Sensing a sudden hint of danger, Kesh backpedaled rapidly. “Nothing drastic, my dear Beka, I assure you. Merely little things, like driving the fish away from their established routes, so that the fishermen will get discouraged and go find some less dangerous trade to ply, one that does not involve the careless and wasteful deaths of thousands of dolphins and turtles and others of our marine brethren, as well as an ongoing threat to all Merpeople and Selkies.”
“Look, Kesh, I don’t approve of some of the techniques that commercial fishermen use,” Beka said, looking troubled. “But there are Humans who are trying to change things so that such tragedies don’t happen as often. And many of these fishermen are good people, just trying to support themselves and their families in the way they learned from their fathers. If you drive the fish away, those families will suffer.”
“And what of the suffering of our families?” Kesh rebutted, letting more anger into his voice than he’d intended. “Are you too Human to care about them too?”
Beka rocked back as if he’d slapped her, and he immediately softened his tone. “I apologize if my words seem harsh, dear one; I am simply concerned for the well-being of my people.”
Not the fools who had stayed behind to follow his father like a mindless school of fish, of course, but those who had more wisely chosen to throw their lot in with him. There were not many, as yet, but once he could demonstrate that he was a strong leader, capable of inflicting harm upon their enemies, more would come. They would carve out a new kingdom upon the parched dry land until he could build up enough strength and numbers to return to wrest his rightful place as king under the sea from the hands of his weakling brother. One way or the other, the Baba Yaga would help him with that plan, whether she intended to or not.
“I understand that, Kesh,” she said, patting him on the arm. “But depriving the fishermen of their livelihood isn’t the way to go about it. Please tell me you’ll send the fish back where they belong.”
She gave him a bright, encouraging smile. His fingers itched to slap it off her face, but he smiled back charmingly instead. “As you wish, darling Baba. I am certain that if we work together, we will be able to come up with solutions that will satisfy us both, and still keep those entrusted into your tender care safe from Human carelessness.”
An innocent sideways glance accompanied his next question. “No doubt you have some clever plan to fix everything, if you cannot find the answers through your exploration of the damaged areas near the trench where once my people swam so freely?”
He knew she did not. And when she once again began to doubt herself, and her ability to solve the problem, he would be there to console her, whispering his own clever suggestions in her ears.
Beka scratched her nose pensively. “Actually, I was thinking about that earlier, and I had an idea. It’s kind of a long shot, but I thought I would start doing some research on the kind of damage I’ve been finding on the plant and animal life, and some of the symptoms that have been showing up in the children and elderly sea people who have been affected by this poison.” She perked up again as she put her plan into words. “Maybe I can find records of similar instances, something that will give me a clue to what would cause this kind of mutation. I’m not sure why I didn’t think of it before; I guess I was just so certain I’d be able to figure it out right away. Still, it gives me another avenue to follow, and that’s good, right?”
Kesh raised his glass to her. “You astonish me, my dear Baba,” he said with complete honesty, and no little irony. “I had no idea you had it in you.”
This was bad. Very, very bad. If she started looking in the right direction, it would not take her long to find the answers she sought. And that would be the ruination of all his careful plans. How very unfortunate indeed. Such a pity.
He reached into the basket of food he had packed so carefully for their romantic picnic on the beach and pulled one special container from underneath the extra black linen napkins folded into intricate, dainty shapes and the last unopened bottle of vintage California wine.
“We should celebrate,” Kesh said solemnly, placing the beautiful lacquered box on the blanket in front of Beka. He opened the lid with a flourish, displaying the glistening red fish that lay inside on a tranquil bed of light green seaweed salad. Together, they glowed like jewels under the rising moon. “I brought this especially for you. It is a delicacy prepared by my finest chefs.” He smiled almost as brightly as the moon itself. “I caught the fish myself, as a gift.”
Beka ducked her head, hiding her answering smile behind the golden fall of her long hair. “Thank you, Kesh. I’m honored.” She held out the box in his direction so he could take a piece.
“Oh no, darling Baba,” he said, soft as the whispering undertow that hid beneath the calmest surface. “I brought that for you. I would not think of depriving you of one precious morsel.” He leaned forward and plucked a delicate sliver of fish out of the container with slender, slightly webbed fingers. “I insist you eat every last piece,” he said, placing it into her mouth with tender care. “I promise you, it will change your life.”