Tidal Forces

Chapter 01: Assignment

Adrianna swam between the pillars of the outer courtyard. Long, flowing tendrils of kelp wrapped around the submerged columns, waving gently in the currents. Sunlight streamed down from the surface world in silvery beams and left ripples of light across the sand. Having been here many times before, she paid no attention to the peaceful surroundings and concentrated on maintaining her speed across the courtyard to the main gates of the palace.

The gate in the undersea mountain measured ten feet high and was composed of slender rods of copper. Twisted metal wires resembling seaweed intertwined between the rods. A guard floated to either side of the gate. They were armed with tridents, but pressure launchers were slung diagonally across their backs. Being a fish from the waist down, the guards already had iridescent blue scales covering them, but for added protection, the harder and darker scales of the massive crag-fish had been secured over their tails, arms, and chests as armor. Helmets hid most of their faces from view with only a small opening for their eyes and mouth.

Adrianna waved to the guards in passing, and they took hold of the gate and pulled it open for her, so she didn't even have to slow down. A practiced flick of her tail brought her swiftly across the threshold and into the palace. Through a nearby window, she glimpsed towering spires of copper, tarnished green by the saltwater of the ocean. The towers rose almost to the top of the cavern in which the palace was hidden from those of the surface world.

Mosaic tiles sheathed the interior pillars, walls, and floors, showing depictions of white crested waves, a silvery moon, and various sea beasts of different sizes and shapes. Polished shells and precious gems added ornamentation and glittering accents to the designs. Bioluminescent algae across the ceiling created a modicum of light, but those of the underwater realm were used to seeing the dark, so it was enough.

Situated at the far end of the great hall was another set of doors, but they were solid metal and protected by four mermen. Two never left their posts, remaining on alert at all times, but the remaining two were responsible for opening and closing the gate when visitors arrived as well as being an extra level of defense should the palace fall under attack. The likelihood of such an occurrence was growing steadily as the humans had become ever more intrusive and determined to find out the truth about the merfolk.

Some of the humans from the surface world were simply curious, but there had been encounters in the past of a much more violent nature. As the years progressed, and human technology increased, they became a greater threat to the secrecy of the merfolk. It was a growing belief that conflict between the surface world and the undersea realm was coming and drew closer with each passing day.

Once again, the doors were opened for her, and Adrianna floated to a stop inside the throne room. If her red hair hadn't been confined in a braid wrapped around her head like a crown, the strands would've floated all around her and obscured her vision.

The throne was a massive clam shell permanently fixed in an open position. Cushions of seaweed had been added to soften the hard surfaces and provide comfort. Golden spears fanned out from behind the shell like the rays of dawn. Currently seated upon the throne was the king of the undersea realm, Aegean. Ancient by human standards, he was still a young king among the merfolk. His waist length beard was as black as the deepest ocean, braided and secured with small cords made from twisted strands of seaweed and adorned with miniature starfish and shells. Although clad in the armored scales of the crag-fish, his considerable muscle was still visible.

"You sent for me," Adrianna stated. "How may I serve?"

"Your sister, Nileah, has departed in search of a human," Aegean replied. His grip tightened on the gleaming spear of gold he held in his right hand. "She left a message in her room explaining where she'd gone."

Pushing against the floor with the rounded end of the spear, Aegean lifted himself off the throne to float in front of Adrianna. The dark brows over his blue eyes lowered in frustration.

"Every year, we send some of our young to the surface world to experience life among the humans and to learn from them," Aegean said. "Nileah falling for one of the humans is only the latest in a chain of problems arising from the practice. I'm beginning to think we can no longer take such risks. The human scientists would love to capture one of our kind, and every voyage to the surface increases the chances they will succeed. I don't want them to trap Nileah."

"I understand," Adrianna accepted. "If she's still wearing the shell necklace I gave her, I'll be able to track her location."

Aegean took the three pronged crown from his head and offered it to her.

"I grant to you my power and authority," he declared. "Bring back your sister and ensure the humans learn nothing more about us."

Reverently, she reached out and took the offered crown, but she didn't put it on her head. Instead, Adrianna inserted her left arm through it, and the crown changed size, shrinking down to become a gleaming cuff near her wrist.

"Your will is my purpose," Adrianna replied with the greatest respect. She bowed at the waist while touching the fingers of both hands to the center of her forehead in salute. "I will not fail you, my Father and my King."