Tyrell went to see Magnus. The old tiger was in the library sitting at the table and studying old maps. He lifted his head and looked at Tyrell knowingly. Tyrell looked at him sadly and put his mark from Sarcos's letter Magnus sent to Sand City at the table. The old tiger swallowed hard." When?" he asked quietly.
Tyrell bit his lips."When the queen is back here safely."
" Why do you keep doing this? She could be killed again."Tyrell said sadly upset.
"But the prince was protecting her, no?"Magnus asked almost naively.
"The prince is dead, and so is the old king," Tyrell said with relief.
Magnus nodded and bit his lips.
Tyrell looked at him."Sharchan wants your head too!"Tyrell hissed angrily.
"Well, I played and I lost, don't be sad Tyrell," Magnus said nonchalantly and continued to read.
Tyrell stared at him. He was not sure what to think about him anymore. After a minute Magnus asked curiously. "So, who is the new Sea Eagle King?"
"General Marco," Tyrell said coldly.
Magnus smiled."So you can be friends with the eagle tribe again."
Tyrell nodded.
"Well, you earned more than you lost then."Magnus nodded his head.
"Are you not upset Sharchan wants your head for treason?" Tyrell looked at him in unbelief.
"You are your own king, it is up to you how you decide."Said Magnus.
Tyrell smiled bitterly."I have always considered you a friend and teacher. But you betrayed me twice. Why are you doing this?"
"For the common good," Magnus murmured boringly and kept drawing something in the maps.
Tyrell looked at him. He was getting suspicious Magnus is not living for the common good. He nodded his head."I will try to convince Sharchan to let you live, but you will have to leave Crystal City. It is up to my queen, really." Tyrell sighed and left. He was sure Sienna will be not asking for the old tiger's head, she was always kind. Magnus's eyes got a dark spark in them as he looked after leaving Tiger King. He knew Tyrell had soft spot for him.
Tyrell went to Sharchan. The big snake was lounging in the garden."Sharchan, can you watch over my city for a few days, I need to talk to my father."Said Tyrell. The snake nodded.
In the high stony mountain castle, on top of the high tower, surrounded by dark green fragrant pine trees, Marco was sending Sienna back to Sand City. She was wrapped up in warm clothes. Marco held her in his embrace and kissed her pink full lips."Fly safe my queen. If you need anything, I'm here for you. I will be coming to Crystal City after I set up the laws here." He lifted her to Voltoire's back. "Thank you, Marco, stay well, I love you."Sienna sent him last air kiss and Voltoire went up to the sky.
Voltoire carried Sienna relaxedly."Finally back on track, "he thought. He was a bit worried about Sarcos's rage, but he really looked innocent this time. He wanted to make it up to Sienna a bit."Let's fly around the sea," Voltoire called to her.
"Sea? I love the sea, please let's go if it is not too far away," Sienna agreed happily.
"Is just close here, by flight!"Voltoire chuckled. Sienna watched eagerly and really as the mountains keep passing, it looked like a clean cut of the rocks and sea with soft sand was revealed. "Is called Light Sea!"Voltoire called to her.
"It is where Nefari lives, "Sienna said excitedly.
Voltoire chuckled."Yes, but it is very vast, I don't think you will be able to find her. "
Sienna nodded her head sadly.
They landed at the beach. It was just getting warm from the early sun. Sienna took off her shoes and kicked the soft sand with her bare feet. "Thank you, Voltoire," she stared into the handsome face of the sneaky vulture." Enjoy it!" he said and sat on the big rock, "I keep watch."
Sienna was very excited to be at the sea. She went for a short walk, splashed her feet in cold seawater a bit and collected some seashells on the beach when she heard a longing song. The voice sounded familiar to her. Sienna stopped abruptly and listened. Then she ran back to Voltoire."It is Nefari, Voltoire, it is Nefari! Please take me to her." she was excited as a cute child.
Voltoire smiled and changed to a vulture. He took Sienna to the small rocky formation in the sea, not far from land. A beautiful mermaid sat on the edge of a big rock and sang sadly.
"Nefari, "Sienna called and waived excitedly. The mermaid looked up in unbelief."Sienna, it is you!"
Voltoire dropped Sienna next to Nefari. Sienna went to hug her and held her tight. Nefari could not believe her eyes. She held Sienna and cried. "Nefari, I still wear the seahorse bracelet, take it back," Sienna said gently.
"No, keep it for me for a while, "Nefari bit her lips, "Come to see my home, be my guest," she led her to her grotto deeper in the rocks. Sienna looked at Voltoire." I wait for you here, go have some fun with your friend," he smiled gently at her. Sienna came inside the Nefari grotto, it was decorated beautifully with a small pool connected to the sea. It had a lot of ancient-looking musical instruments, books, a few boxes with sparkly treasures, mirrors and lots of soft cushions. Nefari brought Sienna some seaweed snacks, they sat on the silky cushions and they chat. Sienna told Nefari all about the Sea Eagle King and how she get there. Nefari felt happier chatting with her.
Suddenly they heard a commotion outside."Sienna, come out!" Voltoire screeched. Sienna and Nefari ran out and saw how he flew up to the sky. Sienna turned around and saw they were surrounded by pale mermen in silvery scaly armours with trident weapons and harpoons. They were attacking Voltoire mercilessly."Stop!" called Sienna, "He is my servant!" The mermen turned to Sienna and pointed their tridents onto her and Nefari instead.
Sienna looked at them with unbelief."Really? Are you so scared of us, you need to threaten us with tridents?"She lifted her eyebrow curiously. The pale merman captain stared at Sienna. He remembered her from Crystal City.
"Put the tridents down," he ordered his men.
Sienna held Nefari's hand."What is going on?" she whispered.
Nefari just shook her head."It is my fault, please forgive me."
"Come back inside, please." the captain held his anger and pointed the way to Nefari's cave again. He went inside with them and the mermen guard stood in front of the entrance.
The captain stood opposite the Nefari and started to shout at her."How could you! All people of our tribes are depending on you. You selfish fish!"
Sienna held Nefari's hand and looked at the pale captain with a question on her face."What exactly happened?"
Nefari bowed her head and was quiet, she was clearly scared. Sienna stepped in front of her." Stop! What is going on here? Why do you treat her so badly?" she shouted back at the captain.
"Stay out of it!"The captain shouted.
"She is my friend! So what exactly happened?"Sienna said coldly.
"She try to run away!" he shouted.
"What you are talking about? Why would she run for? I just heard her singing and came to visit. We are friends."Sienna looked coldly back at him. She was fed up with stupid rude merman.
"She did not tell you?" the merman stopped shouting suddenly.
"Tell me what?"Sienna turn to Nefari a bit pale. "It must be about her secret," she thought.
"I'm so sorry, Sienna," Nefari cried," It is my fault. I'm due to be sacrificed to Kraken sea monster and they must think you called Voltoire to take me away."
"What!!! They want to kill you?" Sienna asked in horror."How dare they!"
"Is not their fault, every 10 years the most pretty mermaid must be sacrificed, so we can live in peace. That is why I could go sing on land for ten months, it was my last wish. Now is my time to pay."Nefari bit her lips."I'm so sorry to drag you into this."
Sienna hugged her tight. "Don't be silly. Any monster can be killed. I'm sure my mates will be able to destroy it. Why did not you tell me before? "Sienna asked." I could ask for help. When you are due to go?" she asked worriedly.
"I have 2 days left."Nefari sighted.
"We need to make a plan on how to kill it."Sienna bit her finger thinking. Then she looked sharply at the captain who was just staring at them.
"I demand to talk to your king!" Sienna said coldly.
"By what right?" he asked in a bit of surprise at Sienna's courage.
"By the right of the Snake, Tiger, Scorpion and Eagle Queen!"Sienna said confidently.
The captain thought for a second and nodded."Come with me then, both of you!" Sienna held Nefari's hand and walked behind the captain fearlessly. She was very angry inside. "These mermen are rude to females but scared of a stupid sea monster. How low. "She thought. Sienna read about monsters from legends and she knew there is always ways how to kill them.
The captain led the thru the maze of caves to the spacious decorated Throne Room. It was encrusted with sea shells and pearls in a pleasing manner. There was a big sparkly throne. The king stepped down from his throne to look at the commotion. Hector, the merprince was right behind him together with the old mage Quin.
King Nelius looked at the bewildered female which entered confidently, dragging the tearful Nefari behind her, holding her hand. Her golden hair almost shine up the entire room and her blue eyes were like the sky over the ocean at sunset. But they were angry. Her beautiful eyes looked like the ones of a hungry tigress looking to devour something and shatter the world to pieces.
There was a rumour, that Scorpion Queen was more beautiful than mermaids and Nelius had to agree. Hector and the old mage just stared.
Sienna was really angry. She projected strength and a furious aura as she stood face to face with an older king. He got grey hair and looked pale. He looked weak to her. His chest was decorated with pearls and gold. He reminded her more of an eccentric fashion designer than a king. He looked at her closely and try to act his part of being a king." Why did you come, Scorpion Queen?" he mustered his courage under Sienna's strong gaze.
"I just came to see my best friend Nefari, on my way to king Sarcos. I'm overdue to be in his kingdom by now, he must be looking for me already. And I'm Snake, Tiger, Scorpion and Sea Eagle queen now."She smiled confidently trying to calm her rage.
"I came to talk to you about asking my kings to kill Kraken for you. Nefari is my friend, and I want her to be well."Sienna said sternly.
"You have strong kings behind you, you really are beautiful. Maybe we should sacrifice you instead, then the mermaids would be most beautiful again." Nelius looked at her and licked his lips.
Sienna looked at him with serious eyes."King Nelius. I'm offering you my help in defeating Kraken." She repeated. "He must be stupid." she thought.
"Nobody can defeat him. But we can sacrifice you instead Nefari," the king smiled wickedly now."It will fulfil your wish, to keep her well." he put his hands together as a sneaky businessman.
"What about next time? You will sacrifice Nefari then and then another mermaid and so on. If you will be killing off your most beautiful mermaids your tribe will surely go ugly." Sienna scoffed.
Nelius looked at her in surprise. He never thought about that.
"I'm queen to four powerful kings, if you try to harm me, they will destroy you and your tribe completely," Sienna said seriously."I do not wish you harm, as Nefari is my friend, so I'm offering you my help."
"Do you think your kings can hurt me?"Nelius giggled.
"Did you ever see a fire on the water?" Sienna looked at Nelius with crazy eyes.
"It is impossible."Nelius smiled.
"Not for King Sarcos.He has thousands of ways how to kill those who enrage him. He burned two kings in front of my eyes because they wanted to hurt me. One of them fell apart alive as bloody little pieces and then burned. It was a very ugly sight. But the blue diamond from him looked nice."Sienna whispered."There is a new Spider King and New Peacock king now."She bit her lips.
"Besides king Sarcos can poison your sea or cook you alive, he is the most dangerous one, I do not even know all the power he possesses. King Sharchan can simply swim in the sea and wipe out your cities. Sea Eagle King can occupy the sky and pick your people like ripe plums. Tiger King will wait on the beach to devour the rest. Would you wish for such a fate for your tribe?"
The king stood motionless. He was thinking."Are they really so formidable?"
"Take my offering hand then and let me send the letter to Sea Eagle King. He is the closest. Together we can defeat Kraken for good."Sienna smiled."And no more suffering will be needed."
The king started to entertain her idea." The queen is beautiful, her kings must be surely strong. The legends of king Sarcos and Sharchan must be true then." he thought.
"I will talk to my advisors, you may go," Nelius said carefully.
"No, "Sienna shook her head."The king needs to be able to decide on the spot. You are old enough to be competent to decide if you want to preserve your tribe or not! There is not much time left."She said firmly.
"How are you not scared of me at all? "he said furrowing his brows."I have soldiers who can kill you with one flick."
Sienna looked at him pitifully."Are you trying to prove your power over fighting with me? Fight my kings instead or the Kraken." she hissed at him angrily. She did not have much patience with cowards.
Prince Hector could not look at his father embarrassing his tribe."Let's do it, father! It is the way to save Nefari and free our tribe forever. If the kings of this queen are so strong, they might be able to defeat Kraken. Our armies can help out too."
The old mage nodded as well. "We will be destroyed by Kraken or by these queen kings. Why we don't let the kings then destroy the Kraken for us? You will be seen as a hero king, who gathered the most powerful kings and led them to kill Kraken. Imagine the celebrations." he whispered to the old king.
Hector looked at them in disbelief."Can someone be so narcissistic as my father?" he thought.
The old king finally nodded."Take the queen to Nefari's cave and let her write that letter." he ordered the captain. Sienna nodded and turn fast to hurry up, still dragging Nefari behind her. "Every minute is precious," she told her.
Sienna wrote the letter fast as she could. Then the captain and the guard took her to the rocks again, where she landed. Nefari had to stay inside. Sienna breathe in the fresh air and called for Voltoire who was high in the air. "Voltoire send me the Sarcos's falcon, I have an urgent letter to send to Marco, read it too!" she called. Voltoire sent the falcon. Sienna did not let him land and threw the letter into the air. Falcon picked the letter in his talons and fly up to Voltoire. "Fly fast Voltoire!"Sienna called. Voltoire screeched and fly back to Marco alongside the falcon fast as he could.