Page 30 of When the Wicked Sing (The Leruna Sea #1)
They blinked a few times before shaking their head.
“No, sadly, I never knew what became of her until news spread of her death. But the Mocanus were devastated by her disappearance. So was I. And when the time came to defend our land, we heeded the call. Minerva sent her legion of warriors to attack us in the hopes of conquering our land. During that battle, we realized that the Mocanus resisted Minerva’s magic.
We defeated them all.” Spiro paused and looked down at their hands.
“Minerva was killed shortly after by the son of Magnus, King Thaddeus, who was worshiped for killing his father’s murderer and uniting Aurelia. ”
Mariana’s brows tightened as she tried to remember her history lessons. King Thaddeus was the father of King Stavros.
“King Thaddeus was charming,” Spiro continued.
“He promised the Mocanus that, for their assistance in defeating an enemy legion, he would grant us protected lands that would prosper and remain peaceful. However, as the dynasties of the three other Generals began to rise and Aurelia began to split apart, King Thaddeus recruited the Mocanus people to be his ‘ killers of the night .’” Spiro shook their head sadly.
“He used us as weapons to fight enemy units because they couldn’t see us coming.
Most of our people were dead by the end of the Infernal Wars.
King Thaddeus was killed, and as King Stavros was crowned, we hid away in the mountains once more. ”
Mariana considered Spiro’s words. “Then why is Dax working for King Stavros?” she asked carefully, realizing after she said it that Spiro was unlikely to share anything about that with her.
Spiro studied the painting for a long moment, and Mariana regretted asking. “I’m sorry. I know that is none of my concern. I hope I didn’t offend you.”
The village leader turned to her, and with a sincere smile, they said, “You didn’t offend me. You are always welcome to ask your questions. However, I can’t answer this one as it is not my information to tell.”
Mariana sighed and gave a brief nod before thinking of something else she had been dying to ask. “I have a personal question for you, then, if you’re willing to answer it?” She couldn’t keep the hesitance from her voice as she spoke.
“I’d love to hear it. I’ll answer the best I can,” Spiro replied. The anxiety that had taken root in Mariana’s chest began to loosen as she stared at the leader’s welcoming expression.
She took a deep breath. “Are you … Dax and Kenna’s mother or father?” The question slipped out easily enough, but Mariana couldn’t help feeling like the world was about to collapse on top of her. It scared her to think how easily she could offend the wise leader.
Spiro chuckled. Mariana felt her cheeks warm and released a nervous smile.
“That is a valid question, not to worry,” they said, patting her hand affectionately. “I gave birth to my children. But I am neither a mother nor a father. ”
Mariana considered this. “You’re different from anyone I’ve ever met before.”
“I take that as a compliment,” Spiro replied with a generous smile, then glanced at their hands, covered in tattoos and rings.
“Mariana, I’ve lived many lives within this same body.
And after quite some time, I realized I could no longer identify as just female.
Nor did I feel I was a male. I simply became …
Spiro. I freed myself from a prison I didn’t truly understand, one I had chosen to live in for far too long.
Now, everyone here understands that my seemingly endless life cannot be boiled down to a category I fell into the moment I was born. ”
The insightful words had Mariana contemplating the cultural norms of her people. The foreign concept that someone could identify as just themselves without considering the dividing line between male and female was … enlightening.
“Your words have given me so much to think about. Sirens are all born female, and that’s an important part of our culture.
I don’t know that any of us would understand what it means to erase the barrier between identifying as male or female.
Though I’m certain a few of my sisters would appreciate the chance to.
” Mariana smiled at the wise fae. “Your courage and strength are honorable.”
Spiro shook their head, unable to meet her eyes. “I don’t know about that. Some would disagree and say it was cowardly. Although, all I did was stop trying to be all that I was expected to be,” they replied with a shrug.
“It’s a good thing I don’t care how others view it,” she chuckled. “I respect your choice and am grateful you shared this with me. ”
“You’re welcome. Thank you for asking.” The village leader smiled at her. “And thank you for coming down here with me.”
Mariana glanced around the room, admiring the paintings. “I can see why you wanted to show me.” She swallowed hard as she thought of her sister. “Astra would have loved it here.”
“Perhaps one day, after you’ve found her, you can bring her here, show it to her.”
Mariana turned her head toward the leader. “You’d allow me to come back?”
Spiro smiled down at her. “Of course. It’s a bit of a challenge getting here, so you may want to request the help of a certain Mocanus , but I have a feeling he’d be willing to bring you back.”
Mariana knew they meant Dax and began to wonder what he had told them while she was passed out. “He’s a bit of an enigma. I never know what he’s thinking,” Mariana admitted.
“Well, I can say with certainty that he’s never brought anyone here before. You are the first. And truthfully, I’m glad he did. If he hadn’t …” Spiro’s words trailed off, and they sighed.
“I might not be alive.”
Spiro gave her a short, sad nod. “And you might not have been given the chance to save your sister.”
Mariana glanced down at her hands, remembering how Dax had made her form a fist.
Warriors were strong; no matter the bruises, the scars, the pain inflicted upon them, they always got back up. Even that lone warrior in the painting had found a way to keep going. Broken and alone, yet alive with purpose.
Mariana fisted her hands, remembering the words of her people: From ruin, we rise.