Maris Calderon's Arc

Chapter 13 of 14

Word of the messenger spread through Miredeep by dawn. Maris waited in the throne room, his hand near Elara's. His son was coming home with a stranger. Maris knew nothing about her. He did not know if she was land-born or siren, friend or spy. One wrong word to an outsider could crack the loyalty he had spent a war to build. The council of seven watched from the dark water. Maris had to greet whoever walked through that archway without knowing who she was. He sat on the dark stone throne. Carved tentacles curled up its arms. It had been Malachar's seat once, and Maris still felt the man's weight in it. He kept his face calm. A king who looked uncertain gave the council reason to doubt. Rath came through the archway first. His dirty blonde hair drifted in the water. He looked older, steadier than the boy who had left. Behind him swam a short young woman with black hair and eyes the color of swamp water. She moved like someone trying not to be seen. Her gaze swept the council, then dropped. A pearl hung at her throat. Maris knew that pearl. It was his son's. "Father," Rath said. "This is Iris. She breathes our water now. I gave her my pearl." The council went still. A land-born girl, bound as mate to the prince. Maris felt Elara tense beside him. He remembered the day the sirens had questioned Elara in this same room. He had forced them to kneel then. He would not repeat that mistake. Iris met his eyes for one breath. "I know how this looks," she said. "I'm not here to take anything." The words were plain. No pleading. Maris measured them. He could reject her and keep the council calm. But his son had chosen her, as Maris had once chosen Elara over the throne. Reject the girl and he rejected his own past. Maris rose from the throne. The council watched every move. He crossed the water and stopped before Iris. She held her ground, small and unbowed. "You gave up dry land for my son," Maris said. "My mate did the same for me." He looked to Elara, then back. "That is not a small thing." He took Iris's hand and turned to face the council of seven. "This girl carries my son's pearl. She is bound to our blood. She is family." His voice dropped hard. "Any siren who doubts it answers to me." No one moved against him. One by one, the crowned sirens bowed their heads. The room accepted her. Rath let out a breath. Iris looked up at Maris, surprise breaking through her guard. But as the council bowed, Maris saw Iris touch her chest, near the pearl. Her jaw tightened, like a woman hiding pain. She carried something she had not told them. Maris had welcomed her without knowing what she brought into his kingdom.