I got a room on the fourth floor. It was spacious, it was quite nice and it came with an attached bathroom.
I didn't know what I was expecting but I certainly wasn't expecting those suction contraptions again.
The bed was super comfortable and I could finally, after all this time, relax. Yet, I didn't want to. I had some rather good reasons.
One, I still didn't know how this whole thing would go or whether I'd be able to leave this place alive.
Two, I had no idea what Shia and the others were doing. Were they even okay?
And three, I really didn't know where Mom and Den were. Were they in the forbidden- or forgotten or whatever the heck it was called- continent?
And then there was the whole Askavan thing I had to get back to after all this….
To be fair, I didn't know a whole bunch of things. And the more I thought about them, the less sleepy I felt. Sure, I was still super tired but… but the worries were far too real.
Not like worrying gonna make anything better. And not like I could stop worrying just because I knew I was worrying too much.
Sigh.
"Sol, you in?"
"I am."
The fishman came in.
Even now, even after all this time, I couldn't help but freak out a little every time I saw his face. The scar didn't seem to make the feeling any less devastating.
"We've been granted an audience," he said. "Tomorrow afternoon."
"Good for you. You came all this way."
"No, no, you don't understand. I've been granted an audience because of you."
"What do you mean?"
"The queen of mermaids, wants to meet you."
"Oh, I see."
She wanted to meet the savior/captor of the mermaid. So, either I'd be eaten alive (which didn't seem to be likely) or celebrated as a hero (which didn't seem likely either) tomorrow.
"So, uh," he fiddled his fingers, swiveling his tusks. I didn't know he could even do that! "I probably won't be allowed to talk. But… but could you-" His face turned slightly red. Was he angry at this situation? I mean I could understand. He'd come all this way into enemy territory. Risked so much, betrayed his own kind. And yet, the mermaids wouldn't let him talk. "Could you ask her for a portrait?"
"A what?"
"A portrait. You know, paintings of one. My youngest has wanted one for years but sadly her portraits are far too expensive. And for the price, they're far too inferior of quality. So, I figured, since I can't buy them, I'll just ask the lady herself and well."
Huh.
"Yeah, sure, why not?"
And wait, this dude was married and had kids? Wow. Didn't expect that. I thought him to be a loner but maybe he had more rizz than I thought.
Anyway, "Anything else?"
"Not really. Can't relax in their fancy beds," he spoke in a matter-of-fact manner and stared at the lake outside. The lake was fairly beautiful and the running waves felt really nice under the gentle light. The swans only made it seem like a fairytale even more.
"Your beds were pretty fancy too, you know."
"Only the guest chambers. That particular chamber was designed specifically to keep mermaid nobles."
"So normal bathrooms don't have those suction things?"
"Suction things? You mean the Succi? Don't all bathrooms in Grade III and IV Safe Zone have them?"
I blinked a couple of times. "The goblins didn't have it-"
"That's because they were Grade II"
"Huh. Su-sure…."
I wanted to talk about things but I didn't feel like asking anything. One, I was getting sleepier and two, talking with this fishman was kind of awkward even after all this time. Maybe I was becoming more introverted, because I didn't want to trouble him with my queries.
Yet- "What'll happen to you once you go back?"
"I'll be tried but considering they won't have any proof against me, I'll be set free."
"Why were you guys after the mermaid anyway?"
"We could have used her as a political toy. Same for you."
"Me?"
"Yes, aren't you her half bastard brother?"
"Not really," I deadpanned.
"Lying wench," the fishman cursed. "Though I suppose that's only logical."
"Lying?"
"You being her brother."
"Suppose so."
Well, I guess he wasn't as airheaded as I thought he was. He still seemed somewhat headstrong for my liking but, but I could live with this. "I'm not a halfbreed either, just so you know. I'm a bona fide human." Sounded awfully weird when I said it though.
He sighed. "Very well. I shall change my impression of you from barely tolerable, to 'must be avoided at all costs'."
"Hey!"
A snicker. Damn fish was joking… I think.
"Alright then, Bona Fide Human, rest well," he said leaving.
"You too Fishman. You too."
"Zorkan."
"Soler."