“But by coming here you’ve killed yourself,” she cried, dropping to her knees before him.
“Without your love, I am dead at sunset, anyway,” he whispered, for her ears alone.
The guards hauled him to his feet and dragged him back toward the entrance.
Pearl stood back up “ What do you mean by that?” she called.
He didn’t answer, or if he did, she could not hear.
“Wait!” she cried, racing after him. “What do you mean by that?”
“Ask the Sea Witch!” Just then, one of the guards hit him, knocking him unconscious. His body slumped between them, and they carried him the rest of the way out of the church, closing the doors behind them
Slowly, the guests reclaimed their seats. Mary and Finneas remained standing, though, hovering close to Pearl.
“Carry on, good priest, ’twas just the ramblings of a madman,” James instructed, reclaiming his seat.
Robert took her hand and tried to pull her back. She resisted, still staring at the closed doors. The Sea Witch, Kale had said. The words struck a chord somewhere in her being. Where have I heard that name? she asked herself.
“Milady, with your permission, we will continue,” Father Gregory told her.
She turned to stare at him, and he just stared back. She remembered her first Sunday service, sitting and listening to the old priest and only understanding every other word. He had intimidated her a little bit with his grim complexion. He had reminded her of her father as he lectured her about watching out for the Sea Witch.
Her father. An image filled her mind, and the face didn’t belong to Finneas. She saw a long, thin nose and a broad brow topped with a wreath of seaweed laced through with large, white pearls. She had always wanted the pearls. He had told her when she was old enough she would have some of her own because she was a princess. Princess! Kale had been right! He and Faye were mer-kin too!
She turned to look at Robert while she spoke to Father Gregory. “I’m sorry, I can’t. I just can’t.”
Robert’s eyes widened in shock. She bent forward and kissed his cheek. “I’m sorry, but I can’t accept your kind offer. I belong someplace else, and I have to find out exactly where that is.”
She pulled her hand from his and fled down the aisle amidst shouts of consternation.
“Pearl!” she heard Robert shouting. “Come back!”
James sat, stunned, as Pearl raced from the church. Sir Robert, his leg slightly wounded from his brush with the criminal yesterday, stood looking thunderstruck. A wave of pity washed over James, mixed with an overwhelming sensation of relief.
His thoughts flew back to Pearl as he caught Mary staring at him in bewilderment. What has gotten into Pearl? He wasn’t sure what it was, but he knew it had something to do with what the criminal had said to her. Just then, a footman slipped up to him and bent to whisper in his ear, “The king is awake and he is asking for you.”
He rose quickly to his feet and exited through a side door.
Within minutes he was in his father’s bedchamber
His father was sitting, fully clothed, in a chair next to the window, with Peter standing beside him. He chuckled as James came in. “Well, how did it feel to almost be king?”
“Terrible,” James replied, not amused. “Shouldn’t you be in bed?”
The king waved his hand. “I’m fine, James. The poison clarrey never touched my lips.”
“What!” James exploded.
“No—however, I wanted others to think that it had ”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
King Philip sighed. “I needed your reactions to be realistic if my plan is to work”
“What plan?” James asked, in a moment moving from angry to bewildered.
“My plan to catch the duke and his son at their own game”
“But, I thought that the criminal—”
The king snorted. “That poor fellow is no criminal … at least not to my knowledge. Robert made him out to be one only to further his own schemes. He and his father were planning on killing me and blaming it on an escaped criminal.”
“So, they released him.”
“Actually I released him,” Peter spoke up.
“But why?” James asked.
“To force their hand,” the king answered.
“It looks like it worked.”
“Only partially,” Peter answered, “We don’t have actual proof that it was either of them who poisoned the drink.”
“So, your plan failed,” James asserted.
“No, it did not. The poisoner did leave this behind.” Peter held up an elaborate man’s ring with a large onyx stone. The top swung open to reveal a tiny hollow just large enough to hold a bit of poison powder, “This shouldn’t be too hard to trace.”
“How did you know about the poison?”
“Your father hasn’t eaten or drank anything that hasn’t first been tested for months.”
“So, some poor servant is dead?”
“On the contrary, it’s a mouse that is dead,” Peter said with a laugh, “Poor little fellow keeled right over.”
James felt himself sag with relief, then he rubbed his head, “I can’t believe you two didn’t tell me about all this.”
“I could say the same about you and your little friend Pearl. She certainly did not escape the duke’s notice. It was unfortunate, indeed, that she has, shall we say, distinctive characteristics that are shared by the man who was imprisoned.”
“Robert was marrying Pearl as part of the plot against you and you knew about it!” James exploded. “Why didn’t you stop it?”
“It was better to have her linked to him than to you. Had you married her, the duke could have implicated you in my death. Of course, with the arrival of Faye, he could have done that, anyway. Especially since she actually seems to be the accused man’s sister”
“We think that originally they intended to blackmail you regarding your relationship with Pearl. Then, when they realized your intentions toward her might be more serious, Robert decided to propose to her to throw you off balance. All along they planned to imprison a man, innocent or criminal, have him escape and murder you and me. When Faye and the other man showed up, it accelerated their plans greatly. Suddenly they could say that the two did it together and you were plotting with them because of your obvious affection for Faye and your suggesting that Robert marry Pearl.”
“But I never suggested that Robert marry Pearl!” James protested.
“Didn’t you?” the king asked, “You were the one who told him to propose to a commoner. You were the one eager to find for your little friend an alternative to the blacksmith. That’s the story he told to everyone but you,”
James shook his head, marveling at how close they had come to complete disaster. And all because I was too distracted to realize that something was terribly wrong. He turned his anger on his father. “How can you participate in all these machinations, these deceptions?”
“Dear boy, I did not get to be king by chance. I have worked long and hard to keep this throne and I will pass it on to you. When you are in my position you will understand these things. You will also learn to be more discrete in your friendships.”
“Discrete? Discrete? You’re a fine one to talk about that, Father. You and Peter have been best friends for how many years? I don’t think anyone is fooled by the servant act, least of all me.”
“We’ve never hidden our friendship from you, James. Peter and I grew up together, without worry of social boundaries, as you and your friend have done. For years he has been a loyal friend and a wise counselor. He keeps me informed of all the goings-on around here, including the schemes of the duke and his son.
“If it weren’t for Peter, I wouldn’t have given you nearly as much freedom. Do you truly think that you managed to elude all the tutors and all the castle guard every single week? No, Peter told them all to turn a blind eye. He has always been an advocate for you. Even with this marriage business he has been urging
me to give you time to work things out for yourself.”
King Philip snorted.” Though at the rate you work things out for yourself, I’ll be many years in my grave before I have a grandson. They’re both fine girls. Just pick one of them and marry her, son. Get on with it.”
James was speechless. All this time he had never fooled his father, only himself.
The king shook his head wearily. “I’m sorry, son. I should have trusted you and told you what we were up to. I promise you can help us smoke out the culprit from here on out,” he said, taking the ring from Peter and holding it up for inspection.
“Allow me to save you the trouble,” a voice said from the door.
Surprised, James turned to see the duke Stephen standing there, a sword in hand. “My son tends to be overly subtle. He likes complicated plans. Personally, I’ve found that the direct approaches work best”
“What do you plan on doing?” James demanded, moving in front of his father.
“Simple, I will kill the three of you.”
“And who will you blame it on? Your ‘murderer’ is back in custody”
“Not anymore,” the duke sneered. “It seems he managed to escape the guardsmen, killing ail of them. Of course, he has me to thank for that. Then he came here to finish what he started. Never fear, though. I shall catch him along with his sister and friend, and they shall all three hang for your murders. It will then be with a heavy heart that I ascend the throne as the closest blood relative ”
“You’re mad,” James told him.
“Who will stop me?”
James cursed the lack of weapon within reach of any of them. He started to circle the duke, calculating how best to attack and attempt to disarm him. He knew the duke was a wicked fighter, much like his son.
Before he could make his move, though, Peter lunged. The duke whirled, slashing Peter across the stomach and sending him crashing to the ground. He raised his sword, preparing to deliver a killing blow.
A vase smashed into the duke’s back. The duke staggered, stunned, and James lunged toward him. The king beat him there, though. From his boot, the king pulled a small dagger and plunged it into the duke’s heart before the other could swing at him. The duke collapsed on the ground beside Peter. His eyes rolled backward before they fixed in his head, and his body slumped.
James turned toward the door and saw Faye standing there, shaking. “Thank you, my dear, you saved us all,” the king boomed from behind him.
Servants dashed past her and moved over to Peter. “I’m going to be fine,” he protested as they set to work tending his wound.
James turned and strode to Faye. He pulled her out into the hallway and held her hands in his. He looked deep into her eyes. “This is twice now that you have saved me. I’m going to have to keep you around,” he said with a smile.
His smile faded,“Faye, I love you, I have loved you since the first moment that I saw you. Something in my blood cries out to you, and I know that I want to be with you. Will you marry me?”
She nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. He kissed her.
Faye felt that her heart would burst with happiness. James loved her and was going to marry her! She had won and now she could remain human and stay with him. She would live and love. Her only regret was that he would never be able to hear her say how much she loved him. The Sea Witch might have lost the gamble, but she still kept her fee.
James pulled away from her to go check on the injured man. Her thoughts turned to Kale. She didn’t know where he was, but she hoped Pearl was with him. She was safe, but her brother’s time was running out.
Behind the church, Pearl found the bodies of the soldiers who had dragged Kale from the chapel. Kale lay to the side. He groaned slightly and sat up, rubbing at his head.
She dropped down next to him and touched his face.
He stiffened. “Who is it?”
“Someone you love,” she whispered.
“Pearl! What happened?”
“I don’t know, but this does not look good. Can you walk?”
He nodded. She helped him stand and led him quickly from the scene, heading for the ocean where they would be safe from prying eyes.
“Did you marry him?”
“No, I didn’t love him ”
A look of relief flooded his face.
When they had put some distance between them and the church, she asked him the one question she needed answered.“Tell me about the Sea Witch.”
“Do you remember anything?”
“Not really All I know is that I—I’m a … mermaid” It was both odd and something of a relief to say it aloud.
He stopped short and turned to her. “Well, that is a start.”
“Yes,” she laughed. “Now, the Witch?”
“She was banished years ago by our people. She lives in a cave. She’s trapped there, unable to leave. A strand of pearls around her neck is the source of her power.”
She fingered the pearl around her own neck. Could it have some connection with the Witch’s pearls?
“Although her caves are forbidden, from time to time a mermaid or merman seeks her out for magical help.”
“To become human?” Pearl guessed.
He nodded. “But her help always comes with a price. For me, it was my sight. For Faye, her voice.”
“You both must have wanted very much to be human”
“Yes, Faye paid an even higher price than that.”
“How so?”
“If the prince agrees to marry her, by sunset on the seventh day she will remain human forever.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
“She will die.”
Chills danced up Pearl’s spine. “Then that means …”
“She only has a little time left.”
“Come on,” Pearl cried, grabbing his hand.
“Where are we going?”
“To save Faye.”
Faye hurried toward the church. Her heart was filled to overflowing with love for James. He had asked her to marry him! She would be human now forever, and they would spend their lives together. She had bet the Sea Witch and had won.
Her thoughts turned toward her brother. Kale, on the other hand, only had a short while left before he would die. She had to find a way to bring him and Pearl together.
She circled around the church and nearly tripped over the body of a dead guardsman. Stunned, she stared. He had been one of the men who had dragged Kale from the church. Where was her brother, though?
“Looking for someone?” a voice hissed in her ear.
She jumped, but Robert grabbed her around the waist and pressed a dagger against her ribs. “You’re my revenge. I can hurt the prince through you. You’re coming with me.”
If she had had her voice, she would have screamed, but without it, she had no choice but to go along.
There was only about half an hour left until sunset. Pearl stood inches from the water. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
“I love you, Pearl,” Kale whispered.
“I love you, too.”
She looked at him. He looked so vulnerable as he stood there in the light of the waning sun. She kissed him and he kissed her back, sending shivers down her body. She pulled back and looked at him, brushing a lock of hair out of his face.
He had said that the prince must agree to marry Faye by sunset or she would die. He hadn’t told her what bargain he had made with the Sea Witch, but she guessed it was something similar.
“When this is all over, Kale, I will marry you,” she promised him.
A mingled look of joy and despair crossed his face, and he kissed her again. She was puzzled at his expression, but did not have time to question him about it.
“I wish I could go with you.”
“I know, but this is something I have to do by myself.”
He nodded. “Just remember, the pearls are the key to the Witch’s power. Without them, she is nothing.”
She moved away from him
and took a step toward the ocean. She stood at the water’s edge, with fear wrapping around her heart. She clasped the pearl in her hand. The water lapped at her toes. I was playing with Kale by a sunken boat, she recalled. She took a step into the water. He was my best friend. She took another step, the water lapping against both her ankles. It was almost dinnertime, and I left to go home. Another step and the waves lapped at her calves. A shadow darkened the water, and I turned to see what it was. The water was swirling around her knees.
The Sea Witch was there, more terrible than Father had said she was. Her skirts slogged around her legs as the water crept up her legs. She grabbed me and I couldn’t fight her, she was too strong. She clamped her hand over my mouth so I could not scream. The water was at her waist and growing deeper. She took me back to her cave. The water was chest-deep and warm, so very warm. She cursed me. She turned me into a human. She looked down, and her legs were disappearing, merging into a shimmering tail covered with scales. She told me I was nobody, nothing. She wasn’t interested in me, she just wanted to hurt my family. Her hair was floating on top of the water and it began to glow. She sent me to the surface to either drown or live upon the land, I snatched this pearl from her necklace before the seas tossed me upward. Her clothes fell from her, the beautiful blue wedding dress drifting away with the current…. She said that if I returned to the ocean I would die. She took in her mermaid body noticing the way her skin shone under the water. She was wrong about that. She said I was nothing, that I could not harm her. She clutched the pearl around her neck. The Witch was wrong about that, too.
With a flick of her tail, she dove beneath the surface. She breathed the water as naturally as though she had never forgotten how. She was the princess, Adriana, child of the mer-kin.
She remembered.
She remembered everything, including where to find the Witch.
Kale heard the splash as she dove beneath the surface of the water. It had worked. She had broken the spell binding her. He sank to a seat on the beach, overcome with emotion. She had agreed to marry him. In that one moment she had both saved him and doomed him. She had saved his life while yet cursing him to live out his days as a human. Now that she was once again a mermaid, they were again of two separate worlds. He had lost her a second time.