Querencia World Book3: The Mystery of The Mermaid Fortress

Chapter 12 Blending In

Rebecca holds my hand, drag me along with her. She pats my back to ease my tension from the unfamiliar feeling that I am experiencing at the moment.

I try to calm my nerves and observe my surroundings. I do not know that dragons turn simple dinner to a feast. I sit by the side, as I whisper to Rebecca, “, Is there any occasion the dragons are celebrating?”

“, No, this is a normal dinner. Dragons are few, turn around, this all of us, a few hundred so we eat all together and celebrate our existence every day,”

A hundred of dragons that can only fly and swim within the area, a heart breaking reality.

“Are you still waiting for the moment that dragons can freely roam around the World?” I question,

Rebecca sighs, “, I do not know, but I value the peace we have now, I do not want to see my kind battle each other again,”

“the war is a painful memory for all of us,” I blurted out,

“The saddest part is the humans choose to close their hearts and forgets about us to get away from the pain. The mythical creatures shunned us and believe that dragons ignite the war. The Elders stay unbothered as if they are not the ones who cause chaos. They continue to scatter darkness in the creature's heart and control the Royals. We are glad for Daphey and Arcane that they save their only child. Master Xavion is the reason we have our safe heaven to stay; he activated the dimension to prevent us from being discovered. The Elders still fear the dragon's power, and it is favorable for them that we are far away. They can easily formulate their plan and get the citizen's trust. The humans fear our appearance and power. No one can change their heart towards us, especially after the war,” Rebecca tightly grip her glass.

My eyes wander around as the male dragons gather around Cynr, talking loudly. I notice the man who wins the competition is flooding with praise and taps from his comrades.

Rebecca speaks, “The competition makes our stay here bearable. Those are for fun,”

I smile at her, still looking at the group of male dragons gathering around, chattering. The guy who wins shyly smiles instead of bragging of his achievements,

“Xynierre is unusually shy today,” Rebecca laughs,

“maybe because he is aware, we have a beautiful visitor around,” Rebecca teases.

I turn around, take a glimpse of the man she is referring too. I notice that like Cyrnr and Raiden, he is manly, bulky, has muscles, and stand upright.

Xynierre gazes at me, he quickly takes his eyes off me, makes sure that I will not catch him looking, but I can see him in my peripheral vision.

I can sense the man named Xynierre is doting on me, but he is rather not fond of the idea that I am a mermaid. I smirk at the thought; mermaids have the power to charm any man if we wanted, too, but I never intend to charm any man while I am here. I do not want to encounter the same problem that Maiden Rosille goes through.

As far as I can recall, Raiden’s story. Raiden is captivated by our Maiden Rosille beauty, and he turns himself in his dragon form to enchant Maiden Rosille. To think of it, I should learn from the history of the past. I can never allow anyone to break my barrier to let anyone come near me.

I bow my head, the man Xynierre freely stare at me, and I do not mind. He does not make it obvious, but I can feel when he is looking at me.

I smile and chat with the female dragons at my table; they offer me food that they eat. It is my first time that I encounter this food. It is Rebecca’s cook dish.

“Women gathers at the afternoon, and we start cooking for everybody,” Rebecca explains,

“you mean all the woman cook?” I raise my eyebrow

“Well, not all, the kids play, and we let them have fun. Only the grown-ups do the adult work; we cook for everyone. We satisfy our man’s stomach. Men gather food for us from the tress and the sea.” Rebecca discuss.

“Aren’t you capable of getting food? I mean woman, aren’t they allow to harvest their food?” I am curious,

“We are, but our man is gentleman enough to let the women do the work,” Rebecca smiles sheepishly,

I smile, Rebecca talks so calmly about his man, and she sounds contented. I never thought that there is a woman in this World that can be contented and happy being with the man they choose to love.

I sigh, the World, I am living in Our Fortress, it is full of a man with unfaithful heart trap inside our Fortress for they enchanted in the mermaid’s voices. It is hard for me to believe that true love exists, that two-person can love each other.

I notice the man gather around and talk while the woman is in the long table, eating, and chatting.

“Why are you all eating, all together, but the men gather over there while the women are here?” I cannot help but asks

“Oh’ because there is a competition. It is not like this all the time. The games are for fun. It comes in their head, and my husband, Cynr, declares the challenge. The men battle each other for them to be the winner. After the event, they are chattering loudly, teasing, bragging, complimenting one another. And those challenges are the way for men to show how admirable they are. It is their way to charm the women they endeared. My husband, Cynr, does not participate in the challenge anymore, but in times he does. He is always the winner, and in that way, he gets my attention and eventually wins my heart.” Rebecca widely smiles,

Rebecca takes pride that among the pretty ladies in the dragon sanctuary, she is the one that tamed Cynr.

“Cynr told me how you met Raiden; you are such a brave, curious soul,” Rebecca laughs.

I shy away; whenever I turn my head, I caught a glimpse of Xynierre looking at me, but he immediately gazes in other things and busies himself.

It is amusing how the man pretends that he is not looking at me when it is obvious.

“Raiden is an enigmatic dragon. He has no master wizard by his side. All of us considers him as tough and untamed, but in all creatures, he can fall, in all of them is the mermaid.” Rebecca has softly spoken and caught my prying look.

“I know, do not get me wrong, I do not have anything against your kind, but every one of us knows that mermaids are not open to love other creatures. You are only bound to mate your kind, and your Maiden are not allowed to get married.” Rebecca carefully stated.

“yes, Maiden are not allowed to fall in love and get married,” I confirmed.

“I heard it is your dream to be a Maiden,” Rebecca utters,

“yes, it is my wish to be a Maiden, and Raiden grant that for me,” I happily announced.

“Raiden give you your heart desire in exchange of his freedom,” Rebecca whispers,

She leans into me, “, Raiden since he has no master from the start. He is stubborn by nature. He only listens to Cynr, but at that time when he met Maiden Rossille. He never takes his friend advice,” Rebecca sadly says,

“, Raiden loving a Maiden, he chooses his curse,” Rebecca look directly in my eyes,

“Raiden, giving your wish in exchange for his freedom. He never changes,” Rebecca seems bothered,

“what do you mean?” I am puzzled,

“He never thinks of the consequences of his actions,” Rebecca is uneasy, she looks me again. There is a glint in her eyes that I can decipher.

“he drags you in here,” Rebecca sadly mutters,

“He does not, I offer to help him for he grants my wish to be a Maiden,” I defend Raiden. I feel I have to do that.

“He uses your dream for you to help him,” Rebecca states again.

I stand upright, “, No!” I raise my voice gets the attention of everyone,

I remember I am in the middle of the dragons and the one I am raising my voice is the wife of their leader.

My hands are fidgeting for feeling uneasy. I cannot settle; I look around. They are all strangely staring at me.

I suddenly feel I do not belong here, “ I…” I bow my head

“I am sorry,” I say as I lower my head,

Cynr quickly comes in our spot; he is concerned.

‘What is the matter?” Cynr dominating voice heard by everyone.

Rebecca stands up and speaks, “, It is fine. We are talking,” she smiles sweetly at his husband.

I stand up and Rebecca by my side, caressing my back, “, Miara is a little bit uneasy; she never meant to raise her voice. She gets startled in our food. She is not used to it.”

I held my breath; Cynr easily believe what his wife speaks, and he shrugs his shoulder and let us off.

“I understand. please help her be comfortable in our place, my wife,” Cynr stated

“I suggest to take her in a tour in our island so she could get used to our way of living,” Rebecca cheerfully recommends,

“You will take her?” Cynr seems curious

“No, my obligations to our people are much important. I suggest your trusted men accompany her,” Rebecca smiled sheepishly.

‘trusted men?” Cynr furrows his eyebrows

“Xynierre is the champion of all your games, let be your best man accompany our visitor.” Rebecca urges her husband. I do not comprehend the reason she is doing that.

“I think we should wait till Raiden awake,” I intervene.

‘We will never know when Raiden wakes up,” Rebecca persuades Cynr.

I glimpse at her; I get her attention. Rebecca stares at my eyes, and I give her an unbelievable look; she smiles at me. I raise my eyebrows.

Rebecca come near Cynr, hold his husband biceps, not cutting the deep stare in me,

“ Xynierre,” she calls out the man that stealing glances at me throughout this dinner.

The man, Xynierre, comes forward and bows,

“As you know, Miara is our visitor, and I do not want her to get bored and feel uneasy as she stays here. I request you take her around the island.” Rebecca gives out a warm smile.

Xynierre is confused and looks at Cynr. I see Rebecca tighten her grip in her husband's biceps. I am intrigued by her purpose for pushing that idea.

“Master Xavion wants us to take care of our visitor, and you even announce to everyone to treat her not different from us.” Rebecca sweetly reminds her husband.

“It will be good if she learns about our ways, and it will start if she can explore our place and inhabitant,” Rebecca persuades us.

Xynierre looks down and up again, our eyes met, and he cannot look on the other way, his dark green eyes glimmers. I am the type who never backs down. I stare right through his eyes. His eyes sparkle; seem to tell a thousand stories that I have no chance to know.

“I…” he mouthed those words,

“I can come and assist her if Cynr asks me, too,” Xynierre clears his throat,

Cynr sighs, “I wanted to wait till Raiden is awake, but in his condition, I think my wife has a point. Our visitors should at least feel at ease. I trust you, Xynierre, take care of her,” Cynr orders Xynierre.

Xynierre stands upright and bows to Cynr, “I take your order,”

“I count on you. Xynierre, you know why Raiden’s life is in despair for the longest time. I hope you do not dare to repeat the same mistakes. I would not forgive anyone if one of my strongest dragons lost himself. Be smart.” Cynr meaningful words do not escape my ear.

Somehow I felt the dragons have pent up feelings for my kind for Raiden been away from them, miserable in our Fortress for the longest time.

Xynierre’s eyes glint sadness before he could speak, I answer for myself,

‘I have no intention to enchant nor let anyone charm me. Please know my defense is high, and you can trust me. I will not steal the heart of any dragons from your sanctuary.” I bow to Cynr as I assure them, I am not a threat.

“I think you do not understand that we do not fear your power to charm. What we fear is our own,” Rebecca smirks.

My eyes squinted, I catch her grin. I turn to Xynierre, standing upright.

“Do Rebecca catch the stolen glimpse of Xynierre towards me?” I am internally talking to myself,

“Is she setting Xynierre on a trap,” I stare intensely at Rebecca, and she smiles warmly to me.

Xynierre bows again, “, cast away your fear, I will not repeat the same mistakes of the past.”

Cynr is bewildered, “Why are you saying such things, my wife?”

“Xynierre has the storms he has to deal,” Rebecca outright exposed.

Cynr sighs and holds his forehead; his fiery eyes stare at Xynierre.

Cynr comes forward and grabs Xynierre nape as he looks directly in his eyes,

“You get a hold of yourself. Miara is our visitor and the future Maiden. I assign you to travel with her around the island to test you if what you utter is not a mere word from your lips but your conviction. I test your dedication for our kind.” Cynr let go of him after he says those words.

“Prove me your capable Xynierre,” Cynr shouts as he walks away,

Xynierre respectfully bows ‘Yes, I will,” he quickly answers.

Rebecca watches the scenarios with amusement; she smiles innocently to me,

“yes, I set him up. I see the way he looks at you. Never allow to repeat the same mistake,” Rebecca whispers in my ear.

She distances herself and says, “, good night,” as she gracefully walks away, following her husband.

Copyright:

This story is solely my ideas and creative thinking. Please do not copy, use, distribute, or reproduce.

© January Garneth.2020. The Mystery of the Mermaid Fortress