The Tail of Emily Windsnap - Liz Kessler [56]
Another gasp whizzed through the court.
“On one condition,” he continued. “The three of you will join a community on an island with a secret location. This will be your home from now on. If you break this condition, you will be punished most severely. Do you understand?”
He stared at us both. I nodded vigorously. Had I heard right? Was I really going to see my dad again?
The gold-jacketed merman suddenly rose from his seat. “Your Majesty, forgive me,” he said, bowing low. “But the other merchild? You know, there could be trouble if —”
“Just get them all out from under my tail,” Neptune barked. “She can join them, for all I care. Discuss it with her parents. Either that or a memory wipe.”
“Very well, Your Majesty.” He sat down again.
Neptune scanned the court. “And perhaps you can all tell your kinfolk that your king is not only a firm ruler, but also a just and compassionate one.” His eyes landed on me. “One who will no longer punish folk merely for loving.”
Then he got up from his throne and banged his trident on the floor. “Case closed,” he bellowed, and left the court.
It all happened so quickly after that. The room erupted in noise. People were clapping and cheering; others gossiped among themselves. A few came over to the dock to shake my hand.
“Can I go now?” I asked the guard. He nodded curtly and pointed to the exit as he undid my handcuffs.
Outside the court, a mermaid with her hair in a bun took my hand. “Your mom will be escorted separately; she’ll meet you in a bit,” she said. “Let’s get you out of here.”
“Who are —” I began, but she’d turned around and was pulling me toward a boat that looked like a cross between a limousine and a submarine. It was white and long, with gold handles on the doors.
A crowd was waiting by the limo boat. “Emily, can you tell me how you feel?” one of them asked, a black reed poised above her notebook. I recognized her as one of the reporters from the court.
“Emily doesn’t want to talk at the moment,” the mermaid said. “She has to —”
“I feel great,” I said. “I just can’t wait to see my mom and dad together.”
“Thanks, Emily.” The reporter scribbled furiously as I was bundled into the boat. There was someone else inside.
“Shona!”
“Emily!”
We hugged each other tight.
“We’re going to an island!” I said. “My dad’s coming!”
“Seat belts,” the mermaid instructed from the driver’s seat. Then we shot forward like a bullet. As we sped through the water, I told Shona everything that had happened. “And they said you might be able to come, too!” I finished off. I didn’t mention the other option. Surely her parents would agree?
“Swishy!” Shona laughed.
“Going up,” the mermaid called from the front as we tipped upward, gradually climbing until we came to a standstill. Then she opened a door in the ceiling. “Your stop,” she said to me, holding out her hand. I shook it, feeling rather stupid. “Good luck, Emily,” she said. “You’re a brave girl.”
“See you soon,” Shona said. She giggled, and we hugged each other before I climbed out. I stood on top of the boat.
Blinking in the daylight, I tried to adjust to the scene. King was moored just in front of me. A group of mermen waited in the water in front of it, holding on to two thick ropes. Mom was leaning right over the side, reaching down to someone in the sea. She was holding his hands.
I stood on tiptoe so I could see who it was. For a moment, I thought I must be imagining things. It couldn’t have happened this quickly, surely! A mop of black hair, sticking up where it was wet, a pair of deep brown eyes. Then he noticed me, and the dimple below his left eye deepened as he let go of Mom’s hands and swam toward me.
“Dad!” Without thinking, I jumped into the sea — and into his arms.
“My little gem,” he whispered as he hugged me tight. Then he took my hand and we swam back to the side of the boat together. Mom reached down with both arms and we held each other’s hands: a circle, a family.
A second later, a series of splashes and shouting exploded behind us.