Chapter 12

Chapter

Twelve

H arald hated to see Karalyn so distressed. The fact that she was second-guessing their marriage should hurt more than it did, but given the war and the battles they had already fought, he could understand where she was coming from.

"As far as Eliana and what she said… what she offered…" Harald grimaced and fell silent.

He did not think anyone who was not royal should have to marry someone for the sake of others. How much Eliana cared for her princess and her kingdom mattered, truly, and it was a testament to how good and kind the fairy was, but this was too much.

But he well understood why it was that she felt the need to suggest such a thing, to offer herself up like that.

"Her concern is not unwarranted," he finally added. "Her reasoning behind it is solid, and, as such, we need to best determine who might become an ally with us."

Karalyn made a face. "Who do you think that could be?"

Now that was a question that lacked a clear and evident answer.

"Well, none from the Kingdom of the Skies of course," he muttered, thinking aloud.

"Neither from Tridor," she said, and he had to begrudgingly agree with her assessment. He did not like or appreciate the discord between those from the Sea Kingdom. It left him feeling vulnerable, something he did not relish in the slightest. "Not the shapeshifters either."

"That leaves the elves," he said.

His wife wrinkled her nose. "The elves?"

"Do you think anyone from the underground would make for better allies? Or that they have not already aligned themselves with the shapeshifters?"

Karalyn grimaced. "I wish things were easier," she murmured, her gaze on the ground. "I know that is foolish to hope for, but… The last thing I want is war, but if this is all because of the curse…"

"People fear what they do not understand."

"I don't understand the curse myself! I'm afraid to think that I could be the cause of magic leaving this world. I don't want us to become human again."

"Karalyn, that won't be the case."

"How can you say that? How can you know that?"

He fell silent. In truth, he could not.

"To be cursed means someone had to curse us, right? Who would have had the power to do so?" she asked.

"I don't know."

"And the curse specifics me by name, so does that mean that someone living did this to me? Who would do such a thing?"

"The curse states Karalyn, yes, but are you the only Karalyn to have ever lived?" he asked. "Surely there have been others. So long as you do not burn the sky with fire, the curse will not come to be."

"But who cursed me? And why won't the seers tell us about your curse?" Her nostrils flared, and her wings fluttered wildly despite her hovering in place. "The seers… We do not know much at all about their magic. They tend to keep to their own kind. What if…"

"You shouldn't be talking about this," he whispered, his tone almost harsh.

He couldn't deny that she was raising some interesting questions, but the seers knew far too much, and if she was right and if they knew what she was saying…

Had he ever told her about what his father had done to the sea raider seers? He did not think so. Perhaps he had only mentioned that there were none living. If the seers were the ones to have cursed them, well, it would come as no surprise that they would curse him, the descendant of the one who had slain so many of their brethren.

But why Karalyn?

Yet, if they could convince the seers to be on their side, to join them, to change their mind, perhaps then the curse could be undone.

Perhaps even both curses.

The fairy seers. Were they not their best bet? Yet, they had spoken with them time and again, and they did not seem at all willing to listen to them. They shared only what they wished to share, and he saw no reason to think that any of the other species of seers would be more open to them.

"Out of all of the options, I suppose the elves are our best course," Karalyn finally admitted. "I just wish…"

He took her hand in his and went to kiss her knuckles, but she squeezed his hand and then released it.

She was giving up hope. That was plain to see, and he could hardly blame her. Already, this plan seemed impossible and maybe even foolish, but they had to try.

The sea raiders and the fairies alone could not take on the rest of Evermore if they should rise up against them.

Not half an hour later, they were preparing to head for Ashelin. Harald knew Karalyn was worried about seeing the elves. Deep down, he was too, but he wasn't about to announce that. What other option did they have?

Unfortunately, they would have to cross the sea, which potentially meant dealing with the sirens or mermaids or both.

How best to avoid that… Harald did not like at all the idea of Karalyn flying him for so long. A bubble across the sea might be feasible, but he did wonder if he might be pushing his luck by attempting it again.

To show up at Ashelin without being on a longship as not only a sea raider but as their king would be nothing short of a travesty. He needed to show strength to the elves and all of Evermore, but in doing so, he risked alienating Tridor even more.

Karalyn was flying beside him as he headed toward the beach, aiming for his longship.

"Are you certain…"

"Yes."

"But we shouldn't risk upsetting the sirens or mermaids," she pointed out.

Harald grinned to himself despite the concern in her voice. He well understood her fear, but he felt a sense of bravery that he perhaps should not. "I will entreat with them both before we set sail."

"Why on the wind would they allow that?"

"They will, or they will not."

She sighed and threw up her hands, her glorious wings fluttering as if they, too, were exasperated.

"Wait here," he urged.

"I do not know if I like the idea of you seeking out the sirens when I am not with you," she protested. "You should not speak to them alone."

"I will be fine."

"And if you aren't?" Her tone was curt, her eyes narrowed, chin lifted. Her expression reminded him of when they were at odds with one another.

"Do you trust me?"

Her eyes softened, but not all of the tension fled her body. "That is not the proper question. You I trust, of course, but the mermaids and the sirens…"

"I will be fine, and I will return for you."

Harald pressed a kiss to her forehead before heading out onto the vast Sea of Enchancia, the waves lapping gently at his boots. The sky was overcast, and a soft mist hung low over the water, giving the sea an eerie, ethereal quality.

He took a deep breath. He was a man of the sea, a king whose power was rooted in the waves and the wind, but even he knew better than to underestimate the denizens of the deep. The mermaids had made it clear that the sea was theirs, and they had no love for sea raiders. Yet he needed to cross these waters, to reach Ashelin, the land of the elves, where a crucial alliance awaited him.

At least, he hoped an alliance could be found there. If not… He did not relish the thought of him and Karalyn being alone in the Kingdom of the Elves if they should prove to be less than accommodating.

As he waded deeper into the water, the coldness biting at his skin, he allowed his presence to be known within the waves rather than using his staff to minimize his trespass. He needed the mermaids to come to him.

For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of the sea. Then, the water began to shimmer, and the surface rippled unnaturally. From the depths, three figures emerged, their forms both graceful and imposing. The mermaids were beautiful, with long, flowing hair that seemed to merge with the sea itself, and eyes that sparkled like the surface of the water at dawn. Their scales shimmered in iridescent hues, reflecting the faint light that pierced the mist.

The lead mermaid, her tail a deep shade of sapphire, regarded Harald with a mixture of curiosity and caution. The expressions of the other two were unreadable, but their presence radiated power.

"King Harald of the Sea Raiders," the lead mermaid spoke, her voice melodic yet firm. "Why do you come alone to the waters you have been forbidden to cross?"

Harald bowed his head slightly. "I come in peace, seeking only passage through your waters."

"Why?"

"I wish to cross the Sea of Enchancia."

"For what purpose?" Her face was a mask, but tension pulsated from her body.

He dared not hesitate even though he did not know how the mermaids would react to learning his destination. As there was no other land mass down here, most likely the mermaids already suspected where his journey would take him. "I seek to reach Ashelin, the land of the elves."

The mermaids exchanged glances, their expressions still guarded. The lead mermaid's gaze remained fixed on Harald. "You ask much, King Harald. We have seen your kind take from the sea without regard, plundering what is not yours. Why should we grant you passage?"

Harald nodded deeply. "I know well the grievances you hold against my people," he replied, "and I do not ask for forgiveness today. The past cannot be undone, and peace between us is a battle for another day, but I ask you, as one who respects the sea and all its wonders, to grant me this favor. Let me pass through your waters."

The head mermaid moved closer, her voice melodic yet tinged with an edge of danger. "You speak of peace, King Harald, yet your kind has often brought nothing but destruction to our waters. Why should we trust you? What do you offer in return for such a favor?"

Harald met her gaze, knowing this was the crucial moment. "I offer respect for your domain, and my word as a king that no harm will come to your people from my hands or those under my command. If you grant me safe passage, I will ensure that your waters remain untouched by raider ships. We will keep to our own and honor the boundaries you set."

The mermaids whispered among themselves, their voices like the soft lapping of waves.

The head mermaid's eyes narrowed slightly as she considered his offer. "Respect and promises are fleeting things among sea raiders."

He held still. If they would not allow him to cross, then he would have no choice but to allow himself to be humbled and carried by Karalyn. One way or another, he would reach the shores of Ashelin.

"The elves, hmm?" The lead mermaid tilted her head slightly. "Why do you seek the elves?"

"There is much animosity in the waves right now," he said cautiously.

"So you seek an alliance with them?"

"During my father's reign?—"

"That was long ago," the youngest mermaid said.

He eyed her. "I merely wish to sail to Ashelin and back. That is all."

"What do you offer us in exchange for riding our waves?" the lead mermaid asked.

"We will not fish in your waters." It was all he could think to offer.

The mermaids eyed each other, and he struggled to think of something else he could add when the head mermaid looked up at Harald, her gaze softer now, though still tinged with caution. "You may pass through our waters, but heed this warning: stray not from the path we set, and harm not a single creature of the sea. Should you break this agreement, the wrath of the sea will be upon you."

Harald nodded, relief washing over him. "I give you my word. I will honor this agreement."

The lead mermaid nodded in return, and with a graceful flick of her tail, she and her companions began to sink back into the water. With that, the sea was calm once more, as if the mermaids had never been there.

With a final glance at the water, Harald turned and began the journey back to his ship, the weight of his quest both heavier and lighter at once.

Harald stood at the helm of his longship, the Stormbreaker , as it cut through the waves of the Sea of Enchancia. Beside him, Karalyn, his wife and the Princess of the Fairies, gazed out over the water, her golden hair catching the sunlight that filtered through the clouds. The journey to Ashelin, the land of the elves, was vital—a chance to secure an alliance that could turn the tide of the impending war.

The sea was calm, but a strange tension hung in the air. Harald felt it deep in his bones, a sense that something was not right. He glanced at Karalyn, who met his gaze with a nod of understanding. She felt it too.

The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the sea, when Harald heard the faintest of ripples behind him. Suddenly, the water around them began to churn, and the once-clear sea darkened. He turned slowly, every muscle in his body tense. The surface of the water broke, and a figure emerged, rising gracefully from the depths.

The siren was breathtaking, her hair flowing like liquid silver, her eyes a deep, oceanic blue. She regarded him with a mixture of curiosity and caution, her tail flicking gently beneath the water. Soon, others appeared beside her, forming a semi-circle around the outcrop, their shimmering forms reflecting the dying light.

These beings were as dangerous as they were beautiful, and Harald's heart sank. He had secured passage through these waters, not leaving the waters of the mermaids, so why were the sirens here?

Karalyn gasped slightly as she came to rest her bare feet on his ship, standing beside him.

The sirens said not a word, opening their mouths and revealing their sharp teeth.

Harald gritted his teeth. Would it be worthwhile to try to talk to them? He did not want to have to battle them. That they were not saying anything…

And then they began to sing.

They were protected, of course, but as he watched the sirens move closer, something felt off. Their movements were jerky, their eyes too wild, and their singing—normally a mesmerizing melody—was discordant and harsh, lacking the enchanting allure their kind was known for.

Karalyn stepped forward, the vines wrapped around her arms starting to grow, but Harald reached out and stopped her, his eyes narrowing as he studied the approaching sirens more closely.

"Wait," he murmured. "Something's wrong."

The sirens began to clamber onto the ship, their hands clawing at the wooden hull.

Harald stepped toward the nearest siren, who hissed at him, baring sharp teeth that seemed more feral than mystical. The way they moved, the lack of coordination in their attack, the absence of the usual enchanting song... these weren't sirens.

"Shapeshifters," he muttered, the realization hitting him like a wave. He turned to Karalyn, who nodded in understanding. "They're not sirens."

She sent out her vines to wrap around the face of the nearest "siren," forcing his mouth shut. The siren clawed at the vines, and Karalyn winced as the vine snapped in half.

Harald lifted his staff and commanded the water to shove the "sirens" back. A wave crashed onto the ship, washing most of them back into the sea.

That hardly stopped them, however. Harald yanked out his short sword, and the moment his blade struck the nearest "siren's" tail, their skin rippled. The foe tried to rip out his eyes, and Harald had no choice but to defend himself, burying the blade into the "siren's" chest.

Instantly, the enemy's form began to waver, shifting and distorting. The shimmering tails and ethereal beauty melted away, revealing a grotesque, twisted figure beneath.

The shapeshifters screeched in fury. Their ruse had failed, and they gave up their disguises, their true forms all exposed. They lunged at Harald and his wife, their claws outstretched, but Harald was ready. With a swift motion, he brought his blade down on the nearest creature, cutting it down with a single blow.

In the air, Karalyn fought bravely. It did not take long at all for the shapeshifters to retreat, slipping back into the water with hisses and snarls.

As the last of them disappeared beneath the waves, Harald and Karalyn exchanged a look of relief. The battle had been won, but the encounter left them both uneasy.

"Why would the shapeshifters come after us? And to pose as sirens…" Karalyn's voice was tinged with concern.

"They must not want us to reach Ashelin," Harald replied grimly. "Maybe there is animosity between elves and shapeshifters."

"And if that is the case, maybe the elves will be open and receptive." Karalyn's full lips were pursed into a thin line.

He sheathed his sword, his mind racing with possibilities. The shapeshifters had known precisely where to find them. Were they in league with the mermaids? What had been hoped to be gained by stopping them?

"There may be more dangers ahead," Harald said, placing a hand on Karalyn's shoulder.

Karalyn nodded, her eyes scanning the horizon. "We must remain vigilant," she said.

With the threat temporarily abated, Harald resumed his place at the helm, guiding the Stormbreaker toward the distant shores of Ashelin, but the encounter with the shapeshifters lingered in his mind, a dark omen of the trials yet to come. The path ahead was fraught with peril, and the shadows of deception loomed large.