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“Can’t do that, I’m afraid,” he said, gesturing to Gill. “Caught ’im stealing from the bakery. On Haven, we have rules, and those rules must be upheld.” His bloodshot eyes darkened, carrying a threat.
He jerked the handle of his whip as if to say, “Clear out.”
What a fool to think I’d be dismissed so easily. I wasn’t going anywhere. A man like him could be bribed. I took one of the pearl clips out of my hair. “How much is the bread worth?”
The man’s eyes bugged out as they panned over to Nemo. “Your gold ain’t worth nothing here, Princess.”
Shellfish. I was running out of options. If I couldn’t come up with another solution, I’d have to order Fin and Nemo to fight the man and his officers, grab Gill myself, and run.
The man smirked at me and lifted the whip above his head. He flicked his wrist, sending the whip flying at Gill’s naked torso. The rope carved marks into his flesh, and he screamed.
My heart tore in two.
“Stop that,” I shouted, forcing my transformation back into a human.
But the man only laughed and whipped Gill again.
An invisible force struck me, as if the whip had hit me.
Fin lunged at two of the officers, striking at them. Metal clashed as the soldiers defended themselves.
I scrambled to my feet and dove at the red-faced man, grabbing his whip and yanking hard. He shoved me in the chest, pushing me to the ground. His whip rose above his shoulder as if he meant to strike me. Fire whisked through my blood. The ocean would freeze over before I let him have the honor.
Magic welled in my palms. I unleashed it into the soil, calling to the water to rise, and it obeyed my command, causing the ground to rock.
The man tumbled head-first onto the cobblestones. People screamed and lost their balance, falling on top of each other. Splinters formed in the cement binding the stones together. Liquid dribbled from the fractures into the square. The shaking continued, and logs on a nearby pile tumbled everywhere. Tiles on the roofs smashed onto the ground. The bricks in the well crumbled. All the townsfolk scattered except for a few stragglers.
I continued my attack until the two wooden beams on the well toppled into it, releasing Gill. Weakened from my effort, I stumbled to him and cradled his head. To release him from the iron shackles on his wrists and ankles I’d need a key.
The fat man collected himself from the ground. His face turned purple, and the vein in his forehead throbbed. “You will pay for that.”
Spit flying from his mouth hit me, and I wiped it off.
He sprang at me, but Nemo swung his trident, hitting the man low on his legs and tripping him.
“I don’t think so,” Fin said, seizing the officer’s upper arm and yanking him to his feet. “Threatening a princess is treason.”
“That’s enough, Pascoe,” said a tall man with an authoritative voice. He was dressed like his associate, but this man had kinder eyes and cleaner teeth. “Only a fool would invite trouble from the sea king.”
“But, Verita,” the fat man argued.
Verita held out a palm. “Release the merman.” He turned to me. “Take your men, and be off with you.”
The fat man pulled out an iron key from a side pocket, and I snatched it from his hand.
“This merman disobeyed an order. Let me deal with him.” My glare sent the fat man and his officers scampering away faster than sea rats.
“I’m Verita, mayor of this town,” said the tall man, offering me a hand and helping me to my feet.
Unsteady and woozy, I wobbled on my legs.
“I apologize for harming your kin. We did not recognize he belonged to the merfolk.” Verita’s voice was wary and probably aimed to soothe the wild beast inside me and prevent me from destroying the whole town.
“Thank you,” I replied. I just wanted away from there and to hold Gill in my arms until he was well again.
Gill groaned as Fin lifted and supported him. Nemo ignored his own pain to help his comrades.
“I’m sorry, Captain,” Gill whispered, his voice burning with lament.
