“But she killed her own sister and her father!” Layla yells.
“And she was punished. The Caves of Tartarus were supposed to
contain her.”
“Now she’s out,” I say, and I’m surprised at how even my voice is
when I’m actually trembling. “So if my dreams weren’t dreams, and
someone was feeding her in the pool, then we’re not the only ones who
know she’s out.”
“Traitors in my own kingdom.” Grandfather shakes his head.
“Kurtomathetis, send guards to the Narrow Caves and report.”
“Thalia, the two of you will remain with Tristan and guard his
family.” He looks at Layla and his face softens. “And friends,
naturally.”
“What should I do?” I stand with empty hands, unknowing. “She’s
definitely coming after me.”
“When you were born I bound you. You have my protection. I
released most of it so that you could shift into your true self, but
my power is still there. Only when I am truly no longer king would she
be able to harm you. Now that I no longer have the trident, my magics
will ebb.
“You must find the trident. You should be king, as it is our
family’s right. No matter what blood you share. It is your
birthright.” He nods to the dagger slung over my shoulder.
“That was mine when I was your age, before I became king.” I
wonder about the things he’s had to do with it, the things I’ll have
to use it for. “It was my father’s and his and his and his. Well, I
can go on for quite a long time. It was a gift from Triton.”
“ The Triton?” Marty goes, the excitement in his voice so rich
that it’s like he’s the one getting the present.
“Yes, the Triton,” Kurt answers irritably, returning from the
tunnel.
“Son of Poseidon, god of the sea,” Layla says.
The merpeople stare at her.
“What? My mom’s Greek,” she says, rolling her eyes.
My grandfather rummages through what looks like a bunch of junk.
Now I know where my mom gets it from. “Now, where is that-ahh-yes,
this’ll do-Miss Layla?”
Layla rises slowly from the bed. She stands in front of him with
damp curls and clothes. “Yes?”
“Because I am a merman of my word, and a king is only worth the
promises he keeps, this is a token from my court. So that harm may
never come to you by me or mine. I’d say you’ve earned it, quite
surprisingly. My grandson is honored to have you as a companion.”
Both our faces go red.
“You should tell him that,” she says half jokingly.
He puts something in her palm, and she closes her fingers around
it. She doesn’t look at it, but she smiles her brilliant smile and
thanks him.
“Marty, thank you again for the gift.”
“Aw, King. No shiny dagger?”
My grandfather frowns at him for a moment before turning to us one
more time. “Now, a fortnight will come and go, so I suggest you head
back. As king, I cannot interfere with the champion, so I suggest you
learn as much as you can from Kurtomathetis.”
“I’ve got to grab some of our belongings,” Thalia says. “Layla and
I will meet you at the ship. King-” Just when I think she’s going to
bow down and curtsey, she runs up and gives him a tight hug. He holds
her and smooths her hair like a father would to his own.
We start going down one tunnel together, but the girls make a
right and we keep going straight toward a tiny white light.
When we’ve reached the mouth of the tunnel, it is dusk.
“It’s a wondrous sight,” says the king.
“Does this mean we get our summer back?” It’s a tiny thing to look
forward to.
My grandfather laughs. “Yes, the wall is down.”
“But won’t humans be able to detect it?”
He shakes his head. “The barrier is still there, but you can only
see it if you’re on the other side. Magics of that size are gradual.”
Marty points to the shore. “Well, there’s our ride. I can’t wait
to get this sand out of my-shoes.”
I laugh. “Yeah, shoes.”
He gives one low bow to my grandfather, takes off his baseball
cap, and shakes his matted brown hair. “From the members of Betwixt, a
gracious farewell. From myself, a wicked awesome good time.” He jogs
back to the ship, his boots sending up clouds of sand behind him.
Kurt and I turn to my grandfather. I don’t know what to say,
really. I want to stay longer and ask him to tell me everything. I’ve
never had a grandfather. I’ve watched Layla with her two grandfathers,
both of them tiny and wielding their canes like angry swords and
giving her money to put into a college savings fund. When you grow up
without grandparents, it’s like you’re missing a link to a past you
didn’t even care you had until you have to sort through it to
understand who you are. I want to know, and there is too much to know.
My grandfather’s enormous hands come down on our shoulders.
“You’re both in very good company.” He walks back through the trees
until my eyes can’t follow.
H er name was Lola -”
We’re sailing in the warm night breeze. Marty’s singing at me.
“ She was a showgirl -”
Layla and Thalia are getting navigation lessons from Arion, who is
clearly smitten with the two prettiest girls in the whole world.
“Marty?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t forget who has a new, shiny dagger in his backpack.”
Marty makes a zipper motion over his lips and leans back against a
wooden barrel, wriggling his toes. His heavy, black leather boots are
beside him, along with his shirt and his hat. He calls out, “Hey,
Arion!”
Arion pulls on the braided ropes and sails, and swings as close to
us as the black ropes that bind him will allow.
“What is it now , Master Marty?”
“I like that. Master Marty. Sounds official. So you got any more
of that seaweed ale? It’s not so bad now. The grassy aftertaste kind
of goes away.”
Arion’s cool composure is evaporating. His bushy black eyebrows
furrow. “There’s more below deck. Please, have as much as you’d like.
Just beware of the urchin brothers.”
At the mention of the little urchin guys, Marty shakes his head
and leans back. “I think I’m good. Are we there yet?”
“Soon. Very soon,” the captain says, turning back to his post. I
think he mumbles something like Not nearly soon enough .
“Yo, Kurtomawhatsis?” says Marty.
“Just Kurt is fine,” Kurt says.
“What’s your story, man? Why does the king trust you so much?”
Kurt shrugs. “My father was on his council. My father built the
Glass Palace. My mother was part of the queen’s court when she was
still alive. She was like a sister to Lady Maia, Tristan’s mother.”
“Ahh. ’Splains it.”
“What’s your story?” Kurt asks in return. I don’t know if it’s the
seaweed ale, which is as good as it sounds, or if he’s just gotten
comfortable, but Kurt is almost friendly. “What are you? I can’t smell
you, and the king already asserted that you’re not human. You’re no
vampire or werewolf. You’re no fey. You’re not a witch.”
“There are a bajillion otherworldly creatures out there, Kurt, my
man. Maybe I’m a mega-vampire-werewolf-creature mix with fairy
powers!” Marty tries to stand, but we hit a small wave and he falls
back.
“Not nearly as cunning,” Kurt whispers to me. “Besides, the ale
affects you like a human.”
Marty taps his temples with his index finger and winks at us.
“Smart man.”
“But you’re not human,” I repeat.
“Yes, Champion Tristan Hart.”
“Stop drinking that shit. It got Layla in enough trouble.”