Kira's Secret by Orysia Dawydiak Page B

It is disrespectful and not allowed by common merrows.”
    â€œWhat happens if you do? By accident, I mean,” Kira whispered back.
    â€œJust don’t do it,” he warned.
    If she hadn’t been underwater, Kira was sure she’d be sweating by now. She had never met a king and queen before. She decided she’d look at their chins instead. Perhaps it would safer to look at their feet, or rather, their tails.
    They stopped about twenty feet from the thrones. An elderly merman who had been standing next to the king moved forward slightly and asked, “Who is this merrowling come before the king and queen?”
    The escort answered, “I know not, My Lord Chancellor. She came accompanied by Sir Steen. He says she seeks her kin.”
    â€œIndeed,” said the chancellor, stroking his long grey beard while he studied her. Kira noticed that his scales were the colour of lead. Perhaps that happened to older merrows. Or maybe they just needed a good polishing like her mother’s tarnished silver at home.
    â€œTell us, merrowling, where do you come from, and how did you find Merhaven?”
    Kira proceeded to tell her story, of how she was rescued and only learned much later that she was a mermaid.
    â€œAnd why are you gold? How did you acquire this form?” he asked, scowling at her.
    â€œI, I don’t know, Sir. It just happened that way. I had no control over it,” she said, her voice starting to tremble. The queen leaned over to whisper to the king and Kira noticed that the scales peaking out from under the queen’s cloak were pale silver, while the king’s were a dull bronze. So, the colour of scales was important after all. Was she from an enemy tribe of merrows, perhaps? Was her life in danger here?
    â€œOh, you silly man,” the queen addressed the chancellor in a high, shrill voice, “don’t you see this must be a relative of the former king and queen? It’s obvious! Look at her skin. Come here, little one, let me have a closer look at you,” she commanded.
    Kira didn’t dare raise her head, but she moved up along the stairs to the throne where the queen sat. The queen reached out with a large webbed hand that ended with claw-like fingernails, and lifted up Kira’s chin. Kira closed her eyes tight.
    â€œOh, bother, you can open your eyes. Let’s have a look.”
    Kira opened one eye a little, then the other. She wasn’t sure she liked what she saw. The queen had small dark eyes that darted back and forth like captive minnows. Her skin was chalky white; she had thick, black eyebrows, a long narrow nose, and large front teeth. She pursed her thin lips, reminding Kira of a puffer fish she had seen that morning.
    â€œHmm, she could be related. Those eyes...” She turned to the king. “What do you think, Nim?”
    â€œIt is possible, I suppose,” he mumbled, barely glancing at Kira. He turned his head away as if she was not worth considering.
    Kira took a quick peek at him. The king appeared to be short and round, though it was hard to tell as he sat on the throne. His wavy hair was coconut brown, and his features ordinary except for his green eyes.
    â€œWhat is your name, merrowling?” the queen asked.
    â€œKira.”
    There was a great murmuring in the hall and the chancellor rapped a long staff on the ground.
    â€œSilence!” he ordered. He glared at Kira. “Humans are ignorant. They have taught you poor manners and no decorum. When you address the queen and king you always say, Your Highness. Is that clear?” he boomed at her.
    Kira shuddered under his scowl. “Y-yes…er, Sir.” As frightened as she was, she still resented being berated and shouted at. Especially in front of all the other merrows.
    The queen waved an impatient hand. “Now, Kira, what is it you want from us?”
    Kira swallowed. “I just want to find my parents. Your Highness.”
    A few titters from