The Seelie Curse

Chapter 79

Rowan groans across from Kyma, exasperated. "So then what do we do?"

Kyma frowns. "Do we have to meet at the merrow kingdom?"

"Why wouldn't we?"

Kyma raises an eyebrow. "Ummmm, apparently because you can't get there."

Rowan frowns for a moment and then laughs. "Alright, I suppose that's as good a reason as any. So . . . water message?"

Kyma nods. "Of course." Rowan frowns again and Kyma frowns in response, confused. "What's wrong?"

"How are you going to make a water message if the water source is frozen over?"

Kyma laughs. "There are points where the ice doesn't cover the water, so I can coax it out."

"Can I watch?"

"Of course."

Kyma glances over at Astrila, who nods and sits on the riverbank, settling onto the rocks. Rowan sits after a moment, wincing slightly as pebbles dig into her flesh. Kyma stretches out a hand to the icebound river, coaxing water to the surface. It pulls up and then flattens, preparing itself for her message. With a small smile, Kyma tugs at the flecks of sediment floating within the water, sending them spiraling up to the surface. They quickly form words, already sensing the intent in Kyma's mind. She lets the message form the greeting on its own, not even glancing at the words as her eyes look over the rest of the message.

This may come as a surprise, I'm not sure if you remember me or what happened when we met the first time. I certainly don't remember much of it. So let me tell you this, my mother is Lahira, Queen of the Eastern Merrow Kingdom. We have something to speak of, it is about your mother, the Queen of the Western Merrow Kingdom. There are truths you must know about her. My friends and I would come to you, but one of us cannot reach the kingdom, she cannot withstand those depths. So I ask that you come to us, inland. I will send a guide with you, a small water familiar. Meeting at midday would be best, if at all possible. Please send a reply if you cannot come at that time.

-Kyma

Kyma is glad that she knows how to create that familiar, something that Lyss taught her on the way over. It was an old practice, when not often used here. But her island uses it often, the scouts communicate with each other and the guards. If she didn't know how to make it, she's not sure how she would tell Anabla and Cailean where to meet them.

But she can make the familiar, so she does. It's a tiny bubble of water that stretches into a slightly humanoid form, almost identical to the one Lyss had shown her the first time. The familiar has thin, ribbonlike arms and short legs. The torso is small and bright with a teardrop head attached.

It watches her for a moment with salt-white eyes before it compresses into a ball of silvery water and touches down on her message, which rolls up a moment later. She drops the message back into the river and watches as the ball of water disappears beneath the surface. She turns away from the river to see Rowan watching her with bright eyes, curiosity filling her gaze. Kyma lifts an eyebrow.

"What?"

"What was that?"

Kyma's eyebrow lifts higher. "A message? You've seen it before."

"No, no, not that. The other thing. The little creature. What was that?"

"A water familiar."

Rowan frowns. "I've never heard of those. Can all merrows make them?"

Kyma hesitates. "Technically . . . yes. Realistically, no."

"Why not?"

"It's a practice that has fallen out of use here. My kingdom still uses it, but even there it isn't as common as it used to be."

"What is it used for?"

"A variety of things, but most commonly as an extension of you, your magic. A message is one thing, but those can't really act independently. My familiar can act autonomously, it will be a guide for the other merrows."

Rowan nods. "When will they get here?"

"I requested that they be here at midday, so within an hour or so."

"What do you think will happen?"

Kyma sighs. "I think that will depend on how much they remember. If they remember who I am, they may trust us and what we have to say. But if they don't . . ."

"They won't believe?"

Kyma nods. "That's right. They'll deny it, they'll react badly. They'll do the things we don't want them to do."

"So . . . let's hope that they remember?"

Kyma's lips twitch into a smile. "Yes, that's right."
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What do you think of the familiar? How will the other merrows react? What's going to happen next? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~Goddess of Fate, signing out