“Oh, hello, uh, ma’am.” Theo emerged from the shoreline, looking far too eager and smiling like an excited schoolboy. He offered his hand out towards Browen.
“Lyra called you Browen, is that correct? It’s a beautiful name.”
Browen flushed and started batting her eyelashes double time. Lyra fought the urge to gag audibly as Browen’s lips dropped into a perfect pout and she accepted Theo’s handshake.
“My, my, you look as good as you smell. What’s your name, pretty fae?”
Theo’s eyes went wide, and he looked almost panicked. He glanced over at Lyra, presumably for reassurance, and the fact that he looked to her for answers settled something in her chest.
“It’s not like with the fae,” Lyra reminded him softly. “You can tell her your name. It won’t give her power over you.”
“I will try to get it in other ways, though, darling,” Browen cooed, adjusting her tunic and flipping her long, opaque hair over her shoulder.
Theo laughed awkwardly, shuffling his weight between his feet.
“Um, yes, it’s Theo. I’m Theo. Theo is my name.”
Lyra took far too much joy out of the fact that he looked as uncomfortable with Browen’s flirting as she was.
“Ease up on the seduction, Browen.” Lyra kept her voice stoic. “We were curious if you knew anything about the Blue Men.”
Browen’s face contorted into a serious expression, both of her eyebrows flying up in surprise.
“What do you need to know about them for?” The hesitation in her voice was clear, but Lyra pushed her.
“I’m not in a position to disclose any of that right now. Do you know the best way to summon them once you’re in their waters?” Lyra pressed again.
Browen’s hands went to her hips, and her voice hardened. “This doesn’t have anything to do with Cliodhna’s demands for a fae prince and Nessie’s message about extending favor towards one, does it?” It was clear from Browen's tone that she knew exactly what Lyra and Theo were about.
Lyra’s fangs elongated to match her claws, and her muscles tensed. Without even thinking about it consciously, she was ready for a fight if Browen was about to prove herself an adversary.
“Lyra, she just asked a question.” Theo stood closer to Lyra, placing a heavy hand on her shoulder and trying to keep the peace. It was an admirable—but stupid—trait.
“Yeah, Lyra, it’s just a question,” Browen parroted back with a little more disdain in her tone.
Lyra knew she was being goaded, but she didn’t care.
“If you’re going to fight me for him, best do it now.” Lyra stepped towards Browen and shoved Theo behind her, who grunted in frustration but didn’t protest. There was a tense moment of silence as both women sized each other up, but eventually, Browen bowed her head slightly.
“I don’t mean Theo any harm. Or you, unless you come at me first.” The selkie’s attitude had shifted towards indifference. “The selkies are aligned with Calum’s authority, not Cliodhna’s. If you’re traveling with his blessing, then I won’t stand in your way.” Lyra heard Theo let out a heavy breath, and she relaxed slightly as Browen continued.
“I don’t know, however, how to summon the Blue Men. You’d know more than me anyway. You’re more partial to the coast and seawater than I am. I’m preferential to the rivers.”
Lyra nodded in understanding. Both selkies and sirens occupied the seas surrounding Scotland and the inland waterways. It came down to personal preference where any individual chose to live, but it evoked strong opinions in each person.
“I understand,” Lyra agreed, “but selkies tend to be a bit more social and communicative than we are. I was guessing that you might have heard something or even spoken to them yourself.”
Browen visibly shuddered. “I would avoid the Blue Men at all costs. They’re a ghastly lot.”
“Well, being stuck in the water ever since you fell from heaven would obviously put a damper on anyone’s mood," Lyra supplied. “We’ll have to keep moving towards Minch and hope we find someone else who might have advice for us on the way.”
“I thought we knew the Blue Men would help?” Theo interjected, his face drawn up in confusion.
“It’s a good bet to try and talk to them since they do have an intrinsic understanding of curses, especially ones involving gods. But Browen is right, they can get rather nasty. We should keep asking allies as we travel if they have any advice.”
Lyra’s chest was hollow as she watched Theo’s face flicker with something like hopelessness before he settled into a perfect, pleasant, neutral mask. Lyra didn’t like it. He was fartoo pleasant and polite for someone who was constantly under a threat from a goddess. He rolled with the punches far too easily. From Lyra’s experience, anyone who was handling life that easily was burying everything deep down.
You're one to talk about secrets.Lyra's thoughts hijacked her observation of Theo. She was prepared to die by violating Calum’s bargain if it meant turning in Theo and getting her sister back. She only hoped someone would eventually be able to get Theo safely back to Calum.
