Free Journey into the Realm: The Stolen Child (Journey into the Realm Series) by Markelle Grabo

the Elf Realm. He has other plans, ones that don’t involve peace or harmony.”
    “You do not know this for certain,” the same mermaid assumed.
    I felt like pulling my hair out. “Of course not. I haven’t exactly asked Vortigern what his ulterior motive is, but I’m sure it’s fairly close to what I’m saying. Why else would he allow a pointless war continue for thirty years?”
    “Why did your queen let it continue for thirty years?” the last of the three mermaids asked.
    “She loved her sister, and her sister loved the fairy child,” I said. “She protected her family.”
    “That is not the true reason. One child is not worth the lives that have been lost in your war,” the younger merman said, matching my determined gaze with his own.
    “Then what is the reason?” I asked.
    “Because doing so would have been weak. The only way to respond to a tyrant is through resistance and rebellion.”
    “Orrin, that is quite enough,” King Almog objected angrily. “Know your place.”
    I could tell that the younger merman, Orrin, was simmering beneath the surface. But he took the King’s demand without question. His eyes, however, found mine quickly. In them I saw understanding. He wasn’t the ideal ally, being on the council and all, but if persuaded, could he be the help we needed?
    I nudged Elvina conspicuously, trying to convey my thoughts without alerting the council. She nodded discreetly, showing her agreement. Orrin was the one to watch.
    “We will get nowhere arguing pointlessly. The council has made their decision,” Queen Naida said.
    “And what’s that?” I asked, frustrated with their lack of strength.
    “Your elf friends will remain below until more suitable arrangements are made,” Mairi explained.
    “What about us?” Elvina wondered.
    “You are daughters of Fae. You will be treated with the respect you deserve. A room has been prepared for you in the palace. Princess Teslyn will escort you,” King Almog said, indicating the younger mermaid next to Orrin.
    I looked at Princess Teslyn to see if her eyes held the same promise as Orrin’s, but the dark-haired mermaid refused to meet my gaze. I wouldn’t count on her. I had to think of some way to get Orrin’s attention. At this point, he was our only hope.
    “Are we prisoners here?” I asked.
    “Of course not,” Queen Naida said with a bemused expression. “You cannot leave the Realm without a mermaid’s assistance, so you are free to roam as you wish. Careful outside the palace, however, because some mermaids may not find you as harmless as the council does.”
    Her voice was soft and lovely, her words kind. But under that guise I saw the true meaning behind her advice. If we wanted to live peacefully among the mermaids, we would stay in the palace. I wasn’t interested in living peacefully. I wanted to get out. The fact that Queen Naida and King Almog trusted their mermaids to follow their orders and keep us here was strange but not all that surprising. These royals weren’t interested in dissent or individual thinking, only perfect harmony under their careful rule. They probably had these mermaids highly trained. Obey the commands and reap the rewards. Disobey and face punishment. Finding help wouldn’t be easy, even in Orrin, who sat silently while Princess Teslyn led us to our new room.
    Dressed in pearls and undersea life, our accommodations were lavish and impressive. The room held two clamshell beds and a sitting area with a large sea sponge for a couch. A mirror hung on the wall and a stone chest was positioned between the two beds. The floor was sandy and dotted with seashells. If I were to remove my boots at all during my stay, I would have watch where I stood to avoid cutting my feet. Mermaids obviously never had this problem because their tails didn’t reach the ground.
    Knowing we wouldn’t get any planning done with a shadow hanging over us, I turned to Princess Teslyn after examining our surroundings and