Page 64 of Entangled

“Yes, she does,” said Hitch holding up a finger. “That reminds me of something else she said.”

“What?” asked Sebastian, slowly raising his head.

“Hold on. I think better when I’m not so thirsty.” He reached out and took the bottle from Sebastian, not shy about taking another swig of whisky. His eyes closed partially and he seemed to be getting very relaxed. He lowered his body atop a bench, a silly smile spread across his face.

“Come on, come on. I don’t have all night. Tell me,” commanded Sebastian.

“Merrow said she wished she could marry you but still stay a sea nymph.” Hitch took one more gulp of whisky. “Aaaah,” he said smacking his lips together.

“Why? Why would she say such a thing?” Sebastian was up again and pacing the floor, dragging a hand through his long hair.

“I think it is because that way, she can raise her child as a nymph and her sisters won’t take the baby away from her.” Hitch looked up as if thinking, and then nodded his head forcefully. “Yes, that was it.”

“No one is going to take our child away from us.” Sebastian had never considered how they would raise a sea nymph as humans. Mayhap it wasn’t even allowed, he had no idea. He couldn’t know what kind of silly rules the God of the Sea might have concocted. “Damn, I don’t want that. There has to be a way to make this work.”

“That’s exactly what she said. I think. The guard was snoring loudly, so it was a little hard to hear through the door.” Hitch raised his finger in the air again, looking as if he were about to pass out. “There was something else too. Something important. I think. I can’t quite remember.”

Sebastian stopped pacing in front of his squire, bending over to look right into the boy’s eyes. “You’d better remember. If you don’t, I swear I will shake the information out of you. Upside down.”

Hitch swallowed forcefully, pressing his lips together. “Ah, I remember now. Yes. I have it.” He raised the bottle again, but Sebastian quickly took it from him.

“Talk,” commanded Sebastian. “And you’d better not forget a thing.”

“Merrow is going to see the sage in the morning. Before you get there.”

“The sage? Elric? The elf?” asked Sebastian, standing up straight, wondering what was going on. The bottle of whisky dangled from his fingers. “Why? What for? What can he possibly do?”

“I don’t really know,” said Hitch. “But I heard them say he’s got magic that’s really strong.”

“It’s not that strong,” said Sebastian with a puff of air from his mouth.

“Yes, it is,” answered Hitch. “After all, it was strong enough that he was able to call Merrow’s entire family here using just his mind.”

Sebastian’s head jerked around. “No, he didn’t. I did that. I was the one to contact them on the other side of the portal.”

“Are you sure, my lord?” asked Farrimond. “After all, you are a human. Isn’t that a skill that only those with magic can do?”

This got Sebastian thinking. “I admit it didn’t work at first, but as soon as Elric suggested I go into the water—damn it!” What he came up with was something that didn’t make him happy in the least. “The stupid elf tricked me!”

Hitch reached for the bottle of whisky Sebastian was holding, but in anger Sebastian threw it across the room. The bottle smashed against the wall.

“Naaaaay,” groaned Hitch, watching the liquid drip down to the floor. He covered his face with his hands.

“Elric made a fool out of me,” spat Sebastian. “I am sure right now everyone back at Evandorm is laughing at me. Dammit, why didn’t I realize this before?”

“Laughing,” repeated Hitch, sounding semi-drunk. His hands slid from his face. His eyes were closed.

“I’m going to find that damned elf tonight and give him a piece of my mind!” There was no quenching the fires of anger that burned within Sebastian now.

“How are you going to do that, my lord?” asked Jocet.

“Perhaps you should just call to him using your mind,” mumbled Farrimond, doing his best to hold back a chuckle. Jocet couldn’t help from smiling as well.

“Shut up! I am king and demand respect from both of you.” Sebastian was ready to throw both of them in the dungeon right now. Plus, his squire would follow for telling him these things, even though it was crucial that he know.

“Sorry, my lord.” Jocet lowered his head.

“We didn’t mean anything by it,” said Farrimond, holding up his palms. “I was just breaking the tension with a jest, that’s all.”