The tide receded and with it the storm that had shaken the world. The Underwater City had come through the cataclysm far better than Haulani had fared: no Kingmaker had rampaged through its outskirts and no pieces of it had inexplicably torn loose and tried to float away.
Hadama spent much of his time directing the repair squads to shore up those buildings which had become unstable, however, and seeing to the care for those of his people who had been wounded.
Then, too, there was the delivery of the somber news to the families of those volunteers who had died in the rescue operation in Haulani. That duty of kingship was one he had never wanted to perform, and after the last had been informed the King of the Mer had swum slowly back towards the Palace which was technically his home now.
But it did not feel like home. Not yet. And for once he couldn't sleep; his calm center was troubled by the death and destruction that had been wrought on all of Torchline.
It was to Haulani he went then, and though it was night time the moon was bright overhead, casting silver light over the waters that were awash in floating debris from the town. He swam slowly through the canals - what remained of them - taking note of where repairs would be needed, and where they were now impossible.
Sometimes he looked over his shoulder, back out to sea and up to the islands that floated so far out of reach now. He had paused at an intersection in the canals to do just that, contemplating the sight of the shadowy behemoths looming in the sky and blotting out the stars, his steely head glimmering in the moonlight like a beacon to those who knew him.
Harper
Hadama spent much of his time directing the repair squads to shore up those buildings which had become unstable, however, and seeing to the care for those of his people who had been wounded.
Then, too, there was the delivery of the somber news to the families of those volunteers who had died in the rescue operation in Haulani. That duty of kingship was one he had never wanted to perform, and after the last had been informed the King of the Mer had swum slowly back towards the Palace which was technically his home now.
But it did not feel like home. Not yet. And for once he couldn't sleep; his calm center was troubled by the death and destruction that had been wrought on all of Torchline.
It was to Haulani he went then, and though it was night time the moon was bright overhead, casting silver light over the waters that were awash in floating debris from the town. He swam slowly through the canals - what remained of them - taking note of where repairs would be needed, and where they were now impossible.
Sometimes he looked over his shoulder, back out to sea and up to the islands that floated so far out of reach now. He had paused at an intersection in the canals to do just that, contemplating the sight of the shadowy behemoths looming in the sky and blotting out the stars, his steely head glimmering in the moonlight like a beacon to those who knew him.
Harper
