The Mermaids Madness

see you again.”
    “Is that your mate?” Lannadae asked.
    The king laughed. “I am. My name is Theodore of Lorindar. I’m honored to meet you at last, and I am pleased to see you doing so well.”
    “Thank you, friends. For everything.” With that, Lannadae disappeared into the water and swam toward the Hiladi.
    Danielle blinked. “That’s it?”
    “She named us friends,” said Bea. “The undine aren’t big on ceremony.”
    “We’ve waited two weeks for her to name us friend?” Danielle demanded. “She could have done that the moment she accepted leadership of the tribe!”
    Bea smiled and patted Danielle’s arm. “It wasn’t the undine who delayed us. Theodore and I haven’t had an easy time convincing our people to let go of their hostility. There were many who wished to punish the undine.”
    Theodore scowled. “With the return of trade, I’ve ordered all merchants to return their prices to what they were before the crisis. A handful of gougers have been arrested, but the rest are falling into line. That should go a long way toward making the people happy. Though Montgomery still presses to punish Hilad for their role in this mess.”
    “Name Montgomery ambassador to Hilad,” Beatrice suggested. “Send him to live among them for a year.”
    The king laughed and squeezed her hand. “Who would I be punishing, Montgomery or the Hiladi?”
    Lannadae returned a short time later. She sang to her people, her voice louder than Danielle had ever heard. In response, one of the kelpies surged forward, head held high. On the kelpie’s back, four undine carried a large chest.
    “Most of the gold my sister collected will be returned, but I wanted to give you this,” Lannadae said. “I hope it will help to repair some of the damage Lirea caused.”
    “Thank you,” said Bea. “How is your sister?”
    Lannadae’s expression fell. “She refuses to leave her tower. We’ve dug a tunnel through the wall, but when I visit, she only hides. She hasn’t spoken since Morveren’s death. I don’t know how much she remembers. She’s like an infant, with no voice and no understanding of the world around her. But she seems to enjoy it when I sing to her. Yesterday she even came out into the open to listen.”
    Lannadae swam closer, smiling through tears. “Thank you. All of you.”
    “How are you adapting to your role as queen?” Danielle asked. “I know how overwhelming such a change can be.”
    Lannadae beamed. “Oh, I’m not the queen. Lirea holds that title until her death. But when the queen is too old or injured to rule, her consort is allowed to act in her name.”
    Danielle turned to Beatrice, certain she had misheard. For once, Bea looked as surprised as Danielle felt. “Her consort?”
    Lannadae laughed. “You look like gulper eels.”
    “But she’s your sister,” said Danielle.
    “Yes, of course.” Lannadae’s laughter grew, until she could barely stay afloat. “Oh, Danielle. Next you’ll be expecting me to wear clothes, too.”
    Theodore raised a hand, disguising his own laughter with a cough.
    “As consort, it falls to me to care for Lirea and our tribe.” Lannadae’s tails swayed gently beneath the waves, keeping her close to the ship. “I’ll still have suitors, of course. I might even take a mate of my own. Mermen from this tribe and others.” She flushed, the expression making her look almost human. “After so long in exile, I’m looking forward to that part.”
    “What of Morveren’s followers?” Talia asked.
    Lannadae’s smile faded. “Morveren’s magic wore off within a day. Their transformation was temporary, unlike my sister’s. Those who fought for Morveren have been banished. If there are others who believed as she did, they’ve decided to keep those beliefs to themselves.”
    She swam back to the gathered undine. Taking a spear from another mermaid, Lannadae raised her weapon in salute. “Farewell, my friends!” She turned to the Hiladi, saluting them as well.
    “Will we see you in the fall for the migration?” Beatrice asked.
    Lannadae lowered her spear. “I look forward to the strawberries.” And then she was gone. Moments later, no trace of undine remained.
    “We could learn from them,” Beatrice commented, smothering a yawn. “I know nobles who would have stretched this ceremony out for three days.”
    “ Now will you rest, Your Majesty?” Danielle asked.
    “I’ve already spent too much time in that stuffy cabin.” Beatrice shook