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“What would you do with Maris?” Ryn asks.
“Maybe when she’s queen she’ll help make merpeople more equal,” I say.
“If we bring her here, her father might be persuaded to hand over his power in exchange for her freedom.”
I try not to react. My father knows I’m unhappy with how my life’s turning out. It’s part of the reason we’ve become so close over such a short time. Maybe that’s why he’s being so open about this. “You want to kidnap the princess?”
“Don’t worry. We wouldn’t harm anyone.”
I frown. The way I ended up here wasn’t exactly conventional. “Am I a prisoner here?” I ask.
“Don’t be silly. Of course you’re not.”
I can’t let on that I’m freaking out about what he’s just said. “That was silly of me.” My laugh comes out fake even to my own ears.
“Surely the princess wouldn’t help a human,” Ryn says. He’s better at acting than me.
“That’s what I thought, but you two showing up means it doesn’t seem so unlikely.”
“What makes you say that?” Ryn asks, keeping his cool.
“Usually, young mer don’t come on to land. You never did tell me why you were here.”
“Erm...” This was supposed to be breakfast, not an interrogation.
“We’re here because we’re an unequal match in society and love each other,” Ryn says. I guess that fits with us arguing about our relationship last night and is a fraction of the truth. Telling him we’ve been banished probably wouldn’t help the situation, so I nod to agree with him.
“What happened to your mum’s job?”
“Mum’s always worked at the factory,” I say, wondering if that’s true. She’s always been vague when I’ve quizzed her about the past. Now I know it’s because she hasn’t always given me all the details.
“The factory?”
“The shell factory,” I clarify.
“What happened to her being a handmaiden at the palace?”
“I must’ve been too young to remember that.” Anger boils within. She never told me she worked with the royals. Is that why she was so against me trying out for the events committee?
“Another wrong that would be put right,” my father says.
I nod because I want her to have a second chance, although I don’t think I’m willing to pay the price my father’s asking for.
“We know Maris, and she’d trust us. Should we head to the beach and see if we can find her?” Ryn asks.
“I already have men out on patrol,” my dad says.
“That’s good. You seem to be all set.”
“How does it work around here?” I ask. “Does everyone have a job?”
This is something I need to know, especially after Ryn’s questioning this morning. The food and my father’s words are soaking up the alcohol, and I might as well get to the harder stuff before I miss the opportunity.
“Everyone must play their part, Pasha. If you decide to stay here, that will include you, but as my daughter, your duties will be important.”
He sounds like a hypocrite and another male who’s going to let me down. I don’t want to be the new Maris. I want my own future, not to steal hers. This day is going from bad to worse.
“That sounds intriguing,” I say, keeping it vague.
