Read Online Journey into the Realm: The Stolen Child (Journey into the Realm Series) by Markelle Grabo - Free Book Online

sea. Our depth takes some getting used to. The only reason you are awake most likely has something to do with your Golden fairy blood. Golden fae are strong, resilient creatures. Even so, you were unconscious for two waters, which equates to days in your Realm above the sea.” Before I had the chance to agonize over how much time had already been wasted, Queen Naida suddenly stopped and pursed her lips. “Ramsey, you and your friends have placed me in a very troubling position.”
    “Why?” I asked.
    “As much as I wish to adhere to the wishes of the High Queen’s niece, for I respect Titania greatly, I am afraid I cannot let you continue your journey,” she said darkly.
    Time stopped. Everything around me froze. The sparkle and shine of Atlantis no longer enchanted me. I felt so, so cold.
    “Why?” I repeated.
    Queen Naida sighed. “Because, you have come too late. King Vortigern sent ambassadors to our Realm six waters ago. They told us that if we hoped to keep our Realm intact and free of turmoil, King Almog and I must capture any suspicious creatures. The ambassadors were referring to you.”
    I couldn’t believe this. How could she call herself a queen? She was a weakling, bending to the will of another Realm so easily. “So you’re going to keep me imprisoned here because you were threatened ?”
    Queen Naida’s eyes blazed. “You have no idea how far we are willing to go to preserve the peace in our Realm. We will not be invaded over some foolish half-breed’s hopeless journey!”
    Her use of such a derogatory term toward me brought my anger to the surface. “Invaded? By who? Element fairies? They’re not mermaids!” I cried with unabashed frustration.
    “The water fairies can breathe underwater. And the ambassadors made it quite clear that the Element fairies have access to Woodland fairies with breathing spells,” she explained. “The King and I cannot afford a war here. Our population is neither large nor strong enough to face a nation of wicked fae.”
    I could barely keep from screaming at her. “So you would defy the High Queen and surrender rather than stand up for yourselves?”
    “Actually, the High Queen has made no decree about the war or how the Mermaid Realm should respond,” she answered. “Therefore, we are not breaking any laws by ensuring our survival. Once I have met with the council, I will return with news of your fate.”
    She left me without another word, dumbfounded in a beautiful jail cell in a Realm I never expected to despise.
    ***
    Because Queen Naida had disappeared, it fell upon me to give my friends news of our situation when they finally woke up.
    “So we’re stuck here,” Tavis summarized dryly, crossing his arms against his chest.
    “Unless some council decides otherwise, yes,” I agreed.
    “Or we escape,” Nathan proposed.
    “How?” Aimee, always the sensible one, asked. “We have no idea where we are in relation to the city, and we need the crown of a mermaid ruler to cross into the Flower Fairy Realm.”
    “The outlook is bleak, but we must find a way,” Elvina argued. “Maybe we should try playing nice. You know, so we can form an alliance with someone who can get us out of here.”
    “It’s a good idea, but I don’t think we should start with the Queen,” I admitted. “You should have heard her, all regal and pious. She won’t let us go.”
    “Maybe they will send a guard or two down to watch us. We could try befriending them,” Nathan suggested.
    I nodded. “It’s a start. Queen Naida said she would return with news from whatever council she was talking about. Until then, I guess we should just sit and wait.”
    Murmurs of agreement came from my friends, who were just as upset about the situation as I was but were powerless to change anything, at least until the Queen returned. Feeling low and ill at ease, I half-walked, half-swam over to the wall and leaned up against it, sliding to the ground despairingly. How would we get