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NERYS

Maristhera, Capital of Thalassaria

“ I should return to the palace.”

The woman who’d been like a mother to me, already old when my parents died and that had been many years ago, waved a hand as if unconcerned. “Look around you. The square is just coming to life.”

It was true. We sat on the edge of a stone fountain, one of many in the capital. Though not far from the sea, as with most towns in Thalassaria, water could be found everywhere in Maristhera. Fountains, canals… it was our life force.

“Perhaps. But I have a new ward coming. A human.”

Aneri waved to a man that I was pretty certain she was with, romantically speaking. For some reason, Aneri denied it. Neither were partnered, so her secrecy made little sense.

“A human?” Aneri’s expression didn’t change. Some might wrinkle their nose or frown with distaste, but not Aneri. And Nerys had been taught better than that. Still, it was unusual.

“He’s passed through the border?”

I nodded. Thalassaria was the only kingdom, or clan as we called them, which did not have open borders. Even Gyorians, who despised humans, allowed them to pass freely onto their land. Of course, the humans weren’t guaranteed to survive long. But they could enter freely.

“And will be arriving shortly,” I confirmed, watching as two of the few Thalassari children played in the fountain, attempting to redirect the water. Their efforts made me laugh when one accidentally accomplished the feat, directly into his friend’s face. “Hopefully, he won’t be staying long.”

“This way,” Aneri said to the girl. Her legendary patience on display, she showed the girl how to control the stream of water. It brought me back to when I was her age, more than a hundred years ago, being taught the very same lesson by my mother’s dear friend.

It took a few tries, but the girl managed to control the stream a bit better.

“Why is he here?” Aneri asked me.

“Unsure.”

“Will he stay for the festival?”

“Also unsure. I only know word arrived this morning he was coming and that he was assigned to me.”

From the moment he stepped foot onto palace grounds, the human would either be locked inside his bedchamber or escorted by me. It was an usual custom, but a Thalassari king was once murdered in his very palace and the queen took no chances when it came to her safety.

“Hmm. First, the lost princess returned. Now a human coming to the palace. Those two cannot be coincidental.”

I agreed. “Either way, I’m glad for it.”

Despite that my other duties as a Stormcaller would be suspended, and I had no wish to escort a man to and fro for an extended period, any opportunity to strengthen relations with the human clan was a welcome one.

At least to me.

Unfortunately, there were some in Thalassaria, including the queen, who did not agree.

Without warning, the sound of water being lifted had me up and spinning around toward the children. One of them had manipulated a large portion of the fountain’s water into the air. Enough that, were it to land back where it came from, all four of us would become soaked.

I lifted my hand and, with a flick, created a bowl of water to capture its companion. Gently lowering it, I placed both back into the fountain.

The children stared at me.

“How did you do that?” the boy asked.

“I’ve never seen that before! Can you teach us to do it?” the girl pleaded.

I did not wish to tell them it would be many years before either could master such a skill.

“There are very few in Thalassaria who can contain water within itself,” Aneri said gently.

The girl’s eyes widened. “You are a Stormcaller?”

“I am.”

“She is not just any Stormcaller,” Aneri began.

I shook my head.

And so it went, as usual. Aneri would tell anyone who might listen how powerful I’d become. Not for the first time, I reconsidered my decision to filter some of the queen’s jealousy toward me, not wanting to upset Aneri.

“With practice,” I interrupted. “You might become Stormcallers too. Keep at it,” I said with a smile. “And treat this water with special care. You know what it is?” I asked.

“I do,” the girl said. “My mama says they are the Sacred Waters of Maristhera.”

“You are correct,” I said. “Many years ago, we’d not have been allowed to manipulate them for play. But that thinking has changed, and you may do so, if you remember they are special.”

The girl seemed to understand. It was the same speech my father had once given me, and then later, learning of the Sacred Waters myself, I understood how special.

“I must go,” I said to Aneri. “And will be more often at the palace until the human is gone.”

“You best be getting rid of him before the festival then,” she said. “I look forward to spending those days with you, even if you refused to challenge?—”

“I look forward to it as well,” I said, stopping what would be a futile new line of conversation. I kissed Aneri on the head. “I will see you soon. Enjoy yourself,” I said with a conspiratorial wink.

“I have no notion what you’re talking about.”

Since Aneri’s male friend had not stopped looking our way this entire time, I was pretty sure that was a blatant lie. But I had to get back, so I let it go.

“Keep practicing,” I called to the young ones, walking across the square toward the white marble palace which could be seen easily from here. Most of Thalassaria was flat until you approached the borders. But the palace was built on a hill, for fortification.

Wondering who the human was, and what he wanted from the palace, I hurried my steps, growing more and more curious with each one. It wasn’t every day a human visited us.

It was promising to be an interesting day ahead.