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Lady Kanna took a deep breath and told me her story. “I was swimming in the ocean, near the reef, when someone stole my coat.”
“Swimming as you land dwellers do,” Anhe said, her voice dripping with anger.
“Yes, well, we were swimming and playing and I hid my coat in the dunes.” Lady Kanna dabbed at her eyes. “When we were ready to leave, my coat was gone. Someone must have taken it.”
I nodded my head in sympathy. “Is there anything I can do to help you find it?”
“We have been searching everywhere,” Nirvelli said. “But it’s like searching for a pearl in the ocean.”
I took a sip of my sea tea. Its taste was bitter, but I tried not to show it on my face. “Did you see anyone suspicious around the area?”
“No.” Isla shook her head. “But there were many people swimming and playing on the beach. It’s hard to say who could have taken it.”
“Did you check with the other swimmers? Maybe someone saw something.”
“We did,” Anhe said. “But no one saw anything.”
I looked Lady Kanna in her eyes. “I promise you, I will do everything in my power to help you find your coat.”
Lady Kanna took my hand in hers. Her webbed fingers were icy, but her grip was firm. “Thank you. I am in your debt.”
Her fully black eyes stared into mine and I saw the desperation in them. I didn’t know if I could find her coat, but I was going to try. “Don’t worry about it.” I squeezed her hand. “Just let me help you.”
Her lower lip trembled. “I want you to know that I didn’t think it was you. You’ve done nothing to make me think you would. Instead, you’ve shown me kindness and compassion.”
Kindness? I ignored her. Compassion? I was just doing what anyone else would do in this situation. I wasn’t special.
I glanced down. “I’ve done nothing but what any person would do.”
“That’s not true and you know it.” Lady Kanna shook her head and the other ladies tsked. “You’ve gone above and beyond. You’ve offered your rooms to me and allowed me to stay here even though it’s your fullest right to send me away. You’ve shown me more kindness than I ever thought possible.”
Awkwardness prickled my skin. I didn’t know how to respond to her words. I’ve never been good at accepting compliments. “I’m just doing what I can do to help.”
“And we are very grateful for it. You don’t let your anger towards me cloud your judgment and for that, we are eternally grateful.”
I leaned forward. “I want you to know that I don’t hate you or resent you. I was forced into this situation and I may have volunteered, but I had no choice.”
Lady Kanna’s eyes were sad, but she nodded her head in understanding. “I know,” she whispered. “And I am sorry for what you have sacrificed.”
Prince Maedras told her. Just like I expected.
I closed my eyes. “My sacrifice has ruined your life and I will never forgive myself for it.”
She lowered her head. Her sea-green hair covered her face like a curtain. “Maedras and I were long overdue to part ways. I was not happy with him and I know he was not happy with me. We were not meant to be together. The ocean and the land are two different worlds and we could never bridge that gap.”
Her words saddened me. “I wish things could have been different.”
“As do I.” She looked up. “But, alas, it’s not meant to be. We must accept what has happened and move on with our lives. I’m happy that this happened. It has given me a chance to start over.”
I smiled at her. Instead of seeing me as the villain, she saw the positivity in the situation. I admired her for that. “I’m glad I could help you. Even unintentionally.”
Lady Kanna smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Thank you. For everything.”
“There’s no reason we shouldn’t be friendly or at least cordial to one another,” Anhe said. “We’re all going to be spending a lot of time together.”
“I agree,” I said. “There’s no reason we can’t be friends. I didn’t want to make the situation worse, so I ignored you, but I think it’s time we put that behind us.”
Lady Kanna nodded her head in agreement. “I did the same. I didn’t want to push myself on you and make you think it was a power play.”
