The Mermaids Madness

waters to escape the wind.” Lannadae sank lower in the boat. “You must think me a coward.”
    “You’re young,” said Talia.
    “Have you been friends with Cinderella and Snow White a long time?”
    “Danielle for about a year,” Talia said. “Snow . . . we’ve known each other longer.” She glanced at the cabin, wondering what they were doing. Danielle was probably huddled in her cot with a bucket. There was only so much Snow’s teas could do. Snow, on the other hand, had been known to sleep through anything. The lurching of the ship might be enough to ruin even her sleep. Still, Talia wouldn’t have put it past Snow to simply tie herself to the bed and dream merrily through the night. Assuming she didn’t find someone else to do the tying.
    Lannadae rested her chin on the edge of the boat. “Snow told me the women in your city decorate their shoes with glass beads, to make them look like Cinderella’s slippers.”
    “Some do.” Talia smiled despite herself, remembering the first time Danielle had learned of that trend. Seeing Danielle’s outrage, Snow had naturally hurried out to buy a pair for herself. “A few of the more well-to-do families even tried to capture rats and doves as pets, but that fashion passed more quickly.”
    “I’m working on a new story of how Cinderella summoned the sharks to protect us.” The cord Lannadae had used for her story back at the cave was now looped around her wrist like a bracelet. She started to tug it free. “Would you like to hear?”
    “No.” It came out more sharply than Talia intended, and Lannadae shrank back. “Perhaps another time.”
    Lannadae pulled herself up onto the frontmost bench in the boat. “Do you have any sisters, Talia?”
    Talia’s fists tightened. “I did. One sister and three brothers.”
    “Where are they today?”
    “Dead.” She rubbed her neck, trying to work out some of the tension in her muscles. “Look, I know you’re frightened. I’m just not very good at comforting people.”
    “Why are you so mad at Snow White?”
    And there was the tension again. “I’m not mad.”
    “You press your lips together every time I mention her. I thought that was one of the things humans did when they were angry.” She smiled. “Yes, like that.”
    “Go to sleep.”
    “I can’t, remember?” said Lannadae. “The wind is too—”
    “The wind is starting to die down.”
    Lannadae pulled herself higher, looking out at the sheets of rain pounding the ship. “But—”
    “Go to sleep.”
    Talia hadn’t lied. The storms were finally slowing. Talia threw off her lifeline the instant Hephyra did, figuring if it was safe enough for the dryad, it was safe enough for her. Soon the wind eased enough for Talia to fully explore the ship. She could see much more from atop the masts.
    Morning found her on the footrope that hung below the foremast top yard. One hand held the yard for balance as she moved through a simple combat form, testing the lines. The better she knew the Phillipa, the faster she could get where she needed to be if the undine attacked again.
    Hephyra had replaced the lines since Talia’s last time on the queen’s ship. The new ropes were slightly thinner than she was used to. The masts appeared thicker as well, though that was to be expected. Like trees, the masts added a new ring of growth with each year.
    She spun on one foot, switching hands as her opposite foot swept the legs from an imagined opponent.
    “You move as though you were born to this ship.” Captain Hephyra stood on the topyard, arms folded as she watched Talia finish her form. “You’re distracting the crew, though.”
    “ I’m distracting them? What kind of captain wears a skirt, anyway?”
    Hephyra grinned. Her skirt flapped like the blue and white banner atop the mast. Only the heavy tassels at the hem kept her thighs covered. “My invitation still stands, you know.”
    “No, thank you.” Talia pulled herself up onto the yard. “I told you two years ago—”
    “Yes, yes. You serve Beatrice. As do I.” Hephyra rubbed the gold tattoo on her wrist. “And if Beatrice doesn’t survive? What then, Talia? My crew could use a woman of your skills.”
    “To do what? You can’t go back to Fairytown.”
    Hephyra ran one hand down the mast, caressing the wood. The gesture was sensual enough to make Talia flush. “I can’t return to the grove of my sisters, no. But there are other ways to return. I know the smell of your magic and your