Ursula's Beginning

11. Treasures Untold

Ursula jerked awake and groaned. Eels had been wriggling through her dreams once again. This time, she was immobile and helpless in the dreamscape as two eels slithered toward her. One placed its mouth right by her left ear and whispered "a tax, a tax, a tax." The other one hissed into her right ear "attacks, attacks, attacks." The sounds they made were the same, yet she comprehended that they were communicating two different things.

She couldn't figure out what it meant, and soon gave up trying to decipher her latest nightmare. Her waking hours were sure to be nightmarish enough: the funeral was three days away, and she already knew the hours would pass at a torturously slow rate.

She ached to know if Triton was still considering a relationship with her, above everything. She was also desperate to find out if Ganeon's claims were true and if so, what Triton would decide to do about it. Ursula both dreaded and longed for an encounter with Galataye, to confirm she was still in the queen's good graces. The same was true for facing Alphon and seeing where things stood with him. Ursula's final moments with his father had the potential to derail his lifelong hopes and plans, and she didn't envision him taking this well.

The eels spoke of attacks and a tax a second night, and then a third. The morning of the funeral, Ursula woke up rather exhausted. She dressed in a daze, feeling relieved she had allowed Melisande to make the new mourning cloak for her. It covered every inch of her: the bottom hem extended beyond her tentacles and the sleeves ran past her fingertips. Her face and hair receded far into the hood, and the garment closed securely along the front of her body.

The funeral was an enormous event attended by virtually everyone in the kingdom and dignitaries from several others. Standing between Melisande and Dismas, wrapped in the cloak, Ursula found it bearable. Her eyes remained on the royal family throughout, and she analyzed their every move. They were calm and composed, though Galataye leaned over and asked Triton something after Walter and his fellow oyster volunteers had passed through the receiving line. She did it again after Clepsydra and Clepsammia, the dolphins that had subjected themselves to the vitality spell as experimental volunteers, came through.

It was the sight of Marv and the other merfolk that had volunteered which pushed the queen beyond her limits. The positive effects of the spell were so plain to see on them. Their movements were sprightly and they looked years younger than they had a week ago, when they had come to the temple to receive the magic. Galataye began sobbing and turned away from the line of mourners, covering her face with both hands. Her daughters tried to comfort her, but she only wailed louder.

Ursula's courage disappeared at the sound of those cries. She couldn't face the royals. She told Melisande and Dismas to convey her sympathies and retreated hastily, assuring them she would come see them later. She was keenly ashamed of herself, but didn't slow her pace until she was locked inside her home. Ursula internally justified her actions by telling herself she had just spared the queen a most painful encounter.

Ursula passed the afternoon inside her house, alternating between listless attempts to clean her quarters and failed attempts to sleep. Surely there's magic for cleaning? she thought dully. I must research this soon. As afternoon gave way to early evening, a short, odd knock sounded against her door.

She opened it and gasped. Hundreds of oysters had formed a queue outside her abode, with Walter at the head of the line. He rose to the level of Ursula's eyes to address her. "For your service to the king and your service to so many of us, not only recently but in times past, we wish to offer you a gift of thanks. We hope it lifts your spirits and helps you understand how much we value you. Pearls are proof that unwanted things and events can become a catalyst for beauty, if only we give it time. May you find this to be true in your own life, Ursula."

Walter presented her with a perfect, gleaming pearl. He looked quite pleased with himself. Ursula started to cry as she accepted it. Then Walter moved aside and the next oyster offered up its treasure, equal in beauty to the first. And so it went for over an hour: shining pearls of all sizes and colors were given to the healer, who wept openly.

"You have no idea how much this means to me," she finally said to the huddled crowd. "Thank you, and know you can always come to me for anything."

As the oysters dispersed, Ursula brought the pearls inside to her vanity table. She did indeed feel better; the shame had receded once more. She studied each lovely sphere before depositing it into a hinged box. Keeping count, she discovered there were 300 gorgeous orbs in total. Then she lay down and pondered the bit of wisdom Walt had offered her about allowing time to do its work.

She was just drifting off to sleep when another knock reached her ears.