snow to make sure she doesn’t try any more experiments?”
Snow rolled her eyes and gave a melodramatic sigh. “Fine. I’ll find another way. Father Isaac, could you come with me to help—”
He shook his head. “I can’t leave the church. Nor is it safe to tinker with such spells so close to the queen.”
Snow started to argue, then turned around, studying the church walls. She sniffed the air. “The incense?”
“As well as certain enchantments worked into the stained glass,” said Isaac.
Danielle looked at the windows. “I don’t understand.”
“He’s protecting her.” Snow pointed to the incense burners. “He’s mixed a potion into the incense. No, two potions.” She sniffed again. “One to ward off certain demons, and another to . . .” She turned to Father Isaac. “Is that a sleeping potion?”
“Not exactly,” said Isaac. “I think of it as a potion of peace. Try to strike me.”
Snow shrugged and raised a hand. Midway through the movement, she turned away, yawning.
“The greater the anger or hostility, the stronger the magic,” said Isaac.
Both Snow and Danielle turned to look at Talia, who scowled. Either her anger had eased, or else her curse protected her from the effects of Isaac’s potion.
“The windows are warded as well,” said Snow. “They block out external magic and suppress spells cast within the church. Even if I could work here, our spells would interfere with each other.”
“It’s necessary,” said Isaac. He tipped his spoon, allowing several drops of broth to fall past the queen’s lips. Perhaps he hoped such a small amount might make its way down Beatrice’s throat, even if she couldn’t swallow to help it along. “Man was not meant to stand on the border of life and death. In this state, your mother is highly vulnerable. I must remain here to protect her.”

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