Making coded knocks on the metal walls of her hut, Kenna waited to be let out by the guards that were stationed to wait for her.
Acting on her request, the barrier was temporarily lifted allowing her access to step out.
"Mership needs some rest," she looked back at the hut before she continued. "Could you take me to where the maiden was?"
They had nodded and were about to alert the others stationed at strategic locations spread across her vicinity to lead the way.
Cutting short their destination came rushing in a guard horror-stricken and out of breath.
Furrowing her brows, she looked to the others for an explanation.
"We've lost her!" He informed, crouching and trying to catch his breath.
"How do you lose someone who was cornered by more than 10 of our mermen?!" The chief guard barked, enraged by the news.
The mermaids had never been one who could show such prowess against their counterparts–excluding a chosen few like Kenna in her prime years and Divei who they had lost to the overlord.
"It's not only that!" The guard quaked with fear, dropping to his knees, and couldn't process what had gone wrong. "They are all dead!"
Kenna covered her mouth with the back of her palm and shared a shocked glance with the other guards.
"Alert the rest! We have an issue that needs to be treated with caution!" The chief guard commanded in a loud voice, making the rest turn in his direction.
Kenna walked back into the hut to have a look at Mich.
Circling him, he was still lying inside the water with it being so calm she could see her reflection.
"What trouble did you meet, Mich?!" She whispered with worry, going to her knees and making her hand hover an inch above the water.
'Turbulent times lay ahead for us all!' She thought with a grim reminder of some little secret she had caught a wave of centuries ago.
*****
In Hisha's room,
Knock!
Knock!
Groaning in displeasure at the disturbance, he chose to be oblivious about what he had heard and climbed onto his bed.
Creak!
'Oh come on!!' He grimaced and winced at the sound his bed made the moment he placed his elbow.
"My lord." Kritz's voice boomed on the other end.
After that was followed by more knocks.
'Does he not have some sort of hobby? A place to be in, probably?' Hisha hissed in his thoughts.
[If he did, would he be by your side so readily?]
Hisha narrowed his eyes at the response, feeling attacked by the words.
Knock!
Knock!
Raising his head, he made a wave of his hand, opening his door.
Kritz dusted his dress coat and straightened the creases. Clearing his throat, he gave a bow and had his usual stoic appearance.
Giving a nod of approval, Kritz stepped into the room and had his hand behind him. "My lord..."
He was taken aback by the smashed jade vase with numerous shards of it scattered all over the floor.
Looking over to his left, he witnessed a dent in the wall and couldn't imagine what had been so drastic that had made his lord make such an outburst.
Almost tempted to question why he was in his room, Hisha bit down on his bottom lip and waited for Kritz to do the honors of explaining himself.
'There must be something important that would require his presence.' Hisha calculated his thoughts.
"We have word that chaotic events had struck Mertac." He informed.
If Hisha wasn't observant, he wouldn't have noticed a glint of mischief and suspicion in those eyes staring back at him.
Raising his chin, Hisha made his way toward the edge of the bed and placed his leg on the floor.
Kritz snapped his fingers and a pair of wool slide-ons materialized in front of Hisha's legs.
'Nice, and effective.' Hisha thought with an approving smile.
"Why were you the one who chose to personally tell me this?"
Kritz took two steps forward and had a knowing smirk on his lips. "It was said that Mich was caught in the crossfire."
'Isn't it funny Kritz treats these tribal chiefs like insects as I do?'
[They are lower in race rankings than he is at his full potential]
'Pompous bastard! I like it, very befitting of my right-hand man!'
Hisha pretended to be in a state of shock and disbelief. "That's so unfortunate, who was hurt?"
Kritz had almost burst into a chuckle at his lord's mannerism, he was quick to place what had transpired–although unaware of what tactic was used, he very well knew this was the reason his lord had made him withdraw his spy placed in Mertac.
"It was said that several guards were killed and Mich is to be left undisturbed–I would deduce he had gotten the impact a lot worse than those who were still alive to tell the tale."
Hisha was temporarily distracted by the thought of how Melody had caused destructive damage before her demise.
"My lord?" Kritz cleared his throat to get his attention.
"What's the estimate of those who have access to this information?" Hisha queried.
"Only a select few know about this in Mertac and the guards present in his fortress had been made to swear not to let the word out or risk losing the one thing they hold so dear–a chance at mating."
'What a foolish thing to put their silence for. There I was with over 20 years and a virgin at the time.' Hisha deadpanned in his thoughts.
[You speak on 20+ years, do not mistake those minute years with mermen who have been forced into celibacy until the designated time for over a century]
Hisha ate his words, disturbed by the revelation but also nodding to Kritz report.
"If that is the case, why did they report this to me? They could as well take matters in their 'fins' if they could keep their crises a secret from all other tribes." Hisha shrugged and got to his feet.
Kritz finally had a smile that curved upwards at the right side of his face before he spoke, "they requested your help in seeing to what could have set off such disaster at such a peaceful period in their tribe."
'How about my desire to teach that pompous tribal chief that I'm not someone to be messed with?' Hisha had wanted to ask but knew how suspicious that would sound to Kritz.
"What are the clues?" He asked, hoping Kritz would forget all about what he had said while they had conversed a few hours ago.
"A mysterious mermaid had appeared and was the one who had dealt the damage on the guards and had intentionally spared Mich's life–barely."
'Melody!' Hisha immediately identified who he was talking about.
He had been able to witness, listen and feel the events unfold before her demise. Now that he thought about it, she was trying to shield him from the connection they both shared so he wouldn't be left broken after her sacrifice.
"You know who it is." Kritz bluntly cut in, temporarily forgetting to use the necessary honorifics and tone to his lord.
Hisha raised a brow, slightly triggered by his speech and this little gesture forcing Kritz into submission.
"I apologize, my lord." He gave a slight bow, not giving up on his claims; he continued.
"You know who that maiden was, my lord." He maintained a low stare at the floor.
[You've been found out, it's not such a big deal]
'Oh it isn't?' Hisha retorted, wishing he could roll his eyes.
Clap!
Clap!
Clap!
Hisha stopped and smiled with an obvious grin. "There must be a way to determine those who use their ability of deduction effectively."
Kritz slowly rose his head, hopeful about the outcome of his subtle accusation.
"They had tried to ambush me in the woods, it's only fair I give them a gift in good favor," Hisha replied with a smirk.
Kritz stared at Hisha in awe and admiration for such a decision. He had never liked the merfolk because their slightly higher prejudice rained on him the moment he had sought help from them as a little boy.
"We should have killed him while we had the chance!" Kritz hissed in regret, punching his palm.
"What benefit would you have derived? Would you have caught the true mastermind behind all of this?" Hisha shook his head and flexed his fingers.
Kritz was left dumbfounded and clueless about the question.
Pulling off his robe, he was left in his black batwing, shirring baggy pants and bare chest like the majority of the times he makes an appearance.
"They said they need my help, right?" Hisha cackled in maniacal laughter, walking towards the door. "I'd like to see how I can help."
*****
A/N
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