For four consecutive days, Ryis had remained within the confines of the red keep, managing to avoid any encounters with water. Surprisingly, the king had stopped locking her chamber doors as a precautionary measure, much to the dismay of the queen who had vehemently protested against this decision.
Each night, Jace would stealthily enter through her door, determined to impart the gift of literacy upon her. With each passing day, she grew more adept at reading, gradually unravelling the mysteries of the written word. Not only that, but her transformation was remarkable.
She began to converse fluently, stringing together coherent sentences without a hint of hesitation. It was as if she had been a part of the human world all along, seamlessly blending in with those who had spent their lives on solid ground
When the boys began their training, she fearlessly jumped right in, leaving them in her dust. It was clear that she had a natural talent for combat and hunting, progressing at a remarkable pace. Not only did she excel in her own training, but she also took the time to lend a helping hand to the boys. Viserys found this amusing, amused by her ability to effortlessly surpass the boys. However, the queen didn't share his amusement and perhaps saw it as a threat.
Despite Ryis' attempts to be courteous and respectful, the queen's unfounded aversion towards her persisted. It was a frustrating situation for Ryis, who couldn't understand why the queen seemed to hold such a negative opinion of her. Nevertheless, Ryis continued to conduct herself with grace and dignity, hoping that one day the queen's feelings towards her would change.
the night seemed to stretch on endlessly as Ryis eagerly awaited Jace's arrival. Her heart fluttered with a mixture of anticipation and affection, for Jace had become an integral part of her life. He had managed to weave himself into the very fabric of her being, becoming someone she held close to her heart. As she lay awake, she couldn't help but reflect on the profound connection they shared and the immense joy he brought into her life.
just as she was on the brink of drifting off to sleep, a sudden knock on the door jolted her awake. With a rush of anticipation, she hurried to answer it, pulling Jace inside with eager enthusiasm.
"Ouch, I always forget how strong you are," Jace winced, massaging his arm where she had grabbed him.
"Sorry, Jace, I was excited," Ryis apologised, swiftly taking the book from his grasp. The room was filled with a sense of energy as Ryis eagerly flipped through the pages of the book, her curiosity piqued. Jace watched her with a fond smile, grateful for her infectious enthusiasm.
She ran over to the table where they study and opened the book to where they had left it last night. The book they were reading was from the library. It was about sirens and their quality and history.
Ryis hated history but she liked Jace and Jace liked it so she would try to like them too. She flicked open to the page they left off and Jace sat next to her at the desk
Jace gestured with his finger towards the sentence, silently urging her to begin reading.
"Start here," he instructed, prompting Ryis to comply and delve into the text.
Without hesitation, Ryis followed Jace's guidance and began to read the words laid out before her. The simple act of pointing had set the wheels of discovery in motion, leading them both on a journey through the written word.
"The sirens are social creatures who can't be alone for a long time, sirens have a history of coming onto land and becoming friends with humans" Ryis read slowly, trying to pronounce every word correctly
"Very good Ryis" Jace celebrated.
"Can we not read now? I just want to ask you something" Ryis asked, closing the book.
"Okay what would you like to talk about?" Jace asked, swiveling around to face her.
"What would happen if a siren and a human would...mate?" Ryis asked shyly.
"Hmm I don't know but what I do know is we don't use the word mate in land" Jace corrected.
"Well what do you call it?" Ryis asked curiously.
Jace froze a bright blush creeping onto his pale freckled cheeks "I'm not sure... maybe we can find a book in the library" Jace offered standing up and offering nhis hand to her prompting her ot take it.
Ryis took his hand smiling softly and she wondered about the redness on his cheeks, she wondered if he was feeling well.
"Yes, the library," Ryis spoke enthusiastically.
Ryis hurriedly trailed behind Jace as they dashed through the doorway, their footsteps echoing in the empty halls. The chill of the floor sent a shiver up their spines, but Ryis couldn't contain a soft chuckle as they tiptoed past the slumbering guards.
"shh, we mustn't make a sound," Jace instructed, taking hold of her hand and leading her discreetly into the library. Within the library's walls, silence enveloped the room, broken only by the soft glow of scattered candles. Stealthily, they ventured down a row of books, their eyes tracing the words etched on the book covers.
"Ah, I think I've found one," Jace whispered urgently, his voice barely audible amidst the library's tranquillity.
Approaching a table, the pair eagerly flipped open the book titled "The Miracle of Life." At first glance, it appeared to be a book meant for stupid people, with colourful illustrations and simple language.
As they delved into the first page, Jace couldn't help but cringe at the thought of what the book was about. Instead of finding the topic pleasant as expected, he found it to be quite the opposite - painful and disgusting.
The mismatch between the innocent appearance of the book and the graphic content within left jace feeling slightly uneasy. It was a stark reminder that appearances can be deceiving, especially when it comes to educational materials.
Ryis couldn't help but be captivated by the intriguing dynamics of land mating. In the water It was a brutal battle for reproduction, where males fought fiercely and some even met their demise. However, for humans, the contrast couldn't have been more striking. This peculiar subject matter piqued her curiosity, leaving her utterly fascinated.
As they delved deeper into the book, Ryis and jace stumbled upon a series of illustrations that were undeniably provocative. Each page depicted a myriad of intimate positions, showcasing the art of pleasuring a man. Yet, to their surprise, there was only a single page dedicated to the pleasure a woman could experience. The stark contrast in representation left them both intrigued and curious about the underlying reasons.
Jace couldn't bear to look at it, but Ryis was completely engrossed, devouring the words as if they were the most captivating story ever penned. The two of them were lost in their own world, until the sound of the door opening shattered their reverie. In a swift motion, Jace grabbed Ryis' hand and pulled her beneath the safety of the table, hiding from whatever or whoever was entering the room.
As the door swung open, a dishevelled Aegon stumbled into the library, his drunken state evident in every clumsy step he took. Colliding with furniture and knocking over books, he seemed completely oblivious to his surroundings. Jace couldn't help but stifle a laugh at the sight of him, finding humour in his intoxicated antics.
Aegon's unsteady feet eventually led him to the table where the open book lay. With a hiccup and a wavering balance, he leaned over the pages, his alcohol-laden mind finding the content rather titillating. However, his exploration was abruptly interrupted when he sensed movement beneath the table. Curiosity piqued, he crouched down to discover Jace and Ryis hiding there, their presence now exposed.
"Oh helloooo nephew and little siren" he spoke stupidly.
"Hello aegon" he spoke nervously
Then without warning ryis dragged jaces hand and sprinted past the chairs and aegon tried to chase after them but he was too drunk to do so, so he fell face first into the ground causing Jace to let out a childish laugh.
The two sprinted around The halls laughing as loud as they wished. They weren't even running anywhere they were just running.
Until they bumped into a very tired rhaenyra.
"You two, what on earth are you two still going awake and causing all this havoc!" Rhenerya scolded and they could only look to the ground to avoid her gaze.
"Both of you to your chambers now! Before you wake the whole castle!" Rheneyra continued in a motherly tone.
The following day, Ryis and the princelings had their usual training session, but this time, someone had the brilliant idea of taking it to the beach. The sun was shining, the sand was warm, and the sound of the waves provided a soothing backdrop to their practice. Ryis, however, was not too keen on the idea of getting wet, so she made sure to keep her distance from the water as much as possible.
"Ryis, why don't you spar with Aegon for a change?" their instructor Lance suggested. Ryis and Aegon began their sparring session, and it quickly became evident that This was out matching Aegon at every turn. Aegon, feeling frustrated at being bested by a girl, grew increasingly annoyed with each round that passed.
After Ryis emerged victorious for the third time, Aegon's frustration reached its peak. Determined to turn the tables, he manoeuvred their sparring closer to the water. As Ryis tried to defend herself, Aegon seized the opportunity and managed to push her into the water
Ryis let out a bone-chilling scream, causing their trainer and the three other boys to quickly rush towards the water. The piercing sound echoed through the air as Ryis desperately tried to claw their way back to the surface, but the transformation had taken its toll, making it an impossible feat.
With a sense of urgency, Ryis continued to crawl deeper into the water, submerging themselves completely and disappearing from sight. In a split second decision, Jace disregarded his instructor's warnings and fearlessly sprinted into the ocean, driven by an instinct to protect his friend.
Sirens are not like they are when they are in human form. There are animals who have to kill and hunt to survive.
In their aquatic form, sirens are far from the gentle beings they appear to be in human disguise. They are fierce creatures, driven by their primal instincts to kill and hunt for survival. Ryis, now in close proximity to Jace, wasted no time in launching an attack, showcasing their natural predatory nature. Although Jace managed to escape, he bore a visible scratch on his neck, a reminder of the danger lurking beneath the surface.
With great effort, he managed to pull himself onto the shore, his instructor lending a helping hand. The boys and the guard gathered around to assess the injury, their expressions filled with concern. For Jace, it served as a painful reminder of his foolishness for venturing into the water where a siren lurked.
"You see, Jace... those animals, it's in their nature to kill," Aegon taunted, a mischievous chuckle escaping his lips, as he confidently made his way back to the castle. The words echoed in Jace's mind, amplifying his regret for underestimating the danger that lay beneath the surface.