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She met my smile with one of her own. “I plan to live a long life.” She told me. Holding my gaze as she leaned forward. “Rainn is my seventh child. He will never take my throne. Never again will I see a selkie perish in the Twilight Lake. It is my oath to Belisama.”
“I would never hurt Rainn,” I said fervently.
She waved away my statement. “I know you wouldn’t. My point is that Rainn will never wear the crown. He will never rule over the Skala Beach. Though I have raised him to be knowledgeable in all subjects, he will never be King of the Selkies. If he is needed in Cruinn, I have made peace with that. He is free from his ties in the Selkie court to take any position you wish for him. We would happily ally with Cruinn if Rainn were at your side when you took the High Throne.”
The lump in my throat rose, strangling my words. I cleared my throat, pushing it down. “I don’t plan to take the High Throne.”
“Why not?” The selkie queen gestured to my cup, encouraging me to take a sip. “The elder council was under King Irvine’s control. Everyone knew it. I am proof enough that women can take the throne. The Siren Queen would skewer you if you imply otherwise. What more proof do you need that a woman can rule?”
“The throne is…” My words tapered off.
“A queen speaks with confidence.”
“I am no queen.” I snapped, placing my cup on the table with a clatter. “I don’t want to be plagued by the same madness that took my mother. You knew her. You knew her struggles.”
“Your mother was no more mad than I am.” The selkie queen rolled her eyes.
“She took her own life!” I stood up, and my chair scraped across the limestone tile. A dozen stony-faced guards stood between me and the door, and I had no idea if they would let me through—but at that moment, I would take my chances.
The selkie queen’s hand snapped out, wrapping around my wrist. “Do you believe that?” Her eyes burned into mine.
Any anger I had dissolved on my tongue like rock salt. “What?”
“Your mother didn’t kill herself.” The selkie queen insisted. “I thought you knew.”
Silent tears rolled down my face, and every muscle locked as I studied her face. Waiting for some admission that she had lied. That she didn’t know for certain.
The Selkie Queen let go of my hand and released a shaky breath. “Come with me.” Her voice was gentle. How I imagined a mother would speak to her child, though my memories were lost behind a film of time. “I have something to show you.” She said.
The selkie queen took her time finishing her tea and cake, encouraging me to do the same before she directed us away from the garden into another room in the castle.
Rows and rows of books extended as far as the eye could see. Overhead, a glass-patterned dome showed the twilight sky, and I recognized the shape of the ceiling from the view of the castle from the outside.
A library.
Cruinn did not have a library, though I was familiar with books and scrolls. Most paper types didn’t do well with water, so our written word tended to be on expensive spelled parchment or heavy carved stone plates.
King Irvine hadn’t cared to read, so the library was shut away and forgotten about—like the Hall of Silvers or the temple on the far edge of the castle grounds.
The selkie queen slowed her steps, allowing me to take it all in. Brushing my hands against the wooden shelves and the soft binding of the books. Since spending more time on the surface, I liked to touch things—they always felt so different underwater. The same with colors. Everything on the surface was more vibrant.
At the far end of the room, past a glass partition that required a key to unlock, the selkie queen directed me to the only chair in the room. A worn leather armchair that swallowed me as soon as my bum hit the fabric. She searched one of the cabinets before pulling out a single sheaf of paper.
“Your mother’s last letter.” The selkie queen held out the paper.
My hand shook as I reached out. “What does it say?”
“You don’t want to read it yourself?” She asked.
“It’s been so long.” I took the paper, careful not to crumble it in my hands. I brushed my thumb over the smooth material, noting the magic that clung there. Making my fingers tingle. I took a deep breath, feeling my heart skip when I saw the familiar dainty scrawl of my mother's handwriting.
Dearest Aurora,
My Maeve talks of nothing but the selkies and the Skala Beach ever since you attended Irvine’s wedding last Solstice, so I’m informing you, at her behest, to expect a visit soon.
No doubt you have heard of my most recent ‘insanity,’ such as allowing female courtiers to attend the school within the castle. Whatever will the ‘Mad Queen’ do next, they wonder?
All joking aside, I plan to visit as soon as I am able. The castle is filled with unease. One of the tasters keeled over in the kitchens last night and though no one told me that it was my dish that was poisoned, by the hushed voices and mournful looks, I can surmise as much. Maeve is unaware, but whoever vies for my life may turn their attention to her. Irvine maintains that I am paranoid, but my gut says otherwise.
