Chapter 4

“Don’t be useless, find me the one who is challenging me!” king Caleb was angry, he was paranoid and believed that one of his own people was trying to overthrow him and take over the throne. He was angrier because more bodies turned up this morning and still his people had no idea who was targeting him. It was like he was back twelve years ago when he was the one doing all the killing of the Naga people on his father’s orders to dethrone the Naga king.

Now someone was doing the same to him and he wanted to know who he is so that he can teach him a lesson for all to see. He wanted everyone to see what he will do to that person so that they never try something like that with him again. If only his people can find him! Losing the throne scared him more than losing his life.

King Caleb could not have that, no one could take the throne away from him. He has worked hard to get to where he was, and he was not about to let someone else take what he believed was his. It was funny because the throne and ruling of the water was never his or his clans, to begin with. He stole it and never thought someone would dare challenge him for it.

The Nagas were weak, and he did not believe that they could try and take the throne from him. Not after all they have suffered over the years, they were slaves and had nothing. How could people like that challenge the mighty king Caleb? Not the Nagas! but he still wanted to see for himself if they were still the same slaves, he knew them to be.

The king met with his special guards and ordered them to take the sea horses and search the sea for whoever was killing his people. At first, he blamed the Naga people, their slaves. But after seeing them and witnessing how scared and fragile they still were, he forgot that thought. “I still think it’s them, my king. Who else would dare to challenge you like this if not them?” The Fish general was convinced of what he was saying.

With how ruthless Caleb was, none of the generals would dare to oppose him, the Merpeople were superior in the water, and they killed without mercy. The other generals and their clans knew better than to challenge them. “Look at them and tell me what you see,” Caleb said to the Fish general, they were in the secluded area where the Naga people stayed as slaves.

They were trembling in Caleb’s presence wondering who he was there to kill. Killing the Naga people was like a sport to the Merpeople. They needed no reason to kill one of them and having Caleb the ruthless visit their colony was scary. “I see Naga people” answered the Fish general, the others were just watching saying nothing but, on the inside, they were secretly cheering whoever the person was on.

They were all tired of being under Caleb’s rule, his guards were just as ruthless as he was, and they would kill their people for no reason and Caleb would do nothing about it. He and his people would take whatever they wanted from them, and they were required to give it with no questions asked. To be honest, they were no different from the Naga people with how they were being treated by the king.

They have seats on the council and were named generals of their clans while Caleb rules over all of them. Yet, with the Naga king, things were different, they were still the kings of their clans while he was the master of the ocean. But Caleb wanted no one else to be king, but himself that is why their titles were changed from kings to generals. When they tried to fight it before, many of them were killed.

“How do they seem to you?” Asked Caleb annoyed by his ignorance. “They seem terrified.” Answered the Fish general. “Do people like these, look like the kind that would challenge me?” he asked arrogantly, and the general shook his head. Caleb turned to all the generals with a cold and serious expression. “Now, I need all of you to send out your best warriors, I need this person found and soon.” He said then left without giving them a chance to comment or dispute what he said. That was a command, and all the generals knew it.

“I don’t want to talk bad about our king, but I am in support of this person, and if it were up to me. I would help them take the king down.” The Crab general said. The others shot him a glare. “I think you have forgotten what the penalty of talking about the king like that is.” The Crab general huffed. “Who would forget that? Aren’t you all tired of living like this, this king has done nothing but torment us and our people? Why do you still support him blindly like this?” he asked annoyed by the other general’s behavior.

“It’s not that we are loyal we just want to live longer. You know the kind of person the king is and if you want to live a little bit longer then I suggest you carry out his order and never question him?” suggested the Fish general. “You are just his pet hanging on his every word, he is our king I admit, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have opinions.” The Crab general said feeling like he was talking to brick walls.

“Hearing you talk like that makes me think you are the person doing this,” the Fish general said. “Think what you want.” The Crab general did not have time to argue with someone like him who has no ambition. They spread out and went to carry out the king’s order. Some of the generals stopped having an opinion long ago. They just do what the king says without question. They were scared, and they had every reason to be. Caleb was not someone to be messed with and they felt sorry for whoever dared to challenge him this way.

That night the king’s guards went out to scout for the person or people who were killing their kind. The general’s warriors were also looking, they wanted the person or people found so that they can go back to their lives again. No matter how mediocre they were. Having the king riled up like this was not good for any of them. They were afraid of being killed should they not find these people.

Nazima and Zane separated. One was on the other side doing what they came to do. Killing as many of the Merpeople as they can. While the guards and warriors were looking for them. They kept coming across more Mer people’s dead bodies and each time they see one they would tremble in fear. Not of their own lives since it was clear that the person was targeting the Merpeople but fear of the king finding out that more of his kind has been killed.

They were afraid he was going to take out his frustrations on them and they didn’t want that. “We must find these damn people, or we are the ones who will be dead next like those damn Merpeople!” said one warrior, he was saying what every one of them thought but was too scared to even say it. “Then let’s do whatever we can to find them” another supported, and they spread out searching high and low for the culprits.

It was almost morning when they found and captured the princess. She was fighting one of the king’s special guards. They were well trained, but it seemed that he had nothing on the Naga woman he was fighting with. The Crab, Fish, and other warriors stood there and watched in awe as the Naga princess tore the guard apart. “I don’t think we can take her on alone. Get more of the king’s guards and we will make sure to keep her here.” One warrior suggested.

The others had no objections after seeing what the Naga woman can do. One left in a hurry to look for the king’s guards to help them. “I never would have guessed that it was a woman doing all this, and she is alone.” The warrior was shocked. “She is a Naga no less.” Another commented while still watching Nazima fight. “You are looking at the wrong thing, look at the trident in her hand, isn’t that the trident of kings?” they all looked at the trident.

Every clan in the water knew about the trident of kings, Caleb didn’t have it because it was stolen. At least that is what he told everyone. But what this woman has was the stolen trident. “She must be the same person who stole it, to begin with.” Another warrior said. “Or maybe the lost princess had it all along.” They did not have time to debate that as the king’s guards arrived and joined in the battle trying to capture Nazima. They succeeded in the end but not without her killing many of their brothers.