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“Are you up for this, Pasha?” her dad asks.
She slowly nods. “Yes,” she says, and it comes out like a squeak. The comfort of a kiss didn’t help, so I take more drastic measures by stomping on her foot. “Ouch.”
“Sorry,” I say, and she fakes a weak smile. She kisses my lips and I take her hand. An understanding passes between us.
“We’ll go to Atlantis,” Pasha says.
* * *
Entering Atlantis after being cast out feels strange. I keep expecting someone to jump out and throw us out, but the place is fairly quiet. Nobody is paying us attention as we enter the palace.
“Is Maris home?” Pasha says as we enter the throne room. I bow to show my respect, and Pasha copies as an afterthought.
“Yes. No thanks to you two,” the king says. His voice is laced with anger.
“Thank the starfish,” Pasha says, clutching her chest. She doesn’t seem concerned by the king’s bad mood. “Where is she?”
“She’ll be back,” the king says. I know him well enough to understand we’re not in favour.
My place in the royal court is hopefully restored, but I want to do more to prove this was just a misunderstanding. “We come with news from the rebellion,” I say.
“You saw Neptune?” the king asks.
None of the elders has ever admitted anything about the outside world, especially mer on land. “Yes. He seems to think you have some of his mermen.”
“That would be correct, but they aren’t telling us much.”
“We have reason to believe he wants to overturn your leadership,” Pasha says.
The king stares at her like she’s grown a second head. “Do you know who Neptune is?” he asks curiously.
“He told me he’s my father.”
“And you haven’t formed an alliance?”
“Pardon me for being outspoken, Your Majesty, but I don’t want to swap one leader with a vision of inequality for another.” She bows her head in respect.
“Your father thought he wasn’t given enough powers, and it seems you feel the same way.”
“You’re mistaken. I don’t want to rule anything. I want the opportunity to do a job I could be great at and to marry whoever I like.” Pasha speaks with passion.
“Do you mean Ryn?”
“No, but a royal should be able to marry a commoner.”
“Or a human?”
That catches us both off guard. This has to be a trick question because the king would never stand for something like that.
“I think what Pasha is trying to say is that she would like a chance to join the events committee.”
“This year’s annual event was excellent, and Maris did mention your efforts. I’ll consider it.” He strokes his beard, lost in thought, and I think we’ve gotten away with having the difficult conversation. “Ryn, my daughter doesn’t want to marry you.”
I close my eyes as the words sink in. It’s not that I want to wed his daughter, but having this conversation makes it more real.
“I’m aware,” I say.
“Do you intend to try and fix whatever you did?”
I swallow a gulp of water. I can’t believe I’m about to say this to the king and I hope I don’t offend him. “No.”
He takes a few seconds to consider what I’ve said, and I hold my breath. “You may both leave,” the king says, dismissing us.
We bow and leave the room.
“What now?” I ask.
“I’m going to find Maris. You can do what you want.”
What I want to do is return to my home and relax, but instead, I groan. “Okay. Let’s go find Maris.”
