BOUNDED

II

I couldn't believe my eyes, what once used to be a slum for lower fish folks is now an execution ground, I watched in disbelief at the dead bodies of my people hanging from the gallows set up. A woman's scream spins my head to the left, I sight a guard walking away from her with a baby, while two others hold her down, my heart drops at that, why is her child being taken away? They move her away from my vision but I could still hear her pleas, I turn back to the gallows, horror seeps into my soul as I watch them preparing her for the same faith.

I look away, unable to watch as tears flow away from my eyes, I shut my ears to silence her choking sounds, the compartment dividing us and those guards opens revealing another  merman, he was wearing one of those emblems signifying he's a "drud" one of the leaders of the mermaid troops, he must be newly appointed because I've never seen him before.

'I hope you're satisfied at the little show we put together specially for you princess, that will be the faith of every individual of your kind, of course you won't all perish by hanging, we've prepared special ways for your family and its relations, if you don't work with us you'll suffer the same faith, I've been ordered to execute you on the spot if you show any signs of treason, don't make this difficult'. 

'Now watch, watch as we reduce you all to nothing, he pointed at the direction of the gallows, the guard who'd taken the baby had placed him right in front of his mother, she looked like she was about to die any second, he pulled out a sword holding it above the poor thing, everything seemed like it was happening in slow motion, I launch myself out of the hydra as fast as I could towards them as he lowered the sword, I made it just in time, hitting the sword away as I grab the baby, he was crying and wriggling around, I held him close to me facing the guard, I pick the sword beside me, pointing it at him, he stayed fixed in his spot, shock clouding him.

'Step away princess', Leo says, as he and the drud approach us. 'How much more monstrous can you get? YOU KILLED HIS MOTHER! I yelled, what crime could he have committed to suffer the same fate? 'Hand it over, the drud speaks through gritted teeth, I will have you punished for interfering'. 

'Fine, I say as I hurl it at the guard, he didn't have enough time to react as it pierces his abdomen, 'what are you doing? Killing a mermaid counts as treason, Leo yells at me, 'if I'd wanted to kill him I'd aim for his heart', I retort even though I did want to, the baby in my arms had stopped crying and was cuddling my fingers.

'I would do as you say, just don't hurt the baby, my voice quietens, please'. 

'That's not happening,'  the drud replies,

'yes it is' Leo interrupts, the baby shall live, you have my word, now kindly return to the hydra princess, we still haven't reached our final destination, 

'but I don't trust you, I state.

'He'll come with us, I'll have one of the servants raise him and when we leave, he'll leave with us, I'll have him work as one of my servants, I don't go back on my word princess' determination evident in his tone, for the first time, I decided to trust a mermaid, not that I have much of a choice, 'fine, I sigh, I'll take your word.

 'Summon one of the servants with us Nord', so that's the drud's name? He looked furious but I guess he has to obey the prince. 

I head back to the hydra after a maid had taken the baby, Nord didn't hesitate to show his discontent before leaving us. It was awkward considering Leo just helped me, the last thing I wanted was help from a mermaid but I'm thankful to him, I don't think mermaids are capable of good, neither will I see them in a different light because of this, but I definitely hate him less. 

We'd arrived at the place we'd be staying for who knows how long, I'd been escorted to the room I'd be staying, my things already arranged neatly, it wasn't as big as my room at the castle but I have enough room to train so it's alright.