Chapter 11: Repairs

"Leia," I hear someone call.

It’s Richard.

Has Ludwig told everyone my name? How is he so casual about it? A siren’s name is supposed to be special!

Richard flinches when I glare at him. It’s only for the fraction of a second, then he’s back to his stoic demeanor.

But I have to admit it gives me a bit of petty joy.

"Ludwig mentioned you’ll be accompanying us to Bergthal," he says and steps closer.
"If you even think about capsizing the ship…"

"What’s capsizing?"

He is taken aback by my lack of knowledge. "Sinking the ship."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because you’re a siren. It’s what you do. It’s in your nature."

I chuckle. "Oh, then you know nothing about my nature," I say and seize him up. "But I’m starting to understand yours."

For a moment, we both glare at each other.

"If you so much as rock the ship with a wave…"

The nerve of him. After everything I’ve done for them. He would be well on his way to the ocean floor if it wasn’t for me!

"Then what? What are you going to do?"

I step closer.

He meets my eyes. "Oh, you don’t want to find out."

"Oh, but what if I do?" I ask. "I am a very curious woman. You could say…"

I take another step. "…that it’s in my nature."

He opens his mouth to retaliate but then Ludwig spots us.

"Oh Leia, Richard!" He rushes to us. "Just who I was looking for! We need some help with fixing the boat. Some of the planks have…"

He notices that we’re staring daggers at each other.

"Is something wrong?" he asks.

"No, " I answer. "Everything’s fine. Isn’t it, Richard?"

"Yes, " he says and forces a smile. "Of course it is."

Ludwig looks like he might say something but then thinks better of it. "Ok great. Richard, you’re needed at the helm. Leia, you’re with me."

I follow him and feel Richard’s eyes bore into the back of my skull.

I would’ve loved to turn back and stick my tongue out at him.

But who knows what meaning that has in the human world.

***

They needed me back in the water. And I couldn’t be happier.

I use my powers to hoist planks into place, so that the seafarers can hammer them in.

"I could just carry it," I say to Ludwig, who’s carrying more planks into the water.

"Pardon?"

"I could just carry this entire ship to Bergthal."

"I… I don’t think that’s necessary."

"Why not?"

"Well… how do I put it? You crashed us."

"Crashed?!" I say angrily.

My focus slips. A plank slams back down. A sailor who tried to catch it falls over the railing.

I move my hand and catch him with a wave.

I fling him back onto the ship. He yells "Thank you!".

"Yes, you did crash us," Ludwig says.

"What? I saved you! I saved all of you! Or have you forgotten about the Kraken?"

"Oh no, of course I haven’t forgotten," Ludwig says and binds some planks together.

"I’m thankful. I owe you my life, there's no question about that."

I smile, pleased.

"Buuuut…" he begins. "You did just also, you know, crash my ship."

"B… because I was knocked unconscious by a turtle!"

"And you think that there will be no more turtles on our way to Bergthal?" He fastens a knot. "I’d rather not risk it."

"My sister threw it at me!"

He shakes his head. "And you really think she won’t come after you again?"

"I…" I can’t bring myself to finish even the thought.

After how I’ve treated her, I wouldn’t expect her to come back.

But I also wouldn’t have expected her to make a deal with Aeros.

"We both know she’ll come looking for you," he says. "Younger siblings are tenatious like that…"

He has that look in his eyes again. As if he isn’t really here anymore.

He starts another stack of planks.

"Then we’d better hurry," I say and guide a bundle of planks onto the ship’s deck.

***

Night has fallen. After a full day of work, we gather on the beach, around a crackling campfire.

I can't believe it.

Fire! It's actual fire!

The closer I get, the more I can feel the heat radiating off my skin.

I keep trying to touch it but Ludwig keeps swashing my hands away.

I know it might burn me. But it's FIRE! Its burn must feel different from the hot underwater springs, right?

The sounds it makes are so fascinating, like cracking your fingers. Or clicking your tongue.

I stare at it, at the dancing red and my eyes start to go fuzzy.

"I believe we will be able to leave for Bergthal in the morning," Richard says.

"All thanks to our newest friend!" Konstanze proclaims and raises her tankard.

Other tankards rise to meet hers. They clash together, liquid spilling over the rims.

I tear my eyes from the dancing flames to observe this strange spectacle.

"I think Konstanze won," I say.

"Hell yeah!" Konstanze says.

"Won? " Ludwig asks. "What do you mean, won?"

Konstanze turns to him. "What’s there to get? It means you lose."

"Lose at what?"

"I have absolutely no idea. But who cares? I’ve won!"

"She got her liquor into the most cups, " I clarify. "Wasn’t that the point of the challenge?"

"The challenge?" Konstanze asks.

Ludwig laughs. "She means the toast!" He turns to me. "It’s not a challenge. It's a way of… wishing people well. "

"By crashing into their cups with your own?"

"No… I mean yes… I … I think you might understand it better if you experience it yourself."

He raises his tankard. I ready mine. But before we can clink them together, he pulls back.

"You have to look me in the eyes while you do it."

"What? Why?"

"It’s bad luck otherwise," Konstanze explains.

"Oh," I say and look deep into his eyes. Is he blushing? The alcohol must be getting to him.

We clink our tankards together and I understand.

I feel… connected. Like I belong. Like I’m being acknowledged for me.

I smile and feel the warmth rise in my cheeks.

"Oh, me next, me next," Konstanze says and nearly climbs over Richard to thrust her tankard against mine. Then, one after the other the sailors clank their tankard to mine.

We meet each others eyes. Acknowledging our existence. For a moment, I forget all about my missing tail.

Then I get to Richard. He drains his cup.

"It’s empty," he says. "No need for a toast if you’ve got nothing to toast with."

"Someone needs a refill!" Konstanze urges.

"No thank you," Richard says, looking at his celebrating crew with concern.

Then his eyes lock onto me. "I prefer to stay vigilant."

I scoff. Of course he can’t have fun.

But I don’t finish my drink either.

I will not be the one who lets her guard down.

***

Time passes. People are fast asleep. I pretend to be as well.

I’m waiting. I don’t know for what, just that Richard has something planned.

Then I hear him get up.

I tighten my hand around the tankard, ready to use it as a weapon, if necessary.

But when I open my eyes to catch another peak, I’m no longer worried about Richard.

But about the giant light that shines through the palm trees.

Growing brighter and brighter as the earth begins to shake.