The Mermaids Madness

over the land.”
    “There was a rebellion, back when the empire first began to crumble.” Varisto never took his eyes from the shore. “From what I’ve read, it was a very short-lived rebellion.”
    Smoke rose from the wreckage of Morveren’s ship. The land shook again, and flames raced to engulf the ship. Varisto’s gaze appeared to reflect the fire as he watched it burn.
    “You remember we can’t swim through fire either, right?” Talia asked.
    “Take us around to the edge of the wall.” Danielle pointed to the right of the palace. “Just be thankful we have clothes this time.”
    “What was that?” Varisto spun around so fast he nearly fell from his kelpie. “My spirits told me of your intrusion, but they seem to have omitted certain details.”
    Lannadae sang a command. The kelpies veered to the right, swimming through fleeing undine toward the blackened shore.
    “We can’t follow Morveren onto land,” Nevidhal said. She brought her kelpie around until she faced Danielle. “Even if we could, her song is too strong.”
    “Get Lannadae away from here and keep her safe.” Danielle jumped down from her kelpie. The water was shallow enough her toes touched bottom. She pushed to the surface and grabbed the kelpie’s rear fin for support.
    Nevidhal hadn’t moved. “What of our queen?”
    “We’ll protect Lirea,” Danielle said. “I promise.”
    The air rippled from the heat. The smell of sulfur was stronger here, and the steam left droplets of water on her skin and hair. The water was warm as well, though not unpleasantly so. But anyone swimming toward Varisto’s fire would be boiled alive.
    “Danielle!” Lannadae clung to her kelpie. “I want to help!”
    “Help by taking your people away from here,” Danielle shouted. “Sing as loud as you can to help them block Morveren’s song.”
    Lannadae started to protest, but Nevidhal said, “Lirea and Morveren have taken their battle beyond our reach. We must get you away from here.”
    Danielle kept her smile hidden. Already Nevidhal and the other undine began to treat Lannadae as a royal instead of a banished criminal. She and Talia helped Snow down, and together they swam toward shore, giving the pillars of steam a wide berth.
    Several undine tried to attack, but most were more concerned with escaping the liquid fire crawling through the sea. Those who approached were easily knocked aside by Talia. Varisto bellowed at another, raising his ax to frighten the merman away. Morveren’s magic worked against her now, inspiring the undine to greater panic.
    The rock scraped Danielle’s hands as she climbed onto land. Was it her imagination, or was the earth warmer than before?
    Talia appeared to be having similar thoughts. “The rest of this place isn’t going to crack open and spit fire, is it?”
    “Not unless I so command,” said Varisto.
    “How reassuring.” Talia began to jog toward the palace. “Where exactly are they, Snow?”
    “Morveren is by the tower. The same one as before. I think Lirea is inside.”
    “Wait.” Danielle stared at the distant tower. She knew what she had to say. She had known since she spoke with Beatrice, back at the boat. She bowed her head. “Talia, try to get into the tower. If Morveren is too strong—” She swallowed. “If we can’t stop her, you’ll have to kill Lirea.”
    Talia turned around. “You promised the undine—”
    “I know.” Danielle drew her sword, trying not to hate herself. All Lirea had wanted was to be with the man she loved. Instead, she found herself discarded by her prince and enslaved to her grandmother’s magic. “This is only the beginning of Morveren’s plan, and too many people have already died. You saw her crew. Other undine transformed like Lirea. She said Lirea’s children would be the start of a new race, but do you think she’ll stop there? How long before she creates more of those knives? How long before the undine who follow her begin hunting human souls? Without Lirea, Morveren’s scheme falls apart.”
    Talia nodded. “It’s a good plan, Highness.”
    “No, it’s not.” Danielle started toward the tower. “But it’s the only one we have.”
    Approaching on land, her vision blurred by clouds of steam, Danielle could imagine the palace as it had once been. The wall that separated the moat from the open sea angled back, forming a five-sided barrier around the palace. Observation towers stood at each corner, surrounding the larger structures in