"What's the matter?" Orion's gaze was fixed on the hero-merman within the shimmering shield, his tone flat, edged with a casual contempt. "Has the mighty King of the Merfolk lost his tongue?"
"Orion, you are mistaken." The voice of King Jaklas echoed from the deep, and as it did, a radiant figure emerged from a magnificent palace within the protected city. When he reached the edge of the defensive ward, his voice rang out once more. "The one you faced was Phorcys, a newly ascended Archlord of our clan."
He let the name hang in the water before continuing, his voice pitched for every listening ear. "Phorcys was Marina's betrothed. When she lost her mermaid pearl, she shamed him, an Archlord. For that, she was made a sacrifice."
He paused, his eyes meeting Orion's. "Marina is dead. What price would you have us pay?"
