" How's that Boshu doing? I wonder what is taking so long for his wounds to heal. Is it that ? "
Lin asked Xie his favorite drink as they sat in his room, discussing their next steps.
Xie spit the drink out.
" Careful. Careful! What happened? "
" Don't even talk about that sly bird in front of me. "
Xie slammed the desk.
" What happened? What did he do? "
Lin was clueless.
" I saw him all over my sister. With my own two eyes. "
This time Lin spat his drink out.
" Boshu? With Roe? Seriously? That bird with a she wolf. "
He was all over the floor, when Xie retorted, " Don't laugh. It's not funny. "
" That's why she wasn't tailing you this time. "
Lin tried getting a grip on himself.
"Who? Roe? She went after some suspects. "
" Suspects? What crime? When? "
" It's our state affair. She went right after that evil spirit arrived. " Xie didn't want to divulge much.
"Hhmm, there is something I had wanted to share with you. " Lin took a sip or two.
" About what? "
" The more witches and the human world. "
" What about them? "
" The messenger had fed me with a duplicate of the Water Breather, you know the plant that you retain your air under the ocean. "
" Hhmm, really? "
Xie looked intrigued.
" That's not the fishy part. The fake was gifted by the mer-queen herself to the mortal king. Now question arises, why would somebody give someone a fake thing? On top of that, the has gone missing. The day I had gone to take a breather before going to meet Mia, I spied on some suspicious activities at the human palace. All these things keep pointing to a thing. I think I am going to get it further investigated. "
" Hhmm. Sure. You should. Let me know if you find something. "
" I will. "
" What about Mia? "
" What about her? "
" Do you really think the mer-witches can be trusted? "
Lin shook his head, " I don't. But that's the only safest place till we find a strong alternative. Like pendant of something. "
"We have to. "
Xie patted back.
The next morning Lin decided to stroll around in the human world. Check the developments .
He walked down the busy markets. He could sense there was too much anxiety and fear.
" Did you hear the foxes and the wolves are closing borders? "
" Really? Why? "
" Because of the curse idiot. Why else? I heard they have patched up and are now working "
" What does that mean for us? Are we going to be the innocent victims of those immortal ? "
" Why would we? "
" Where will the curse lash if their borders are closed? It would ruin us. Isn't it obvious? "
" Then what is our King doing? "
" Who knows. He just keeps sending convoys to the mer- witches. I wonder what help will that . "
" Yeah. And there have been a lot of missing people from the capital recently. "
" Really? Is the curse taking people one by one? "
" Who knows. Looks like we are really doomed. "
Lin passed by silently as the people kept spilling their woes.
" The king has been sending convoys? That's strange. I think I might have to ask Mia to keep a out. "
Lin thought as he walked. " Or maybe not. She should not get into any more controversies. Not our child is born. "
A shadow caught Lin's vision.
" Boshu! Boshu! "
Lin yelled.
" ! He flipped back and put a finger on Lin's lip, " Don't alert her. "
He had been following Roe. She was engrossed in a deep pursuit.
" Where is she going? "
Lin asked, " And why are you hiding? "
" She has been following some fugitive wolves who eventually led us in the human world. "
" So? Why are you hiding? It must be their state affair. "
Boshu shook his head.
" The king seems unaware. It's the work of the brother-sister duo. "
Lin looked at his face.
Then gauged him head till toe.
" I thought you two were dating. "
" Umm,. Huh! No. I mean yes. Who told you? "
" I have my sources. " Lin smiled and smacked him on his head. " You with a wolf. Who would thought. The scaredy , cowardly Boshu. "
Just then they heard a squabble break in front.
Then a few people were seen flying.
" There she is at it again. "
Lin and Boshu went to the highest point to catch a bird's eye view.
" Tell me the truth if you want to keep your life dead. " She was threatening.
" Ooh! She's scary. "Lin teased Boshu.
" Tell me what exactly did you do on my mother's order? " She demanded.
" Forgive us. Forgive us princess. We were just following orders. "
" Come on. Damn it. Out with it already. What did you all do with Mia's mother? "
Lin and Boshu looked at each other.
The wolves looked puzzled as well
" I mean the mer-witch,Crystal, who used to be my father's love interest. "
" We will tell you everything. Everything. Please don't kill us . Spare us princess. Please don't us to the king. "
" Now! " She roared.
" We were given charge to take care of her by your father when he felt. But we had been your mother with all the news of our King's affair. It served us well as we got rewarded both ends.
When the king decided to take her in as his queen, nobody knew she was a mermaid. But we a hunch that she might be with child from her symptoms. So when the King asked us to her to the capital after he had to abruptly leave, we were sure that we fed her with enough to make her hate the king. Yet she did not budge. She had strong faith in his promise .
But we knew she didn't know he was married. He used our trump card to dislodge her faith. We her on till what we thought was her jump to her demise. But fate had it otherwise.The king recovered from her loss. He had turned the lands upside down. And we have ever since hiding for our dear life. And now things have gone even far worse. "
Roe breathed heavily with what seemed like frustration and anger.
*******
Human palace
" Take this. Take this. Morons. "
Roe hit them hard, at their heads with the blunt end of her sword. As they fell one by one on the , Roe prepared to tie them up and drag them somewhere. She was engrossed in her when two figures jumped at her from nowhere.
" Want some help? "
She looked up.
Boshu and Lin.
" You? "
She stood up immediately.
" What do you plan to do with them? " Lin asked.
" Umm, nothing. Just take them back to our castle. "
Roe felt nervous. " Did they hear our conversation? " Was what was inside her head.
" Yeah! We heard it. We heard it all. "
Lin confirmed.
" What? Why? I mean. Shit. No. "
" Don't worry. We won't be reporting any of this. It's all a matter of the past Roe. Though I know
Mia and your father would be hurt, apart from them, divulging their crime would not serve much . If the queen is penalized at this time of crisis, your father will suffer emotional damage.
Which we don't want at the moment. We need to focus on only one thing. That is how we can our planes of the curse and plague. You and Xie can handle these thugs. "
Roe nodded. She bowed and was about to leave.
" Wait a second. Boshu, put these somewhere aside. Roe, can you come with me to the human
King's palace? There is something I need to make sure of. "
Lin instructed.
" Sure. "
Lin grabbed her hand and was off immediately while Boshu was left behind to babysit the .
" What luck! " He complained.
" What is it that we are exactly looking for? "
Roe whispered as they tiptoed their way inside the main Hall, decorated with the big dome.
" Anything. Something. I don't know. The king has been in league with themer- witches. We to find out what exactly he has been doing. And why? I even heard the villagers talk about who were going missing. "
Lin whispered back. Roe nodded and they went inside further.
They heard some scuffles.
Lin motioned for her to keep walking.
" How long are we going to play victim between these immortals? "
" Shut up. Are the witches helping? "
" Yeah sure. How? By taking us as human sacrifices? "
"Sssshhh! Even walls have ears. Don't you know that. "
" How long. For how long? It's ultimately we that are going to be butchered no matter whoever victory. They are even closing their borders. The foxes and wolves. We are just mere toys front of these immortal gods. "
" Shut up. I said just shut up and stop crying. "
" How can I? How can I? This one is a mere child whom you are sending this time. "
" He meets their perfect criteria. The one they sent for this time. The mer-witches are our only . Only protectors if the curse happens to break loose. "
There was a frenzy in that voice. It was so full of fear and grit that it seemed like it was convincing itself.
" And what happens if they don't. If they disown you. Us. At the Nick of time. What advantage do have against them? "
" None. We have none. That is why we are doing whatever can be and should be done.You too stop being sentimental and stop interfering in state affairs. "
" How can I? How can I. He is barely the age of my own child. After all, we are all just humans. "
Lin could not have it anymore.
Bang. Boom.
" Who's there? Who's it? "
" Tell me the whole story if you want to keep living. "
Lin was pointing his Fox nails directly at the man's throat. The human king. He was by a fine lady. Lin assumed it was his queen.
" F... Ff... Foxes in my castle... "
" Stop stuttering and speak up. "
Roe held the woman by her hand. She was attempting to slide away and may be ringing the , hoping for some help.
" And W... Wolves too. "
" Come on. Tell us what you and the mer-witches have been . I can assure you that you will a lot more reasons to get scared. "
" I... We.... We don't have anything to do with the mer-witches... "
" Is that so? Then I might as well uproot and take with me those fake Water Breathers at the . "
" No. NO. Don't do that please. But... B... But the queen will kill me if she gets to know any... "
" She won't. I assure you. You can freely talk. "
Lin sat beside him, retracting his hand.
" We had agreed on a pact with the mer-witches. Like more of a treaty. She demanded a human be sent as a sacrifice to the mer-world and promised to protect us in return from the wrath of curse, when it comes. "
" They have been taking humans to sacrifice... "
Lin looked at Roe.
" It doesn't sound right. Are you telling us the truth? Is that all? Nothing else that we need to ? "
The human king intensely shook his head.
" STOP SENDING THE PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY. "
" What? "
" I said stop sending your people to become fish food. Thick head. "
" B.. But... The curse... The mer-witches.. "
"Whoever made you a king? "
Roe snorted.
" Our clans will take turns covering your lands too. We won't leave you alone this time. "
Lin stood up.
" Really? " The Queen's eye lit up.
" But... But... The mer-queen... "
Roe gnarled. The human king immediately stopped stammering.
" Roe , I need to get this news across to Mia. She needs to keep her eyes and ears open. You it from here.Get those Water Breathers away to your place and plant them somewhere . "
" Sure. " Roe replied as Lin vanished with his lighting stroke.