THE GOLDIES BUT GOODIES CRIME BUSTERS

“BASED ON THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED, THIS TRIBUNAL FINDS THE THREE OF YOU GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF CHAMBERLAIN HORACE.”
The Hall thrummed with loud gasps and murmurs of hundreds of mermaids and mermen, their tails in a frenzy.
The three accused mermaids stood hand in hand, their faces stony, their defiant eyes unblinking before the Tribunal consisting of five high-ranking officers of the Ammolithian Royal Court: Novius, the Master Steward; Mittena, the Treasurer; Titus, the Master of Arms; Verbeia, the Court Physician; and Litheo, the Master of Ceremonies.
“We await and we will abide by your sentence, Your Grace,” the High Magistrate and head of the Tribunal, Lord Novius, solemnly added after reading the verdict.
All eyes turned on the Duchess of Ammolithia. She was seated on her throne at the east side of the Hall. Her lined yet perfectly beautiful face glowed under the spectacular play of green, red, blue, yellow, and orange colors emitted by the chandelier above her, made of precious ammolite gemstones.
Since the old Duke Cassian died two years ago, the mantle of leadership had fallen to the Duchess.
Her son, the Crown Duke Leander, stood beside her. Like her, his handsome face was expressionless. Behind him also stood his wife, Lady Numiere, her hands clasped, her demure, pretty face slightly lowered, but her eyes focused firmly on the accused. A corner of her mouth twitched slightly.
Duchess Fienna raised her head, her magnetic blue-green eyes falling over each and every person inside the Hall.
The air was thick with tension and suspense.
Finally, she spoke with authority, her gills under her jaw flapping softly, breathing water.
“Ever since we were cursed by the Sea Witch rendering us with tails, Ammolithia has always been considered by Aquosvegna as an aberration—despite our significant contribution to the Kingdom for our vast ammolite treasure. Thus, my late husband had fiercely protected our reputation so as not to aggravate our precarious standing before the King of Aquosvegna. If the King should learn that a terrible crime has been committed among us—especially by the persons trusted by our line since the beginning of our reign—I fear that he will have reason to take control of us and our ammolite treasure and assimilate us with other lesser domains.”
Her voice increased in volume as she continued, “Therefore, I, Duchess Fienna of Ammolithia, of the Duchy of Atlantica of the Water Kingdom of Aquosvegna, declare this as my sentence: The three of you shall be stripped of your tails and shall be banished to land, away from Ammolithia, effective immediately.”
There was pandemonium. Lord Novius repeatedly called for order, but no one seemed to hear him.
Then, the voice of one of the members of the Tribunal—Titus, the Master of Arms,—prevailed over all the noise.
“Your Grace! They killed Horace! They poisoned our Chamberlain!” He roared, his gills flaring wide. “Surely that crime deserves no less than death!”
Fienna’s eyes narrowed as they zoomed in on him. “Haven’t you heard a single word that I said? You dare defy me, Titus?”
Her voice wasn’t loud. It was firm and resolute.
A hush fell on the crowd.
Flustered, Titus immediately lowered his head. “No, of course not, Your Grace.” He knelt before her. “Your sentence will be implemented, as Lord Novius said. Please accept my apologies.”
She ignored him. She rose from her throne. With one last look at the accused, she issued her parting orders before turning her back on all of them.
“The Captain of the Royal Guards will take them to shore tonight. They will leave Ammolithia with only the clothes on their skin.”

***

That night, when the three mermaids were dumped on the southwestern shores of Pangasinan, Philippines, their tails were gone, replaced by human feet. Their hair, once shiny and golden, were now dry and streaked with gray. Their faces, once smooth and glowing, were lined and bleak. And instead of long, beaded gowns, they were wearing black, unflattering wool dresses.
Yet to their surprise, when they dipped their hands into their pockets, they found several velvet pouches.
Inside were perfect, deep-sea black pearls—the kind only the Duchess of Ammolithia possessed.