The soldiers froze, though the one holding me didn’t let go, nor did he loosen his vice grip. Then slowly, he turned with me in his lap and I saw Josiah, pointing a spear gun in our direction.
If I expected the soldiers to tremble in fear, how wrong I was. In unison, they laughed and the one holding me pressed his face into my shoulder as he wheezed.
I think I would have preferred death by gator than to suffer in his grasp any longer.
Finally, he sat up straighter. “You think I’m afraid of your little weapon, freshwater freak?”
“If you aren’t then you’re dumber than you look, soldier. Now, let her go.”
I could tell the soldier was offended because he stiffened. “Now look—”
He didn’t get the rest out because at that moment the front door of the tavern burst open and a voice—deep, rumbling and familiar—sounded.
“What is going on here?”
The soldiers turned their gazes to the door and upon seeing who it was, quickly got up from their seats. I was pushed forward, colliding into Jo. He righted me with one arm, but kept the other tight on his weapon.
I whirled around to see the mermen come at attention, their bodies straight and their gazes wide on the wall. The merman that swam before them I recognized, and only felt the claws of panic dig in deeper.
Aquamarine eyes found my own. Gone was the shock and tenderness he’d looked at me with earlier and in its place, hard anger. But all of his anger was directed at the other soldiers.
“Captain Saber—”
“Did I give you permission to speak?” The merman who had knocked me down—theCaptain—was suddenly looming over the one who had held me. His eyes were flickering like two-legger fire. When the soldier clamped his mouth shut, the Captain backed away and glared down the line at them all. “This is how you spend your time during Selection? Harassing the locals?”
“Captain, we—”
“I still do not recall allowing you to speak, cadet.”
Dangerous. That was what the captain looked like in that moment, his body poised like a blade waiting to strike and kill. The soldier trembled and bit down tightly on his bottom lip.
“You’re a disgrace to the royals you represent. All of you.” The captain’s glare didn’t fall from place, his eyes piercing. “Now pay what you owe and leave, back to your posts. Your punishmentwillcome later.” When no one moved he snarled. “Well?”
The soldiers practically scrambled over each other to dump coins onto the table before turning and bowing low in mine and Josiah’s direction. “We apologize for our behavior,” they said. When we didn’t reply, they straightened and took their leave, tripping from the tavern like guppies. Only the captain stayed.
He turned to us. Josiah kept his weapon raised and pointed but the captain didn’t so much as blink. Instead, he looked at me. I felt my breath catch in the back of my throat.
“I don’t care if you’re a captain. Get out of my tavern.”
The captain didn’t flinch, or even look in Josiah’s direction. My face flamed under his scrutiny. “Gladly,” the captain replied. “But first I would like a word withher.” He nodded at me.
I went cold down to the marrow in my bones and had to fight away the urge to reach for Josiah’s arm in support. Instead, I lifted my head high and glared at him.
“Absolutely not,” Josiah replied, his hands tightening on his weapon.
“Please,” he whispered and I could have sworn that was desperation in his voice. “It’s urgent that I speak with you. In private.”
I don’t know why I did it, why his words convinced me. I didn’t lower my guard, but I did place the palm of my hand on Jo’s spear gun to lower it.
“It’s okay, Jo,” I whispered. “I’ll speak with him.”
~~
I LED HIM OUT THE BACK AFTER ASSURINGJosiah that I’d be fine on my own. Even as I muttered the words, I slipped a kitchen knife into the belt of my tunic. Just in case. I also didn’t say a word to him until I led him deeper towards the back, near the gators. If he tried anything, I knew I’d be safe. I knew these grounds and he didn’t. If things got rough, I could swim away, leaving him to a fate of teeth and blood.
When we were far enough away to not be overheard, I whirled around to face him, hands on my hips. “What do you want to speak to me about?” His posture was ever stiff, his hands frozen behind his back. He was staring at me, eyes roaming up and down over my every inch. My fins flared defensively. “So?” I prompted. “What do youwant?”
His eyebrows furrowed, he looked as though he were at war with himself, grinding his teeth, jaw straining with the effort. Finally, he spoke. “I have travelled all over the kingdom and never, in all that time, did I think I’d come across someone like you.”
