Marcus bowed back, only a tad awkwardly. “It was my pleasure, sir. No thanks required.”
Gwrtheyrn pursed his lips. “Perhaps not, but you have them nonetheless. We promised the Baba three boons for her service to our people; one of these to be given to the person of her choice. Clearly, you have earned that boon and there is, perhaps, a way we could repay you, if you wish.”
Marcus gave Beka a puzzled look, but she just lifted her eyebrows. She had no more idea what was going on than he did.
Boudicca cleared her throat. “The Chudo-Yudo told us of all you did. He also told us of your father’s illness. The one Humans call cancer.”
Beka could feel Marcus stiffen beside her. “Yes, my father is ill. But Beka—uh, the Baba Yaga—has already told me that she can’t give him the Water of Life and Death.”
“You misunderstand,” the King said. “We have an offer of a different sort. You see, we water folk do not have this cancer; it is not an affliction that affects such as us.”
“That’s nice,” Marcus said. “But what does that have to do with my father?”
“There is a Selkie magic,” Gwrtheyrn explained, gazing at Marcus with something less than his usual stern expression. “It can change a Human into one of us. I have consulted my wisest and most learned healers, and it is their opinion that such a change might well eradicate the cancer now plaguing your father.”
Marcus’s mouth gaped open. Beka couldn’t tell what he was thinking, beyond his obvious shock at the suggestion.
The King held up a cautionary hand. “You must understand, there is no guarantee that such a thing would work. It is merely our best supposition. And the change is irreversible. Should your father choose to become one of us, there could be no going back. And he would not have the ability to transform from seal to man. This is something that must be learned when one is young, or not at all. Once a Selkie, he would never be able to walk on land again. But he might live a long and healthy life, and our people would welcome him.”
“I—I don’t know what to say,” Marcus said in a strangled tone.
“It is not a small thing to take in, I understand,” the King said, not unkindly. “The decision is not an easy one, and your father must choose for himself. But we would gladly grant this gift, should he decide that he wishes it.”
Beka grimaced in sympathy at the shocked expression on Marcus’s face and bowed politely to Gwrtheyrn and Boudicca. “It is a generous offer, Your Majesty, and kindly meant. We thank you for it.”
Belatedly, Marcus added his own, “Uh, yeah, thanks.”
“It is the least we could do, after all that you have given to us, who are not your people or even your own race,” the King said.
He turned to Beka. “We will return here tomorrow night to hear the tale of your attempt to cleanse our waters. It is fervently hoped that the results will be successful, but either way, we are most grateful for your efforts on our behalf, and for healing our sick.” He gave her a serious look. “We had the utmost faith in you, Baba Yaga, even when you doubted yourself. So far, you have more than proven yourself worthy of the title.”
Beka flushed, pleased beyond measure by his words, while at the same time trying not to panic about the possibility of failing at the next part of her task.
“I endeavor to do my best,” she said. “And it is my pleasure to serve.”
They all bowed one more time, and the King and Queen and their guards turned to head back into the sea.
“We will be here at the downing of the sun tomorrow,” Gwrtheyrn said over one bulky shoulder. “If your father wishes to join us, fisherman, he should attend us then. If the Baba Yaga can cure the waters as she cured my people, I suspect it will be long and longer before we come this way again.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
ALONE ON THE beach with Beka, Marcus sat down on a large rock. It had been a long day, but he wasn’t quite ready to go home yet. If nothing else, he had to figure out how on earth he was going to explain the Selkie King’s offer to his father. Obviously he was going to have to start with something along the lines of, “Oh, by the way, Da, Selkies are real,” and move on from there. He wasn’t looking forward to it. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to tell his father about the offer.
“How are you doing?” Beka asked softly, sitting down next to him. Her voice seemed to harmonize with the sound of the waves hitting the shore and the calls of the night birds as they winged on their way to their nests. Now that she was healthy again, she had regained her usual glow, the blond hair he loved so much loose now from its braid and falling in a shimmering wave down her back.