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Kelebek feels like such a coward, hiding behind a pillar, desperately hoping neither Tariel nor Turin could see her. She wishes she could leap to the defense of her children, but how could she show her face at a time like this?

And besides, she thinks, her brow furrowing into a frown, this was Turin's own fault for not being honest with the Queen, wasn't it? Kelebek bites her lip and peeks out from behind the pillar to watch what's going on. Poor Turin. He looked so pained, so anguished. Like his heart had been ripped from his chest. Kelebek sighs, realizing almost immediately the problem. She feels like she'd always known Turin had harbored feelings for another, or else he might have been more willing to accept her, imperfect as she was, as his mate.

She'd always known she loved Turin much more than he'd ever loved her. And yet that never stopped her from loving him all the same. Even now, she realizes, she almost wishes their night of forbidden passion had never happened, so that in this moment Turin would not feel such anguish.

Turin's heart caught in his throat as he met the Queen's eyes, only for a moment, before turning his own downward with shame. "I...I can explain, Tari..." he muttered, slipping into casual tones without even noticing, as distraught as he was. He couldn't really, not to a level that he felt was satisfactory, but he could at least explain what had happened, how it had all been an accident, a mistake...

Hearing his son's voice in reply to the Queen's questions, he pushed the thought out of his mind. No, not a mistake. They were not mistakes. And none of this was their fault, not even the current tension, as he'd never let any of them know how he tried to hide this. He was flushed with shame now, at his own actions...at his behavior...and at how he'd tried to hide it all. What sort of man was he?

It still felt like a nesting family of roiling eels had taken up residence in his stomach, but he held his tongue for now, putting on a stoic face...though his eyes remained on the floor.

---

Moana had watched her father with concern. She might be flighty at times, but she wasn't stupid. She'd seen the stream of emotions flowing over her father's face, and though he had wiped the slate clean now, she knew that something was seriously wrong here. But what?

Had she done something wrong? Said something? Was this somehow her fault. Maybe...but he'd seemed upset before she or her siblings had even neared the Queen's throne.

Either way, she knew enough to know when to behave.

Okay, most of the time.

Clearing her throat awkwardly, she pipped up after her brothers with another curtsy to the Queen, head bowed respectfully. "And my name is Moana, Your Majesty. I'm afraid I don't have an official job either, but um..." she faltered before continuing with a touch of hope in her voice, "...I do have some skills that might be useful? They have been to me in the past anyway," she trailed off awkwardly.

Sadron's pleas did not fall on deaf ears. She was simply ignoring them, because whether he liked it or not, he was going to have company on the next reconnaissance mission. And she was nearing her boiling point and feeling like someone was going to pay for how she felt. She wished, for a moment, that her Lady in Waiting, Aeroniel was there. She'd keep the queen from making rash decisions.

Mentally noting what each naiad said in turn, the Naiad Queen's eyes fell to the only of the four that did not respond. "What is your name, and your job?"

After hearing them speak of their powers, the queen got an idea. But she needed to know what this fourth one's deal was first.

For now, she kept her attentions in front of her, because she knew if she looked at Turin, even if he was offering to explain, she'd likely not be able to keep herself under control.

Tariel nodded at Isaso. It was obvious to the queen what the lass wanted, so she was feeling obliged to offer. However, she was also still aching from the pangs of betrayal from her most trusted friend, so that vengeful side of her that she tried to keep buried insisted on surfacing.

"As you four may have heard. There are rumors of an impending war. We do not know the level of truth to this rumor, however, it is in our best interest to investigate until we do. Sadron brought this news to us, so he will be in charge of all further investigating outside of the lake. Itsaso, you will accompany him. Anatolio, you will too. Your unique power might come in handy should you be found out. Sadron will know to do."

Turning to her Hunter, Tariel smiles. But not a sweet, endearing friendly smile like normally graces her delicate face, but one of sadistic glee. "Sadron, train them. They'll be inducted to the Hunters. If war is upon us, we'll need to build up our forces."

Attention turned back towards Zoran and Moana, Tariel's smile vanished. "Moana. What is your useful skill?"

"OH, COME ON!" Sadron glared outright at the queen. This was getting more and more riculous. He swam angrily up to the throne. Looking down at his queen, his anger bubbled over his good judgement. His arms were held straight at his sides tensely, both hands clenched into fists. He would never, ever hit a lady; he merely clenched his hands because he did not know what else to do with them.

"I don't have time to babysit a boy and a female who I doubt can even carry a spear. You would have us ill prepared. Don't let your feelings get the better of you, Tariel. We're in a crisis; war is imminent, and you're worried about petty jealousy. What the hell, woman?"

As he spat out the words, the little voice in the back of his mind was frantically chanting. Oh s**t. Oh s**t. Oh s**t. Oh s**t. Oh s**t. Oh s**t.

This would end badly.

Her brother? A Hunter? Seriously? Well, not that she doubted her Queen, but really? Toli as a Hunter? If the water hadn't felt so tense, Moana might have laughed. Obviously, she didn't know her brother very well. She instantly sobered when addressed directly, and hurried to reply with a respectful nod. "Your Majesty. I um...I can heal others. With light. I mean, I absorb light and can heal others with the energy when I touch them," she stammered in a rush, all the words coming out at once, threatening utter nonsense. She was going to say more when it seemed that she might be presented with an opportunity to demonstrate her skills, sooner rather than later.

Eyes wide, Moana backed away as the irritated commander confronted the Queen. She dared to look over at her brothers to see their reactions, reaching out subconciously to lay a hand on either of their arms, as if drawing comfort from their contact.

Yes, even strong, perky, independent Moana still leaned on her big brothers once in a while.

-----

WHAT?!?

The Captain's eyes narrowed, drifting up to meet the Queen's emerald orbs. What he saw there was not kindness, nor benevolence, not even mischief. What he saw was malice. And behind that, pain. Betrayal. Turmoil.

And yet, that didn't excuse what she was doing right now. Oh, Turin wasn't blind. He'd spent enough time around the Queen, all of them on the Court had really...they all knew each other's little secrets. The dark things that one kept locked away so that no one would see, but someone always does. It was the one thing that served to dim the shining view he held of his perfect Queen.

For once, he felt compelled to confront the temperamental siren queen, rather than obediently and willingly supporting her in whatever madness she had decided to indulge in. And why? Because, she was taking it out...on his children.

Unable to hold his tongue any longer, the Captain's head snapped up and his voice rang out, "Queen Tariel!" No, he wasn't going to start a mindless argument, fighting for the sake of contrary fighting. Nor was he going to sit idly aside while she put his children in danger out of her own childish spite. Maybe it was stupid to argue with her at all, but the best he could do would be to try to steer her towards logic, especially here in public in order to save face.

"Don't you think the boy is a bit...'bright' in coloring for covert operations? Afterall, I recall being told the same thing on more than one occasion. 'More suited to a position in the castle,' if I remember the exact wording. I'm sure there are others more appropriate for the position, Your Majesty," he forced the words out, even and level-toned, despite the storm whirling in his heart and his brain. His knuckles were pale, his grip on his spear so tight that it was cutting off circulation.

He and Sadron were likely to end up Leviathan snacks for this.

The queen held up one finger to Moana, giving her the universal "one moment please" sign. After a brief little sincere grin and nod, with merely a flick of her tail to indicate she'd moved, Tariel's hand darted towards her own trident resting beside her throne. Within the blink of an eye, it was on Sadron, with the tip of the center tine merely a hair's breadth from his adam's apple.

Tariel was not the queen by default, nor out of pity, nor because of her birth. She did not appoint herself to the position and just find followers. No, she was strong, smart, and she was fast. She became queen of the wild naiads -- the aernyn -- by earning the position. She knew nothing of her destiny when she was made the leader of all the wild naiads.

Her eyes glassed over, the green gone, leaving only a shining, brilliant white; the color of her leviathan shift. Her body radiated energy. The kind of energy that any shifter exudes before undergoing the transformation. Sadron crossed the line at the wrong time. She is not quick to temper tantrums, not at court any way, but to have Sadron behave so indolently towards her merely minutes after learning that her dearest and most trusted friend had betrayed her, was like kicking her while she was down. She was on the defensive now, expecting Aeronial to swim in at any moment and declare her betrayal as well. Sadron behaved as if he had a death wish.

"Do you wish to continue living?" Her voice was gruff, and serious, clearly indicating that the leviathan was nearing the surface.

Turin may have just saved Sadron's life.

The queen spun around, facing Turin, but kept the trident on her target. She was still in a position to shift very easily, not letting her guard down. She was most angry at this naiad she glared at, but she wouldn't even dare threaten him as she did Sadron. Sadron was a big boy and they'd gone fin-to-fin on more than one occasion. But with Turin it was different.

She listened to his plea. He didn't want his kid being a part of a war. She understood that. But this wasn't war. Not yet. She wanted him to help Sadron with finding out if there was going to be a war. She was being more malicious sending a female with Sadron, then sending Turin's son out with him. If he is Turin's then the boy had to have inherited at least half of his father's talents, and she knew he'd be capable. Or least, she wanted to test it.

Without a word to her captain, she turned to Anatolio. Her intensity was still burning as she looked him over, then Moana, then Zoran. They all looked so much like him. She breathed deeply, the rage fading and the color coming back to her eyes while the energy dissipated. "I believe you capable. I would not have assigned you otherwise. Do you believe you are capable?" She asked Anatolio directly, her voice calm and even once more.

She still held the trident to Sadron's throat, awaiting his answer.

"Aww, ********," Sadron mumbled. Had they been open ocean, this would have turned into a pretty nasty sparring session. It had happened before, and some mornings the naiad still woke with the echoes of aches and pains long since faded away from the glorious brawls.

The hunter was more brawn than brains, but he was not stupid by any means. This was not the time or place for this sort of display. He had to face facts. He was stuck with two pae who knew nothing of his work. He would have to waste precious time on these kids, time they did not have.

Lifting his chin to a proud soldier's level, he looks straight ahead. "Your choice, milady. Do you wish me dead?"

It took every single ounce of restraint for the naiad to not add "now or out on the isle watching those two brats?"

Sadron's lips curled into a grin that he couldn't shake. Great waters, did he fancy Tariel, especially when she went into female warrior mode. Pity they couldn't spar and make up this time.