Vortex Disease

Genaw helped me up from the mussel and left me to float in the water in front of him. "Now, try kicking your tail like this."

He demonstrated a wave like kick that lifted him upwards. I had to try it several times before I caught on. We worked for several hours working on simple forward and backward swimming, and the slight shifts that allowed one to turn in either direction. As night fell, I could swim in a circle around the mussel I was sleeping on in both directions. Food was brought to where we were. Genaw stayed and ate with me.

"You've caught on quickly, Lexian," Genaw said to me.

"I usually do," I said, before looking down at my hands.

"Is something the matter?"

"No. Just trying to process everything since waking up after surgery."

Genaw patted my tail. "I'll let you sleep. Their Majesties would like to meet you tomorrow."

"Okay."

Genaw left and the mussel closed around me to let me sleep.

Genaw returned early to make sure I could still move as he had taught me to. While he instructed and checked my ability to move, I noticed that he did not look as well as has he had the day before. But he gave me no room to ask about it before he led me over several lengths of coral to meet their majesties.

Part way there, Genaw stopped me.

"Are you feeling alright?" he asked. "You keep pulling faces."

"My back still feels a little funny."

"It might while it gets used to being used like this."

"Alright."

"Let me know if that feeling changes, alright?"

"I will."

We continued to swim until we reached an underwater cave that opened up into an air pocket. My tail split and became my legs. Genaw's had done the same and we walked into a well lit cavern that held a stone table. Seated at the head of the table were the king and queen. We approached.

"Your Majesties," Genaw said. "May I present, Lexian, to you?"

"Pleasure to meet you, Lexian," the king said. "I'm King Bosnan, and this is my wife, Queen Teryn."

"Pleasure to meet you, Your Majesties."

"Please, join us."

"Thank you."

Genaw helped me sit in a chair before he spoke. "Forgive me, your majesties. There is something I must attend to. I will return for Lexian when I am done."

"Very well, Genaw. You are permitted to go."

Different foods sat before me and I ate semi-casually with their majesties.

"So, you are Human," King Bosnan said.

I nodded, my mouth full.

"How is it that you have found favor with the Viator?"

I absently ran my fingers over my right temple, trying to remember how I knew Unmar. While I rubbed, I saw fingers tap my temples and the echo of a cramp twist my lower abdomen. "My gift," I said softly.

"You were not born with the gift?"

I shook my head as memories of what happened, so I could answer their majesties questions, started to surface. "Some time ago, I participated in a medical study to see if a new supplement would help me with my insomnia. The supplement did as the research promised and, unknown to me, altered my energy to accept this gift."

"Lexian," Queen Teryn said. "It is our recommendation that you stay with us until you have recovered sufficiently."

My eyes watered with the resurfacing of older emotions. "Thank you. But what of the Viator?"

"Don't worry about the Viator," King Bosnan said. "They will honor whatever time specification we give them for your recovery."

I nodded.

"Lexian," King Bosnan said after a brief silence. "I have a request I would like to make to you."

"What is it?"

"Before I ask, I want to make sure you know that you are free to accept or reject this request as you feel best."

I nodded.

King Bosnan took Queen Teryn's hand in his and she smiled softly as she covered his with her free hand. Her smile was sad, but her eyes spoke of hope.

"Teryn has been unable to carry a child to term. Even with the best our healers have to offer, the child always comes too early. I am the last of my line and am ready to pass the kingship to another. I am not asking for an heir, but I am asking if you would bear a child to cheer my Teryn's heart."

My body screamed yes, while I cringed mentally. "I will consider your request and have an answer for you this evening," I said, to give myself some time to try and figure out why my libido was on the fritz.

"Thank you, Lexian."

I nodded.

Genaw returned as we finished. He wasn't looking as ill as he had first thing that morning. We left their majesties and returned to the water. It took me a little while to remember the motions to swim correctly once my legs were glued together into my tail again.

"How was your visit?" Genaw asked.

"Very pleasant. How did it go with the thing you needed to take care of?"

"Very well."

"I'm glad to hear it."

I felt my back twist and force me into a roll. I stopped. Something about that didn't feel right.

"Lexian?" Genaw asked, seeing I had stopped.

"Something is wrong with my swimming."

"Swim for a little bit," he said.

I did and felt myself twist even more.

"That's not good," Genaw said when I stopped.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Vortex disease. We need to get you treated."