But…despite her rage…underneath it all the queen was still Ariel. Her momentary urge to destroy everything came and went like a single flash of summer lightning.
She pulled the trident back.
As the wave traveled through the bay it grew weaker.
Not so weak, however, that it didn’t smash Vanessa’s anchored fleet with a satisfying, wood-cracking explosion against the wharves.
The other boats, the fishing vessels that were out in open water, were tossed like toys or bits of flotsam and jetsam.
The ocean rose and flooded the docks, taking the dead fish back to their home, allowing the few living ones left to escape.
Eventually the water calmed. The wave Ariel rode slowly diminished, and she returned to the relatively tranquil surface of the sea. Dark clouds lingered but lightened their load by letting out a soft rain. The storm was over.
Ariel dove into the depths, exhausted. Hopefully Eric would have the sense to realize their meeting would be delayed for at least a tide.
She would send some dolphins up to rescue the drowning.
She stood in the hall, one hand on Vareet’s head, a distant look on her face. Someone passing by might have taken the scene for that of a distracted member of royalty lecturing the lesser staff with a patronizing if affectionate air. But she was thinking about her three destroyed warships. She had been close…so close…to absolute victory over Atlantica.
And now the explosive cannonballs from Druvest lay somewhere on the bottom of the bay, undetonated, useless.
In a month, if she was lucky, she would have three new ships—and three was not enough. She wanted to make sure she had enough cannons and firepower to defeat whatever the mer tried to throw at her, and enough munitions to obliterate everything down there. Not to mention her failing alliance with Ibria. Once again she would be short three ships…
As for the cannonballs and explosives themselves—well, it was hard enough wheedling them out of Druvest, and getting Eric to pay for another batch seemed unlikely.
Ariel had ruined her whole plan.
Again.
Vareet squirmed under her touch as Vanessa’s nails dug deep into the roots of her hair and twisted them in anger. But the little maid had sense not to cry out. Or try to escape.
Ursula wished it was Ariel’s hair she had her tentacles sunk into. Pulling and tearing those stupid red locks, ripping them from her flesh…Oh, how she would love to drag the mermaid through the water as she struggled and screamed, forced to watch as everyone she loved died…
Unable to hold back any longer, Vareet let out a single whimper.
Ursula looked at her maid with vague surprise, as if she had forgotten the little girl was even there. Vareet paled, plainly expecting punishment.
But something else was occurring to the sea witch. A calm detachment settled over her like a warm current from a sea vent. Her rage dissipated as her next, her only action became clear.
If Ariel would wield the power of the gods in this battle, then so would she.
All she needed now was a time and place.
Eric strode by, stuffing his hat on his head and buttoning his cloak.
“Going off on your…post-prandial constitutional?” she asked hollowly.
“Oh, yes, yes, walking does wonders for the stomach,” Eric said, patting his and trying to keep moving.
“Tell me…Are you still planning the big performance? The free one, for everyone in town? That everyone will come to?”
“Of La Sirenetta? Yes, of course. Why?” He looked unsettled, nervous.
“I was just wondering. You heard the news about the fleet.” It was more a statement than a question.
“Er, yes. Terrible,” Eric said. “I’m very glad no one was hurt.”
“I think there’s something you should know,” she said, finally turning and looking at him directly.
“Yes? What?” the prince asked impatiently.
“As a result of this…incident…with the fleet, I find I have time now to devote to another project of mine.” She spoke almost lightheartedly. “Something big. Something terrible. Something your puny little human mind could not possibly comprehend. Far beyond my usual mad little witcheries. And when I am done, Ariel will wish she had taken my advice and fled back to the sea, far, far away from me.”
She enjoyed seeing Eric’s face go pale. It was the only fun she had all day.
“Pass the info on, if you happen to see the mermaid,” she added, walking away, pulling Vareet with her.
The girl, resigned to her fate, didn’t even look back at Eric.
Eric was already at their meeting place, looking nervous and fidgety in the moonlight. He tapped his lips with a piece of paper clutched in his hands. His eyes looked positively ghostly in the moonlight.