Saving Maltira

Chapter three

One by one they filed out through the breach two guards held open for over thirty young warriors in training from Aquaira to leave the bubble . Immediately the salt water touched her skin, Layla felt her scales cover her skin and her magnificent silver tail began to form. Her slanted eyes blinked rapidly to allow a thin membrane, which allowed mermaids to see well in the water, cover her eyes. She untied her hair and let it form a halo around her. Her skin markings that distinguished her as an Aquarian glowed through her scales as she pulled her dress over her head to reveal two shelled breast cups covering her breasts. 

Layla swam with zeal and excitement as she reveled in the feeling of being in her natural form. Several other mermaids and mermen swam out to the sea as they began their journey to the festival booth. Their sacks were piled in a carriage being pulled by giant sea horses ridden by Jace who was their commander.

As they swam, several sea creatures knew to stay clear off their path. This was one of those times when the mermaids hunted with abandon. Layla didn't waste her skill on small game though, she went for orcas.

"Yo Blondie!”

Layla wished she could disappear as she heard the one voice that irritated her the most in the entire Aquaira.

Rhyne blocked her path, "won't you acknowledge my greeting?".

"I didn't hear any" Layla replied a bit too sweetly.

I said 'Yo blondie'"

"And that is how you were taught to greet".

Rhyne smiled sheepishly. "I was merely acknowledging your beauty".

"I'm not your blondie; I'm going to politely ask one last time that you stop calling me that". She smiled even more sweetly showing her gleaming fangs. “I might not be so nice next time”. She resumed swimming and ignored his protests.

"I saw dark and handsome talking to you. Has he proposed yet?"

Layla looked up from the sack she was trying to untie to glare at Jace. "How soon would you want to join your ancestors?".

Jace threw back his head and laughed.

Layla continued, I despise him. He's a moron and he's reveling in his stupidity."

Jace gave her a serious look, "He's quite dashing you know, and he's not bad at archery. He could teach you a thing or two."

"He's too vain. How can a man be that vain? "

Jace chuckled. "You have to settle in. Take your things to your corner and meet the others. I have a meeting with the master of arms and the commanders from the other cities."

She chose a corner and piled rocks to tie her sack to. She knew she had to build her own bed so she set out to gather materials for what was always the first task: setting up camp.

Layla's silver tail felt the vibrations before her ears picked up the sound. Closing her eyes, she smiled as the master of arms blew the horn that signaled the start of the festival. Layla had always wondered why this particular week of activity was called a "festival",  the word "tournament" suited it more because it was mainly a show of battle skills and quests. She swam to the auditorium where the mermaids stood with their teams. She looked around at the species. There were the long eared Nacarans, the fair Qeens, the aggressive Colons, and the rest from the other four nations. Layla scanned the faces around her.

"Hey Blondie!!"

Layla spun in the direction of the voice and snarled, her claws came out , her spine protracted sharp bones and her hair twisted into braids rapidly to form seven sharp spikes. 

Rhyne, who had spoken was visibly shaking. Jace swam over and placed his palm on her arm. She turned ferocious blue eyes on him. Jace looked into those animal eyes and called her name sharply. Slowly she began to relax and her spines retracted. 

"I'm going to kill him J. If he calls me blondie one more time I'm going to kill him." 

Jace smiled and turned to face the small crowd that had gathered in the hopes of witnessing their first fight in the festival, "show's over. Take your places."

A gray haired merman with rough scales covering his body and a bronze medium sized pitch fork rode in on a narwhale which looked like a cross-breed between a great white shark and a unicorn.

"Why does he always have to be so dramatic?” whispered a soft musical voice.

Layla turned to see a fair mermaid, dark haired with white alabaster skin.

Skin?!!

Layla blinked twice in amazement before peering closely to notice that except for her gills , fins and her tail there were no scales on this mermaid's torso that characterized mermaids. Her eyes were slanted in an unusual way. She was strikingly beautiful but in an odd way like a. . . ."are you a Halfling? "

The mermaid looked at her strangely and said, "obviously." Then she smiled, "my mother is nereid, a water nymph”.

Layla stared in envy, "do you have telepathic powers?"

The half nymph looked at her seriously for a moment and then seemed to consider it before bursting out laughing.

The musical sound of her laughter was unlike anything Layla had ever heard and pulled her in instead of annoy her. She stretched her hand and drew the Halfling close to her. "What is your name?"

"Hilda", was the soft reply.

Layla looked at her quizzically, "that's a human name."

Hilda smiled, my mother had a human best friend once. I was named after her."

"Oh, they must have been really close".

Hilda shrugged, "I guess so. What about you?"

"I wasn't named after my mom's friend"

"I mean what is your name?"

"I'm Layla. Is this your first time at the festival? I've never seen you before. "

"Yes, my mother never wanted me to be a warrior. She said I was born to be queen. I was taught "feminine" things; dancing, playing the lute, housekeeping and others. But I always trained in secret. My mother only recently gave me permission to attend the festival. I guess she feels I've earned the freedom."

Layla listened raptly. "What about your father?"

"My father does whatever my mother wants"

Layla looked at her oddly.

Hilda caught the look and smiled. "My mother is a nymph, Lay, have you ever heard of a man, maid or beast who could resist a nymph?

Layla giggled taking Hilda by surprise.

"You just giggled!"

Layla blushed, "yes?"

Hilda gasped, "You're blushing through your scales!"

Layla turned a very dark shade of silver from hair to tail and whispered fervently, "Stop!"

Hilda laughed and let it go. "I think I'm bringing out the other side of you".

"Aquarians you're up against the Toloqs. 3 quests will be assigned to you. The first to complete all three wins. Your commander will pick the 3 amongst you who will compete in each round. Your first task: Find a school of Orcas and capture their infant alive without causing any fatal injury to any of the adults.The first team to return with the goal wins."

Jace picked Layla, Rhyne and Artacis- a fierce no-nonsense mermaid.

Layla looked at Rhyne and snarled in warning.

Artacis looked at both of them and turned to Jace, "Really?

Jace looked pointedly at Layla, "I trust my team to be serious. You all have to work as a team but to be safe, Artacis will lead. You are to follow her command, understood?“ All three nodded. ”Good. Now choose your weapons."

Rhyne picked a long stick, Artacis picked a net and Layla didn't pick any.

Jace smiled and leaned into Layla to whisper, "I wish I could come along and watch". Jace secretly got excited from watching her go all naked weapon. She had immense strength and she knew when to fall back on it. Her movements were always graceful and powerful at the same time and Jace almost got distracted just thinking about it. He spoke sharper than he intended. "You've all made wise choices, your time starts now!”

Artacis took off first followed by Rhyne. Jace manged to see Layla unleash her animality before she took off, he swallowed hard as his tongue went dry. What is wrong with me?, he cursed silently. 

Rhyne hit the alpha smack on the head with his stick successfully gaining his attention. With the alpha distracted, Layla spun herself to form a mini underwater tornado and carried it into the midst of the school of orcas. Then Artacis moved in swiftly to capture the infant in her net. That same instant the alpha noticed what was happening and moved in on Layla at top speed. Layla bared her fangs and bent in combat mode when suddenly a sonic scream froze all life in that circle except the mermaids. As they swam away Layla saw the dark hair first and knew instinctively that it was Hilda even before the beauty showed her face. The depth of the connection hit her with full force. How could she be so connected with someone she just met and barely knew?

Hilda swam past Layla and winked at her, then she flipped her tail and hit Artacis full force. Stunned, Artacis dropped her catch which was quickly caught by another one of Hilda's teammates. Layla stopped in her tracks shocked! She went after Hilda instead of the mermaid holding the infant.

Artacis snarled in anger and went after the thief. The sound of Hilda's laughter floated around Layla as she chased after her.

"You didn't include the word "thief" when you introduced yourself earlier," Layla said stiffly. Hilda just laughed which only served to infuriate Layla more. "What is wrong with you?!!!”

That got Hilda's attention, "Why are you so sensitive? “

"I'm sensitive? You stole our catch!"

"Lay, I didn't steal from you. In fact, I believe I saved your life."

"That was just a distraction!"

Hilda shrugged, "Suit yourself lady, I got to go." 

Layla arrived at the auditorium practically livid. Jace met her, "What happened?”

"The Toloqs stole from us Jace".

"Stole? That's a first. "

"Shouldn't that be against the rules?"

"It is. If you can prove it. "

"I'm so angry. And to think that I actually liked her."

"Who are you talking about?

"The Toloq. Hilda."

"The dark haired beauty? She's so innocent."

Layla narrowed her eyes. "I'm going to get them, the Toloqs, the entire lot."

"Just be careful, never forget honor and dignity. You've never been sneaky."

"I understand Jace, I wont stoop to their level."

The two mermaids steered clear of each other until the last day of the festival. As usual, there was a party to celebrate the overall winners of the tournament. For the first time in decades, the Toloqs came first. Layla was fuming.

"We don't always have to come first you know."

"I know J, I'm not angry because we lost. The Toloqs stole and cheated their way to victory."

"Well, let's not let them steal our fun. Try to enjoy the party, Lay, it's not every day you get to go to a party like this one."

Layla smiled and sighed in resignation. "Alright. I'll try to have fun."

The party was as exquisite as always. The mermaids all had beautiful tails of various patterns and colors. Most maids went for jeweled breast shells that matched their tails and matching hair combs. Layla smiled ruefully as she noticed them flirting with the mermen. For her, the festival was over. Yet, in her heart she knew this was the only part of the festival her mother actually approved of. She chuckled as she thought of her mother and what she would say if she found out she wasn't "mingling".

"Whats so funny?"

"You have guts Hilda. Coming to talk to me after all you did."

"I really like you Layla. I'm hoping we leave this misunderstanding behind and continue our new found friendship."

"I cannot befriend a thief."

"Don't you think you're prejudging me?"

Layla turned and looked her dead in the eye. Bad choice. Why do I feel so drawn to her? Who are you?

That's what I'm giving you a chance to find out Lay.

Layla gasped. "What did you say?"

"That's why I came back to you. Something is happening between us. I don't understand it but I believe if we remain friends and get to know each other better we can figure it out."

"Alright then. But if you steal from me again the deals off. "

"Agreed. Ha. . Feels nice to be on speaking terms with you again. I've never been to Aquaira. I heard the streets are made of gold."

Layla laughed and felt the remainder of her lingering doubts drift away.