Page 41 of Battle Fluke

“Soulara gave the soul stone to Zendalia?” At Honour’s nod, Kyree continued, “Where?”

“Will they help if we can find them?” Honour asked, hope and fear warring in her eyes.

“I don’t know. Soulara is the connection to Nylah, not to all the companions we have. But to have more connection to ourcompanions…” Kyree trailed off. Would they finally be able to speak to them again? To commune with them?

“Okay.” Honour took a deep breath, and Hudson reached out and take Honour’s hand.

Kyree’s heart felt as though it might burst. So many emotions raced through her. She took deep gulps of water and pushed slow bubbles out of her mouth. The war needed her focus—Soulara and Nylah needed her focus.

But how could she ignore the feelings that continued to grow and shift within her whenever she looked at Hudson and Honour?

“Milan lives a little way out of Riene. But I know the way.”

“Milan?” Hudson asked.

“Soulara’s mother.” Honour’s reply didn’t bode well of her opinion of the mermaid, but Kyree could see the strength and dedication Honour mustered. She would lead them to Milan, no matter what she thought of the mermaid herself.

“All right.” Kyree nodded. She would focus on the task at hand. “No reason for us to delay then.”

“No,” Honour murmured as she led the way. “No reason at all.”

Hudson chuckled darkly as she followed behind Kyree.

At first they swam in silence, a line being led to their doom, but soon the tension lifted and Hudson, because of course it would be Hudson, brought a lightness as she asked the questions others refused to. Questions that weren’t asked inpoliteconversation.

“So, what’s the big bad story with Milan?” Hudson asked as she flipped over and swam beneath Kyree, sticking her tongue out playfully as her face reached Kyree’s.

Kyree giggled, unable to stop herself.

“Sorry?” Honour turned to see the two of them.

Kyree pulled her head up and watched as Honour swam backward, facing them with her fluke bent as though she sat on the water itself. The core strength to hold the position let alone to keep them moving, though slower than before, must have been phenomenal. And it seemed as though her re-injured wound wasn’t bothering her after some rest.

Hudson sped up and swam beneath Honour, reaching up and brushing her fingers along the back of Honour’s tail as she now took the lead. Honour flipped around and caught Hudson’s hand before she got too far ahead.

“Milan left the kingdom, and Soulara, a long time ago.”

“But she gave Soulara the soul stones?”

“No.” Honour shook her head. “Not until recently. They’d been estranged, but Soulara reached out to her mother and they’ve been reconnecting. Milan has been teaching Soulara some…new things.”

“And you disagree with that?” Kyree asked.

She swam up beside Honour, brushing her shoulder along Honour’s as they watched Hudson try to copy the twirls and tricks Nylah did in the water in front of them. Hudson failed spectacularly at a move requiring Nylah’s fins. Honour chuckled and reached forward to cup Hudson’s cheek in her palm in a comfort for her failure.

“I don’t disagree with them reconnecting,” Honour spoke slowly, pondering what words to choose next. “I’m more cautious than Soulara, and more wary. I remember clearly Milan leaving, being older than Soulara, and it was a tense time in the kingdom.”

“Why did Milan leave?” Kyree asked, not that it was any of her business. She wanted more information before she swam into Milan’s circle and begged for the soul stones to be returned to their proper place.

“There are many theories, but I can’t say any of them particularly rang true for me. So, I’m really not sure.” Honour worried her lower lip, glancing from Hudson to Kyree before swimming forward again.

“Is Soulara happier knowing her mother?” Hudson asked, though her attention remained focused on Nylah.

“Sometimes.” Honour pondered again as Hudson tried another one of Nylah’s easy turns. “I think she’s still trying to work it all out.”

“And that doesn’t always pan out well for those in power,” Hudson commented.

“She’s not yet, which is a good thing. I think it’s better she works through it now, before King Pregtox is no longer capable of leading.”