Where have you been before? Moran asked the former Viceroy in his thoughts. He was not to be blamed. He didnt know Moran could read minds. And there was no point in telling him that the period of maturation in higher beings lasts much longer than in humans. Humans were already dying in their first century of life, while Morgens were only gaining strength. In the eyes of the people of Aquilania, an entire era had passed while one of the underwater princes had barely had time to grow up.
What does Darunon want?
He only wishes to pay his respects to you as the long-awaited ruler of an underwater race close to his heart.
Very high-minded! Moran grinned again.
Let him wait.
Shall I tell him so? Quo even trembled. He was afraid of being caught like a fly in a spiders web in a half-flooded temple.
Tell him Ill come to him myself when I need him.
Quo tilted his bald head obediently, fish scales growing on it. The elaborate peacock feather beret barely concealed his terrifying head. Let the courtiers think him an ugly and cunning cripple. Its better than if they realize that as long as they live near him, they are literally in the claws of an otherworldly being.
You may depart!
Quo set aside a folder and a writing case with an inkwell and sharpened quills. There were traces of typhus and water all over it. No one was standing under the windows on the sea side, so they didnt see the royal counselor crawl over the sill and climb down the arches, coiling his slippery limbs around them. As Quo crawled down the wall toward the sea, Moran played with his empty goblet moodily, wondering how Ariana would soon arrive to supply him with a new batch of the miraculous blue wine without which it was simply impossible to go on living in the lands of mortals.
Outside the throne room, laughing, a procession of maids of honor passed by. The blood flowing through their veins immediately caught Morans attention. He mentally beckoned to one of the girls, preparing to slit her throat, but changed his mind, remembering that the blood did not quench his subjects thirst. The pretty lady stood at the threshold of the throne room in surprise, not realizing how she had dared to come here uninvited. When the spell is broken, people usually dont realize whats wrong.
Get out! Moran shouted at the maid of honor.
She immediately realized he was angry and backed away. Her pretty face showed resentment. Better to be offended than to rot in her grave. Unlike his six flighty brothers, Moran respected human life.
The corpse of Lady Elisandra Quo was carried out of the palace on his ridge and dragged to the sunken temple. She would be recorded as another victim of the sea god. The relatives will find that comforting. Nothing can be done against the power of Darunon. If the Aquilanians dont want to sink, they must pay tribute to him.
The Green Diva
The ghastly face shed seen in the pond wouldnt leave her mind. The nose of the gondola drew a smooth line of spray on the water of the narrow channel, and she saw the face of the green prophetess.
The gondola was luxurious, but without an inner cabin with a canopy in which to hide. She had to sit under the supervision of a page, who turned out to be a gondolier. He handled the oar very skillfully.
Desdemona was accustomed to see gondolas exclusively with a cabin, over which the canopy spread like a tent. Where else would noblemen hide from the servants if not in the closed cabin of the gondola? Apparently, it was to remain under the supervision of the gondoliers page during the short voyage. He explained that this canal would take them straight to the house where her stepmother was staying. It was very unusual. There were no direct channels to anywhere. They branched off, flowing into others. It was hard to swim to the target. Sounds like a lie. But the narrow channel did wind in an endless ribbon, going forward. Daffodils and irises grew along the sides of the canal. The gilded face of a female jellyfish on the nose of the gondola squinted unkindly at Desdemona. Just like a living thing. Once it even seemed to wink at her.
The pageboys hands looked like toads feet with webbing between the fingers. Maybe hes a freak.
Youre not sailing toward your destination, youre sailing away from it, came a hiss from the water. A green vapor rose above the gondola, as if the water had become a swamp. Desdemona saw overboard a familiar face framed by vipers and shrieked.
Dont be frightened! The henchman was paddling as if nothing had happened.
Did you hear that too? She almost jumped on the spot. Why is he so indifferent? Does he have a weapon on him?
Theyre green divas.
What do you mean? Desdemonas never heard that before.
Divas are creatures of the swamps, the boy explained coolly. They are usually women who look like water gods and can see the future. There are also male divas, but they are dangerous monsters. They live in the jungle. Its risky to meet them. Swamp divas sometimes crawl into the water to muddy it and foretell bad luck.
And he says it so calmly! Desdemonas heart grew cold.
Can they overturn the boat?
They might sink it, but they wont. Im with you, and I know them. Youre safe.
Thats great! She has a child bodyguard. Maybe its his age that makes him so brave about the fairy tale creatures he sees. Children dont know how dangerous fairy tales can be.
How old are you?
I am at least a few hundred years old. Whats it to you? snapped at the henchman.
Dont take offense! I understand perfectly well that you need to eat at any age, so no one is too young to work.
But they tell me that I am too old to work on the land, said the henchman sullenly. Im going to work at the palace for the last hundred years, and then Im going to be a boatman. Ill make sure that not too many Aquillanians are dragged to the bottom by mermaids. Its Prince Morans decree. Oh, I mean the King of Aquilania.
It is the new king. You know him personally?
I was talking.
The page was sadly silent. He didnt look old at all. He was a boy with a boys face and brown skin. Not white skin, but greenish for some reason. He must have had swamp fever when he was a baby. It turned his skin green. Many children died of it in the cradle. They said they were stolen by mermaids.
The henchman also looked as if hed been briefly kidnapped and then brought back to earth by watermen.
Sometimes I forget myself, he tried to excuse himself. Actually, Im not very good with my head. I cant remember certain human traditions. For example, you should never say what you think. Its considered impolite on land.
But were on the water now. Say what you want. What did you say about the swamp divas? How accurate are their prophecies?
One hundred percent, he said without thinking.
Desdemona was frightened.
And what motivates them to surface to predict peoples fate?
Now the henchman wondered.
It is common to ask about summoning them to ask them their fate.
There were enough fortune-tellers in the market square.
There are fortune-tellers everywhere. But a diva will only make an accurate prophecy if you call her across a lake or a pond. You need clean water.
It is curious, Desdemona shivered, remembering the vision in the garden.
One must throw a gold coin into the pond and drop ones own blood. Then a green diva will appear from the water and utter a prediction. But someone in the family will die after that. The death of a relative is the price for her summoning.
But no one in my family has died, except for the maid.
Did you summon her?
I dont think so. She did show up unexpectedly, just showing up in the pond.
Well, then why are you worried?