Chapter 19:

  Repairs were on their way to being completed. The Grand Admiral had ordered the enemy Destroyer stripped for usable parts. They raided weapon and food stores, executed any demons found aboard, and freed sves. There was not room enough for the freshly freed sves on the Tooth, but they had enough of them capable of sailing that they pnned to limp to one of the pirate-controlled isnds and barter freedom for the ship. Since she was mostly still in good repair, the Admiral let them leave with rations and hard tack enough to get them by. She had enough death on her conscience, she did not need more.

  The sister ship sank before they could make use of her or her supplies, though a few barrels had floated up. Crews had been sent to retrieve the barrels. Most of it was fresh water, which was a grand find indeed. The dolphins were long gone, which was a relief to the crew at rge.

  Seven final rites were done, the Admiral speaking on each crew member who died defending their ship. She knew their names, spoke of the deeds, and told a story for each of them. It was the only time she truly told tales; when pcing a crew member to rest. She found no joy in the stories, but knew that it eased hearts. Then, each was wrapped in their bed linens, a token of value pced in their hands so when they met the dragon gods, they could offer up a tribute for the Great Horde.

  She knew it should have been worse. They should have all been dead. And the reason they weren’t was still unconscious. Her tasks were done, and so Ael went to sit with Nereida. Dymion had done his best; while he was not a surgeon, he had some magic that leant itself to healing. He had told Ael that the wounds were patched but would need to fully heal, and that Nereida had used a great deal of her own life energy when channeling her magic. She would need time to heal.

  Nereida y in Ael’s bed, her shoulder and midriff bandaged. Her skin and hair were blue now, her fingers cwed. She looked like a siren, she was a siren. And a princess. It was difficult to process. Ael sat beside the princess, stroking her hand tenderly. The skin was still skin, not scales as Ael had always imagined a siren. Basiano had brought the boys over earlier that day. Ael had seen the children sobbing as they left, expressing fear that their mother would not wake up and hold them again. She knew that fear, that reality, and so she sat beside Nereida now as if her presence would ward off death itself.

  The sun had set, and while normally preparation for their fire-circle would be happening, the crew needed a night of peaceful contemption after saying goodbye. Someone, likely Evander, had set up scented candles instead of her usual ones. Lavender filled the air, a strange scent for in her cabin, but one she was told was calming. She thought it was nonsense. How could the scent of a flower be calming?

  Beneath the heavy wool bnkets, Nereida looked small, helpless. Everyone had been so afraid of her when she had arrived, but she was just… just a person. Ael gently pushed one of the soft blue hairs off Nereida‘s face. The woman moaned at the touch and muttered something incomprehensible. Ael smiled softly. It was the most she’d moved all day.

  “You awake, Nereida?” she leaned over, whispering. Nereida smelled like the sea breeze.

  “Hurts.” Ael sagged in relief as stormy eyes opened and Nereida grumbled out that single word.

  “I know, but you will be alright. You need rest.” Nereida nodded at Ael’s words, but her expression was hazy. Ael pushed on, hoping to reassure the other woman. “Don’t worry about your boys,” she continued, taking Nereida‘s hand in hers. The princess settled at the touch, looking almost content. “They are with your husband.”

  Nereida bolted upright, wild fear on her face. Ael toppled backwards as she tried to avoid having her nose broken by the wild woman’s sudden movements.

  “No!” She looked like she was caught in a memory or a dream.

  “Basiano,” Ael crified loudly. This caught Nereida’s attention. She focussed on Ael, as if truly seeing her. “Not the one who betrayed you.” There was a moment of calmness between them before Nereida began to ugh. She shook with ughter, grabbing a pillow to ugh into. Tears streamed down her face as the ughs painfully jostled her healing ribs.

  “You! Oh that’s! Ahahaha.” Nereida began to gasp for air. She was ughing so hard she fell back into the pillows.

  Ael watched the insane ughter with mounting worry. Was Nereida mad like the tales said? Or was she simply reacting strangely to being injured?

  “Basiano is my oldest brother.” The words managed to come out despite the princess’s manic ughter. Ael stared at the princess, her mind reeling.

  “He… what?” She thought back. “But the bracelets?”

  “Keep my power in check. Kept. Not putting those on again.” Her ughter finally dying, Nereida turned toward Ael with a soft, almost sad smile. “Gave them to my boys so they wouldn’t reveal themselves. Cat’s out of the bag now, yeah?”

  Somehow the boys being sirens too had never even occurred to Ael. She opened her mouth to say something, promptly forgot what, and smmed her mouth shut.

  “Do you… need anything?” She asked after a moment, trying to escape the silence.

  “I need to know everyone is okay. That this was worth it… and that we are safe.” Her voice broke at the st of her words, and Nereida began to tremble. Ael stood, and took Nereida’s hand in hers. The siren turned toward her with wide, pleading eyes. Very gently, Ael moved the hair off Nereida’s face. She leaned into the touch in a way that made Ael’s heart race.

  “Of course you are safe. Any of the crew who won’t have you be here can be let go at the next port. Even if it’s a forsaken pirate port.” She realized she was touching the princess in a much too familiar manner and pulled away. Nereida’s face crumpled. Ael swallowed.

  “Did I hurt you?”

  “No… but… I…” the princess trailed off, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I want to do something… and I don’t know if I’m allowed to or not.”

  “Well you aren’t allowed out of the bed,” Ael joked, falling back on bad humour to keep from feeling everything. A ghost of a smile danced on Nereida’s face. She looked a little pale, though with her skin being blue it was hard to tell.

  “I don’t need to leave the bed for this,” Nereida replied softly. “So can I?”

  “Can you what?”

  “Kiss you?”

  Ael felt her mouth fpping open and closed like a fish drowning in air. The rational part of her brain tried to tell her all the reasons she shouldn’t. She drowned that part of herself, leaning in close to the woman in her bed.

  “Yes,” she whispered, her voice breaking a little. She leaned in more. Nereida met her halfway, gently pressing their lips together. Their noses bumped, and Ael fumbled it, but it still made her heart thunder in her chest.

  “Not bad,” Nereida said with a dreamy little smile. She reached for Ael’s hand and pressed it to her chest above her heart. Ael could feel how Nereida’s heart pounded for her. “When I’m feeling better, maybe we can practice that more.” She leaned back in the pillows and dropped to sleep, exhaustion taking hold. Ael’s cheeks burned. Had that just happened or was this just a fever dream?

  She sat until she was certain Nereida was asleep. Then, quietly, she left the cabin. She needed to have words with the Crown Prince.