Here There be Dragons: Testing the Waters

Nereida sat in her mother’s reading room, sipping tea in the cool winter sunlight. Her wool shawl was wrapped around her loosely. Her mother had taken a turn, again, though this time for the better. The surgeons had taken her leg six months before their arrival, when the mass had taken over her leg and knee. They had been unsure if she would survive. But now, nine months after the Queen had lost her leg, she was full of life, of energy. Of course, no one but her knew that Nereida had been using her magic to slowly kill the disease. It left her exhausted most nights, but it seemed a small price to pay to have her mother back.

It was the only thing that made this captivity bearable, especially after the Mourning Ritual. Aella walked about as if she were a ghost, as if nothing mattered any longer.

Her mother smiled at her, a soft, sad smile.

“How are the boys?” she asked, the same as always. Nerieda answered her with pride, talking about their academic and physical accomplishments. Alejo was a natural rider, while Egaz excelled at dance. Both were reading and writing as one would expect of nobleborn children. She could not tell her mother that Alejo cried himself to sleep most nights, missing the call of the ocean. One could hear it on windy nights, but it wasn’t the same. She could not tell her mother that Egaz was terrified of his Grandfather and his Uncle, that if they knew who, what, he was, that they would kill him. She could not tell her mother that Damara was a dragon, not a child. The secrets burned inside her, but she could not tell her mother, no matter what. She would not give her father ammunition.

“Masilee is expecting,” her mother said, a new topic. She was beaming. Nereida sat up straighter. Basiano had told her that Masilee was likely infertile. They’d been trying for a decade. “A complete shock,” her mother continued. “Nerry, you should bring your lovely little family to say congratulations.”

“The boys are forever sick with little illnesses,” she replied, which was true enough. “I do not want to risk her health. But I will go.” She wanted to have words with the Dragon, if he would actually listen to her.

“You should bring your children to visit with Leevan’s,” her mother added. She put down her teacup to give Nereida her full attention.

“No, mother,” Nereida shook her head. “Caleb is not welcome around my children.”

“He only did what he was ordered,” her mother protested. This one was a familiar argument. Nereida did not even bother to sigh.

“He chose Father’s hatred over me,” she answered. “Had he just asked, I would have come. I would have stayed hidden. I did not need to be drugged to make me compliant.” Nereida stood, and moved around the table to her mother’s side. She hugged her mother tightly, sending more healing magic into her mother as she hummed.

“I love you, mom,” Nereida said tiredly. “And I want you to be at my vow renewal.” She refused to call it her marriage ceremony, to the endless frustration of her father. “But I am exhausted from this conversation. I chose me, my family, and if Caleb, if you, can’t see what is wrong with all of this, then I will leave.”

“The Seliniaks won’t be better,” her mother protested.

“The sirens might be.” She kissed her mother’s head. “Just… try and see it from our perspective.” She left, her tea only half-drunk. She could not keep this up. Three months and her mother still did not see the wrongness of it all.

She found her children in their wing with Aella. They were playing some kind of strategy game, and Alejo was explaining his maneuver to his younger brother. Damara was on a blanket nearby, waving around her arms and legs excitedly. Egaz, however, was withdrawn.

“Little love?” Nereida asked, dropping in beside him. “Did you want to talk about it?”

“I saw Mr. Caleb,” Egaz grumbled. “He came to get Elena from dance class today. She said he was her daddy. And now I don’t have a friend.”

“Why not, little love?”

“I told her that her daddy made you sick on purpose with poison, and that she shouldn’t go with him. She got mad. I got mad. Mr Caleb got mad, yelled that I didn’t understand, and then the teacher kicked him out before Gradmiral came to get me.” He sniffled and leaned into her. “No one likes me here. I shoulda run away like sissy.” Nereida held her sad little son, her heart breaking. They believed Epelda didn’t want to be in the castle with them, and Nereida could not risk correcting either child. “I liked the Tooth. I wanna go home.” Aella and Alejo had stopped their game. Alejo slipped away from the table, and came to his brother’s side. Aella looked away, likely remembering the way the log with the Tooth’s name had turned to ash not only before their eyes, but before the boys’ eyes as well.

“I like you,” he said. “I’d be sad if you ran away.” He pulled his brother into his arms. “Wanna go climb a tree?”

“No.”

“Play tag?”

“No.”

“I could read you a story?” Aeljo suggested. This got the tiniest nod from his younger brother, and so the two of them headed off, Alejo holding Egaz’s hand tightly, as if he feared Egaz would run away that very moment.

Aella came up beside her, having scooped up Damara. The little girl was chewing her fist. She seemed, in the moment, like a perfectly ordinary baby. Nereida leaned into her wife, fighting the urge to cry once more. It seemed like all she did now was pretend things were fine, and then break down and cry after. She missed the sea, she missed her brother, who was still possessed by a god. She missed the friend she thought she had in Caleb.

Aella sighed, and shook her head. She carefully ran her fingers over Nereida’s hair. It was shoulder length now, finally long enough to put up in simple styles. Nereida kept it in braids most of the time, for no other reason than to have Aella let it out at night.

“I have to talk to the Dragon,” Nereida sighed. “If he will see me.” She pursed her lips, wrinkled her nose and glanced at Aella. “Masilee is pregnant.”

“Who?”

“Bassi’s oldest wife.” Nereida licked her lips, trying to find a way to put her fears that did not sound unhinged. “I don’t think she’s pregnant with Basi’s child. I think she’s pregnant with the Dragon’s child. A scion.” Aella hissed her displeasure at that idea.

“I think I dislike this one even more than Cloudy.” Nereida snickered at the nickname. She kissed her wife goodbye, and headed back out.

Aella almost never left their wing anymore, except for her nightly walks. She had attended a few mandatory state dinners, had been presented as Nereida’s fiancee before the heads of the noble houses, and had even, once, taken tea with Nereida’s mother. But she had been ill at ease, as if she had donned a dress that wasn’t hers, and so Nereida didn’t ask her to come out any more. She did not join her wife on the nightly walks, afraid that someone might try and chaperone them. There was a gulf forming between them, and Nereida did not know how to address it.

Nereida moved through the palace, stopping first to visit her brother Ango. The only one of her three brothers that she was on speaking terms with. He knew, vaguely, about Caleb’s choice and Leevan supporting his husband. He did not know why she and Basiano hardly spoke. The Dragon of Stars had been very, very clear. They were not to reveal who he was to anyone. He had, indirectly, threatened Egaz, calling him “shadowspawn” and so Nereida was content enough to avoid him. Nereida made sure to take time to visit with Ango and his family, inviting his brood of daughters over to visit her sons. They were all older, the youngest being ten, but she desperately wanted her children to know at least some of their cousins, before she fled back to the sea….

If the Tooth returned. If she could bring herself to leave her mother. If she could escape without angering the Dragon of Stars. There were too many ifs.

Her visit done, she moved on to business, and headed to the north wing where Basiano and his wives lived. She followed all protocol, requesting a visit with him through a guard, using his titles. She requested the meeting alone in his study. The guard seemed amused by her strict adherence to the rules, but he left to seek the Crown Prince. The halls felt warmer, here, than in her own wing. There was laughter in the rooms beyond, children singing and Iria crying. Nereida’s heart went out to the little siren baby. She hoped that the little one was being treated well by her adoptive family. She knew Basiano loved her, but the Dragon had been cold and dismissive.

“Princess Nereida,” Basiano’s warm tones filled the air. Nereida looked up at her brother. He looked better than he ever had on the ship: he was clearly well rested now, his skin no longer looked too sickly, and he was relaxed. Unfortunately, his eyes were golden, and while his tone was warm, his expression was ice-cold.

“Crown Prince, may I have a private audience?” He laughed, the echoes of it booming down the hall, and led her into the study.

Within moments, he had locked the door, and surrounded the room by fire that did not burn anything. Nereida felt her mouth go dry. She was trapped, completely at the mercy of the Dragon. This had not been one of her better ideas.

“Come to beg my forgiveness?” he asked, glaring down at her.

“No.” She straightened her posture to glare back at him. “The Tooth was never yours to offer.”

“Then why have you come, Droplet? Here to beg for time with your brother?”

“I’m here because his wife is pregnant,” Nereida replied, letting her anger override her caution. She took a step toward the huge man, her arms crossed. “I am here on her behalf, and on Basi’s, to make sure she knows the truth of things. If not, you and I are going to move past this standoff.”

“Threatening me, Droplet?”

“Promising you, “Great One”, that if you have touched what is not yours to touch, I will make your existence hellish.” She dropped all her disdain into his title. He took a step toward her, reaching out to caress her face in a most-unbrotherly way. She did not allow herself to flinch, but she continued to stare at him.

“Your loyalty is commendable, Droplet. She knows a little; she knew that I am not her husband, but that I possess him. I offered her a simple, sweet deal. If she would choose to mate with me, not just her husband, then I would reward her with a child.” He smiled lazily, and sat back in his chair. The wood creaked under his weight. “She was happy to make the deal.”

“And Basi?”

“Was happy enough that his first wife would get what she desires most: a child of her own. I am not a monster, Droplet.” She snorted indelicately at that.

“Then why war against your brother after all these eons? Haven’t you learned anything?”

They stared at each other, neither willing to back down. Until, after the longest moment, the Dragon rumbled.

“What do you know of it, mortal?”

“The demons keep your brother somehow, alive, awake, and drinking his blood.” She did not soften words or tone, and had expected anger. Instead she saw sorrow.

“What?” his tone was pained. “Let me speak Ocean. I need to hear it from her.” Nereida felt her breath hitch. It was a risk, a terrifying one. “Please.” His voice cracked on the word, and Nereida felt her walls crumble.

“Fine,” she sighed. “I will relinquish the body to her for now. You must not let her hurt anyone.” He nodded briskly. “In exchange,” she added, looking him over, “you will give my brother more control over his body.”

“Done.”

Nereida sat on the floor, closed her eyes, and listened for the faraway sounds of the ocean. A gull cawed, and the gentlest wave sounds carried on the wind. Or perhaps it was only the memory of those sounds. She felt the presence of the Ocean welling inside her, felt her pain and her worry for her son. Slowly, Nereida felt as if she were drifting downward into an endless dark sea. She did not fight, and simply let herself go.

She could only pray she could come back again.