Urma took Joan's hand and led her towards their final destination, Alorda, the aquatic capital for all merfolk.
"Alorda, huh? I would of assumed that the mermaid capital of the world would be Atlantis," said Joan.
"Atlantis!" answered Urma in disgust. "That creepy ghost town!"
"Well, yeah," replied Joan, taking the defensive. "I mean that's how it is in popular fiction. Namor and Aquaman come from Atlantis in our comic book stories. Besides, it makes sense that undersea creatures would take up residence in the abandoned buildings after they sunk into the ocean."
"First off, those buildings weren't abandoned, they were infested with the bloated corpses of the cities drowned citizens. According to legend, the stench was so awful that the entire ocean was rancid with the smell of decomposing flesh. Which brings me to my second point, would you really want to live in a city where hundreds of thousands of people died, that's just ghoulish by itself. Not to mention all the restless spirits moaning all night or going about their daily activities like they are still alive. Point three, the city is built on an active volcano, nuff said. Point four..."
"Ok, I get the idea," interrupted Joan, "It was silly of me to assume that everything in the popular fiction about mermaids is true."
Urma looked at Joan and smiled, "Well some of the things that you guys write about us is remarkably accurate and some of the things you write that aren't true is still entertaining. 'The Little Mermaid' is loaded with lies and exaggerations, but it's still my favorite movie."
"You've seen 'The Little Mermaid'?"
"Oh yes, we can pick up satellite televison signals down here. Did you catch last nights 'Conan O'Brien' sketch with Triumph? I know that making fun of surface dwellers is easy but he has it down to an art! He's almost as entertaining as Joooooo..." Urma was violently yanked to the side, causing her to let go of Joan's hand.
Joan looked off to her left to see that two uniformed mermen armed with spears had apprehended Urma and was holding her against her will. Urma thrashed violently in the water, but the mermens grip held her tight. Joan was puzzled by how they snuck up on them, she didn't detect them with her "fish sense" even though she could detect every fish and living creature more than one hundred feet away from her.
Joan swimmed up to the two mermen, who appeared to be guards of some sort. "What are you doing with my friend," she demanded.
The guard to the right took his spear and smashed the flat section of it up against her head. "Silence girl, or my next swing will plant my spear into your heart!"
Joan recoiled from the blow as she raised her hand to the gnash in her forehead. It wasn't a bad wound, only bleeding a little, but Joan was shocked that she was hurt contrary to Nicole's wish for her not to be harmed by any sea creatures. She suddenly realized that the specifications of the wish was to protect her from sea creatures, not weapons that may be wielded by them. She backed away slowly just in case the merman's threat to impale her wasn't a hollow one.
"We have a warrant signed by the king himself for this young troublemaker to be arrested and brought to his majesty. We have no such warrant for you so any attempt on your part to interfere with our official duties will result in your immediate impalement, dismebowelment, and beheading on the spot without a court
trial. Please leave the area at once!"
"Joan, you have to help me," screamed Urma, who coninued to struggle with the armed mermen. "You have to help me! The king they speak of is a mad dictator!
I'll be dead before the sun is at mid-sky, or noon as your people call it! Please!" The guard brought the blunt end of his spear down on Urma's head, rendering her unconscious.
"Heed our warning, girl! Forget your friends words and begone!" The two mermen swimmed off with Urma in tow. Leaving Joan wondering what to do next.
