the goddess Readimina.” The king stood, pacing and gesturing as he spoke.
“After you have opened the gate and do what the goddess expects of you, the royal guard and myself will enter the temple. We will see what our kind has been waiting to see for nearly a thousand years. When we have finished, I care not what Master Itzallion’s business is within the temple.”
He turned and glared intensely at the kin.
“You will be free to explore it as you wish, provided Miss Taimi and Master Mortimer are by your sides at all times.”
Levent nodded. I was sure he heard the threat that was in between the king’s words as well as I had.
“Now. Go and rest. I will send someone for you in the morning.”
The two of us were released. Feenaly retrieved me as we left the throne room. I said a brief ‘Good Night’ to Levent. The kin grunted his own in reply and left, accompanied by his own merman escort. The thin mermaid led me back to my room.
As I tucked myself into the silky sheets on the bed, I watched Feenaly lower the light of the glowing crystals in the room.
I hoped that Rio would be all right. I fell into a shallow sleep, my mind restless.
I was having tea in the mountains, a great grassy field all around me. Then a tiny mouse began ripping at the fabric of my skirt. I tried to push it away, but my hand went right through it. Then there were even more; crawling all over me and pulling at my hair.
My eyes flickered open to the unnatural glow of the lamps.
Sighing, I rolled over and tried to return to sleep when I heard it: scratching. Inconstant and faint, it was just audible enough to be infuriating. I lay there for a few minutes listening to the sound fade and return, but to no result. I slipped out from underneath the sheets and walked to the narrow window.
I could not see what was making the noise, but it sounded like it was just outside. In the silence of the underground, only the scratching and the gentle lick of waves could be heard. Tucking my robe around me tightly, I moved to the door. I would find the source of the noise and end it.
“Are you feeling well, Miss?” Feenaly whispered as I entered the hall, giving me such a start I nearly screamed.
I did not realize she would be sitting right outside.