Frustrated, she pushed off and swam as hard as she could toward the tunnel that Nix had gone up. This one had to lead out; it was her only chance. She kicked until she felt a sucking current that began to pull her up. She was no longer swimming but being carried forcefully along a pipeline. Her head broke the surface of the water, and she had just enough time to breathe and duck as she was swept into a tunnel and then down a long slope. Faster and faster she traveled until she could see an opening, and then a drop.
Didn’t Nix mention something about an indoor waterfall that led to an inner bathing pool? He just didn’t say how big it was. Squelching any scream or sound, she tried to hold it together as she was thrown over the drop. This time she was prepared for the fall, and it wasn’t more than thirty feet before she plunged into the small pool. She was careful; she kept her head under the water and tried to look up and through the reflection for signs of life. There was a shadow, but then it moved away.
Mina kicked along the bottom of the pool and found a statue of a mermaid on a pedestal pouring water out of a jar. Keeping her head low, she hid behind the water feature and peeked around. Since it was nighttime, there weren’t as many Fae around. She saw someone in a robe walk past, and she quietly slid back down into the water and made her plan. The hall was dark; torches lined the walls, casting eerie shadows along the marble floor. Luckily, there were tons of potted plants, statues, and décor for her to hide behind.
First off, she needed to get out of her wet clothes and tend to her leg wound from the sea witch. Second, well, second, she needed to think of a better plan than getting dry clothes. She swam to the edge of the bathing pool, which was barely deep enough for her to stand up in, and crawled over the ledge by the side closest to the waterfall and ducked behind a large potted fern. She was right. Water puddled down her feet and ran across the floor. It was a good thing she wasn’t wearing shoes, or she might have been making squeaky noises as she walked. Mina did the best she could to wring out her wet shirt into the fern. It started to move and sway at her watery offering.
“Psst, no,” she shushed the plant. But its fronds tried to reach for her as if giving her a hug. “Gah, no! You don’t have to say thank you.” She stepped away, and the fern wilted a little, as if she’d hurt its feelings. “Are you going to be nice and stay still this time?” The plant wiggled in anticipation, but it looked like it said yes. “Then be good.” Mina finished wringing out her shirt and hair, and did the best she could with her pants. There was still a puddle forming whenever she walked, but at least it was a small one.
Someone was coming from down the hall, and Mina ducked behind the fern once more. This time the plant wrapped its large fronds around her, not to hug her but to help hide her.
It was a guard, in full white leather armor, unlike the giants and the trolls outside. This one was covered in head-to-toe steel with emblems of the sun and moon etched across his breastplate. He was running toward the end of the hall, where two huge double doors opened before he even got there. Her heart leapt for joy when she saw Jared step out and confront the soldier. No, wait, she had to remember that they only looked similar. It wasn’t Jared—it was his brother Teague, dressed all in black.
“What is it, Captain Plaith?” Teague demanded angrily.
“Something has agitated the trolls and giants, my prince. Even the siren went off.”
Teague froze at the words of his captain and glared at him. “And…”
“And kelpies, sire. They were seen causing a ruckus near the palace.” The guard fidgeted but was careful to stare at a spot to the left of the prince.”
“Kelpies? That’s it? Those stupid water horses are always causing a ruckus. Anything else?”
“No, sire. Just that there were two kelpies seen outside in the lake.”
Teague sighed and rubbed his forehead. “There are always kelpies in the lake. Tell your men to get back to your stations.” Teague shooed off his captain and headed down a long hall, but then he stopped and turned around, and called back his captain.
“Plaith?”
“Yes, my prince.” The tall man shuffled forward once more.
“Did you say that there were only two kelpies?”
“Yes, two. One on land and one in the water.”
Teague stared toward the waterfall and then the fountain in thought. His dark eyes missed nothing as he scanned the room, and spent an awful lot of time staring directly at the planter she was hiding behind. Her legs started to shake from fear. Even the fern began to quiver.
“There are never just two kelpies. They travel in herds,” Teague said thoughtfully. “Where’s the rest of the herd? You also said the underwater siren went off?”
The soldier nodded.
Teague looked pleased with himself. “Double the giants and the trolls at the gates, and bring more guards to each of the walls just in case. I believe we have company.”