Saving Maltira

Chapter Seven

The two mermaids swam in silence. Both were subconsciously aware of the synchrony of their movements. Long tails stroked the water. One silver, the other black with a large white patch like that of an orca. Layla found it funny that her new friend was colored exactly like her favorite diet.

Hilda had joked about it.

"Lay. . ."

"Huh?"

"Don't eat me."

Layla had blinked. "What?"

"Don't mistake my tail for an orca."

Layla grinned. "Don't let me get hungry."

A long while after that comment Hilda decided it was time to hunt. They had an unspoken agreement to go for an adult great white. They spotted one and moved in for the kill. They moved like they'd been hunting buddies forever. Layla faced the shark head-on while Hilda tore up it's belly. They ate up everything but the bones, gills and fins.

The rest of the journey was uneventful.

Both mermaids entered Qeen bright eyed. First they looked for an inn.

Along the road they met a charming young trader selling breast cup shells. Hilda walked to the handsome youngster and whispered in his ear. The result was a sudden scramble as he packed up his wares and dumped them in a wooden box which he locked. He looked at them both and said, "follow me.

Layla looked at Hilda. What  did you say to him?

That I'm sore from traveling and needed some massage and that I would gladly repay him in kind.  

Are you s*x crazed?  

Hilda shrugged elegantly. My mother is a nymph.

At the Inn Layla kept her bags and changed into a simple tunic and slacks before heading out to give Hilda some privacy. She toured the streets of the city and watched the people. Qeen comprised mostly of traders and inn keepers. The variety of things sold in the city brought people from the other cities to trade so inns flourished in their business too. Layla took another turn and noticed a rather flamboyantly decorated inn. Just out of sheer curiosity, she walked in. A voluptuous middle aged woman came up to her. 

"You are not a regular."

Layla turned to look at heavily garbed woman that just spoke to her and the riot of colours in her outfit. She inclined her head and spoke with a deliberate drawl in her accent. "I'm visiting for the first time and looking to have some fun."

"You've come to the right place."

"Do you mind if I take a look around? I might see something I like."

The woman moved to allow her pass. "Take your time. You'll find the most beautiful things in here. It'll only cost you." She jiggled a small pouch in her large hand for emphasis. 

Layla smiled knowingly and slipped a fairly large gold coin into her hand and the woman bowed slightly before leaving. 

Layla walked into a corridor with a row of doors on both sides. She could hear sounds. Moans, grunts and outright screams.

So that's what their services are.  . She thought. Courtesans are always in a good position to give information. Perhaps I can find  one who would care to my particular needs. 

"Ahhhhhhhhh!!"

Layla stopped in her tracks and listened. As she concentrated, her white hair darkened to metallic silver. Her skin tanned and her features slowly started to alter until she looked different.s

"Please. . No more. Ahhhhhhhhh! Please. . It hurts. ."

The young warrior had heard enough. She kicked the door open to find a rather oversized man on a petite fragile looking girl.

"Get out!!!" The fat slob roared.

"No. You get out." Her hair lengthened to wrap around the abusive man. She flung him across the room. Then she extended her hand to the petite girl. "What is your name?"

"Rehesy."

"Why did you take on that man as a client?"

"He's not a client. He snuck in here through my window and held me captive. "

"I see. Give me a minute." She dragged the slob out of Rehesy's room, through the corridor and out of the building. Then she walked back to Rehesy's room and shut the door behind her. Folding her legs under her, she sat down on the scrubbed stone floor and placed 2 gold coins into the girl's palm.

Rehesy raised large beautiful eyes to look at her. "How do you want to be serviced?"

"By talking," Layla said softly. 

A confused look entered the younger woman's eyes and her brows furrowed. "I don't understand."

"I'm going to ask you some questions," Layla said patiently. " I need you to tell me everything you know. Do you understand? "

Rehesy nodded firmly. "Yes."

A slow smile spread across Layla's face. "Good."

The trader was lying prone on the floor!

"He didn't satisfy you?" A bewildered Layla gaped at the body.

"He did. But I want more. We'll be here for a while. I need a guide who will do everything I ask."

"I'm sure he would have done everything you wanted and more if you had asked nicely."

Hilda rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Maybe." Then she grinned. "But where's the fun in that?"

Layla circled the body. "What exactly did you do to him?"

"I cast a spell on him."

Layla rolled her eyes. "Please. . You're no witch. "

"No. But I know a thing or two about hypnotism."

"Ahh. . So he's hypnotized."

"He could be useful to you too."

Layla looked at her sharply. "What do you mean?"

I mean you can ask him whatever. "

"Thanks but I already have my sources."

"OK." She walked over to the prone figure and snapped her fingers. He came awake immediately and seemed eager to be of assistance.

Layla shook her head and smiled ruefully.

The streets were empty save an occasional passerby. Layla had altered her appearance again. This time darkening her hair to almost black and darkening her complexion to a deep brown. She recalled the conversation she had with Rehesy few days ago.

"Mr Kwalots holds the secrets of the city . If anything is happening he is the best person to ask," Rehesy had told her. 

Rehesy had proceeded to give a detailed description of his place and his schedule of activities. That told Layla that he regularly used the services of a Courtesan. Also from the information she obtained from Rehesy, she knew he would be home alone at this hour.

Layla knocked on the door.

An elderly woman peeped through the doorhole to see a beautiful dark skinned maid outside the door. She raised an arched brow in question as she opened the door.

The maid gave her a shy smile and picked at the gold chain round her exposed waist. "I was told this is the residence of Mr Kwalots ."

"Yes it is. What business do you have with him?"

The maid cringed under the hard stare and tone of the much older woman's voice. She said meekly. "I was sent as a gift to him for the afternoon. He'll be delighted to see me. "

The elderly woman looked her over deliberately and said in a slow knowing manner. "I don't doubt that for a minute." She hesitated briefly before inviting her in.

Layla walked behind the much older woman admiring her confident gait as she strode down a hallway till she got to twin heavy wooden doors. She stopped and rapped sharply on the door before pushing it open and ushering her in.

A handsome well built middle aged man lay half dressed on a large water bed.

The room was dimly lit and smelled of crushed citrus. Citrus wasn't Layla's favourite odor but she forced down a gag and walked seductively into the room. The door closed with a sickening thud and a certain dread settled in her stomach. Her hair began to spike and her facade faltered imperceptibly. She forced herself to remain calm and looked at the man on the bed.

He was watching her. The way he looked at her reminded her of a shark stalking prey.

Well she hunted sharks for food.

She took a step towards the bed and heard a click. She barely had time to register what was happening before the floor opened underneath her and she was submerged in water. She rapidly morphed but as her gills formed she noticed something was wrong. She couldn't breathe. There was no air in the water. She forced her way to the surface only for her hands to be captured and bound to the board. She couldn't swim under neither could she climb out. She was caught in some kind of trap. She snarled at the man just as he closed the board over her and secured the latch. Layla knew she had only one shot of getting out alive. It was a long call because she had never tried it over a long distance. Layla shut her eyes and concentrated. HILDA!! 

Hilda tapped her foot impatiently as the young trader tried to woo his way into the arena. Hilda was just about stopping him to do the job herself when she felt a familiar pulse in her brain. Layla?

Layla heaved a huge sigh of relief when Hilda's musical voice came through to her. I need your help. I'm trapped in some kind of cage but it's well hidden and you may need a lot of skill finding it.

Hilda dragged her captive along with her as she set about finding Layla. She opened a pouch and took a tiny orb. Layla had described the building to her and given her directions on how to get there. But she didn't know the nature of the trap Layla was caught in and she wasn't taken any chances. When she got to the door of the building the orb began to warm her palm. She had decided to walk around the house and go in through the back when she noticed that the building was attached to a wall that continued for a long stretch far into the distance. It was a foolish thing for Layla to enter into a place with only one exit no matter how strong she thought she was. And now, Hilda sighed, she was joining in her foolishness. Not that she had any choice every second was crucial to getting Layla out alive. She turned to the trader and told him to go wait for her at the Inn.

He nodded morosely and began the long walk back.

When he was out of sight, Hilda walked to up to the door and knocked. An elderly woman opened the door but stood behind it. Hilda told her she was there to retrieve something from the house. The old woman sneered and told her rudely to go look for somewhere else to rob. She moved to closed the door when Hilda clamped down her open palm with the orb on the woman's wrist. The woman screamed as the orb burned a hole in her wrist. Hilda stepped through the door and kicked it shut behind her simultaneously clamping her free hand over the woman's mouth. She removed the orb and the wound was immediately soothed and healed. She looked into the woman's eyes and repeated a set of similar words as the woman's eyes glazed over. Then she snapped her fingers and she came alert again.

"A young woman was here earlier. Tell me where she is being kept."

"She is in the master chamber".

"How do I find it?"

"It's the room at the end of the hallway".

"Thank you. Go about your activities and forget we had this discussion. "

Hilda walked away from her and walked down the hallway. Two guards stood talking. She walked right past them. When she got to the door, she noticed it was made of heavy wood. She had cloaked herself so the guards couldn't see her but if she opened the door they would suspect foul play. It would break her cover. She leaned against the wall thinking of what to do. Just then the door opened and a heavily garbed man walked out. Hilda looked at the man closely. He looked eerily familiar. But she had little time before the door closed so she just moved past him and into his chamber.

Mr Kwalots felt a gush of air blow past him. He looked around and saw nothing. The flames lining the doorway were still depicting that there was no wind. His brows creased and he moved to return to his chambers when one of the guards spoke.

"It's time, Master.

Kwalots looked around once more before pulling the hood of his cloak over his head. The mermaid trapped underground would be dead before the end of the day but he had to move fast before whoever sent her sent others.

Hilda moved around the chambers. Everything was in order. She stood and tried to connect to Layla. Where are you? Silence. Layla! Silence. She concentrated and screamed Layla!

There was a weak response and she felt a thud under her feet. She quickly knelt down and felt around for a latch. She undid it and lifted a door. Layla was submerged in water. Her wrists were bound to the board. There was a thin film on the surface of the water. Hilda dipped the tip of her finger in it and rubbed it. Oil. Hilda gasped in horror. Quickly she broke the bonds and lifted Layla out of the water. She came out as a full mermaid. She had been submerged in sea water but the film of oil prevented air from passing through. Another hour submerged in there and Layla would have suffocated. Hilda looked around and noticed a fur blanket. Layla was still gasping and struggling to breathe since she was still in mermaid form and had no lungs. Hilda tugged on the blanket and and dried Layla briskly.

Slowly Layla scales retracted and she sucked in a lungful of air. The look she gave Hilda was full of immense gratitude. She recovered quickly and cloaked herself. When they got to the door, they opened it and stepped aside. The guards rushed in with drawn swords. Both women walked out the door and raced down the hallway. Once outside, they uncloaked and walked home in silence.

Layla sat brooding silently. She thought she was an excellent judge of character but evidently she had judged Rehesy wrongly. An image of a petite fragile looking girl crossed her mind and she sighed. Kwalots had known she was coming. Apart from Rehesy, who else had known she was going to see Kwalots. She hadn't told Hilda anything. A thought crossed her mind. No. She only hears my thoughts when it has to do with her. Her mind went to Aquaira. The entire council knew of her quest. Could there be a traitor amongst them? She thought of the stolen relic. Aquaira was well guarded.

Even with the peace being enjoyed by mer-kind, her Father never took security measures lightly. Even she didn't know where the relic was kept. Whoever stole the relic was either a witch or had inside help. But Aquaira was too close knit to have a traitor.

Or wasnt it?

Layla sighed and pressed her fingertips to her temples. This was going to be much harder than she anticipated. One thing she knew for sure was that the relics weren't in Qeen. Kwalots had left the city as the young trader had found out at Hilda's command. Hilda. She looked at the slender tall beauty who stood guard at the door. Her hand was at the hilt of her dagger and her hair fell in big braids down her back. She had saved her life but Layla still didn't know if she could be trusted.

"Are you ready to leave Qeen? "

Hilda answered with her back to her. "You've had enough fun, haven't you?

Layla grinned. "It's not everyday someone tries to kill you".

Hilda grunted. "When do you want us to leave?

"When you're ready.

"I have something to do. Then we leave".

Layla nodded and settled in for the night. Sleep evaded her. Whoever stole the relic of Aquaira was either a witch or had inside help. Witchcraft was discouraged amongst mer-kind. It was considered unnatural. Merpeople were born with special gifts and they were taught to put their gifts to good use. Sorcery and witchcraft always had evil on its heels so they were forbidden. Layla opened her eyes and looked at Hilda. Hypnotism was more of science than magic but still, could she be connected to all these in a way? She remembered Pokio's picture. The message from the picture was clear. She needed Hilda. But if a witch had stolen the relic, couldn't she have used Pokio to send a wrong message? The thought startled her and she bolted upright.

"Rough night? Hilda's voice floated around her and calmed her nerves.

"I can't sleep.

"Let me help".

Layla lay back down as Hilda hummed a tune. She vaguely recognized the tune. She tried to place where she had heard it before as her senses dulled and she fell asleep.

Mr Kwalots held a golden bow. He knelt on one knee with his head bowed as he offered the bow to someone in the shadows. An arm stretched out of the shadows to collect the bow. A masculine arm. On the wrist was a bracelet. A familiar bracelet. Where had she seen that bracelet? Suddenly she heard her name. She struggled to see more as someone pulled her.

Layla opened her eyes. Hilda stood over her, fully dressed .

"What time is it?

"It's time to leave. Hurry and get dressed. "

Layla got up and packed her bag quickly before pulling on an earth colored gown. The young trader was sound asleep. She pointed to him.

"What about him?

"When he wakes up he'll be fine.

They gave some coins to the innkeeper and left Qeen.

Bebeth wasn't much different from Qeen. The people were friendlier and Layla felt herself relax a little. This time she opted for a more direct approach. After checking into an inn, she left Hilda to look for the Bebeth market. At the market, she approached a very poor old woman and bought some of her wares. Then she leaned in and asked who she thought was the most trustworthy man in all of Bebeth. The old woman gave her a toothless smile and said a name. The Bebu house was beautiful in its simplicity. But Layla refused to let her guard down. Three middle bones of her spines protruded underneath her tunic. Her dagger was sheated in her boots and she carried her family crest in the pocket of her pants. She met a good natured woman in the courtyard who ushered into a garden. Mr Bebu sat under a tree perusing some stones in front of him. She approached him cautiously.

"Mr Bebu ".

"Hello Layla".

Layla stood stock still. Her hair began to spike as her eyes darted around her.

Mr Bebu dropped the rock he was examining and smiled at her. "Don't panic princess. I was present at your birth. "

Layla relaxed a little but was still cautious as she sat down opposite the much older man.

Mr Bebu continued. "I believe you're here in respect to the stolen relics.

Layla nodded wordlessly.

"No one knows how they were stolen. I believe trying to retrace the steps of the thief is a waste of precious time. There are no steps to retrace ".

"Do you think a witch is involved?

"I've always hated witchcraft. I believe it's a harbinger of evil. But sometimes all that is required is someone with excellent skills to do the job perfectly. It could be witchcraft or not. The answer lies in catching the thief red-handed. "

"I don't know who to trust.

"Right now, trust is a luxury you can't afford. Trust no one. Follow the facts and always keep an open mind. Don't fall for whims. Nothing is at it seems. "

Layla nodded.

Mr Bebu picked up a rock and gave it to her.

Layla eyed it warily. "What is this?

Mr Bebu looked her in the eyes and said ominously. "A test.

"How is it a test?

"You'll see.

Layla left the Bebu house with one goal in mind. To reach the next city before the thief. There was one problem though. She had been on her quest for almost a month now. How would she know which of the remaining four cities still had its relic? There was only one place where she could find that information.

The Bebeth pub was literally in the middle of the city.

Layla wondered if it was the only pub in the city. Even better for her if it was.

She had wrapped her hair in a turban and worn uninteresting clothes to avoid drawing any attention to her.

She walked into the pub and sat on a bench in the corner of the room. An attendant walked over her and she ordered a drink. An electric pulse ran down her spine and she stiffened. Her skin became all prickly and her vision narrowed. She looked down at her drink. She hadn't touched it. She tried to calm her nerves as she looked around and tried to determine what was wrong. From the corner of her right eye she saw something she had taken for granted when she picked her seat. A shadow. Far into the corner on the same bench she sat on was a dark hooded figure. The figure sat so still, unmoving. Her unease grew and her palms began to get chilly. The shadow turned towards her. She couldn't make out its features. He stood up abruptly and left the pub. Layla dropped a coin beside the untouched cup and followed him out. Once out she cloaked herself and trailed him to a deserted place. He turned a corner and Layla followed. She couldn't find him. She made a 360 degree turn and saw no sign of him. Not even a footprint. The prickly sensation left her and her spine retracted. The danger was gone.

Hilda wasn't in when Layla got home and she was grateful for the solitude. She reflected on the events of the day. Strange. She opened a pouch and took out the rock. It was coarse to the touch but smooth looking. Trust no one. The rock is meant to test you. Layla recalled that he hadn't even asked her to trust him. Nothing is as it seems.

She tossed it in her palm as she remembered the shadow. She suspected he knew he was being followed and that was why he disappeared. But she was cloaked. He couldn't have seen her following him. Unless he had sensed it, like she sensed him. So far there was only one person who drew such acute awareness from her. Hilda. Where was she anyway? Layla remembered the sensations she had felt in the pub. She had sensed danger. Hilda gave her peace. It couldn't have been Hilda.

Hilda returned at the stroke of midnight. Layla was fast asleep so she crept in to avoid waking her up. She took off the cloak she was wearing and folded it neatly then shoved it inside her bag. Then she carefully rearranged the articles in the bag putting the cloak at the bottom of the bag, effectively hiding the cloak from plain sight. She blew off the light Layla had left burning for her and went to sleep.

Layla woke up early the next morning. For the first time since they began their trip she was up before Hilda. Layla smiled in triumph. Several times she wondered if the girl ever slept. Layla always went to bed before her and got up after her. Whatever training had she received! 'My mother wants me to be queen. Layla scoffed as she recalled what Hilda had told her the day they met. Queen indeed!! The girl was too rugged. . .and yet smooth. Layla shook her head. Unraveling the riddle that was Hilda wasn't something she had time for right now. Maybe later.

Yesterday the hooded figure had distracted her from getting the information she sought. She had to get it today. Time was running out. Each second she wasted gave the thief more time to steal. She wore a tunic and pants. Her sword was sheated and strapped to her bare back under her tunic. She wrapped her hair in a turban and darkened her eyelids with black powder. She looked sinister, perhaps that would dissuade anyone from crossing her path today. Satisfied with her appearance, she left the room.

Hilda turned and looked at the closed door. She counted to ten and tossed the blanket over her away. She was already dressed.

Layla walked into the pub and took the same spot she had sat in yesterday. This time she carefully scanned the room. The pub was already filling up despite the early hours. A richly dressed man gulped his drink and belched loudly. Layla tuned in to him.

"I heard Ziruith has lost its relic too. The richly dressed man spoke to his partner in hushed tones.

His partner looked at him skeptically. "Wherever did you hear that?

"I was in Ziruith last week shopping for silverware. The wife of the prison warder was gossiping about it to her friend. "

The second man scoffed. "So now you listen to gossip?

The merchant shrugged casually. "Such gossip sometimes contains elements of truth.

Layla had heard enough. She rose and paid for her drink before heading out. She wouldn't waste time going to Ziruith. Five relics had been stolen. Three were left. She had to get to three before whoever was stealing them did.

Hilda had packed their bags and was reclining casually against the wall when Layla came in. At Layla's arched brow she spoke. "Bebeth is boring. Can we move on? "

Ronig was more colorful than all the other mer-cities. Even though mer-kind had evolved so much with all the bubble cities and their dealings with humans, the Ronigians took pride in the mermaid culture. There were more shell houses than concrete and even the concrete houses had sea inspired designs. The Ronigians wore more embellishments on their clothes and they had large water holes scattered around the city where they reclined in mermaid form. Hilda handed Layla the bags and wandered off to one of those water holes leaving Layla with the task of finding accommodation for both of them.

Layla walked into the palace dressed as an emissary. She was in formal Aquarian attire. The palace was spacious and had various carvings on the walls. She saw a sketch depicting a large merman with curly hair and beard being given a crown. Her brows creased. The relic of Ronig was a crown. Perhaps could it be the crown the King wore? Layla peered more closely at the carving and noticed the crown had six diamonds around it.

The King was in the throne room and she was ushered in to see him. A wise looking man sat on a simple throne. He had his pitch fork and a solemn look on his face.

Layla approached him and introduced herself.

For a while he seemed to assess her through aged eyes that have seen a lot in his day.

Layla took a glance at his head and noted that his crown was a simple gold band.

"I don't wear it.

Layla was startled out of her thoughts.

The King stepped down from the throne and ushered her out of the throne room into the courtyard. "I know why you're here. Our relic is safe, but not for long. Whoever is taking the relics will not stop until he has acquired all eight relics. "

"How do I stop whoever it is?

"To do that, you need to understand what you're up against. You need to know the history of the relics. "

Layla considered this for a moment. Suddenly she realized how ill equipped she really was. True, she had been trained in all the arts of war. But what use do her skills really do her when she knows next to nothing about what she was supposed to find. She looked at the wise king and nodded.

The king led her through the courtyard to the carvings on the wall. He started from the first carving on the wall. As he spoke, Layla felt herself being transported to the sea many centuries ago.

"Once the entire mer-kingdom was under one king. The king's empire stretched across the seven seas and all was under his dominion. Other kingdoms wanted to exploit the wealth of the sea and e*****e all of mer-kind. The king fought alongside his eight generals. Legend has it that the King's armour made him invincible and indestructible on the battlefield. He won the war and all of mer-kind was safe under his rule. But the time came for the king to die. The king had two sons who had married foreign women. His first son had married an elven woman and his second son had married a nymph. The king was afraid of entrusting his kingdom to his sons because the elves and nymphs had joined the humans in fighting mer-kind. Finally, he decided to divide his kingdom into eight cities under the guardianship of his generals. He asked for his armor to be brought. And he split it amongst the eight generals. Each piece signified independence. Armed with the relics, the guardians travelled across the seas and established independent cities. But the guardians refrained from indulging in politics and only intervened in extreme cases. The sons of the kings rallied an army and attacked the guardians but without the King's armor they could not lay claim to a universal throne. It is said that the younger son who was married to a nymph was more of a sore loser than his brother. As mer-kind settled into peace, the guardians fell back to the background. But it is said that they will rise if the peace of mer-kind is ever threatened again."

The king stopped abruptly and looked at Layla. "Whoever is after the relics will be unstoppable once he has all eight of them.

Layla nodded with clarity. "Do you think they are linked to the nymphs?

"I don't know what to think. I only know I will protect the relic in my custody with my life. "

"Where is it?

"I can't divulge that information to you.

"Are you the only one with knowledge of its location?

"The kings are the only ones entrusted with the knowledge of the location of each relic.

"Are you saying that the kings have a hand in the disappearance of the relics?

"I'm saying there's more going on than meets the eye.

"I'm really confused. There should be more to the story. In the event of this kind of threat, what does the legend say? "

"The legends are past stories not prophecies. They do not predict the future. I believe the guardians will rise. In fact,” the king placed his left hand on Layla's shoulder, "I believe they have risen. Keep your allies close and tackle this problem at the root. "

Layla walked back to her room with less answers than she had hoped for. One thing that struck her was the nymph part of the story. There was currently a king married to a nymph. The king of Toloq, Hilda's parents. If the nymphs were against mer-kind centuries ago, what's to say that they had changed. An image of Hilda's mother crossed her mind. Queen Petiba was a strong willed woman. Hilda had said that her father couldn't refuse her. Had she turned the king against his kind? But Toloqs still had their relic. Layla sat down. All this thinking was giving her a headache. She was a warrior not a strategist. She had never been good at analyzing situations. A light bulb went off in her head. Pokio! Although only ten, Pokio had the wisdom of ten millennials. She was sure that if there was anyone who could put all the pieces together, it was him.