AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Water,” Nemo groaned.
“Thank Poseidon,” Fin muttered.
The fields were surrounded by fences made of vertical timber batons. For the life of me, I couldn’t locate a track leading to the lake.
“We might have to climb the fence to get into the field,” I told the mermen. “Do you feel well enough to do that?”
“Anything for water,” mumbled Nemo.
“Agreed,” said Fin.
Gill grunted, and I took it as his way of sayingyes.
I yanked on the reins, pulling the horses to a stop. “Wait here,” I told Nemo as I climbed down to investigate.
A few of the funny-looking animals approached as I walked the length of fence.
“Hello,” I sent out the greeting as a telepathic message to them.
They stared at me, one chewing some grass.
Not the friendliest beasts in Haven. But I wasn’t there to make friends. I needed water to heal my men, especially Nemo with his injury.
Half a league down the fence, I found a gate and unlatched it. Luckily, the animals on the opposite side of the fence didn’t exit. Instead, they followed me back to the wagon, keeping to their side of the fence line. I was puffing by the time I climbed back onboard. Using my legs was even more tiring than swimming. As a human, I had to force two legs to move, not one fin. In my seat, I cracked the reins, and the horses charged forward. I didn’t stop until we were inside the fence.I climbed back down and locked the gate again, and then we were off once more, my heart pounding with excitement the closer we got to the lake.
The horses came to a skittering halt as I pulled up beside the lake.
I helped Nemo navigate the step down, taking some of his weight, and almost falling over myself.
“Thank you, Princess.” He gave me a kiss on the cheek for my effort.
The intoxicating scent of his muskiness engulfed me. The heat he left on me spread across my whole body. I touched my cheek, standing there like a real dope, unable to move.
“Princess,” he said, wrapping an arm around me.
I shook off the lethargy and helped him hobble to the back of the cart.
Nemo weighed a ton. His body was stocky and very athletic. One of his arms was easily twice the size of mine.
“Come on, you mergrandmas,” he said to his companions.
Fin clasped Nemo’s hand and slid off the back of the wagon.
Gill climbed down by himself and grabbed Nemo in a headlock, messing up his hair. “Who you calling grandma?”
The mermen’s laughter was like music to my ears. I admired the joint respect and friendship between them. This must have been what it was like to be in the company of a brother I actually admired and enjoyed. All jokes nd shenanigans.
“Quick,” I said, sounding a little like an impatient mother. “Put your arms around my shoulders, and we’ll go together.”
“Come on, you guppies.” Fin put an arm around my shoulder.
“Yes, Captain.” Nemo claimed the other side before Gill had a chance.
Not that Gill would have leaned on me for support. He hooked on to Nemo. The broody mersoldier seemed very reserved and standoffish. I still couldn’t tell if it was because I was royal. Either way, I had this deep desire to understand his motives. Something drew me to him even though he wasn’t very nice to me.
Sea god!I hoped I wasn’t becoming attracted to someone who would treat me poorly and keep me hanging. Three mermen had done that to Nimian and broken her heart. No one was going to treat me that way, especially not Gill.
The mersoldiers leaned on me for support as we slowly crossed the field to the lake. My shoulders and back ached from their weight. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could bear it. But I’d be damned if I was stopping for anything. My mermen were getting water.
