The water seemed colder as we swam to the grotto, the warriors around us looked excited, many having joined for the sole purpose to kill the demon Landwalkers that threatened our waters.  Some, like me, had lost someone to the world above.  We broke through the surface of the water startling the man from a doze. He sneered at us but could not hide the fear in his eyes.  Lord Cadfael swam forward and pulled himself clear of the water. His tail formed into legs and he stood before the man holding a slim metal spear.  Lord Cadfael gave the man a sneer of his own as the man scrambled to his feet.

    “Such barbaric features this demon has,” the lord said.  “Look how hairy his arms are. Tsk tsk.”

    “I’m surprised you even know how to speak,” the man countered balling his hands into fists. “Seeing that you are the true demon.”  Lord Cadfael feigned shock and took a mocking step back, his mouth in a comical “o”.  This incited the man further and he swung at the lord who smoothly dodged it then struck the man in the knees.  He crashed to the ground with a groan and Lord Cadfael pinned him to the ground with the butt of his spear.

    I watched Lord Cadfael lift the spear then bring it down hard causing the man to grunt in pain.  Before he could do it again I had pushed passed the warriors and grabbed the man’s arm and pulled him away. “LORD CADFAEL!” I shouted.  The lord paused and stared at me, his face an emotionless mask.  I ducked my head in fright cursing myself for what I had done. “Lord Cadfael, I have saved this man’s life.  When you injure him, you injure me.  If you kill him I will be cursed.”

   There was a collective pause as everyone around me held their breath.  I knew what I was doing was reckless, but I could not stand by and let our lord commit murder, because that was what it was, not an execution, a murder.  Maybe the man whose life I had saved had killed many of my people, maybe he had not, but I would not let him die to appease the hatred that had been fostered between our peoples.

    The cavern echoed with a loud clunk as Lord Cadfael struck the stone with his spear.  “My betrothed shows much courage in defying me,” he said sternly.  “I will not take a cursed woman under my roof; this demon’s life shall be spared as long as he commits no acts of aggression against us.  For now, he is in your charge Sol; do not make me regret this.”

    I felt icy fingers run down my back as I dared to raise my head to look at my Lord.  I could not read the expression on his face which caused more fear to run through me. It felt like I was back on the cliff with the waves roaring below while hounds snarled and bayed before me.  Was he the hounds that threatened to tear my throat or the waves below offering safety?

    Eight days later I received a summons from Lord Cadfael.  My father and I were in the grotto leaving food for the man I had saved.  As soon as the courier showed the man began cursing us loudly making me believe he did it out of fear. The courier sneered at the man then ignored him.  “Lady Sol, Lord Cadfael requests your presence this evening for a formal dinner of his peers.  Do not worry about attire, it shall be provided.  Additionally, you are to bring your prisoner.”

    “What the hell?  You’re going to show me off like some prized buck?  I am not an animal; I am a man and will not be put through this! I refuse! I’d rather hang,” said the man

    “Silence child, though you may view this as demeaning you should be grateful you even have a life to lose.  You are under my daughter’s protection as long as the Lord finds favor with he,” My father growled.

    “You mean until he finds a new succubus,” the man muttered under his breath.  I stiffened in surprise then laughed at him. He looked confused for a moment before he glared at me causing me to laugh even more.

    “I do not know how your world works, but beneath the surface we do not allow pre marital unions.  Such an act can be punishable by death,” I told him.  I watched as he paled visibly then turned my attention back to the courier who watched us with interest.  I knew Lord Cadfael had sent him to spy on me and my charge.  I had to mind my words and be careful of my actions in front of him.  Though I was Lord Cadfael’s betrothed, I did not have immunity to severe punishment.

    “Tell the Lord we will heed his wishes.  What time is my daughter to appear?”

    “5th bell, just before daylight fades.  An escort will be sent out to collect the prisoner for her.”  My father nodded in agreement and the courier left with a small splash.  I gathered sand in my palm and let it fall back to the stone floor of the grotto with a soft “ssshhh” noise.  I did not want to go to the party; I would be as much a show piece as my charge.  I watched him eat the cooked fish we had brought to him in a sealed box.  In the time that he had lived with us his beard had grown wildly obscuring his age. None of the Waterfolk was able to grow beards though pictures of our ancestors depicted the men with them.  Somewhere along our ancestral lines the trait died.

    “What is your name?”

   The man looked up from his bowl and raised an eyebrow.  “I will not give it to you because you will curse it.”

   I rolled my eyes and turned my back on him. “I’m Sol and my father here is Manolo.  We work in the kelp fields.”  I heard him shift behind me but I trusted my father to watch my back.  Strangely he had not chided me for asking the man a question.  Normally he would hush me or send me on a trivial errand if it looked like I was becoming too familiar with him.  Maybe he wanted to know his name as well.  The fact that I had not asked for it earlier had gnawed at the edge of my mind.

    “I’m Ryaa Kane.”  I heard my father’s surprised intake of breath and turned to see him staring at the man, but there was nothing different.

   “Pa?” He turned to look at me then shook his head before signaling that he would tell me later.  I sighed to show my disappointment.

    Ryaa set his bowl down using the last of his bread to wipe the bowl clean of the fish sauce.  He sighed in contentment and leaned against the wall.  My father packed the rest of the food then dragged me into the water with him.  “Pa, why were you surprised to know his name?” I sang.  My father swam faster seeming to be lost in thought.

    “I will tell you later.” His voice floated back to me filled with deep emotion.  What was my father hiding from me, and what made that man’s name so important?  I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind and instead concentrated on the party that was to come.  In truth, I felt nervous.  What would Lord Cadfael’s peers think of me?  I was only a kelp farmer, not a warrior of rank like my mother.

    Only certain classes were allowed to move freely in the waters.  This was to keep Landwalkers from finding all of our cities and villages that mass travel would attract.  I knew one of the nobles would ask how I found Ryaa Kane.  If I told them the truth I could be banished, if I lied I would have to keep that lie until I was made a noble and was no longer under the travel restriction.

    All too soon the 5th bell rang and a personal escort came to the fields to collect me.  I heard the angry cadence of voices around me as the people I grew up and worked with sang their jealousy.  It was not often someone of my standing became betrothed to a noble.  To them I was becoming something separate. My friends had started to avoid me as soon as they knew I was betrothed.  The elders had certain ideas on how I should act, what I should eat, who I should spend time with.  My cousins were the only ones who treated me normally and for that I was grateful.

Several female servants were waiting for us in the entrance hall.  As soon as I emerged they rushed forward and pulled me from the water and down the hall.  I stumbled after them nearly tripping on the worn floors.  Soon I became lost as they lead me through the numerous hallways of Lord Cadfael’s home.  We passed many beautiful carvings and statues that decorated every wall.  I longed to linger and gaze at them, to study the lines and colors, but there was no time for that now.

We came to a stop in front of an ornately carved wooden door. One servant slid the door open and I was pushed inside.  A metal vat sat in the middle of the room filled with steaming water, it was too big to be a cooking pot and in the wrong place to prepare a meal.  A familiar fragrance drifted from it immediately causing my body to relax.  “Please use this as a token of Lord Cadfael’s good grace,” one servant said bowing towards the vat.

“Um… what am I supposed to do with the vat?”

One of the servants giggled and was quickly hushed. “Milady that is a bathing tub.  If you would please strip down and enter it we can begin our next task.”

I looked down at the gossamer clothes that always clothed me when I left the water.  I had never removed them, the thought frightened me.  What if I turned into a demon or disappeared into vapor?  I gripped the fabric.  Before I could escape they seized me and stripped me down to nothing then unceremoniously threw me into the bathing tub.  I shrank away from them as they grabbed sponges and began to roughly scrub my arms and face.  After what seemed like an eternity I was allowed to step out of the tub, my skin and scalp feeling raw and that is when I noticed something was wrong.

I looked down at my legs then looked back at the tub; they hadn’t changed when I was completely submerged in the water.  Waterfolk had to keep a conscious effort to have legs when completely submerged, it was a test of will power, but I had sat in the tub shaking in fear, there was no way I could keep my legs.

One girl touched my arm and I shrank away from her. “Milady, is something the matter?”

“My legs, my tail… I didn’t ch-change,” I stammered.  The girl held up my clothes.

“This is what allows us to be in the water. If we remove it, we can’t change back until we don it once more.”

I reached out to snatch my clothes, but two women grabbed me and wrapped me in a towel forcing me to watch helplessly as the girl took off with my clothes.  “Let me go,” I snarled in a low voice.  They had no right to confine me to dry land. They ignored me and began to dry me off nearly knocking me off my feet as they struggled to reach every inch of me.  I did not want to hurt them, but if they did not release me I would have to. Then I realized it was too late to find my clothes.  I did not know my way around Lord Cadfael’s home.

I started to gasp and fell to my knees; they were too weak to hold my weight as they shook wildly. My whole body was shaking. I was trapped on land.  If I tried to leave I would soon drown without the aid of another Waterfolk.

“Milady calm down, no harm will befall you.”

I shook my head. She was lying to me, already I had been harmed, they had taken my freedom, I was trapped as a Landwalker. Salty tears filled my eyes as I realized that I was now like Ryaa, trapped deep beneath the waves, seeing home so close but unreachable.

“Lady Sol, please, we do not have time for this.  Get up and let us dress you!”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Through the blur of my tears I saw the shimmering sea green robes that they held before me.  I pushed them away feeling my stomach heave.  How could I wear something that was not mine, something that would show that I was still a prisoner?

Seeing my unwillingness to cooperate they began to dress me as they would a doll, lifting my arms for me, moving me to a stool so that they could put color on my nails and comb my hair. When they were down they held a mirror before my eyes and I looked at the face of a stranger. Black coal lined her eyes making the lashes seem longer while the yellow and gold dust on her eyelids brought out hidden browns in her eyes.  Red coated her lips making them look like a fresh plucked berry.  She was gorgeous, but her face looked lost and sad.

With a jolt I realized I was staring at myself.  I felt tears prick the corners of my eyes; they were taking everything from me.

“Lady Sol, please don’t cry, we worked hard to put on that makeup.  The lord will not be pleased with us if you ruin it with your child’s tears.”

A woman knelt before me and took my hands in her own. She stared at me with such intensity that I could not look away. “Sol, this is only temporary, we will return your Grace to you.”

“Grace?” I mumbled not understanding her.  She pointed to a female guard behind her who was dressed simply in gossamer skirts and scale armor. My eyes widened in understanding. They called our gossamer robes Grace.  The name fit, the Gentle God had saved us from death, and it was divine grace that made us what we were now.

My body slowly relaxed and I stood up feeling reenergized.  My Grace would be returned. I wasn’t a prisoner, just a guest.  I felt the women around me relax making me feeling sheepish.  The guard cleared her throat drawing our attention to her. “Is my lady prepared?”

“Yes,” I whispered.  The guard led me to a white painted door.  She knocked on it loudly. Bran opened it, saw me then threw the door open wide and waved me in hurriedly. “The master is not in a good mood this evening, please do your best to please him,” he whispered to me as I passed.  I shivered, the last thing I wanted to do was further anger Lord Cadfael.

I heard the door close behind me and whipped around. They had left me in a room alone with the lord. I sucked in a quick breath then turned to face the chair where he sat watching me, his chin resting on his hand as he reclined.  Anger, almost palpable rolled off him in waves as I curtsied quickly. “Good evening my lord.”

He sighed and rubbed his temples.  “Please don’t call me that, we are behind closed doors.  Just call me Vael,” he moaned.  “I’m sick of everyone groveling before me.”  I raised an eyebrow.  I thought Lord Cadfael loved striking fear in everyone around him.

“I’m sorry Lord Vael.”

“No, just Vael… please?”  I heard vulnerability in his voice and stared at him surprised.  Was I in a dream, did I hit my head leaving the bathing tub? Maybe he was trying to lure me into a sense of calm before becoming the raging man that we all knew him as.

He lifted a bottle from a small table beside him and poured liquid into two glasses.  “Would you like a drink? It gets dry being out of water.”

I approached him cautiously and took the cup he offered me with both hands. For a moment our fingers met. I glanced at his hand then up into his black eyes and saw something there that I had never seen before; sadness. My right hand left the cup and I touched his cheek with the back of my fingers.  He closed his eyes and let out a soft breath. I froze; what had I done? Why was I touching Lord Cadfael?

I pulled my hand away but he caught it and put it back on his cheek. “Please, just leave it there.” I looked around the room trying to find an escape, but if I moved what would he do to me? The memory of the cliff came back to me. Waves or hounds? echoed in my mind.

After a few minutes he turned my hand over and placed a kiss in my palm before releasing it.  I backed away quickly, the hand he had kissed balled into a fist. I dared a glance at the palm fearing that there would be a burn mark in the shape of his lips; there was nothing there. I turned my hand around feeling stupid; I was acting like a child. “Did I hurt you?”

“No… May I ask a question?” He seemed to consider it for a moment then nodded. “Why are you acting this way?” The question seemed to surprise him and I saw another unfamiliar expression on his face; a genuine smile.  My mouth opened in an “o”; he was showing his true emotions to me.

“Since I first saw you many years ago, I felt a connection to you that I only had with my mother.  Like you, she was restless, always looking for the answer to everything.  Even marrying my father did not bind her.”  He lifted his cup to his lips, a gentle smile on his face as he remembered her.  Lady Fiamma had been loved by everyone.  She was the daughter of a capital politician who had married Lord Cadfael’s father Lord Kai.  “My father forced me to show an image of absolute dominance when in public.” He lifted his sleeve and showed me a scar on his bicep. “He beat me whenever I slipped up.  Even though it has been years since his death I can’t break away from that image, it has become habit. My former wives were disgusted with me; they were attracted to the raging and aggressive tyrant, not the man that I truly am.”

“And what kind of man are you?”

He stood up quickly then went to a corner of the room shrouded in shadow. An unknown object sat covered in a white cloth. He dragged it away revealing painted canvas. As he dragged it into the light the image became clear, it was a painting of the sunset viewed from the top of a cliff overlooking the sea. I gasped at its beauty and detail; it was almost as if I was looking through a portal into a different world. I look between the artwork and him, trying to fuse the two images I now had in my head of him; One where he sat brooding in his garden with rage sparking in his eyes, the other where he sat here, his fingers covered in paint as he intently painted the waves reflecting the sun.

Waves or hounds?

“Vael?”

A knock came at the door and I flinched, spilling water on my hand. I shook it off before opening the door. Bran stood nervously in the hallway twisting a bit of cloth in his hands.  “Is the lord ready to receive his guests?”  I looked over my shoulder and watched Lord Cadfael transform before my eyes.  The sadness in his eyes faded while his face became a mask of coldness. He brushed passed me and opened the door wider to glare at his attendant.

“I am ready,” he said in a cold voice.  Bran shrank back and bowed swiftly before leading the way to the eating hall. Lord Cadfael took my hand and placed it on his arm.  I looked up at him trying to guess what was going through his head, but his thoughts were closed to me. 

Bran opened the door to the hall and there was a collective scrape of chairs and swish of cloth as everyone in the room stood to greet Lord Cadfael. 

The dining hall was circular with a pool at its center.  Sometimes guests dined in the pool, other times performers swam within it.  Tonight only candles floated in the water giving an intimate atmosphere.

“May I present to you the lord of this manor, Lord Cadfael of Weston and his bride-to-be, Lady Sol,” Bran announced to the room.  There was applause and they waited for us to reach the head of the table. The lord seated me first, pulling out my chair and wiping away imaginary dust before allowing me to sit.  After scooting my chair in he sat.

I felt the heated stares of those attending and caught snatches of remarks.

“Backward.”

“Field hand.”

“Simple.”

“Ugly.”

“Beautiful.”

“Leech.”

They did not know me but were instantly ready to judge me. So instead of slouching I held my head high and turned to the woman beside me fiddling with her napkin. Red gems and black stones were woven into her hair marking her as higher wealth.  “Good evening, I’m Sol, what is your name?” The woman was surprised that I spoke to her.  She tried to hide a sneer with a small cough before answering me.

“I am the Illustria of Meridia, Kori, and this is my husband the Illustrious of Meridia, Port.”

“I am pleased to meet you Illustria, and I must say that your hair looks exquisite.  Did you design the style?” I said.  I watched the woman beam.  If I knew anything about nobles it was that they loved to be complimented.  If I was going to survive in the savage world of nobles I needed to make alliances quickly.  I could not afford to show weakness.

“Why yes I did,” she said gently patting the coils and loops.  “My inspiration was the anemone.  If you like I can send one of my stylists to you.” The last part was whispered to me.

“That would be greatly appreciated Illustria, but I would not want to deprive you of skilled workers.”

She laughed at me and waved her hand. “You would not be, consider it as a wedding present.  In fact after you two are married, you should visit us in Meridia for our annual Festive.”

I felt my face warm in embarrassment.  The thought of marrying Lord Cadfael still scared me.  How was I to deal with the mood shifts? “We would be most humbly honored Illustria.” 

I felt a warm hand settle upon my left and I turned to find Lord Cadfael staring at me intently. He leaned in close and I met him halfway.  His lips settled on my ear tickling it. “What are you talking about with the Illustria of Meridia?”  It was my turn to place my lips on his ear, but I found myself hesitating for a brief moment.

    “She has offered me a stylist as a wedding gift and invited us to their annual Festive.” He pulled away from me, surprise showing briefly in his eyes before settling back into his brooding mask. Lifting my left hand he delicately kissed the fingertips.

“You do not know how much you have honored our household,” he whispered into my ear before standing up. “Lords and Ladies of the Deep, I welcome you into the house of Weston.  As you all know this is the formal dinner to announce my engagement to Lady Sol nee Piera.” He offered me his right hand and helped me to rise from my seat.  I looked at the table cloth woven with fish as the nobles applauded us. Tears pricked my eyes as I felt a giant hole open up in front of me.  Soon my life as a farmer would end. I pictured the things that tied me to my old life falling down that hole to disappear in its dark depths.  Then I pictured myself falling as the stranger in the mirror replaced me.

A glass was pressed into my hand and I looked up to see everyone holding one aloft, raised in a toast. Cadfael tapped his to mine before saluting the room with it.

“To Lord Cadfael and Lady Sol!” the Illustrious shouted then sipped from his glass. I was the last to sip, feeling the cold slightly salty liquid settle on my tongue.

The dinner passed slowly with many dishes served accompanied by a special drink. The small bowl of water kept by my plate to clean off my shell spoon soon became dirty, looking like a strange soup filled with shrimp bits, rice and fruit.  Dessert was honeyed milk with slices of cherry floating at the top of the slim cup. I took a small taste and immediately loved it.

Soon dessert concluded and the guests filtered out of the dining hall leaving Lord Cadfael and myself to sit as the servants quickly cleared the table and left.  The silence between us was drawn out until I had to force myself to not leap from my chair.  He cleared his throat and l looked at him under my lashes.  “The Illustrious and Illustria are the most respected nobles and highest ranking outside of the capital.  They are known for exclusive parties and fad inspiring designs.  They are practically famous and rule above me.  I am pleased that the Illustria has found favor with you.”

“I did not realize their importance,” I said carefully. I received a genuine smile and felt myself relax in response. “Am I free to go home Vael?” His face shut down making me feel guilty. Despite my fear of him I touched his cheek before planting a kiss on his brow. “I promise to return tomorrow.”

“Noon, that is when we gather to go to the Sanctuary.”

My eyes opened wide in surprise. How were we to get to the Sanctuary with Ryaa being kept at its entrance? Then I remembered. “That’s why you had Ryaa moved here.”

“Who’s Ryaa?”

“The Landwalker milord.”

He looked away and put his chin in his hand. “Oh, yes, the demon kin...  How does he fare?”

“Restless and angry. He thought you were going to show him off like a prized kill.”

Lord Cadfael laughed and shook his head.  “I will never understand them, such barbaric people seeking to steal the blessing given to us by the Gentle God, not knowing that they have been given their own.” He rose, took my hand and led me from the hall. “They get to view the sun everyday and enjoy its heat while we languish here under cold waters soaking up its dregs.  What was it like on the mainland?”

The question caught me off guard and I stumbled. He caught me and tucked me under his arm in an intimate gesture. Keeping my eyes from him I answered. “They were like us.  I watched the men attach wood and rope to large beasts and goad them into plowing the fields of rich dark earth while women followed close behind dropping seeds.  The children weeded vegetable gardens and repainted the sheds.  They spoke of a late spring market to show off all the goods they had been working on through the winter.  Then they played music.”  I paused to close my eyes and remember the gentle tones of the unknown wooden instrument and the words the children sang. 

“Brush your doorsteps, air the sheets,

Open windows to the wind.

Dust the cobwebs, scrub your floor,

Throw out what was spent.

Plow the fields, weed the gardens,

Grow all your crops high!

Chase the winter with sun and rain,

God bless the spring.”

I opened my eyes to find him staring at me again and shrugged out of his embrace. “Did they sing that?” he asked gently. My heart was racing again, had I sung aloud unknowingly?  Why was I making such a fool of myself in front of my future husband?  Maybe the walls would come down to crush me for my stupidity.  Such a thing would be a blessing compared to the thought of him mocking me. “Sol?”

I heard the concern in his voice, but instead of comforting me, it scared me.  He wasn’t supposed to act like this; he was supposed to be a cruel raging man, not a gentle artist.

I shook my head; I was thinking like my friends, imposing my beliefs on what a lord should be instead of accepting who he was.

I turned around and took his hands in mine.  After lifting my head to meet his eyes I gazed deeply into them trying to figure out how I would live with him.  The betrothal necklace hung around my neck like dead weight threatening to drag me down into the pit I was on the verge of falling into.  “I’m sorry for trying to force you to be what you’re not,” I began.  The necklace grew heavier and my knees shook.  “I want you to be the painter, not the tyrant that your father made you.  Please stop taking out your anger on those who serve you.”  I closed my eyes, leaned forward and leaped.