Page 17 of Entangled

Six

“What do you Blackseed boys want?” asked Sebastian, approaching the small traveling party standing just inside his castle’s gate. There were the three brothers and the elf. Sebastian had his advisor, captain of the guard, steward, squire, and several dozen soldiers backing him up. They all had their hands on their weapons, ready for a battle to break out.

“If you’re looking for a fight, you’ll get it,” snarled Farrimond, starting to pull his sword. Sebastian raised his hand and stopped him from doing so.

“We come in peace.” The Sin Eater, Darium, raised his hands in the air. Still, he had the power to control weather and didn’t need a blade in his hand to be considered threatening.

“Peace? Hrumph,” snorted Farrimond. “More than likely you’re here to try to steal the last of the true kings of Mura’s castles. Admit it.”

“No one stole anyone’s castle,” spoke up Rhys. “I inherited Kasculbough from King Osric himself and you know it.”

“And I married a queen and was elected King of Evandorm after King Grinwald’s death,” added Zann.

“I don’t believe you,” snapped Farrimond. Several of Sebastian’s soldiers voiced their agreement with his captain of the guard.

“Men, stand down,” commanded Sebastian, not wanting trouble. He directed his attention back to his visitors. “What is your purpose for being here?” he asked them once again.

“We need to know if you caught a sea nymph in your nets,” said Zann.

“He did! It’s me,” Merrow blurted out before Sebastian could even respond. She ran forward to meet them.

“You’re a sea nymph?” asked the elf from atop his horse. All of the Blackseeds were still mounted as well. “You look more like a lady of the castle to me.”

“I look like one, but I assure you I am not. Did you find my sisters?” asked Merrow.“There were three of us who came through the portal.”

“Quiet, Merrow, before I lock you back in your room again,” threatened Sebastian, not wanting to look weak in front of the other kings. With the girl talking over him and asking questions before he could answer, it wasn’t going to fare well with him where his enemies were concerned.

“We found two sea nymphs, but we don’t want them,” said the elf named Elric in his nasally little voice. The man was as small as a child, but Sebastian had seen him wield his powers before, and he was the most dangerous of the bunch of them. Sebastian needed to proceed cautiously and not get any of these magical people angry.

“Bring my sisters to me. Please,” begged Merrow, once more talking over him. He couldn’t let her get away with it again.

“That’s it! I said to stay quiet but you can’t seem to listen to directions,” he told Merrow, losing his patience with her. “Jocet, take the girl back to my solar and be sure to post a guard and lock the door.”

“Nay!” cried Merrow, fighting his steward. “I won’t leave. I need to be brought to my sisters.”

Sebastian had no choice. He needed to control her. Slipping his hand into his pouch, he quickly rubbed his fingers over the shell. “I said, you’ll wait for me in my solar.”

“Ooooo, I will,” he heard her say in a lusty voice. “And when you get there, I will give you pleasure like you’ve never felt before.”

“Huh?” Sebastian’s head snapped around. Merrow was already untying her bodice. Damn, mayhap he rubbed the shell too hard again. He quickly released the charm, letting it drop back into his pouch. “Get her out of here,” he ground out.

“Aye, my lord.” His steward pulled her along with him. All the while Merrow looked back over her shoulder at Sebastian, throwing kisses. If he hadn’t been embarrassed by her behavior before, he certainly was now.

“What was that all about?” asked Elric. “She’s acting like your concubine.”

“Never mind. Tell me, what do you want me to do about your sea nymphs?” asked Sebastian.

“Take them off our hands,” said Elric, before the Blackseed boys had a chance to speak.

“Nay, that’s not what we want at all,” interrupted Rhys, the youngest, but biggest and strongest of the three men. He had super strength as his power and no one could best him in a fight. “All we want is to help the nymphs get back through the portal to go home.”

“And how do you plan on doing that? Do the Blackseed brothers now have the ability to open and close portals too?” asked Drell.

“Nay. Of course not,” said Zann. “No one can do that.”

“Not true,” said Elric. “I know someone who can.”

“Elric, let us handle this,” said Darium. “King Sebastian, we are willing to make a trade for your sea nymph.”