Page 68 of Seaborn and the Seven Seas

Tears pooled in Jina’s eyes. “How do you know that song?”

I fought back my own.

“Hellena taught us,” said another girl, about the same age as the one who sang but a bit taller, with a braid down her back.

So did Nam, I wanted to say.

The smallest of the girls, her curls escaping every which way, added, “Through songs we never forget. And sometimes they give us hope.”

“Don’t sing, girls.” Hellena shook her head and jerked her chin toward the soldiers, then back to us. “I’ve heard of the Seaborn. I know their songs, but I’ve never met any of your kind.” She put a fist to her heart. “I’m truly honored.”

I didn’t know what to say. To be honored to meet us, when in the cavern we were no one with no names, just like them. So I told them about King Jeju and prying oysters for him, and why.

Hellena wept, and so did the others around us.

I told them how we found out we were Seaborn, the adventures we had, the fight with the boarox and how it didn’t hurt us. Minha gawked at me when I spoke of the oclego. I told them about our blue blood, and how we could stay underwater.

I don’t know if it’s true,” Hellena said, “but I’ve heard legends of an underground city, where Seaborn grew tails in the water and legs on land.

“I don’t think that’s true about having a tail.” Minha snorted, leaning closer to the fire. “But that would be amazing.”

“Males too?” Ranis asked.

“All Seaborns.” Hellena smiled.

“One day we will all be free,” the little girl who sang said, her eyes twinkling, the fire dancing in their reflection. “One day the gods will save us all.”

There was that talk of gods again. I hoped she was right.

I leaned closer to her and whispered, careful the soldiers wouldn’t hear, “I name you Hope.”

Her dull green eyes lit up. “Hope,” she repeated, like it was the most precious word.

“Don’t ever forget,” I said.

It wasn’t about the name but the meaning. Then I named the tallest one Faith—Sunny for the smallest one—and the others, and watched their faces brighten with each name given.

A whip cracked so close the fire embers flew up like tiny lights and the air whooshed. The moment of peace vanished.

“Rise.”

When the whip came again, I’d lost my mind. Reminding me of my family getting hit for not meeting the pearl counts the king wanted. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt because of us.

My fast reflexes and instinct guided me. I caught the end of the whip in mid-flight, wound it around my arm, and yanked. Pain seared up my arm, but I didn’t care. I’d had worse.

The soldier lost his balance and tumbled, his golden arms clanking on the ground. The rest of the soldiers pointed their swords at me.

Minha and even Jina stood by my side, Ranis too. No dagger on display. Best not to show them, or they would take it away.

“Don’t you ever do that again,” I hissed.

I shouldn’t test their patience, but the queen didn’t want us dead. Not yet at least. We had to tame the creature. The soldiers wouldn’t harm us, or their lives would belong to the queen. Because of this, I felt empowered.

“Get going toward the creature,” the lead soldier ordered, “before I make up a story about your deaths.”

“After you.” Ranis waved a hand. “You’re the one with a sword after all.”

The lead soldier shoved him ahead. We followed behind him toward where the creature would either be our savior or our doom.