However, Merrigan had learned the hard way that no plan was entirely flawless. Something always destroyed a plan, simply because other people operated by their own choices and reasons, and they could not be controlled. More the pity. She needed a backup plan.
Starting tomorrow, she would confront Rolf's master. It was useless to try to convince him he would enjoy being a king. She would have to play upon his sense of duty and honor as a soldier, so eventually, he would march up to the doors of the palace and demand Princess Dulcibella in marriage. With the support of the soldier—what had Rolf said his name was, anyway?—Merrigan would have open access to the palace. She might even be able to simply ask for the knife and have it handed to her.
First, she had to make sure the solder looked worthy of becoming heir to the throne.
Contemplating all that work, just to get hold of the knife, exhausted her. Merrigan had nearly fallen asleep, for the fourth time, when Rolf dropped down to land in the courtyard in front of her. She was so delighted to see him, because it was cold in the courtyard, she hugged him before she climbed up onto his back. At the inn, Elli was stunned at the sight of Rolf filling up their room, but had the good sense not to scream.
She burst into tears when she heard Merrigan's plan, hugged her, and swore she was the most wonderful, kind, clever, generous woman in the entire world. She promised once she had her tail back, she would swim to the deepest crushing depths of the sea to find the rare green pearl that was reputed to counteract any poison, heal any wound, and break any curse. No matter how long it took her, and it had taken the last successful hunter eighty years, she would find the pearl, to thank good, kind, generous, clever, brave Princess Merrigan.
Eighty years? Merrigan shuddered and told Elli to wash her face and go back to bed. By the time the grateful little mermaid found the pearl, it wouldn't do her any good because Clara's curse would nearly have run its course. In eighty years' time, what good would it do her to return to Carlion to reclaim her throne? No one who had sneered and found joy in her downfall would be there to grind their teeth in frustration, chagrin, and fear.
"Well, we have a long day and a lot of work ahead of us," Merrigan said, once Rolf had left and there was air to breathe in the room again. She picked up Bib and put him on the low table by the window, as he had requested, so the rays from the rising sun would touch him in the morning. "It's best we all get a good night's sleep, what's left of it. We need to find a way to convince the soldier—"
"His name is Warden," Bib said.
"Thank you. Convince Warden that we are here to help him, and we aren't madwomen trying to complicate his life."
"We could tell him the truth," Elli offered, as she slid back under her blankets.
"The truth?" Merrigan bit her tongue to hold back the bitter chuckle and the retort that the truth was a pitiful tool used by those who had no other resources. That was something Leffisand would say, and look where his cynical attitude and outlook had gotten him.
"Tell him we need a hero to help us find the knife so I can get my tail back and we can break the curse on you. This kingdom needs a strong king, and he's so kind and honorable. Princess Dulcibella is so much in love with him that if he doesn't marry her, she'll probably die of a broken heart."
"Oh. That truth." Merrigan turned away, unsure of her expression, and hid it by splashing water on her face and then rubbing hard with the towel.
"If her green tears don't convince Warden," Bib said, "then hearing me speak might do the trick. Or the fact that you know about Rolf and his brothers. Warden thinks he's the only one who can see them or talk to them, because he holds the tinderbox."
"If he would be king someday, then he needs some basic lessons in magic, so he doesn't trip over more curses and spells and enchanters in the future." She shuddered as she slipped out of her dress and hung it on the peg, and climbed into her bed in her undersmock. "The more magic used on a kingdom and on a royal family, the greater the chances even more magic will happen there, and to them, and attract enchanters and adventurers, which will guarantee more spells and curses and ..." She sighed and punched her pillow for emphasis. "There should be a school to teach heroes, so they don't make foolish mistakes."
"That would be fun," Elli said. "You could be headmaster, Bib. You know everything worth knowing."
"Ah, no, thank you for the lovely compliment," Bib said, his pages rustling with laughter, "but I am many thousands of books away from knowing everything. Someday, though ... I might learn enough, access enough books, hear enough stories ... What a nice dream."
Merrigan wished they would be quiet, so she could chase some dreams of her own. As if they heard her, both her companions were silent after that, and she soon fell asleep, to dream battle plans for the next several days.
Chapter Nine
Merrigan woke when the rising sun touched her face. For several seconds she lay there, eyes closed, stretching luxuriously. Then she realized how far into the morning it had to be, for the sun to cross the room. Why hadn't Bib awakened her when the sunrise touched him on the table? She sat up fast enough, with enough force, to nearly throw herself out of bed.
Bib was gone. So was Elli. That frightened her a
