The Waters Secret

Kale - Pt. 1

Pearl whistled as he took in the damage around the room. Adam glanced up at him and scowled. His head throbbed like all hell as he sat on the edge of the couch. Rosila had a good arm as he rubbed the back of his bleeding head. Though he supposed he might have deserved it from her.

Where did his cousin get the right to push him around though? He sighed when he remembered the smelly dwarf. He reminded him too much of home. Adam paused when he realized he had lost all desire to return to his homeland. It wasn't home to him anymore. Not without her in it.

He wasn't thrilled to see the small dwarf, but hoped he came bearing good news. At least better news than Suzy.

"Pearl, what do you want?" Adam growled as Pearl made his way over. The room had been more trashed than he had thought, though the bloody knife on the floor made Adam smile. Pearl finally looked at him taking his eyes off the mess and frowned.

"You're the one who wants me. Or at least Ivy did. I've sent my men to collect the girl and though I am finding rumors of fairies I'm afraid nobody has seen a mermaid in many years." Pearl told him grumpily. Adam nodded annoyed, flinching when the movement caused his head to throb.

"Don't bother with the girl I've already called in some real help to deal with her. I'm sure you're familiar with the Hounds? They don't fail me. If you can't find anything here on mermaids, then I suggest you start looking elsewhere. Am I clear?" Adam told him annoyed.

He hadn't expected the dwarf to be here, but then Kale had said they were good at their jobs. He hadn't seen them for a few days however so had forgotten about them. When Pearl didn't answer him, he turned to glare at the shocked dwarf.

"The Hounds? You called in those monsters?" Pearl asked too terrified to be angry.

"Yes, because unlike some, they don't fail to deliver a body." Adam told him in a bored tone.

"When did you ask for a body?! You said to make sure she doesn't return to Trayson! We did that. When did you call them? My men are out there with orders to keep her out of the forest. If they run into the Hounds, they will get killed. The Hounds kill everyone in their path, that's why they were sentenced to death before they mysteriously disappeared." Pearl told him half growling, half whispering in terror.

"I called them sometime before I left Trayson. Though they do travel fast and deadly, they do also give me what I want. If your men get in their way, it is not my fault." Adam told him with a shrug. Pearl was angry and scared for his men, turning to leave the place in a hurry. He needed to contact his brethren and quickly. Adam sighed as Pearl left and continued to pack his random things.

Pearl started off towards the market getting lost in his worry as he thought about his men. They were more like family. They grew up together, went through school together, becoming bounty hunters together. Pearl had always just sort of imagined them all dying together too.

"Everything ok boss?" Pearl turned to see Diamond limping out of the shadows with Ruby at his side. He sighed in relief and went to see if Diamond was alright.

"No, no everything's not alright. But first, are you alright? What happened? Your letter didn't say much." Pearl wrapped an arm around Diamonds shoulders pulling him into the shadows and leading him away from Adams place. He was thrilled to see Diamond had made it to Welpion safe. But didn't have the heart to celebrate until he could verify the safe return of all his men.

"Raven was stronger than I had anticipated. I challenged her to a fight and lost." Diamond paused petting Ruby's head as she walked beside him. "She could have killed me. Could have killed her. But she didn't. Instead, she mended my wounds while I was unconscious, and mended Ruby as well.