Read Online Reunion by Kara Dalkey - Free Book Online Page A

palm and rubbed at the sun-shaped mark.
    â€œCan you please just tell me, Nia, who is this prince, what is this Naming, and what on earth does this mark mean? I have it, too!” He held out his hand to her.
    Nia took his hand in both of hers. Corwin rather liked that and fought down another blush. “Yes, of course,” she said. “You bear the prince’s mark. He had to give you his . . . fluid, or he would have died. He still may, if we don’t find him. And we will die if he does.”
    â€œIs that why I’m sick and crazy and hearing thoughts that aren’t my own? Has your prince cursed me because I picked up his shell?”
    Nia frowned again. “It’s not a curse. It’s a great honor among my people. You are an Avatar now, or will be if we can complete the Naming. Your mind and the prince’s and mine are joined for the rest of our lives. Which may be short, if we can’t rescue him.”
    Corwin felt like kicking a rock in frustration. “Please, please can you explain why I’m doomed to die! I’d like to know what I’m giving up my poor, miserable excuse of a life for. And what prince?”
    She gazed at him again with her intense aquamarine eyes. “I’m sorry. There’s so much to tell. The prince is the offspring of . . . of . . .” She couldn’t seem to find the words, but Corwin received an image in his mind again of the tentacled leviathan alive and swimming. “These beings are from very far away,” she said. “ Very far.” She pointed up toward the now darkening sky.
    A cool breeze washed over Corwin and he suddenly became aware that, lengthy though summer evenings might be, dusk would be falling soon. And with it might come the kraken.
    The door to Henwyneb’s cottage opened and the old man shuffled out. “Is everyone all right? What happened?”
    Corwin left Nia’s side and staggered over to the blind man. “I seem to have escaped royal capture for the moment, Henwyneb.”
    â€œI heard a strange battle and the voice of a young girl.”
    â€œYes, yes, I fought them all off. . . . ,” Corwin began. He cringed. “Actually, luck was on my side, that’s all. Sort of. But we’d better go different ways. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
    Henwyneb waved a hand dismissively. “I’m old. Death will come to me sooner or later in any case. I’ve little to risk. But who is this girl-witch I heard mentioned?”
    â€œShe’s amazing, Henwyneb. She says she’s a mermaid from under the sea!”
    â€œReally? Where is she? May I meet her?”
    â€œShe’s here.” Corwin guided Henwyneb over to Nia. “Henwyneb, may I present Ninny . . . er, Nia of the Bluefin Clan. Nia, this is Henwyneb, who makes buttons and medicines and very good stew.”
    Nia stood, wavering a little, and dipped her head. Then she frowned. “He can’t see?”
    â€œI’ve been blind these twenty years,” said Henwyneb. “I now see with my fingers. If I may . . . touch your face, lady, then I may know your aspect.”
    Corwin nodded to reassure her. Nia stepped closer and Henwyneb gently traced his fingers over her face and neck, pausing especially on the feathery gills.
    â€œAstonishing,” he whispered. “And where might you be from, good lady of the sea?”
    â€œYou won’t have heard of it, I’m sure. My home is called Atlantis.”
    Henwyneb gasped and stepped back.
    Corwin blinked in surprise. “Isn’t that the place you were telling me about, Henwyneb? The ancient island that sank beneath the sea, in the Roman stories?”
    â€œIt is indeed!” said Henwyneb. “But . . . can it be true? The sunken island of myth exists?”
    Nia sighed. “Once I would have been . . . chastised for telling you this. We wished to keep our world secret from