"Sarah Zettel - Miss Underwood and the Mermaid" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zettel Sarah)

"I do not believe so. I think she will wait for a direct assault before she attacks again."

"I see," I nodded. "Miss Underwood, I fear I must be direct. Exactly who are you?"
 For a moment those blue eyes glowed and I feared for my safety.

But the glow subsided. "So difficult to bespell someone in their own place of power," she shook
her head. "I had hoped the lure of riches would be enough to lull you. I see that in this I was also
mistaken." She met my gaze. "Obviously, I cannot give you my true name. Let us just say that I am a
person of some importance in the Seelie court, and that the mermaid has stolen something of value to me,
and destroyed one of your King's ships while doing so. I could not travel to reclaim him in my own form
and under my own power, as the mermaid would sense that leagues away and strike me down at her
leisure. Hence, my need for this disguise, and your services."

"And who is Jack Tremor?"

Her eyes did glow then, cold and dangerous. "Mine."

"I see." I felt curiously little fear now. Perhaps it was her acknowledgement that she did not
have me in the palm of her fairy hand. "One thing I wish to make perfectly clear, Miss Underwood. If I
determine you are unnecessarily endangering my ship and my crew, or forcing my people to act contrary
to my direct orders, I will have you thrown in irons."

At that, I had the sweet satisfaction of seeing her blanch. "I understand you perfectly, Captain.
Now, will you excuse me please? We are approaching the mermaid's demesne and I wish to be ready."

I bowed politely. "By all means, Miss Underwood."

Miss Underwood left me there. When she was gone I passed the word for the blacksmith,
deciding I might do well to order up some additional precautions for this voyage.
***
Back on deck, the normal order of things has reasserted itself, including the crew's
fairy-wrought unflappability. Miss Verity steered a straight northeast course, both sea and sky were as
clear as one could wish and from the feel of things, Nancy's Pride made a good seven knots. Still, I
could no longer be easy. I paced the quarter deck, aware that my First watched me with amused
patience.

"Miss Sherman, let us beat to quarters and crew the forward guns. I should not like the next
serpent to catch us unawares."

"Aye, aye, Captain." She grinned at the prospect of good sport and turned to bellow out my
orders to the appropriate crewmembers, who repeated them up and down the deck. The drum rolled to
beat to quarters.

Even under the sound of running feet and the insistent drumbeat, I heard it. A rumble from deep
below the ship, like thunder originating from the ocean rather than the sky. Miss Sherman's cheerfulness
faltered and something like real concern showed on her face.

I opened my mouth, trying to think of something captain-worthy to say, when a great jet of
water fountained from the waves to leeward. The sea split open. From the depths rose a great, grey