Of Poseidon 02: Of Triton

paint.
    Which is exactly what another Archive, Geta, contends. She chastises Odon for spreading what he very well knows to be a mere myth parents tell their fingerlings to keep them away from land.
    Then a Tracker by the name of Freya takes the center stone. She gives testimony that the stranger is Nalia—and she would know, since Nalia was her best friend since they were very young. Another Tracker, Fader, offers a completely different judgment. He claims he’s known the Poseidon Royals since before Nalia was born, and that sadly she is not the Poseidon heir. “I was the first Tracker to memorize her pulse,” he says somberly. “And this is not the pulse I kept close to my mind and heart.”
    Galen can’t help but roll his eyes. He’s been trying to sort all this out, why so many would tell blatant lies about Nalia’s identity. What could Jagen have offered them? The Syrena do not lend themselves to greed and riches like humans do. But, what Galen has come to recognize, thanks to the human history class he takes at Middlepoint High School, is that like humans, Syrena just might crave change—whether the change is good or bad. He’s seen a pattern arise from the history of the humans, where humans get disgruntled and dissatisfied with what they have, and they long for change. They even have a proverb warning against it—the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. But most of the time, if humans have it in their mind that the grass is greener, there’s little anyone can do to change their mind.
    Galen feels he’s witnessing this human trait firsthand in his Syrena brethren. And that is something the Royals are responsible for. When King Antonis divided the kingdoms so long ago, he left room for exactly this. Why wouldn’t the Syrena crave better leadership? Why would they trust the Royals after so many years of allowing this silent feud to persist? What have the Royals really done to benefit their followers?
    Maybe both houses should be left to their own endeavors under Jagen’s guidance. Maybe they can make things better, more peaceful. Some human governments managed to do it, managed to pull together after an overthrow and make something great from the remnants of failure.
    But if that happens, what does that mean for the Royals? A lifetime in the Ice Caverns. And a death sentence for Emma. Something he cannot allow.
    It doesn’t matter what is right and what is wrong anymore. It doesn’t matter that Jagen has a valid point, despite his convoluted way of getting to it. It doesn’t matter what happens to the kingdoms, what verdict is reached at the end of this torturous tribunal. All that matters is keeping the ones he loves safe.
    And I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.
    Galen is startled to find that Grom has taken the center stone. The entire Arena is silent, as if they sense a predator coming. Grom lets them scrutinize him, lets them take in his confident poise, his lifted chin, his squared shoulders. Grom has not been defeated.
    His brother begins, “I’m thankful for the opportunity to present my testimony before you today. There is much to consider, and I hope you are all taking all the evidence to heart. We have heard much conflicting testimony in the past few days. We’ve heard from some Trackers that the stranger is none other than the Poseidon heir. We’ve heard from others that the stranger could not possibly be the Poseidon heir. What we haven’t heard though, is this: if she is not the Poseidon heir, then who is she, friends? How can a stranger even exist among us? And if strangers do exist, how many are there? Where can we find them? How did they come to be strangers to us? These are questions we need answers to, friends, if you decide to believe that she is not Nalia the Poseidon princess.
    “You well know my feelings regarding this matter. You know I believe with every part of me that this is Nalia.” He turns to her then, and smiles. “The Nalia I loved and lost so many seasons ago. I have never done anything dishonorable to you. Even when I thought all was lost, I sacrificed myself to take a Common as a mate, taking a chance that Paca possesses the Gift of Poseidon and that somehow we have misinterpreted the laws passed down from our generals. I took a chance that somehow the Royals may be useful to you yet. I did not neglect my duty to you, as it has been represented here. But before I speak further, I would ask Paca to present her Gift once more, for