Chapter 20 – The Art of Compromise
“Cindarina!” cried Winter happily. He squirmed out from the mass of selkies that were cavorting around him on the sandbar. A rising wind whipped the waves and touched their crests with white as they crashed on the shore. A mile or so away a rocky shore could be seen with high headlands enclosing a narrow bay. A few boats bobbed in the water in front of a fishing village, the wood of its buildings as grey as the rocks it was perched between.
Cindarina waved back and sank beneath the waves in the shallows. Winter quickly caught up with her and she led him smiling to deeper water.
“I'm glad you're here!” he said swimming up within touching distance of her.
She smiled warmly at him. “Not another diplomatic incident? You seemed to be doing well up there.”
He grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head. “I think things are sorted out again. I just used some of your tricks.”
“My tricks?” asked Cindarina.
“Yeah”, said Winter. “I just got each side talking until they've said enough to work out something that both can live with.”
“I didn't realize that was a trick!” said Cindarina.
Winter made a helpless gesture. “It is when you don't have several generations of insight to fall back on.”
“So what solution did you craft?” asked Cindarina.
“Well, the humans see fishing primarily as gathering sustenance. The Selkies see it as sport. So I put it to the Selkies that only the dumb slow fish are going to get caught in the lumbering nets from the surface dwellers. That leaves the most challenging fish for them to catch.” He shrugged. “They liked that idea so much that they're now helping the humans by directing them to the fish that are the least fun to catch.”
“Sounds like everyone wins”, said Cindarina.
“I'm still at the remedial level”, said Winter. “I'll still need you for all the tough problems.” Cindarina's smile faded slightly. Winter caught that and sighed deeply. “Ah. I'm not thinking. You're supposed to be at the Academy. And since you're here...”
Cindarina bowed her head. “Yes. I'm afraid something is up.” She tossed her head towards the open ocean and swam off. Winter surfaced, called a goodbye to the Selkies and followed her.
The surface receded from them and the calm of the ocean made them forget the brewing storm above. Sound travelled far in the water, but it was also easy to see what lay around them. When they reached a discrete distance they came to a halt again.
“Is everyone all right?” Winter asked, right away.
“Your mother is safe”, said Cindarina. “Presently.” She filled in him on all she had been told of The Black Hole and what was going on there.
“If it's not one thing, it's another”, said Winter. “I'd like to go off and join her”, he started. But he held up his hand to Cindarina's objection. “I know. It was fine before. Then I was the son of the Captain of the 9th army's mages. Now I'm the crown of the Northern Seas. I can't fight for myself now. It would be for my people.”
Cindarina nodded. “Should you wish to do so, though, I had a word with Captain Devonshire and, if it is needed, a small contingent from the Northern Seas in a support role would be welcome.”
“Really?” said Winter. “That's brilliant!”
“I've passed word on to Makaira and suggested he ask around for who might be willing to go”, said Cindarina.
“Perfect!” exclaimed Winter. “See, I should just marry you and abdicate the throne to you.”
Cindarina flushed and tread water agitatedly. “You cannot! That would be improprietous!”
“Yes, yes”, said Winter. “The throne really isn't mine to give. I'm just keeping the seat warm.” But he reached out and gently touched the back of her hand. “But someday I will have my own. And then I shall keep my promise.”
Cindarina looked deeply into his eyes. “There is still much deep water to cross before that can happen.”
Winter drew back and looked into the depths. “I know”, he said quietly.
Cindarina watched him with concern. When he didn't say anything more she asked, “Do the dreams still come?”
“Yes”, said Winter, right away. “Every night.”
“Did the magic they gave you in the Academy not help?” asked Cindarina.
“Oh, it helped all right”, said Winter. “But the magic was not to stop them coming, it was to work out where they were coming from.”
“I see”, said Cindarina. “And where are they being sent from?”
“Over there”, said Winter, nodding in the direction he was looking. “Somewhere over there.”
Cindarina followed his gaze. “But there's nothing there. It is just open water, and a few scattered islands. There's no kelp and no currents. Nothing of note.”
Winter turned back to her, but wasn't really looking at her. “And yet”, he said. He fumbled in his loincloth and drew out a crystal. He proffered it to her, and she took it cautiously. “Go ahead”, he said. “It's a recording.”
“But I can't use magic”, said Cindarina.
“Neither can I”, said Winter. “Just hold it and concentrate.”
Cindarina put her hands around it and closed her eyes. After a time a soft light shone from between her fingers, and her eyes could be seen darting back and forth under her eyelids. Then, the light went out and she opened her eyes.
“That was unsettling”, said Cindarina. She gave the crystal back. She too, looked up to where Winter had been looking. “There was little to see. But now I know the feeling it brings.”
“Unsettling”, said Winter. “I do not fear it. But I also do not like it.”
“You will go to this?” asked Cindarina.
“I feel I must”, said Winter. “The message is clear. It wants me to go there.”
“That does not mean the message it for your good”, said Cindarina. “You could go to your doom.”
“Yes. But doom is doom. It is your destiny, no more. If I am doomed to die, then I will” said Winter.
“Will you not contact the Academy? Can they not aid you?” asked Cindarina.
“They're going to be busy with this Black Hole problem”, said Winter.
“What about Makaira? You could take him and any volunteers he rounds up”, said Cindarina.
Winter smiled, and turned back to her. “That would be sensible. I think I am getting too caught up in it all.” He scratched his chin. “It really feels like something I should do on my own. But I acknowledge the wisdom of your suggestions. How about this: I'll head on out. You go tell Makaira what is up. If it comes to nothing, it will be a good drill at least.”
Cindarina looked grave. “I think it is unlikely to come to nothing. But I am glad you are at least taking some precaution.”
“Cindarina”, aid Winter, seriously. “I love you.” Her eyes widened. “I don't think I've said it right out before. And it's about time I did.”
Cindarina dropped her eyes modestly. “I'm not sure it's proprietous.”
“Oh, don't give me that”, said Winter, putting his hands on his hips. “The whole court knows and there hasn't been so much as a 'tut-tut' from anyone. Just putting a name to it doesn't change anything. Even my Mother approves!”
Cindarina smiled a half smile. “I did not want to let myself believe this could come to pass”, she said quietly. Then she straightened up and raised her chin. “Wintersbreath Lyndrixlyn Elvenborn, I love you.” Then they both laughed.
Winter swam close, reached for her, and then stopped. “I'm not sure what to do”, he said with embarrassment. “On the surface they hold hands, and, well, I'm not sure what else. And it's not like anyone other than you ever gave me a second glance down here. I know you don't touch, but...”
“It's, um, unhygienic”, said Cindarina. “But close is good.” She swam within a finger's breadth of him. “The feel of your breath on me is nice. It smells of you.”
Winter swallowed self-consciously. “I guess no
one else breathes down here.” The magic he relied on to live underwater didn't require him to breathe, but not breathing took a lot of effort. He inhaled the water deeply and blew a current over her. She smiled and shivered.
Then she held up her palm and pressed it to his. “The skin is not so sensitive here. Otherwise we couldn't hold things.” He smiled and brushed his fingers against hers.
“My body is from another world, but my heart is in the ocean”, said Winter. “I guess it's just as well we're good at compromising.”
“Go chase your dreams then”, said Cindarina. “The sooner they are behind you the more settled you will be.”
Winter nodded. “More settled, yes. But I don't think we'll ever be completely at peace. The world's too crazy. Just another entity we'll have to compromise with!”