Page 111 of Storm and Sea

“Isn’t that what the four eyes are supposed to do?”

“They’re virtually blind. He’s getting a good look through the electric signals in your body. That’s how he herds the fish, by sending invisible waves through the water and gathering the school. It leaves patterns in the sand when he does it, hence the name.”

“I’m honored,” Atreus said as the pad of one appendage wiped over his face. “I think.”

“Ripple is a good boy,” Nyel said, patting a chunky webbed foot. “Sandwinders have been herding schools for the Sireni for generations. But there aren’t that many around anymore. We have the only one in all of Corallina.”

“That’s too bad,” Atreus said, pushing away an antenna that was starting to make its way up the leg of his shorts. “How is your aunt?”

“Good. I have a baby cousin. Her name is Sabella.”

“That’s amazing. Congratulations.”

Nyel looked to his half-brother, who did his best to pretend they weren’t there. He didn’t offer any congratulatory words.

“I need both of you to come with me. We… it’s time for a talk. It’s long overdue.”

At this, Nephi raised his head, his expression skeptical. “Really?” he asked sarcastically.

“Yes, really,” Nyel snapped, “I said I wanted to, and there is no better time than the present. C’mon.”

Nephi floated to him, looking about as happy as a molting shrimp.

“Why me?” Atreus asked, “Isn’t this between family?”

“That’s a stretch,” Nephi said but went quiet as Nyel shot him a look.

“You’re part of this, Atreus. You’re the one that showed me the world I want to live in. You’re also a halfling. And…” The words were heavy on his tongue. He forced them out anyway. “You’re important to me.”

“Guh, stop stalling, and let’s get this bullshit over with,” Nephi said, pushing Nyel to lead the way.

Nyel bit his lip as he took in the horrified expressions on his parents’ faces when Atreus and Nephi swam through the door.

“What? Forgot what I look like, Dad,” Nephi snapped, accenting the last word with cruelty.

“What is the meaning of this?” Bianca’s posture was tense, like Nyel had allowed a Great White into their home.

“Mom, Dad, we need to talk. I’ve figured some things out—about us, about everything—and the truth is, we’ve been wrong.”

His parents said nothing as their gazes continued to dart between the three of them.

“Everything we’ve been told, or invented, about halflings is wrong.”

Nyel let that sink in, and he could have sworn he heard a muffled, “Oh shit, he actually said it,” from his half-brother.

“W-what do you mean dear?” Bianca asked.

“The rumors, the stories, all those nasty things Sireni say about halflings—it’s wrong, Mom. I don’t know when it started, but I know when it’s going to end. And it’s now.”

“What rumors, dear?” she asked innocently, eyes darting.

“Oh, don’t pretend,” Nephi cut. “Don’t pretend like you haven’t treated me like a bastard-born monster that might ruin your perfect life.”

Both Bianca and Donato flinched, and the room went still, the water going stagnant with razor-sharp tension.

“Well, what did you expect me to think?” she finally snapped, her voice shrill. “You come back every three or four years with nothing but scars. No explanation.”

“I don’t owe you a damn thing, let alone an explanation,” Nephi hissed.