Moaning as she stirred, Maribelle stretched her body. In the fog of what was probably the early morning, it was not easy to remember where she was. However, there was a feeling of bliss that sat well within her heart.

  Wearily opening her eyes, Maribelle was surprised to see Bryn snuggled so close to her. Bryn’s face was gently illuminated by the moon that still glowed overhead, and Maribelle paused for a few moments as her gaze lingered on the woman who had so thoroughly captured her heart. It was soothing to watch Bryn’s chest rise and fall gently as she slumbered.

  As her memory filtered its way back into her awareness, Maribelle smiled as she remembered her confession, and all that followed afterwards. She had never experienced such pleasures before, and now that she had tasted the fruits of love, she could not wait for the next course. Of course there would be a next time, Bryn loved her as well. That truth brought only joy to her soul.

  As her mind wandered through the evening’s delights, Bryn began to wake from her sleep. Moaning from the effort of waking up, Bryn’s eyes slowly opened up. After a few sleepy blinks, Bryn looked up at Maribelle. “Good morning,” she said.

  Maribelle leaned down and gently kissed Bryn on her forehead. “Good morning indeed. Did you sleep well?”

  Bryn ughed very softly. “Very well, thank you,” she answered.

  Laying down beside Bryn, Maribelle took one of Bryn’s hands with her own. “Last night was something special. I never realised how good it could feel until now. Perhaps we could do this again?”

  Bryn blushed deeply, but she managed to maintain eye contact. “I… I would like that as well. I love you, Maribelle Fairtides.”

  Now it was Maribelle’s turn to ugh. That's right, she was no longer a Farifields, but a Fairtides. It always felt good to hear someone refer to her by her full name.

  “And I love you just as much, Bryn,” Maribelle replied.

  She wondered for a moment what Bryn’s family name was, or even if she had one in the first pce. Things were very different down here in the deep compared to the surface.

  “If I may ask, what is your family name?” Maribelle asked.

  “I don’t have one. Before you worry, there is no shame in it. Such things are very personal among merfolk. Children may share the family name of their parents, but once they grow up and leave their home, then they will shed that family name until they gain a new one. Usually, merfolk will create a new family name when they bond with others,” Bryn expined.

  Maribelle gulped quietly. “Will I have caused offence by calling myself Fairtides?” she asked, wary of any possible taboos she may have accidentally broken,

  “Fear not, there is nothing wrong with that. There are some merfolk who are entirely uninterested in retionships or sex, and so they may create a family name just for themself,” Bryn replied, her smile telling Maribelle that no lies were being told.

  “Oh good. I was worried for a moment that I may have done something wrong.”

  “I would have told you if that was the case.”

  “I know. It's just that there is still a lot for me to learn. Even my Merrow still needs a lot of improvement,” Maribelle said as she looked up at the stars shining above her.

  “You're doing well, though. I can really see the improvement from when you started,” Bryn said encouragingly.

  “Thank you. One day I will be as fluent as you,” Maribelle promised.

  The two lovers silently watched the stars blink overhead; truly Saphrena’s dedication to love was unparalleled, if this was what drove her to create this divine site. It would be the easiest thing in the world to just stay here and marvel and two of the great beauties of the sea. But then again, a life awaited her back in Coraltide, one that now included a bright future alongside Bryn. That was certainly an exciting thing to think about.

  “Are you ready to head back home?” Maribelle asked.

  Bryn nodded in response. “I think I am. Thank you, Maribelle. This was a wonderful experience.”

  “If you want to, we can return here next year,” Maribelle suggested. She liked the idea of doing something special to celebrate the anniversary of their confessions.

  “A lovely idea, I already look forward to it,” Bryn said eagerly.

  Pushing up from their resting position, the two lovers swam towards the passageway that would lead them back to the open sea that was their home. Before she left, Maribelle turned her gaze towards the starlight. It would be good to return here and witness such a marvel of beauty again. To the chamber, she spoke a single word and watched as the stars and the moon faded away into dark. Turning away from the growing dark, she turned to the glowing light of Bryn and without hesitation she began to follow her.

  Emerging from the passageway, Maribelle shielded her eyes from the great brightness of the sea. It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust from darkness to light, but when they did, she smiled at the familiar sight of the beautiful sea. This was her home now. She was just about to head off with a burst of speed when she remembered that the entrance passageway was wide open. It would have been rather embarrassing to forget to close it, and so with a quick whisper, the heart shaped rock sealed up the passage, leaving Saphrena’s secret hidden once more.

  On the way home, rather than stick to the deep waters, Maribelle and Bryn raced each other through the waves. Bryn was ahead with a slight lead, but Maribelle was not far behind. It was such a rush to repeatedly leap from the sea, soar through the air for a few seconds before returning to the sea with a spsh. This was much better than travelling on the surface. Being trapped in a carriage was stuffy and restricting, but here she had the open sea all to herself.

  Grinning with audacity, Maribelle picked up her pace, and as she outpaced Bryn, she mischievously stuck out her tongue at the mershark. Maribelle thought she had managed to outpace Bryn, but it wasn't long until she heard Bryn ugh as she swam underneath her. Just as Maribelle was about to return the favour, something in the distance caught her attention. It was with great surprise that Maribelle discovered a rge human ship sailing in the distance.

  She had been human once, but that felt like a very long time ago. She had no desire to return to the surface; the sea was her home now.

  “Bryn, wait. There's a ship ahead,” Maribelle called out. She had no business with that ship, but perhaps Bryn would.

  Bryn looked in the direction that Maribelle had pointed out. “If you don't mind, can we trail it for a while?”

  “Of course, Bryn. Just as long as we don't get lost.”

  “Thank you, and don't worry, I'm a sea witch, we don't get lost,” Bryn said confidently.

  Together they swiftly approached the vessel. Maribelle had to admit that she felt a curious feeling as she took in the details of the ship. She had never seen a ship from this angle before. She could see so many barnacles growing on the ship, and she doubted a single one of them knew or cared about it. This ship was also much rger than the King's Call.

  Maribelle popped out of the water, careful to not be noticed by anyone. A brief investigation revealed that this ship was called the Gilded Sword. That was a ship that she had never seen or heard of, but she could tell it was made by Engarish ship builders.

  “This looks like one of the military ships,” Bryn expined after Maribelle dived underwater.

  “It'll probably be bringing treasure back to Engarnd, ‘Only wealth returns from the seas, not people," as they used to say.”

  Bryn nodded in agreement. “We have noticed the same thing as well,” she said sadly.

  As they trailed the ship, a question floated to the surface of Maribelle’s mind. “Was it like this when you were following the King's Call?”

  “Yes it was. As you can tell, it's easy to keep up with ships like these,” Maribelle said, her tail nguidly swishing through the water. It was true, ships are painfully slow in comparison to a merfolk.

  “I think I spotted you a few times while I was standing on the deck. Unless that was someone else,” Maribelle said, remembering the shadow in the sea lurking behind the King's Call that saved her life.

  “Yes, that was me. We sea witches check on ships that sail near our homes to keep track of the movement going on. Some of us don't care much about the lives on board, and so don't linger long. However, I will follow for as long as I can. Just in case,” Bryn said, as she stared at the ship.

  “Just in case someone falls into the sea?”

  Bryn nodded. “It's not easy swimming with hardly any rest for days, but I know I need to be ready at any moment. Even if an accident does not happen, there is still the risk of malevolent cruelty.”

  “Edward,” Maribelle said, spitting out the name like a curse. “Thank you for saving me from that bastard.”

  “Of course, anything for you, my love,” Bryn said with her usual kindness.

  Maribelle smiled sweetly back. “There's a certain comedy to it all. Edward tried to murder me because I rejected his ‘love’ and all he achieved was throwing me into the embrace of the woman I love.”

  “I wish you hadn't had to have suffered like that,” Bryn said with remorse.

  “Me too, but without that incident then would I have ever had the chance to discover myself as a mermaid? How would I have ever fallen in love with you if I never fell into the sea?” Maribelle said also with some sadness. “I don't pn on celebrating that night, but what happened has happened. It's more important I don't let those events weigh me down, and instead be grateful I'm alive and in love.”

  “Yes, you're right, that's a good way to look at things. We have each other, and that's what matters most,” Bryn said, her cheer returning to her.

  “So, what are the chances of a soon-to-be-a-merfolk nding in the sea today?” Maribelle asked, looking up at the ship as if someone would fall from it at any moment.

  Bryn shook her head. “Unlikely. These ships are run by a very professional crew. Discipline is kept very high whenever treasure is involved.”

  Maribelle nodded in agreement. It made sense in order to get the valuables back across the sea.

  “Hold on. Who did this treasure even belong to? Did some merfolk once go to the surface?” She asked. If anyone knew this sea's history, then it would have to be a sea witch.

  “That is an incredibly long story. One I can't share right now,” Bryn expined with a sad sigh. “Which leads to something I must do.”

  Maribelle watched as Bryn approached the underbelly of the ship, and once she was close, she began whispering some incantation.

  “What are you doing?” Maribelle asked.

  Bryn halted her chanting and turned towards Maribelle. “There are certain items we must keep track of that carry a specific type of magic. My spell is to determine if those items are on board,” she answered patiently.

  As Bryn restarted her chanting, Maribelle listened to the muffled voices within the ship. Her time aboard one had been a very unpleasant experience. The space was cramped, the food was awful, and the days dragged on forever. She would have felt a bit of sympathy for them if not for the fact these sailors and soldiers signed up for these conditions.

  The thought of soldiers brought Steph to her mind. Was he serving aboard this ship? It would certainly be a surprise to both of them if they had their reunion here. Perhaps she could convince Steph to leap into the sea, and join her in returning to Coral tide. They would be happier there, she knew it. But she doubted Steph was aboard the Gilded Sword. They were probably still in the colonies.

  A gasp from Bryn pulled Maribelle away from her thoughts. “Is everything okay?” Maribelle asked, worried that something had happened to Bryn.

  “I'm okay, but we can't return to Coraltide just yet. We have to make a detour,” Bryn said, her face contorted with fear.

  ‘“Is this to do with-” Maribelle started to say.

  “I'm sorry to interrupt you, but yes, this is to do with the surface civilisation I mentioned. There's someone I must warn right now,” Bryn said with great urgency.

  Maribelle swallowed nervously. It was rare to see Bryn so serious.

  Leaving the Gilded Sword behind, Maribelle followed Bryn, who was swimming with all haste. Thank goodness she had a tail as it would have been impossible to keep up with Bryn. Maribelle was deeply concerned; Bryn had discovered something that greatly worried her. What was it? Maribelle had no idea, and she hoped that Bryn would crify things soon.

  After swimming for an hour or two, Bryn led Maribelle to some form of underwater shelter. The walls of the entrance were marked by a number of charms and runes, most of which Maribelle did not understand. What sort of person lives in a pce like this?

  Bryn turned to Maribelle, the look of worry on her face had increased during the journey. This must be very serious.

  Bryn did not wait and immediately entered the shelter. Maribelle hesitated for a moment before following. Once inside, she realised this was actually someone's home. The walls were also decorated with plenty of charms, and there were also some bookshelves filled with rge books.

  Across the room, Bryn was deep in conversation with a caecilia. The caecilia’s dark grey tentacles twitched as she listened intently to Bryn’s words. It was hard to follow the conversation, as not only did Maribelle have some gaps in her Merrow, but Bryn was speaking much quicker than normal. Oh deep abyss, this issue really scared Bryn.

  The caecilia cut an imposing figure with her bck sleeveless robes, and her forearms were covered in bracelets made from a dark metal. Looking at her face, it seemed like she was older than Bryn, but how much older was hard to tell, especially with how much longer merfolk can live for.

  As Bryn expined the situation, the caecilia turned her sight towards Maribelle. The grim gaze of the caecilia made Maribelle shudder. She may have little experience with magical matters, but she couldn't ignore that the merfolk before her was a potent practitioner of the arcane. There was no doubt about it: this was another sea witch.

  “Who are you?” the caecilia asked in Merrow.

  “Maribelle Fairtides,” she answered.

  The caecilia tutted loudly. “Strange name for a human.” She put a hand up before anyone could respond. “Don't bother, you can learn our nguage, but you can't hide your accent.”

  The accusation that she was a human burned her. That wasn't true, not any more. “I don't belong on the surface any more. The sea is my home,” she said defiantly in Merrow. “I learnt that the hard way.”

  In a split second, the caecilia drifted closer to Maribelle. It happened so fast, Maribelle swore she saw the caecilia turn into a shadowy blur. Maribelle could only flinch as the caecilia's face was so close to her own.

  “You went back to them, didn't you?” The caecilia accused.

  Maribelle could only meekly nod in response.

  “Were you spying on us? Finding where our homes y so you humans could crush them with the wreckage of your ships or dump your waste upon us? That's why you returned, to wring more information out of us.” The caecilia continued. It was impossible for Maribelle to avoid staring into the void that was the caecilia’s eyes.

  “Taranta!” Bryn shouted as she darted between Maribelle and the caecilia. Backing away, Taranta kept her gaze upon Maribelle.

  “Maribelle is not like that at all. She would never betray us,” Bryn decred.

  Taranta's face softened as she focused on Bryn. “Oh Bryn. You truly are the kindest of my students. You represent the heart of what it means to be a sea witch. I just hope your heart does not get broken,” she said, shooting Maribelle a hateful gre while she spoke.

  “What is your problem? I have never hurt Bryn, nor will I ever betray her trust in me,” Maribelle shouted as she drifted besides Bryn. So many merfolk had welcomed her with open arms. So why was Taranta being so harsh?

  “Life in the sea used to be filled with peace, but then you humans came along bringing your greed and corruption,” Tanta replied, her tone as cold as ice.

  “I don't know what you're talking about,” Maribelle retorted.

  A look of guilt etched itself onto Tanta's face as she gnced away. “Just leave. Thank you for bringing the matter to my attention, Bryn. And please stay safe. I would rather not lose you as well.”

  Maribelle felt a hand tug at her, and when she turned to Bryn, her heart wavered when she saw how worried Bryn looked. She never liked confrontation.

  “Let's go home, Bryn,” Maribelle said quietly.

  Once outside Tanta's ir, Maribelle was quickly braced by Bryn.

  “I'm sorry, I should have said more,” Bryn said, her eyes watering up.

  Maribelle softly kissed Bryn’s forehead. “You said plenty, I know you're the sort of merfolk that never likes to fight.”

  Bryn smiled a little as she was kissed. “Tanta lost her home some time after the humans started to arrive. But that doesn't excuse her behaviour. You had nothing to do with that tragic event,” she expined.

  Maribelle nodded. “Is it to do with that thing you found on the Gilded Sword?”

  Now it was Bryn’s turn to nod. “The two are connected. I promise I will expin it. At least what parts I am permitted to share, but not today,” Bryn said wearily.

  “I understand. Let's go home and share the good news,” Maribelle said before pecking Bryn’s cheek.

  “I'd like that very much,” Bryn said, returning the favour. Her lips felt warm on Maribelle's cheek.

  Leaving Taranta and her dark ir behind, the two merfolk swam hand in hand. Looking around, Maribelle watched a rge shoal of fish swimming by. How many were there? It was impossible to count as they clustered so closely together.

  “Do you hate humans?” Bryn asked hesitantly.

  The question shook Maribelle from her daydreaming.

  “What?” Bryn asked, not expecting such a question.

  “I understand if you do hate them. Not only did they treat you poorly, but they tried to murder you twice,” Bryn said.

  Maribelle pondered the question, swimming in silence as she considered her feelings. They were certainly complicated.

  “No I don't. I hate Edward, I hate those who trapped me in a cage and hurled me into the sea, I hate those that are blinded by their vices. But I can't hate all humans. Not all of them are cruel creatures. Besides, I would have to despise myself if I hated all humans,” Maribelle said truthfully.

  “That's good, I feel the same way. Merfolk can be just as fwed as humans,” Bryn remarked.

  “Are there many others who feel the same way as Tanta?”

  Bryn shook her head. “Merfolk who share Tanta's views are rare. Our society is welcoming to all who wish to join us.”

  Maribelle smiled. “Well, I feel very welcome,” she said. She meant her words; while her encounter with Tanta had shaken her, it did not break her faith that she had made the right choice.

  “Wonderful. Now let's go home, there's much to be done,” Bryn said.

  Maribelle was keen to agree; for starters, she had to thank Joyce and Emily for all their support in making her hopes a reality.

  *****

  The Gilded Sword continued its voyage under the starlit skies. The navigator looked upwards, using those stars to guide his way home. However, this night he should have been peering into the murky depths of the sea.

  Stalking the ship was a vengeful caecilia who carried a deep, wrathful grudge. She had learned that it carried a certain artifact that must not reach home shores. She felt no guilt for what she was about to do. It was her duty as a sea witch to protect life within the sea.

  Once she closed in on the Gilded Sword, Tanta considered using her magic to drag the ship under the tides, crush it with torrents of water, and send all aboard it to a watery grave. However, she needed to verify what artifact they were carrying with her own eyes first. And since she had no desire to risk herself under sinking wreckage, she would be boarding the ship herself. She grinned in anticipation, it would be much more fun this way.

  Her tentacles csped onto the ship's hull firmly as she began her ascent. Seawater dripped from her as she climbed up the ship, and she shivered as the cold night's wind blew. The chill would not be a deterrent to her.

  Once she had climbed high enough, she put an ear to the hull. Yes, there were a number of sailors just on the other side. Laughing, singing, drinking, and most importantly, oblivious to the threat just outside. She focused her senses deeper, peering further into the ship with her arcane senses. There it was, Bryn had not told a lie when she warned her of the threat residing within the ship. Of course, she wouldn't, Bryn held a most kind soul.

  Whispering a quick chant, Tanta prepared the ritual that would give her a more human form. Two of her tentacles morphed into legs, which she was loath to do so, but time would be of the essence and crawling around on her tentacles would slow her down too much. The rest of them repositioned themselves across her back. She shuddered much more when she felt her tentacles slither up her back.

  With her transformation complete, Tanta hoisted the anchor that served as her weapon of choice with one of her tentacles, and smmed it into the Gilded Sword. It made quite the impact, but it was not enough for her to get through. Shouting from the other side warned Tanta that the sailors knew she was here. Swinging her anchor a couple more times, there was now ample space for her to breach.

  Stepping into the ship, Tanta's eyes easily adjust to her surroundings. This candle lit room was nothing to the dark depths to which she was accustomed.

  “There is something on this ship that does not belong to you. I will be taking it,” she said to the four sailors whose card game she had interrupted.

  Their shock from not only seeing a merfolk, but also her speaking their nguage only sted a few moments before a sailor pulled out a flintlock pistol and fired it. Tanta had easily predicted it, and blocked the bullet with her anchor. Before anyone else had a chance to follow up, she hurled the anchor, crushing the shooter's head into a bloody mess.

  Grinning at the sailors' horror, Tanta rushed forwards and flipped the table, sending cards flying and knocking two sailors to the floor. The one left standing tried to ssh Tanta with a dagger, but as he swung, she wrapped a tentacle tightly around his arm. He tried to break free, but she was not going to give him the chance. She felt great satisfaction forcing him to drive his own bde into his heart.

  As the lifeless body colpsed onto the floor, Tanta heard one of the sailors scream bloody retribution. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw one of the sailors charge at her with a drawn cutss. Damn, not enough time or room to dodge.

  Tanta grimaced as the cutss pierced one of her tentacles, its tip writhing around in pain. It bloody hurt, but it did stop the sailor's cutss cutting into her flesh. As the sailor desperately tried to pull his cutss out, in one motion, Tanta pulled her dagger out of its sheath while her impaled tentacle pulled the sailor closer.

  Tanta's dagger sshed the sailor's neck, and her face was spttered with blood. When the sailors relinquished his grip on his cutss, Tanta took hold of it, and with great care she pulled it out of her tentacle. She winced at the stinging pain as the bde was pulled out, inch by inch. The wound would heal in time, which was more than could be said for the dying sailor at her feet.

  Turning to the st remaining sailor, she surprised a ugh when she saw him struggle to escape the table that had thoroughly pinned him down. As she stood over him, he looked at her with pleading eyes.

  “Mercy,” he begged.

  Mercy? They didn't show Adrenna any mercy when they killed her for the sin of showing kindness. Mercy was a gift beyond these people. A single slice to the sailor's neck silenced any more pleas.

  Just above, boots thumped on wooden pnks. Most likely, the others had heard gunfire and were moving to respond. Tanta sighed as she picked up her anchor. There were too many on this ship for her to take. True, she was a formidable sea witch, but it would only take a single bullet to kill her. Her magic senses told her where the artifact was. All she had to do was cut a path to it before she was overwhelmed and sheer numbers.

  Smashing the door apart, Tanta ran down the corridor, wary of any potential ambush. More voices were raised as the crew became more aware of the intruder stalking their ship.

  A door ahead opened, and a sailor stumbled out, his sword already drawn. Sparing his no quarter, Tanta crashed him with her anchor and continued pushing onwards. She could feel the corrupt magic emanating from deeper within the ship. It manifested as a sickening sensation that lodged itself in her stomach. The humans were either entirely oblivious to it, or had embraced the dark magic. Not that it would save them, of course.

  Tanta heard shouts from ahead, and sailors storming up the staircase. Dammit, she needed to go down, but the staircase would be swarming with vengeful humans. Well, if one path was bcked, she'd just make her own. As the first sailor reached the summit of the stairs, she smmed her anchor into the floor, creating a hole. She dived down the hole, and as she slipped through, a bullet whizzed past, almost hitting her head.

  The source of the dark magic was close, but so were her enemies. Throwing caution to the tides, Tanta smashed her way through the walls that sought to impede her.

  Smashing down one more wall, Tanta knew she was at the source. The air was heavy in this room, and the stench of stagnant brine was almost unbearable. Her tentacles hurled aside crates as Tanta sought the bsphemous object she sought. There it was, right at the back was a small lockbox, and from it came a terrible sense of dread.

  Pushing down the unnatural nausea she was feeling, Tanta picked up the lockbox. Holding a hand to the lock, she quickly chanted a spell that caused the lock to rapidly rust away. Such fools; the lock may have protected their precious cargo, but it did nothing against her magic. With the remnants of the lock torn away, Tanta peers into the box. What exactly did they get their hands on?

  It's a book, but not the sort she expected. It looked new, fresh off the printing press. How was it so saturated with dark magic?

  Opening the book, she flips through a few pages, and her grip tightens in anger. It was written in their nguage. They had managed to transte the original tomes, and were now printing their own copies. This one must be destined to their king to seduce him with false dreams of power. Things were much worse than she had imagined.

  So caught up by her discovery, Tanta almost missed the sound of sailors storming into the room. Bloody abyss, she needed to get out, and take the book away from their hands. How was she going to get out?

  The ship shook as a wave struck it. Of course, in everything going on, she nearly forgot the obvious solution.

  As she chanted, Tanta drew upon her connection to the sea, calling it to aid her. Sailors broke into the room, their rifles at the ready. All of them raised their muskets at her as steady as they could, and opened fire. A vicious chorus of snaps crackled through the air, the cruel scent of gunpowder filled Tanta's nostrils. However, no bullets pierced her body. Streams of water punched through the wooden hull, surrounding Tanta as a shield that bullets shattered themselves upon. Tanta continued to chant as more and more water flooded into the ship. In response, some sailors attempted to reload, others ran away, and one brave idiot ran at her in hopes he could run her through with his bde.

  None of it mattered, with the source of the dark magic secured, the ship's fate was sealed.

  Finally, the hull gave way and shattered behind Tanta. Leaping backwards, she was relieved once again to be within the embrace of the sea. She was annoyed, however, to witness the book fall apart in her hands, and with it the dark magic it had contained dissipated into nothing. Despite how important the book was to them, the humans had failed to protect it from water damage. The fools.

  Her physical evidence may be gone, but the other sea witches would believe her word, so it was at least not a complete waste. And perhaps it was better that the book be destroyed by the sea. At least now its corruption was gone from the sea.

  But what to do about the Gilded Sword, part of the hull may be gone, but if the sailors were quick enough then they may have a chance of saving it. If that was not possible, then they'd resort to lifeboats and hope for rescue.

  No, Tanta would not give them that chance. They were the enemy. She would rather the humans in the colonies think that Gilded Sword was still on its way to their homend, than know that their book was lost. Therefore, there must be no survivors.

  Resuming her chants, Tanta the sea witch called upon the ferocity of the sea. The waters around the ship churned as the ship became trapped in the clutches of the sea. Her chanting continued as she watched the ship be dragged under the waves, its hull splintering under the crushing pressure of the sea.

  It was not long until the once proud ship became a shattered wreck, dragging all souls aboard to a watery death.

  Tanta could save them as they drowned, but they were unworthy of the gift of the tide’s embrace. They did not deserve to live within the waves, only die in them. The same could be said of all humans who sailed across the sea of the merfolk.

  And yet Bryn still saved them. Tanta stared at the sinking wreckage as a small part of herself reminded herself of that fact. Of course Bryn would, she was one of the most gentle souls Tanta had met in her two centuries of life. And she was scared that one day Bryn would find her heart broken at the hands of a human she shared.

  The sin was not being human, the sin was greed. Surely she had met enough humans to know that not all of them were blighted by that sin. Tanta shut her eyes as a fragment of her mind reminded her of that fact. It told her she was wrong to condemn all humans. Especially those who were not responsible for the crimes being committed against the sea. Bryn knew that, which is why still chose to save humans.

  Her heart wracked by conflicting emotions, Tanta knew she could not linger around any more. She needed to rest, and find her path again, for it would not be long until the sea needed her. She made that vow a long time ago, and she fully intended to keep it no matter what.