From the Depths

Kirea was escorted to where the King was supposably dining. Tyson thankfully stayed with her all the while, though she couldn’t say that she fully trusted him, though it was somewhat slightly reassuring having to not see and meet the King alone for the first time.

Tyson instructed her to wait until he called for you, he had to gain permission first it seemed. So many rules she was going to have to get used to, it was all starting to give her a headache. The nagging pain in her temples would probably become the new normal for her all too soon. But still, she forced a smile and nodded following his lead and waited.

From what she had been told so far, she must rise at a certain time, and eat at a certain time. No walking in certain areas; that one had more to do with the Knights doing unghastly things to women who wandered around alone. She could not speak unless spoken to, except with Tyson, who was to be her supervisor of sorts. She could not leave the castle without first gaining permission. And lastly, the most strange of all that she was ordered to do, or in this case not to do. She must not, under any circumstances, talk to anyone about the work that she is to be doing, the only exceptions being Tyson and Lord Haith.

What the hell was she going to be doing that called for that much secrecy? Her thoughts were promptly interrupted when she was summoned into the room.

“He’ll see you now.” Tyson addressed her poking his head out from the closed door before her.

Oh he will, will he? She calmed herself and her quick-witted tongue. Her normal lifestyle would never sort this environment, and if she was to keep herself and her mother alive she would need to act... civilised. Just the thought gave her goosebumps. Readying herself as best as she could, she walked through the large wooden doors to stand beside Tyson. Taking hold of her skirts she curtsied to greet his Majesty the King.

“It is an honour, my King.” Raising her head she came face to face with the man who was heavily hated by the lesser classes. She immediately had to steel her face and force a smile. The sight before her was anything but handsome, revolting didn’t even begin to describe what she witnessed. This man... this man was their ruler!? Heavens save us all.

He was still shovelling food into his mouth as he eyed her with his double chins held high. She watched as he tore into a turkey leg, the grease raining down his chins onto his extravagant garments. She fought back the urge to vomit at the sight. No wonder the women he bought here never left, they probably threw themselves off the cliffside, when the alternative was to bed... him. If he ever asked her to his bed chamber, she might very well think that was an option.

“Yes, yes. Get to explaining Tyson.” When he spoke saliva projected and sprayed over the plates in front of him. “But first the doors. And remember, if she can’t do it, it’s your head on the line.”

Tyson bowed low sweeping his arm across his chest. “Yes, of course, your Majesty.”

Kirea was tense, her body frozen. So easily he could speak about death. Her mother had always warned her to keep her head down around the nobles and to never come in contact with the royals. Guess all that was out the window now.

Tyson scurried around the room closing both entrances to the room. One looked to be a kitchen to the back and the other the entrance she had come through. She stood as politely as possible with a forced smile, her hands clenched in her apron, as she waited for her freedom to be locked away on the other side of those doors. No escape, no witnesses.

Once his task was complete Tyson returned to her side, her attention quickly switching targets moving away from the balding fat man that was meant to be her ruler. All she could see was a greedy pig using her tax money to fuel his own obsessions. And still, she had to force the sweet smile, her facial muscles were already starting to strain under the content use.

“The reason His Majesty has graciously requested your presence is because I require your aid.” He explained.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the slob smirk, smiling to himself as Tyson used the word graciously. Oh, the request had been anything but gracious, an image of her mother’s bloodied and bruised face flashed to mind, the memory already burned into her brain. Her teeth were gritted and her clenched fists tightened in the material of her gown, she had to calm herself down with a few deep breaths.

Don't snap, keep calm, you can't say anything out of line. She thought to herself.

“I see, but how can a medicine woman of my stature be of help to someone of your upbringing and training?” There was a hint of sarcasm in her tone and she could see Tyson trying not to smile at her remarks.

“A woman who knows her place, Tyson I like this one!” Lord Haith Laughed, a bellowing sound that filled the room.

It only made her blood boil. Probably one of those men who thought women only belonged in the kitchen and under his sheets.

Tyson took a few steps past her to what looked like a large object draped in fine cloth. At first glance she had thought that it was a part of the wall, as the walls and surrounds were also draped in the same lavish silks, it was blending in so well. At this moment she noticed it was only the three of them in the room, it occurred to her that not even a single guard was present.

It was then that she realised that all the doors out of this dining hall had been closed off and locked from the inside. The ceilings were high with no windows, the room housed the singular large table the King was eating at and that was all. It was like they were actively trying to hide something in here.

“I am not an expert on animal and marine life, but you are, that is why I need your help.” Tyson tugged gently on the silks until they fell away to reveal what they had been hiding.

Her hands flew to her mouth as she gasped, her eyes growing wide. Never in her life had she seen something like this before. She took a step forward, her hand reaching out to touch the glass surface. Indeed they were hiding something, she would never have guessed it was this.

“It can’t be...” She whispered.

“This is the very reason you have been sworn to secrecy. When the treaty was formed there was no mention of them, no one knew they existed, or so we believe.” Tyson injected.

The treaty was formed after the demon war, aligning humans with other magical beings against the creatures that went bump in the knight. All the kingdoms not just this one had an alliance with the elves, dwarfs and fae. And the alliance came with rules, rules that couldn't be broken.

Standing completely awestruck, before her was a large glass container, it was easily the same size as the dining table the King was making a mess of. It towered over her form, though she was on the shorter side, it stood nearly as tall as two men. Filled to the brim with water, the liquid lapped over the edge and trickled down the outside of the container. Inside a surreal sight, a creature not of this world, or so she had once thought.

It had a large tail with multiple fins and spines protruding from several places along its body. The tail ended at its midsection only to turn into a torso of a man. The water was murky so it was hard to tell if the colours she was seeing were real or obscured because of the tank's muck. His face looked like a human’s, but his forehead was accented with scales with a blue-green tinge that matched his tail. He had elongated ears that almost flared out from his temples and down his face. His hair was short and of a pale green colour, it floated effortlessly around his form in the still water. His green eyes slowly opened halfway, looking at nothing as his head lulled to one side. He seemed to be simply existing in a state that was far from living. The scene tugged at her heart, he looked sickly and thin, unmoving.

Her excited expression turned to sadness as she quickly recognized the symptoms of a very sick animal. “He’s dying.”

“Indeed, I had thought that it being half man that I could treat it, but all the methods I have tried have been to no avail. Given that not much is known of the mermaids, only that of myths and legends, I am at a loss .” Tyson Sighed, a puzzled look on his face. “As you can guess, we can’t bring many people in on this, it is quite an astonishing find, but only if it lives.”

“I think you mean Siren. The mermaid term is more from children’s tales, this beautiful being is far from any child’s story.” She commented, unable to take her eyes off him.

The other two men in the room were too busy looking at her and smiling at her reaction that they hadn’t noticed. When she had spoken the word Siren, the finned man’s eyes shot open and he had locked gazes with her, a slightly shocked expression crossed his features. It had only been for a moment until he seemed to drift off into a floating slumber again.

It was at that moment she knew he was an intelligent being who understood her words. This discovery was utterly mind-blowing.