Read The Mermaids Madness for Free Online

Fisherman’s Canal, where the commercial and fishing ships were docked. Fisherman’s Canal was almost a town in itself, with its warehouses, roads, and boardwalks spreading along the rocky base of the cliffs and out into the water. The royal navy used the docks further north, past the road that switchbacked up into the city proper.
    The crew trimmed the sails as the helmsman guided the Glass Slipper past one of the man-made seawalls, long piles of rock that stretched out from the cliffs to absorb the sea’s rage in times of storm.
    Sailors swarmed over anchored naval ships, hauling supplies and crawling through the rigging as they prepared to set out.
    “What will they do?” Danielle asked. “The undine could be anywhere.”
    “Not anywhere,” said Snow. “In the coming weeks, they’ll have to settle someplace safe to birth their young. Their children are vulnerable to cold, so they’ll go to a place that’s shallow and warm.”
    Talia leaned over the railing and spat. “Shallow and warm? That leaves the entire coastline of Lyskar, Allesandria, and the Hiladi Empire. We should be able to search them all within about three years. Assuming their respective rulers don’t object to the Lorindar Royal Navy snooping about their lands.”
    “We’ll find them,” Danielle said. Talia scoffed, but didn’t bother to argue.
    The Glass Slipper slowed, momentum carrying her orward even after the last sail was furled. Behind her, she heard Armand formally relinquish command to one of the officers.
    “You and I will be first off,” he said as he joined her. “We’re not waiting for the tides. I want you back on land.” He turned back to Talia and Snow. “Would the two of you assist us in escorting my mother’s . . . body?”
    Talia hesitated. She looked at Danielle, as though she were checking to make sure she had heard correctly. “Of course, Your Highness.”
    Danielle took Armand’s hand and squeezed. She hoped he understood how much such a request would mean. Talia tried to hide her misery, but it was clear she still blamed herself for what had happened. Knowing Talia, she would continue to carry that blame until Beatrice recovered. Danielle didn’t think about what would happen if Beatrice never awakened.
    Anchor chains vibrated the deck as they clanked into the water, dragging the ship to a halt a short distance from shore. Hoffman had already moved the queen into one of the longboats. She lay on two padded boards set lengthwise in the boat. Danielle winced as she watched Hoffman strap Beatrice down, securing first her legs, then her waist.
    Lowering the longboat into the water was a complicated affair. The crew had emptied the boat of any excess weight, including oars. Others had reinforced the yards with extra lines. The yards were rotated inward, and ropes were run from them down to the longboat. Armand circled the boat, double-checking every knot himself before climbing inside. He rested his hands on his mother’s shoulders, then nodded to Danielle.
    This was the largest of the four boats on the Glass Slipper . Danielle climbed in with Talia’s assistance and sat on a bench beside the queen. Talia settled on the opposite side. Snow took up a position near the back.
    “Hold tight,” Armand whispered, before turning to shout, “Hoist away!”
    Danielle held her breath as the ropes pulled taut. Wood creaked and pulleys squealed, and the yardarms bowed as the longboat swung into the air. Danielle fought to ignore the lurching in her stomach. She should have asked Snow for more tea at breakfast.
    “Couldn’t we just bring the Glass Slipper into the docks?” she asked.
    “Not until the tide comes in,” said Snow. The breeze caught her hair, tossing strands of black in front of her face. “They’ve dredged the docks to allow the larger ships to come in, but you don’t want to risk it at low tide. Not without a shallower draft than this ship has.” She smiled and added, “I’m afraid your bottom