Still as the Sea

Hyeres

   "The king wishes to see you," commands the fair-skinned lady of the court, interrupting my conversation with a lovely water-nymph.

"Well, I do not wish to see him."

"It was not a request."

"I will not take commands from a boy masquerading as a king. I have not lost all of my dignity yet." The pale blue nymph looks awkwardly between me and what I assume is the Queen's lady in waiting.

"Better your dignity than your life."

"Fair enough. Ivy, it was so lovely to meet you. I hope we can talk again soon." I offer the girl a kind smile, reaching out to clasp her wet, webbed hands between my very brown, very human, hands.

"When you are not busy, I will be here."

"All right, what's this about?"

"The King did not say."

She pauses.

"But I advise you take a mental note of all your affairs." My heart drops at the suggestion, suddenly dreading this meeting.

What could he possibly need?

++++++

   "Lorelei Sallow, I cannot say it is a pleasure to see you." The rather plump old boy in a crown 'greets' me from atop his platform of cracked stone, hands gripping the gilded ends of his throne's arms. He almost looks nervous, were it not for his look of haughty distain being cast upon me.

"I'm doing good, thanks. How are you?" My bright smile only twists the silver dolt's face even further.

"Fantastic. Do you know why I've called you here?"

"It seems you failed to inform your slave of the reason for my presence, so I believe that lack of knowledge is to be expected for me as well." The Lady's face turns sour, almost pained, at the word I chose to use for her. She knows I'm right. And so does the king, as his face wears a deeper fury than before.

As the boy continues to speak, I work the irritating sand from between my toes, tracked in from where I conversed with Ivy.

"I have a task I need you to complete."

"Why me?"

"You have a rather extensive record of pickpocketing, do you not?"

"As far as you know."

"There's a big pocket I need you to pick," he orders, brushing off the slight shock of my claim.

"Am I picking anything I get to keep?"

"No."

"Then no thanks." Particles of sand refuse to let go of my feet, as they do my fingers as I harshly rub my hands together to relieve myself of the weird feeling of sand sticking to my skin.

"Hold on now, you don't get to keep anything from that pocket, but you do get rewarded here. I understand you do not have a registered place of residence? Nor a stable career?"

"So?"

"I can offer you a permanent room in the castle, free of charge, and employment at the establishment of your choosing, indefinitely."

"What's so important that you would tolerate me living in your castle?"

"You'll find out, if you agree to this commission."

"Where's this pocket?"

"Halmahera Island."

"Island of the Gods? You want me to steal... from a God." I can feel the dumbfounded look on my face, weighing it down as I look up at the balding child.