“Do you understand what’s at stake? Nothing less than the survival of our realm. An envoy is en route from Miromara to Ondalina as we speak, led by Portia Volnero. Miromara calls us aggressors and demands our surrender. Portia will offer us terms. If we refuse, she’ll declare war. All we have for a bargaining chip is Desiderio and his soldiers. They were captured—”
“Eyv?r told me,” Astrid said, to save him the explanation.
“Rylka wanted to execute him, but I stopped her,” he continued. “He’s only valuable to us alive.”
He tried to sit forward again. Astrid could see that he was racked by pain. How did it happen? she wondered for the hundredth time. How did an assassin get close enough to him to poison his food?
“Lie still, Kolfinn,” she said anxiously. “You’re using up your strength.”
“I can’t lie still!” Kolfinn shouted.
Astrid heard the desperate anger of a dying merman in his voice and it terrified her.
“I have to put things in order,” he insisted. “I have to keep you and Ragnar safe. I doubt I’ll be alive to meet with Portia. Ragnar will be the one to do it. I must ensure his success. You need to do your part, too. There will be challenges to your brother’s authority from outside Ondalina. There can be no challenges within it.”
Astrid understood what her father was saying. “You mean my secret can’t get out,” she said bitterly.
“If our enemies learn that you can’t songcast, they may think your disability was inherited and that Ragnar’s magic is also compromised. I’ve instructed Rylka to punish any who speak of it. I wish to the gods you had not told that mermaid—Becca—your secret. She may tell others.”
“Are you that ashamed of me?” Astrid asked, her head bowed, her voice barely a whisper.
Kolfinn winced. Pain filled his eyes. “I’m that afraid for you, Astrid,” he replied. “Your disability is a sign of weakness, and weakness can’t be tolerated—not in a member of the ruling family. You know how precarious our lives are. Never more so than now, with Miromara circling. Survival is what matters. And in Ondalina, only the strong survive.”
A heavy silence descended. Astrid, her jaw clenched, rose from the bed and swam across the room to the window. She was hurt and angry, but another emotion was rising in her, too—defiance.
He only sees what I’m not, not what I am, she thought. I’m not weak, I’m strong. Stronger than he knows. And the future of this realm might depend on me in ways he doesn’t know.
Kolfinn was the first to speak. In a conciliatory tone, he said, “You’ll be safe after I’m gone. I’ve made sure of it. Commodora Rylka, always loyal to me, has offered her son Tauno in marriage.”
Astrid, lost in her thoughts, didn’t take in his meaning. She turned back to him and asked, “Why? To form an alliance with another realm? Who’d Rylka find to marry that lumpsucker? Some poor fool from Atlantica?”
Kolfinn’s eyes darkened. They locked once more on his daughter’s.
“No, Astrid. You.”
ASTRID WAS SPEECHLESS. She tried to talk, but had no breath. It was as if she’d had the water knocked out of her.
Kolfinn took her silence for acquiescence.
“There will be an official Promising tomorrow, and then the marriage contract will be signed. I want everything taken care of before I die.”
Astrid’s breath came rushing back. “No!” she shouted. “I won’t do it!”
“Astrid—”
“I’m only seventeen! I don’t want to get married to anyone! Especially not to Tauno!”
“Why not? He’s a good leader. A strong merman. He’ll protect you.”
“He’s a barracuda! He beats his hippokamps. I’ve seen him! And…and…”
Kolfinn raised an eyebrow. “And what?”
“He’s stupid! He never paid attention in class. He sat in the back with his dumb friends and shot iceballs at everyone,” said Astrid.
“That was years ago,” said Kolfinn dismissively. “I’m sure he’s grown up since then.”
“I won’t do it,” Astrid declared. “Better udst?dt than married to Tauno.”
Udst?dt were Ondalina’s outcast. Their numbers were made up of criminals and loners. They lived in the southernmost part of the realm, in broken off pieces of icebergs.
“It’s your duty to marry. You know that,” Kolfinn said. “If something happened to your brother, or the sons he’ll someday have, your future sons would rule Ondalina.” He shook his head. “You’ve spent too much time in southern waters. That explains your ridiculous behavior. V?rme g?r oss dumma,” he said, in Ondalinian mer.
Astrid knew the expression. All Ondalinians did. Heat makes us stupid.
“I’m not marrying Tauno,” Astrid insisted. “You can’t—”
Kolfinn cut her off. “Good gods, child! Are you actually going to make me say it?” he thundered.
“Say what?” Astrid thundered back.
“You have no choice! Tauno’s the only one who wants you!”
Astrid felt as if she’d been slapped. She floated perfectly still, utterly humiliated.
“Who wants a mermaid without magic?” Kolfinn continued. “Who, in these waters, would risk having children who couldn’t songcast? How would such children defend themselves? How would they contribute to our society?”