Mermaids are Menacing (Book 2) Complete

39.) The Eb and Flow

I watched that spot long after the deal was done and they had gone.listening to the sound of the water, the tiny spider like crabs that dug under the sand. The walk back was far to short. A sense of calm fell over me. It was dark when I came back to the cave.

"There you are. I've been waiting." Roka said pushing the tuna onto the sand. "I was begining to worry you were lost out"

The thoughts swirling my head fell out of my mouth in a tumble of words. "What were you doing with those men?" I interupted him.

He gave me an odd look, as if he didnt know what I was talking about.

"I saw you give them weapons." I continued. "They dipped a pearl into the water and you and the others came right to them.

"It was a simple call. They make requests from time to time. Humans aren't very good at making tools. They might as well be hitting one another with rocks." He laughed.

"And what do you get for your generousity?" I asked.

"Pearl come come. I brought you something to eat, we can talk later." He urged.

I took two steps back.

"What do they give you?" I asked again with more feeling.

He paused. Watching my retreat out of the corner of his eye. "Its nothing big, they do tasks for us from time to time."

"What kind of tasks?" I asked.

"Whats this really about Pearl? Trading with humans has nothing to do with you." He said waving his hand as if to disapate smoke.

"I think it has alot to do with me, actually." I argued. "Since I have been on the other end of those points on more than one occasion."

"Even if that was the case, it's hardly the Shoals fault." He rebuked. "Humans are savage things, I can't control what humans do with what we make after we give them away."

"Its really unusual, those weapons. Theres lots of machetes, axes, dagars in the world but none like those. No what you give out are special right?" I began.  "Incredibly sharp. Sharp enough to cut dragon flesh."

"The point of tools is to be sharp. Theres nothing wrong with doing a good job." Roka said dully.

"And I recognize the cloaks those men wore, the people who attacked our village had those same unusual weapons and the same cloaks. Whats even more unusul is that when i left the mountain, I found those who intended to kill me and my child, carried the same pearl that was used to call you. There are to many coincidences, Roka."

Roka didn't say anything.

"Did you tell them to do those things?" I asked.

"Of course not." Roka grimaced.

"Then another Sirenaidea requested it." I replied.

He swallowed. "I would never request someone hurt you."

"But you would ask for someone to do whatevers needed to retrieve the Sea Dragons Pearl." I retorted.

"We have sent humans out to look for it, how els can we search when we cant move on dry land but before you came, we had no idea where to look." He explained.

"So the people you made weapons for decided to hunt us down on their own?" I asked.

"Yes!" He answered.

"And the Sirenaide didn't request that the woman and child in Green Mountain should be killed?" I followed up.

".. I would never." He began.

"You hesitated." I cut him off again.

"It wasn't me." He reiterated.

"But it was requested." I said nodding.

"If we had know you were one of us, it wouldn't have happened." He spit out the excuse.

"And my child?" My eyes glinted.

"They stole from us first! Why should they have eggs when ours are forced to become monsters?" He hissed.

"Hes just a child! My child!" I screached, my tail swatted angrily behind me.

"Hes one of them!" He screached back.

"So am I!" I said pointing to my horns.

"Its different." He argued.

"And what of the child I carry now?" I asked angrily. "Should I worry you will send a human with a sword for this one as well?!?"

"Of course not." Roka said.

"I can't be certain anymore." I shook my head.

He pushed his long blue hair back away from his face. "Pearl come eat and sit with me." He reached out towards me. 

I shook my head again. I put a protective hand on my stomach. To dangerous. I took another step back.

"I'll be staying on dry land for the time being." I disagreed.

He sighed. "If thats the way you feel fine. I wont touch you but you can still eat. I'll go for the night." He disappeared under the dark surface.

I imagined that he was somewhere just underneath, waiting for me to come close enough to pull me under but Roka wasn't like that. He had always been very understanding. Roka was persistent but not forceful.

Why can't anything be easy. I pulled the fish further onto dry land and ate. The little one Inside bounced off the walls in such a flurry I couldn't figure out his head from his tail. It was good that he moved so often.

After eating I spread out on the sand and occupied myself for a long time with my thoughts. The nights were still warm and the sand slightly cold. It would be nice to have a fire. The temperature in the sea palace had been very comfortable but on land you could only wear more clothes which I didn't have.  Ill need to make alot of things when I go back to the Orcs.

I heard the distinct sound of boots on ground and I felt my ears twitch. I sat up and looked at the cave entrance. Who ever it was they were still a fair distance away. Holding very still i focused on the sound. Two pairs of boots. Heavy ones. Two humans with heavy boots.