“It’s all flooded now, though,” Rio said, giving Levent a look as the dragon-kin crawled up onto land.
Instead of the rage I expected to cross the mer-king’s face, his smile grew.
“Even better,” he said. “Now only we can see it.”
We stood, clothes and hair dripping.
“There’s a point,” Rio said. “But make sure you don’t get your fins chopped off.”
Levent grunted.
An hour later found me back with Feenaly, changed back into the terrible human clothes I arrived in. I frowned, pulling at the fabric. At least it smelled less disgusting after the mermaid washed it. Feenaly handed me my walking stick as we left. I frowned at the scorch marks.
“What was it like?” she asked as we went to meet King Julreus.
“Dark,” I said, honestly. “But kind of pretty, I guess...”
We entered the throne room. Rio was also in his old clothing. Levent, however, seemed to still be getting the seawater out of his cloak. King Julreus smiled as I entered, beckoning to me.
“Yes, Your Majesty?” I said.
“I wanted to thank you, Miss Taimi,” he said. “For giving us a great gift.”
I shook my head, looking at the floor. “Sorry that we kind of ruined it,” I said.
“Not ruined,” he said. “You have made it how it was designed. I let Rio and the dragon-kin go after you because I was afraid you might have drowned.”
“Wait. You knew?” I said.
“Not knew, suspected,” he said, standing. “Now, despite my best efforts, Rio tells me you must be on your way.”
I looked to the half-blood. He gave a half-hearted smile.
“I suppose,” I said. “Do we... Do we go out the same way...?”
The king’s smile widened. “Rio has told me about your aversion to water. No, you do not have to go out the western tunnel. I’m quite surprised you even made it through there.”
I let out the nervous laugh that had been bubbling in my throat.
“Feenaly, can you show them the way?”
“Of course,” she said with a bow.