For fun, he made the mirror show her the lily nymphs.
They live on the lakes, he explained. Their clothes are lily petals that grow from their skin and give off a marvelous fragrance. They are called lilies. The boys dream of them, and I dream of you.
And what is about your brothers?
For them, to love a girl is to drag her down. In the beginning they were still choosing, but then they split up. Now they drown anyone they think is pretty.
Some sounds suddenly alerted her. The clinking of metal and quick footsteps! Desdemona didnt even realize they were suddenly aware, because Moran instantly blew the heads off two people. The corpses fell into the pool, staining it with blood. And some fish-like creatures devoured the dead flesh.
They are conspirators! Theyre like bedbugs! No matter how many of them you take out, they keep coming back, Moran grumbled. Their axes had wounded him.
Shall I call for the kings physician? Desdemona was worried.
Moran shook his head negatively. It appeared that all he had to do was sink into the water and all his wounds would heal themselves.
Water heals all our injuries, Moran braided his tentacles around the edge of the pool
You were better off in the water. Youre vulnerable on land, she concluded. Thats probably why there are so many new pools. While he was targeting his injuries in the water, she stroked his hair. Theyre softer than silk!
I held you captive as my queen, and you pity me.
I have had time to love you.
Moran sighed as if it was too late. Somewhere in the distance, a long trumpet sounded over the sea, making my blood run cold.
Its Fathers horn, Moran explained. When he wants to summon someone or attack the shores, he blows that wonderful horn. He needs me for something.
Swim to him!
I cant! Moran kissed her quickly. I cant leave you alone. I dont want any sea monsters to come to you in my absence.
Desdemona remembered Alaiss dagger, which she still kept with her.
I am ready for them, she said bravely.
You cannot stand alone. Or do you want me to go somewhere else?
The only answer he would have had before was, You are the ruler. We are vassals. You want me, and I have to be here, but now she wouldnt have sneered anymore.
One scar didnt go away even in the water. Moran intercepted her gaze.
Theres a legend that Lilopheas youngest son was cut in half with a sword: one human, one watery. The halves fused together.
It is monstrous!
He grinned. How beautiful his face was! What a contrast to the ugliness of his body!
Am I a monster? Or is the act monstrous? Im a fairy tale monster. Youre the girl I forced to be my bride by force. Of course youre unhappy. Or are you finally happy?
Are you in pain?
He didnt answer.
Who did it?
My own father did it.
You mean the water king? But why is it?
He didnt want us children. Thats why my brothers are so angry and sink ships, including your brothers ships. My father was obsessed with one object, the Earth princess. For her, he would move mountains and seas for her. Its hard to live with someone who would do anything for a woman. Shes worth more than a kingdom, more than a lifetime, even if its an eternity. And were just unwanted fruit.
It is not for me, Desdemona ran her hand over his cheek.
He clawed his webbed hands around her face. She would probably die because of him one day, because he couldnt live on land, she couldnt breathe in water. All that remained was to perish together. If he wished to drown her now, she wouldnt even try to resist. Moran mesmerized her, so much so that she said:
I love you.
Is it now? He grinned. When you know we could be harmed by both my kin and attacked by another conspirator?
It is now and always!
Desdemona nestled her lips against his in a long kiss. Even if they cannot be two, they will die together happy. But the one conspirator attacked no more today, and the calling horn was silent over the sea.
The shell game
Livia hung the magic mirror in the partition between the column and the canopy. It didnt seem to show its magical ability to look wherever you asked it to. Vayra, for example, wouldnt even realize it was magical unless she wanted to see a certain place when she was near it. One can only hope shes reasonable. Or she could wish aloud to see distant places while cleaning, in which case the mirror will reveal itself.
Desdemona herself had already had time to ask the spys eye to show her everything, even the Blue Islands, where the Morgens and an earthly queen named Adriana had settled.
It was indeed beautiful there. There were pearls instead of berries on the blue branches of the trees, the leaves were blue, and there were pearl rains on the coast. The sand was studded with pearls and coral. The birdsong resembled the voices of sirens.
The mirror could also transmit sounds. It was truly an excellent spy. If Desdemona had close friends or adoring relatives, she could see them without going anywhere.
But should she, if she has no friends, spy on her enemies? And does she have enemies? The spys eye is clearly designed to spy on ill-wishers. The Morgens invented it for a reason. Even at the bottom, they wanted to maintain control of the world.
Your kin from the sea can probably see everything thats happening to us right now, Desdemona commented thoughtfully on the power of the mirror.
I dont think theyre that interested in us, Moran rearranged an intricate game of live shells on the lomber table. It was called sea chess. The board was divided into a water field and a land field.
One person plays on land, the other on water, Moran explained.
It would be symbolic if you yourself were not the king of the land.
Do you want to play on the water side?
Oh, no, I dont! Desdemona picked up the black shells symbolizing the earth. As it turned out, there was no need to touch them with ones hands. All you had to do was give the command (aloud or mentally) and they moved on their own. Moran proved to be a more skillful player. Desdemonas projectiles were sinking in the blue water fields of the board.
Lets play for land, she suggested after a quarter of an hour. After all, a land king (even as a Morgen himself) has a duty to protect his islands from the sea.
Moran didnt bother to remind her that she herself had never become a priestess of the sea god, but allowed her to play on the water side of the board. It wasnt proving to be so easy. The blue water projectiles burned up, barely hitting the earth fields.
How can you win like that? Desdemona was indignant, shuddering at the sight of another flash of flame as another of her projectiles was trapped and burned.
The principle here is the same as in ordinary chess. You just dont know your way around the obstacles.
Desdemona tried again, but again failed and even burned her palm.
No, I do not know how to play it, she gave up.
Its simple! Not without reason it is a favorite game at the sea court.
The shells are burning, and Im scared. Sea chess is beautiful, but when you start playing it, you realize its more creepy than entertaining.
You should see the sands!
What is that?
Its a game of the goddess Alais. She invented it to drive kings and warlords mad.
It must be a terrible game, Desdemona agreed. The mention of Alais brought to mind the dragon goddess who roamed the flaming palaces of Tioria.
Desdemona gave a sigh of relief. It was easier to think of it that way. The thought of some deity taking Moran away from her did not please her at all. In the king, shed finally found the friend shed never had before. She was also in love with Moran. So just looking at him was already a pleasure. And from talking to him, you could learn a lot of secrets that people dont even know about.