It was Urma, being led by another guard.
Joan swam forward to press herself against the bars of her cell. "Urma!"
The mermaid turned and smiled apologetically. "Oh, there you are! Sorry for getting you involved in all this. I really needed you with me."
Joan gripped the bars until her knuckles turned white. "You lied to me! You said your life was in danger! Now we're both stuck in here!"
Urma's guard opened a cell across the way, and she entered without fuss. Once the guard had left, the mermaid lay down on the floor and grinned at her fellow captive. "Don't worry. You're my friend, and let it not be said that I never stood by a friend. I told them I tricked you into chasing us, so you should be getting out before day's end. I have to stay in here a bit longer, but they'll let me out soon enough. I'm a princess, you know."
"So I've heard," Joan said through gritted teeth before slumping to the floor in defeat. Anger would do her no good at this point.
Unfazed by their shared predicament, Urma giggled. "I don't know what you said to these guards, but they all seem to think you're a refugee from the wilds. I guess you're not telling anyone of your true nature. A wise decision, I suppose. There's no telling how they would react. And they would likely decide to keep me in here for good."
Despite herself, Joan was curious. "So, what were you arrested for?"
At this, Urma's grin faded into regret. "You know how it is. When you're young and reckless, you make mistakes. And some of these mistakes can't be reversed."
Joan rolled her eyes. "Oh, cut the enigmatic crap. What exactly did you do?"
"I stole from the king."
"You what?"
"I took one of his scales."
"The king has scales?"
Urma gestured down at her fish-like lower half.
"Oh, right. Um, so they let you get close enough to grab one off of him?"
"Of course not! We all shed scales every now and then, you know. I just took one from the treasury. And before you ask, yes, we keep the king's scales in the treasury. Things like scales or hair can be used in spells and alchemy. Some of the spells can be directed at the scale's owner. So you can imagine how dangerous a king's scale can be in the wrong hands."
"But what did you need it for?"
Urma paused before replying. "Tell you what. I'll answer your question if you answer mine. How did your friend happen to have a wishing stone?"
"Well, technically, it was mine at first, and I wasn't even her friend either. Ugh, it's such a long convoluted story. Let's just say a series of bad wishes changed reality so that my friend ended up as the stone's owner, and I ended up as her friend."
The other mermaid looked impressed. "Sounds like this stone is pretty powerful. And unpredictable."
"You have no idea."
"So how did you come to possess it?"
"My grandfather was an archeologist or something. I never really learned exactly what he was. Somehow, he discovered the stone in South America. When he died, he gave it to me as part of his will."
"Wow! That seems like quite a dangerous thing to bequeath to such a young relative."
As much as she hated to admit it, Joan had to agree. She buried her face in her arms, feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Urma looked over with new sympathy. "I'm sorry that you had to go through all that. And I'm sorry your experience as a mermaid couldn't be more pleasant." Her face turned hopeful. "Perhaps, after you go back, you can come again sometime. I promise I'll make your next visit more enjoyable."
"Thanks, but I think I'm done with all this. No offense, but coming here wasn't my choice, and I really need to get that stone back."
"I-I see. Yes, you're right. I guess I really can't blame you. It shouldn't surprise me so, all things considered. If it means anything, I must offer my gratitude. You took the time to play with me, which nobody has done for such a long time, and although it was due to my duplicity, you did come to rescue me. So for that, I thank you. I hope that you'll forgive me and know that I'll always think of you as a friend."
Something in her voice caught Joan's attention. Glancing over, she could see that Urma had curled up in a dejected ball near the back of her cell. The former human rubbed her temples, feeling the beginnings of a headache. "Look. Things just escalated so quickly, I'm having a hard time dealing with it. Once my life calms down a little, who knows? I might try for a second visit. How's that sound?"
Urma sat up again and gave a nod. "I'd like that. Maybe your friend can come, too."
Joan shrugged before wincing at the pain throbbing through her skull. "Why not. I'm sure she'd love to come."
"Are you alright?" Urma asked, noticing her friend's discomfort.
"I just have a headache. That's all," Joan said, but soon gripped her head as the headache exploded into a full-blown migraine. "Gah!"
The other mermaid leapt up. "You need a physician! Guards! My friend needs assistance! Somebody!"
All at once, the pain spread to Joan's entire body, setting every nerve alight and making her writhe in agony. Her arm underneath the bracelet felt as if it were on fire, and the poor mermaid clawed at the manacle in desperation. Finally, the world faded into wonderful nothingness.
The last sounds she heard were Urma's frantic calls for help.
