Every land has its dangers. The mountain country of Farway had dragons. Briglan was home to ogres. EchoCave was overrun with goblins.
And Nearsea… Nearsea had mermaids.
Jennifer struggled with the mermaid, biting and clawing at her even as her lungs screamed for air. It helped that the mermaid didn’t want to hurt her. The trouble was Kevin. Jennifer kicked off against the mermaid, dragging the boy up to the surface. Jennifer gasped as she broke the surface into the air. She desperately pulled Kevin up by his collar until his head was over the water. Jennifer pulled him against her, so that the back of his head rested on her shoulder.
Jennifer choked on water as mermaid tried to drag Kevin to the depths once more. Jennifer hugged Kevin close to her while she kicked wildly at the hands clutching at Kevin’s legs. “No!” Jennifer spluttered as loudly as she could, spitting seawater. She thought that the hands faltered an instant and Jennifer was struck by inspiration. “Trade!” She shouted. The hands definitely hesitated that time. Jennifer took the opportunity to pull the ring off her finger. Her finger was swollen from the frigid water but Jennifer managed to tug the ring free. She dropped it. The mermaid’s hands left Kevin and Jennifer breathed heavily, though she did not release her hold on the boy. A moment later a head rose sinisterly out of the water. The face was shadowy in the moonlight. The mermaid was eerily beautiful. She held up the ring.
“It’s gold.” Jennifer said, treading water. “It won’t tarnish.” The mermaid turned the ring over in her hands, admiring the metal work. “Take it for his life.” Jennifer insisted. The mermaid looked from Jennifer to Kevin and back. Then she cocked her head.
“What’s your name?” The mermaid asked. Jennifer was suddenly wary. What was this about?
“It’s Jennifer.” She said. The mermaid smiled. Her teeth glinted in the moonlight. They were very sharp.
“Well, Jennifer. I’m Marisol.” She began swimming around Jennifer and Kevin. Jennifer struggled to turn with her, unwilling to let Marisol out of her sight. “I will accept your deal.” Marisol’s voice was suddenly right behind her head. “But only because I like you.” Jennifer whipped around as best she could. Marisol was already a few feet away, laughing. “Besides,” The mermaid held up the ring and looked at Jennifer through it. “The ring is almost as pretty as you are.” With that, Marisol dove below the water, leaving Jennifer to swim back to shore with the still unconscious Kevin.
And Nearsea… Nearsea had mermaids.
Jennifer struggled with the mermaid, biting and clawing at her even as her lungs screamed for air. It helped that the mermaid didn’t want to hurt her. The trouble was Kevin. Jennifer kicked off against the mermaid, dragging the boy up to the surface. Jennifer gasped as she broke the surface into the air. She desperately pulled Kevin up by his collar until his head was over the water. Jennifer pulled him against her, so that the back of his head rested on her shoulder.
Jennifer choked on water as mermaid tried to drag Kevin to the depths once more. Jennifer hugged Kevin close to her while she kicked wildly at the hands clutching at Kevin’s legs. “No!” Jennifer spluttered as loudly as she could, spitting seawater. She thought that the hands faltered an instant and Jennifer was struck by inspiration. “Trade!” She shouted. The hands definitely hesitated that time. Jennifer took the opportunity to pull the ring off her finger. Her finger was swollen from the frigid water but Jennifer managed to tug the ring free. She dropped it. The mermaid’s hands left Kevin and Jennifer breathed heavily, though she did not release her hold on the boy. A moment later a head rose sinisterly out of the water. The face was shadowy in the moonlight. The mermaid was eerily beautiful. She held up the ring.
“It’s gold.” Jennifer said, treading water. “It won’t tarnish.” The mermaid turned the ring over in her hands, admiring the metal work. “Take it for his life.” Jennifer insisted. The mermaid looked from Jennifer to Kevin and back. Then she cocked her head.
“What’s your name?” The mermaid asked. Jennifer was suddenly wary. What was this about?
“It’s Jennifer.” She said. The mermaid smiled. Her teeth glinted in the moonlight. They were very sharp.
“Well, Jennifer. I’m Marisol.” She began swimming around Jennifer and Kevin. Jennifer struggled to turn with her, unwilling to let Marisol out of her sight. “I will accept your deal.” Marisol’s voice was suddenly right behind her head. “But only because I like you.” Jennifer whipped around as best she could. Marisol was already a few feet away, laughing. “Besides,” The mermaid held up the ring and looked at Jennifer through it. “The ring is almost as pretty as you are.” With that, Marisol dove below the water, leaving Jennifer to swim back to shore with the still unconscious Kevin.
For the record, Kevin did do something to provoke the mermaid. It will come up in another story.
I like Nearsea. And there is a surprise coming.
The first ep of the Sword and Scepter Saga is recorded and being edited!
I like Nearsea. And there is a surprise coming.
The first ep of the Sword and Scepter Saga is recorded and being edited!
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