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“Valda, I need to talk to her.”

“Not alone!”

“If you are there, she will be discouraged from talking.”

Valda scoffed. “I don’t think my presence has stopped her from speaking her mind at all!” Valda knitted her brows with worry. “Please, Maris. I cannot protect you if you go alone.”

Maris smiled and touched Valda’s shoulder. “I won’t need your protection. She wouldn’t dare hurt me.”

“How do you know?”

“Because. I know you wouldn’t.”

Valda frowned deeply. “What does that mean?”

“I will be fine,” Maris answered, completely ignoring Valda’s question.

“If she dares to put a single finger on you, I—”

“You will do nothing. I can take care of myself,” Maris interjected, squeezing Valda’s shoulder. “After you are done eating, tell the guards to take you back and wait for me. I won’t be long.”

Before Valda could utter another word, Maris left House of Proteus.

20

Maris exited House of Proteus just in time to catch Eyphah heading to the group of trees on the far side of the settlement. Blowing a strand of hair away from her face, she decided to follow her. As she did, she took in the broken-down houses around the plaza, the skinny horses, and the sad attempt of communal gardens in between the cabins. The people had tried to thrive; she could see that their attempts to make a home out of this piece of land had not been in vain, yet there was no doubt in her mind that the crown could’ve done so much more. Why hadn’t they?

A small wooden gate divided the houses from the small forest, a crass contrast between the sandy fields. Maris frowned. It was as if life could only be found there.

Swallowing hard, her breath catching in her chest, Maris lost herself in the dense foliage. The forest was young, the trees under ten feet tall, the brushes and flowers pristine and untouched. She had never seen flowers like these. Roses, lilies, and carnations, she had seen them in books but never in person. Her hands itched to touch them, to see if they were as soft as she had read. Their fragrance brought some sort of comfort to her tension.

Was she doing the correct thing by following Eyphah? Shouldn’t she just give her a moment to think?

Maris sighed and rubbed her temples, brushing strands of blue hair away from her face. All right, Maris. Cut the bullshit and do what you have to do. Talk to her, see how you can ease any immediate need, and do your thing.

She nodded at herself and continued moving, her gaze trailing to find Eyphah unsuccessfully. Instead, she found herself staring at a small lake. Even in the night, something inside the lake made the water glow a bright green hue. Maris stood still, her eyebrows rising as she sucked in a quick breath. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in her entire existence…

Maris took a step back, as if her foot would somehow damage the beauty of it all. Yet, her curiosity got the best of her. She kneeled to the edge of the lake and hesitantly trailed her fingertips over the water’s surface. The greenish hue glowed brighter, centering exactly where Maris had touched.She shook her head in disbelief and let out an amused, breathy laugh.

“Wow…” she exhaled.

She turned her head, half expecting to find Valda standing beside her. Then she frowned, even if Valda was there, she wouldn’t be able to see it. And for the first time, Maris wished the queen would be able to enjoy what she was seeing. She groaned before moving her hands against the water, making it shine brighter, enjoying it one more time before continuing her search.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Maris raised her eyes from the lake to the woman standing on the other side of it. “Eyphah,” she called out in a soft whisper.

The older woman gave her a playful smile before squatting at the edge, mimicking Maris. “I think this is the only thing I am actually grateful for.” She touched the lake, commanding and confident of what it could do. The lake grew brighter. “It’s a bioluminescent lake.”

Maris looked down at the rippling surface. The thrill of colors danced in front of her like millions of tiny lightning bugs. It was breathtaking.

“When Queen Rionach decided to give us a piece of this land, we didn’t know what to do with it. We knew we had to build houses, a plaza for the children. We begged her for a place to swim and she did give us this. The water she brought from the Sea Kingdom was probably from beaches near the castle.” Eyphah shook the moisture from her hands and stood straight. “It brought the organism that glows with the movement of the water. We never thought it would survive, let alone create this.” She raised her palms and looked at the vegetation. “Like a gift from Poseidon himself.” Eyphah then turned and pointed behind her. “There are five more lakes just like this one. During the day they are filled with children swimming and playing.” She then turned to Maris. “Sometimes at night we catch young lovers in it.” She raised a blue eyebrow.

There was a playfulness in Eyphah’s mannerisms as she walked towards her, hands inside her pockets, feet bare and casual. All traces of anger were gone.

“I was looking for you,” Maris said, her eyes glued to the other woman. Being Isen’s twin sister meant she was older than Maris and Valda. Yet, the woman didn’t look a day older than twenty-five. As she got closer, Maris noticed that her tattoo was exactly like Isen’s. Meaning that at one point, they were close.

“You found me, love,” Eyphah purred, her voice silvery, inviting.