welcome her back, and the warriors began consulting with the sharp-tongued healer about minor complaints. Bella peeked through the crowds and gave a secret wave.
“I’ll say hi to Bella when it calms down,” Starr murmured to Gailen.
A warrior with dark-green-and-coffee-black tattoos passed with an energetic young fry. “Hello, Gailen. Queen Starr.”
“Second Lieutenant Ciran.” Gailen admired his and Queen Dannika’s wiggly young fry. “Where are all the brides?”
“They descended.” The strategic second lieutenant nodded at old friends as he rested beside Gailen. “Dannika did not want to risk a repeat with the general.”
“Former general,” Starr commented.
Second Lieutenant Ciran studied the male receiving treatment from Queen Nora. “I see.”
“What happened to you guys?”
“Your call inspired Dannika to enter the water. She captured General Giru and forced him to tell us where he had hidden King Kadir and the other dignitaries. He acted so convincingly that even the other warriors were tricked.”
“Giru denied his soul mate so much, he hid his own soul,” Gailen vibrated.
“It worked. We entered the scaffolding of the wreckage, and by the time we realized our mistake, we were the ones who were captured. And yet, hearing from Queen Hazel and Lotar, it sounds as though his subterfuge was indeed meant to save our lives.”
“He nearly lost his soul mate, though.” Starr rubbed Gailen’s forearm. “Gailen had to convince him he was on the wrong side.”
“I am not surprised.” The second lieutenant clasped Gailen’s shoulder. “You have a talent for appealing to a warrior’s better nature.”
King Kadir swam up, flanked by Queen Elyssa, Prince Kael, and many queens and dignitaries. “Elyssa tells me you convinced Roa to defend Atlantis and Giru to divulge the location of the brides. Just now, you stalled long enough for the brides to be rescued. You truly are the hero of our time.”
His heart swelled against his rib cage. “Thank you, my king.”
King Kadir clasped his forearm. “The thanks are all mine.”
His thumb jutted. This one was still broken and unable to fully close over the king’s forearm, but that was okay. He had done all this as he was. This trait, or lack, no longer defined him.
King Kadir rotated to face the rest of the dignitaries, the still-squabbling All-Council, and the enemy army. “Your sad attempt to hold back the future has failed. We descend to Atlantis to rebuild, welcome our brides, and forge the new covenant.”
“You’re all still invited.” Queen Hazel bounced her fussy young fry. “Even after all this. And even if your dad found you under a cabbage leaf or in a seaweed farm.”
“Seaweed forest,” General Viren growled. “For the second time.”
“General.” Sirak jabbed his index finger at the brides. “Do not interact with these creatures. They have broken the ancient covenant. We are in a war to survive.”
“And?” The general flicked the tip of his trident. “Like the Atlantis warrior said, it has changed hundreds of times.”
“Do not believe him.”
“I do not. I learned it, too. From Head Archivist Ulio.”
Sirak snarled and lofted his trident in the center of the rebels where he spotted the head archivist. “You have betrayed the All-Council. Splitting the loyalty of the mer like this will lead to our destruction.”
“The mer will not be destroyed by the truth,” the archivist vibrated with gravelly certainty. “Only you will be.”
Sirak curled his lip. “Are you so sure? Only me?”
King Kadir spread his arms. “You are all welcome to join the new covenant. Any warrior may join. We now understand the secrets of our past, and with your help, we will reactivate the ancient ruin and create a new island for warriors and brides. Come now. Leave the relic of the old order behind. Your brides are waiting.”
General Viren frowned.
None of his warriors moved. They would not change sides so long as he still served the All-Council.
General Viren wavered. “Perhaps I—”
“Silence!” Sirak curled his lips back from his teeth. “You disgusting, honorless male who cannot follow simple orders to prevent worse crimes. Giru shielded me from you so that I did not realize you were so weak. And you.” He jabbed his trident at Archivist Ulio. “You have encouraged all these warriors to mix with brides when you know it is impossible.”
“We believe in Atlantis,” Elyssa said, and the women cheered.
“Because you know nothing. Tell them, Ulio. They did not learn from their wrecked platform that humans have always and will always betray them.”
Archivist Ulio fidgeted. “Things are different now.”
“And yet, the past has already been repeated.”
“We survived the Great Catastrophe,” King Kadir vibrated. “And if the