After the Tide

Chapter 6 - AT 2791 - Mako

I don't miss my swords lesson with Matthias, by some miracle. Nobody intercepted me and I couldn't think of something better to do. Very annoying. Not really. I like Matthias and he's kind to me. Half blood or not he's always treated me fairly. I should stop getting him in trouble. And lying to him. Perhaps I am my father's son. As much as I don't wish to be.
I meet him in the practice arena. We're alone, sometimes he brings in other guards for me to practice with. He's holding a harpoon which is honestly never a good sign.
"Going to ask me about the new lady?" I ask, picking up a practice sword fully expecting him to charge me without warning.
"Is it going to affect me?"
"Nope," I say, spinning just in time to block his blow.
"You're complacent."
"Yes I'm comfortable here," I say, swiftly blocking another blow. I'll let him take the offensive. The whole time. He's usually pleased enough with that.
"She's afraid. She won't stay long she already thinks it'll die. It will," I say.
"You don't sound like you want a little brother," he says, just trying to stab me. These aren't blunted blades.
"I can't handle my relationship with my father I don't need another family member to be complicated with," I sigh, going to a knee to block a blow. He doesn't let me rise so i just roll in the sand before leaping to my feet. Unnaturally quickly of course. Sometimes my sea blood does show. I see it, a flicker in Matthias' eye. A reminder I'm not at all human. And I know he doesn't like it.
"Your father said he might come down," Matthias says, backing up to make me advance.
"All right I think you could have led with that," I say, hand on hip.
"Surprises are good for you," he just launches the sword at me. I duck, rolling to catch it. It works but he pounces preparing to just strangle me. I whip one sword back to dig into his neck and he rolls us both to the ground.
"So are presents," I say, scrambling to my feet and backing away.
"Oh the sea-prince has a demand?" Matthias asks, completely unimpressed. It's his job to get me whatever I desire within what my father considers reason. It has been since I came.  But the term is derogatory. It's what they call me, as a slur. Because I'm a bastard half-blood. And my father treats me like royalty, his little sea pet. So it's lightly an insult. Matthias thinks I should be treated like one of the guard and seeks to do so so long as my father doesn't notice. I don't mind personally. It's the closest I come to feeling something like normal. My mother treated me like I'm human. Completely. So Matthias pretending is a balm to wounds I refuse to acknowledge.
"The slaves that the new lady brought with her. There was a slave boy who served us, spilled my drink and couldn't look on me. I want him," I laugh a little.
"You don't need help," Matthias says, evasively. It's within his power to grant it. And my father would definitely agree.
"I want him. Have him sent to me," I say.
"What for? You don't need any more staff Mako, and you've got people to spar with," Matthias says, he's dodging it. This isn't the first such conversation.  "Why do you want some fidgeting slave boy?"
"I'm bored. And Balor needs snacks," I say, raising an eyebrow.
"Thought you hadn't seen it," he says, a muscle in his cheek twitching. He doesn't like it. He thinks I'm a monster. Feeding slaves to my monster. I wouldn'T like him if he didn't. That's the trouble.
I force a cruel smile, so like the one on my father, "Balor will come back for a nice treat. You know my father will want me doing it. He says I don't have a taste enough for blood."
"Third slave this year," Matthias says.
"Have him sent to me. Or I'll ask my father and he'll do it anyway and he'll ask why I didn't ask you," I say, I don't like threatening him. But I also want that boy. He smelled of pain.
"I will," Matthias concedes, something dark in his eyes. He doesn't trust me. And he doesn't like me like that.
"What?" I ask, too annoyed even though I know damn well how I lost his trust.
"You don't have be your father. You're—,"
"I'm what? Nearly human?" I ask.
"Nothing. Go get your spear, you need practice," he says.
I sigh. I started the conversation and I knew it didn't have a good end. And I'm angry. I can't be ten people at once yet I feel like I'm meant to be. But I'm doing what I must. To survive. Unfortunately losing his trust is worth it.