Claimed by the Mer-Shifter Prince I Made Cry novel · Chapter 14 of 24

Chapter 14: The Regent's Offer

Orlan Halvane walked down the slip.

The fishermen with their boat hooks stepped back to let him through, and I didn't think they knew why they were doing it.

Soren got to his feet.

He put himself between his uncle and me, and he was still shaking.

"Uncle," he said.

"Nephew." Orlan looked him over with mild, pleasant interest. "You look unwell. Iron does that."

"You put it on me."

"I did, and I regret the necessity." He turned to me, and the smile was gone. "Ms. Marlow. May I call you Minnie?"

"No."

"Then Ms. Marlow. I would like to make you an offer, and I would like Mr. Dolan to hear it, so that nothing is said in the dark."

Gus took the pipe out of his mouth.

"Say it, then."

"Ms. Marlow holds my nephew's heart-pearl," Orlan said. "By our law, she is a thief of the tide. At the spring tide, the court will drown her."

"I heard Neris," I said.

"Neris is young and dramatic. I will be plain." He folded his hands. "Give me the pearl tonight, freely, in front of Mr. Dolan and these good people. I will stand before the Moot and say that you were a finder who surrendered what you found. The law spares a finder. You will live, and you will go back to your cottages and your lanes, and no one in the sea will ever think of you again."

"And Soren?"

"My nephew will be looked after."

"By you."

"By his family."

I looked at Soren.

His jaw was tight, and his eyes were on the planks.

"Is that true?" I asked him. "About the finder?"

"The law spares a finder who gives it up before the Moot," he said quietly. "Yes."

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