Chapter 89

  Nereida was feeling her age after their romantic, passionate night. She had slept funny, so now her back and knees ached. Magic could sooth much, but not her own body’s slow deterioration by age. So, while she wanted to remain in the bed beside her wife and enjoy more time with her, she needed to move, stretch and work out the soreness before it got worse. She kissed Ael gently on the forehead, and pulled herself out of the soft bed. The day had begun, and they had to get the rest of the crew. They had to prepare for their long journey. It was time to take Basiano home, to see her parents and face the politics she had been dreading since she had first kissed Ael.

  The next stop was her father’s pace, some just over a month away.

  Nereida was awash in dread. They were close now, so much closer than they would have been, had Ael’s people not chased them away. But no matter how close they were, there was still a chance her mother was dead, there was still a strong chance that her father still hated her. She wasn’t ready for either kind of grief.

  Calling the ocean’s water in through the window, Nereida filled their tub and climbed in, letting herself soak away the aches. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of the water on her skin, feeling peaceful even as Ael began banging around trying to find her hat in the chaos of their room. Neither had cleaned up after their alone time, nor had they bothered to pick up the children’s things before sending them to the shore. It had seemed unimportant at the time, until Ael stepped on a small die made of bone and cursed up a storm. Nereida sunk her face under the water so that her ughter became bubbles.

  Once she was clean, rexed and presentable, Nereida headed out to join her wife on deck. It was a beautiful day, the air warm and gentle. Epelda was in the riggings, her soft alto tones completely her own. Her newly returned wings fluttered in the wind as she sang. Jules was nowhere to be seen, which meant he was below deck somewhere.

  “Touchy-feely princess, you had quite the lie in.” Evander sauntered up to her. He seemed in good spirits, an ease in his movements that she hadn’t seen since Dymion’s possession.

  “Needed my beauty sleep,” she replied with a wink. He ughed.

  “Trying to eclipse the moon’s pale beauty?” She stared at him. The words were not Evander’s. No. “Have I something on my face?”

  Nereida took a steadying breath.

  “No, Great Dragon,” she said softly, hoping that she was wrong, that he was pulling her leg with a poor attempt at a joke. But Evander’s jovial smile transformed into a fierce grin.

  “Ah. Perhaps I should have practiced.” Nereida’s blood felt like ice. She looked around for Ael, saw her talking to the helmsman, and knew she was alone.

  “He’s not even dragon blooded,” Nereida managed after a moment. “How?”

  “He is, his blood is just very thin. But it was the best I could manage, given that I woke in the middle of the sea. Come now, little Droplet, did you think to wake me with no body? That was just rude.”

  “I didn’t wake you at all!”

  “True, true, true. It was Windlet,” he motioned vaguely toward Epelda. “I shall have to thank her ter. Since you seem to want to sidestep your duty.” Nereida crossed her arms, trying to ignore the twisting in her stomach. She was not selfish for wanting a break. She was not shirking anything!

  “What must we seek to support you?” she asked, attempting to discover which Great Dragon she spoke to. There were too many variables, with Sun, Cloud and Sky all as sleepers. They were simir enough. He ughed.

  “Oh, nothing so easy, yet nothing too difficult. I am, I was, the Clouds. I will build a body from the mists that rise on the ocean at dawn, shape it into clouds, and then fly off, leaving your little friend here. But I am not as dramatic as my fellows. I will take time to build myself a body. At least a fortnight.” He reached out and patted her on the head. “Besides, someone should be here when the new little one is hatched.” She tugged on her soft cotton sleeve, trying to fix the fit of it, trying to ignore that he pnned to be here long enough to meet little daughter.

  “And what of Evander?”

  “He sleeps right now. He fought me for the body. He has a strong mind and heart, but until he is ready to be peaceable, he needs to sleep. Like an unruly toddler.”

  “He’s a grown man who has already watched his husband be taken by a god. He was frightened.”

  “Oh no, Droplet. I assure you, it was not fear. It was rage. I am in fact aware of the difference.” He ughed, throwing his head back. That got Epelda’s attention from on high, and she let go of the ropes and fluttered awkwardly down. She did not yet seem to have the best control over her wings. Nereida was gd for the back up.

  “You two know how this proceeds,” the dragon continued zily. He did not even spare a gnce for Epelda. “Continue on your journey, by all means. I will make a deal with the host, and then he can have his form back most of the time. Tell no outsiders, but given how this one feels about the crew, I imagine you tell all on this little toy.”

  “The ship is not a toy,” Epelda grouched silently, her hands filing about. The Cloud dragon ughed.

  “It amuses me that you think such things can keep you from Ocean’s wrath. If she wanted to take your lives, any of your lives, she is awake enough, sane enough, to do so. This toy will not save you, when she decides she has had enough of you crawling about her like bugs.”

  “There’s been enough grief, enough killing,” Nereida said, only mostly believing it. She wanted to believe it, but then she looked at her daughter, knew that the people who were responsible for maiming her could still be out there. She wasn’t sure if she had any mercy for demons.

  “Perhaps,” the Dragon replied with a shrug. “But know that if I am interfered with, I will not be gentle or merciful. The council will wake, and when we are awake, we will decide the next steps, both for us and for Shadow and Stars. They have much to answer for.”

  Nereida rushed to find her wife, but Ael’s face was set in a stony gre. Clearly the woman already knew the fate of her first mate. Nereida gnced back at her daughter. Epelda’s mouth was set in a thin line.

  “Let the crew know,” the Admiral’s voice was firm. “Evander’s orders are to be checked with me or Epelda at all times.”

  “Yes Admiral,” Epelda signed sharply. She hesitated, before she signed more. “Should I… take over the duty roster?”

  “Good thinking. Go. Do it. Spread the word, let them know who lurks behind Evander’s eyes. Can you fly once we start the docking procedure and find Dymion. Warn him, Epelda.”

  “I will.” Epelda’s sign was sure, her expression fierce. “We are going to help him though, right?”

  “The Dragon?” Ael’s Admiral persona cracked. “Yes, daughter, we will. He needs time, many mornings, but by the time we make ndfall next, he should have all he needs.” She moved to Epelda, pcing her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. Nereida watched the two of them, smiling sadly. Something passed between Ael and Epelda, their eyes locked on each other. Ael pced her hand on Epelda’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. Feeling like she was intruding, Nereida retreated, leaving the mother and daughter to talk.

  The voyage back took only an hour, and soon they were docked. The crew came back on board, whispers and worry on the wind. Epelda walked up with Dymion, the gnome hunched over, his head bent. Nereida and Ael went to retrieve Basiano, the children and the sirens. They wanted to be ready to go at first light the morning of the full moon, and so all hands needed to return.

  The st day was tense. Word had spread about Evander’s condition. Everyone on the crew knew about the Dragons now. There had been rumours that strange magic had befallen Epelda and Dymion, but now they knew the truth. There was fear on deck, and mistrust. The atmosphere was wrong, so very wrong. Dymion treated his husband with a cool detachment that was painful to watch, but he did not outright shun him either. Two crewmen, younger ones, gave Ael their resignations. They had been willing to travel with sirens, but dealing with gods was a step too far. They were afraid. On deck, Ael accepted with a tight smile, offering recommendation letters. She asked that they not tell the tale for at least one lunar cycle, to give them time to reach their destination. They swore on it, shaking her hand. But once they were gone, she retreated to the cabin to smash something. Nereida could hear her wife’s muffled, grumbled swears, and finally heard something shatter.

  The cost for helping the gods kept rising. Nereida was not sure how much more they could take.

  Evening fell, and most everyone was settled. Many of the crew, those that would have the earliest shift, were already in bed when supper was ready. They ate as a family for the first time in a week, the boys finally rexed around Epelda now that she was no longer a Dragon host. They peppered her with questions about how it felt to fly, squealing in delight. Epelda asked if she could put the boys to bed, for she had a special story for them, and Nereida agreed, gd to get a moment alone with her wife on what had been a hard day.

  But the moment they stepped out of the cabin together, Jules approached them. He had a bundle of cloth held in his arms with the care one normally reserved for an infant. Ael’s spine straightened and her Admiral persona slipped into pce. Nereida elbowed her wife sharply, earning her a gre from the fierce woman. Nereida simply shook her head, the tiniest motion, and Ael sighed, returning to her more neutral self.

  “Princess, Admiral,” Jules greeted, bowing his head respectfully. “I come with gifts.” Ael’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, but Nereida smiled at him.

  “Gifts?” she encouraged. He smiled a little, nervous smile, his eyes darting between them. He decided to look at Nereida first.

  “Traditionally,” he began, his voice trembling, “I… umm… when a Hunter asks for the hand of someone higher in caste, he has to… umm… gift something precious to the family.” A purplish blush was creeping up his face. “And I’d… I’d like to ask for her hand. If… if she’ll have me… but I didn’t want…” Nereida put her hands on his shoulders and his mouth snapped shut. He hugged the fabric closer.

  “What is it?” she asked softly, pcing her hand lightly on the bundle.

  “Sea-silk. We don’t… we don’t usually let those who breathe the air see it. It needs to be kept damp or wet, and then it's the most beautiful, shimmering pink and purple you’ve ever seen.”

  “What do you make of it?” she prodded.

  “We-wedding gear, cloaks for those with much power or influence.” He flushed. “It is enough for a wedding dress.”

  “We accept your gift,” Nereida said softly, as Ael made a strangled sound behind her. She did not turn to look at her wife, but kept her eyes on the young man instead. “If you want her hand, she is the one you need to ask.”

  “Thank you, Princess.”

  “Nereida.” She gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Unless we are at court, Nereida will do.”

  “Court?” he squeaked. Ael was snickering quietly.

  “She’s my heir, Ael’s heir. Looks like you, son, are joining etiquette lessons.” Nereida shot a glowering look at her wife, but Ael shrugged innocently. Nereida turned back to the nervous young man. “A long engagement, though. Try not to mimic us.” A ghost of a smile passed over his face.

  “Yes ma’am. Nereida. Princess.”

  “Go,” she sighed.

  “You can help Epelda tuck in the wee ones,” Ael suggested. “It’ll be good practice.” The boy went completely purple, ducking his head and rushing into the cabin to get away from the wives.

  Once the door was closed, Nereida let out the chuckle she had been holding in.

  “That was mean, love.”

  “Only a little. I think it was restraint.” Ael shrugged. “It’s fast, Ner.”

  “And we weren’t?”

  “We’re adults!”

  “So are they.” She looked over her shoulder at the cabin door. “They love each other enough to wake a god, love. Who are we to stand in their way?”