Page 174 of Storm and Sea

“And will that change prevent you from seeing your own family?” a second voice huffed from the doorway.

“Hello, Mom,” Nyel said, obediently going to place a kiss on his mother’s cheek.

“This change in situation better not take you farther away; I barely see you enough as it is. Do you even realize how much your mother worries⁠—”

“Mom,” Nyel held up a hand, “If all goes to plan, you’ll actually see me more.”

This caught his mother’s attention. “Well, that’s more like it. Come in.”

“Actually, I need all of you.”

“We’re all here,” she said. “Your father’s inside.”

“No,” Nyel urged. “Everyone. I need to speak to everyone in Corallina.”

It took some doing, but with the promise of seeing her son more often, there was little that could stop Bianca Veritani. Soon, the settlement of Sireni crowded together in the center of their village. It wasn’t everybody, only those with farms close enough to come quickly, but it was enough that word would spread fast.

The center of Corallina was less of a ‘village square’ and more of an open plot of sand shaped in a perfect circle. Around the edge, various species of coral added vibrant splashes of color to their otherwise kelp-green world.

Nyel couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen so many of them gathered like this, nor could he remember seeing them so deflated. Scales that used to shine were now dull with a sickly gray hue. The Sireni reflected the health of their crop. And if the kelp grew gray and sick, so did the people. And given how many gaunt faces now stared at him, Nyel knew that this village was running out of time.

Nyel caught sight of Mr. and Mrs. Ernesti in the front of the group. Chel was beside them with a lanky sireno Nyel suspected to be Wyll. She waved, and he returned it, earning a glare from the sireno beside her. All eyes were on Nyel as he took his place high on a stone overhang.

A million ways to begin his impossible message raced through his mind. What if they wouldn’t listen? What if his strange human clothes marked him as an outsider? He should have changed into traditional sea-grass garb. Too late now. There was only one thing to do: say it.

“I have a message from the humans on the island.”

The chatter died instantly. Bodies were still, and eyes wide as fins swayed in the tide like the kelp they so desperately needed to save.

“They know we are here. They know what we are, and they have accepted us.”

Easy. Easy.

“I can say with utmost certainty that the ships harvesting fish outside the bay are killing our fields.”

“Humans also run those ships,” a sirena in the middle of the crowd called out.

“Yes, but they aren’t the same. The ones polluting the water and the ones living on the island are not the same humans. The people of Baia Vita are also suffering because of these ships. They can’t catch enough fish to sustain their way of life. They’re dying. Just like we are dying.”

“So what do you propose?” This voice came from Mr. Ernesti.

“The humans—” Nyel paused. “I came up with the idea that would help everybody.”

Nyel dove into his plan, adding details for the Mer that he didn’t bother in the mayor’s office. When he was done, Mr. Ernesti spoke again.

“So you expect us to give away our precious daylight hours? We should be harvesting whatever kelp we have left. And you’re suggesting we play sandwinder for the humans? Herding fish like dumb beasts?”

“That’s not at all what he said,” Sonia snapped, Sabella sleeping in her arms.

“It won’t be like that. We only have to get the fish into the bay, not stand guard like shepherds. And once we coax the fish into shallow waters, Ripple can help push them forward from there.” Nyel said, expressing his willingness to share Ripple for the cause.

“I don’t like it. It sounds like we will feed the humans for nothing in return.”

Nyel clenched his fists. He didn’t have time to explain the complexity of human economics. They had to trust him.

“I know it sounds like a lot of work for no reward. Give it time; I promise the ships will leave once Baia Vita begins to heal.”

“So what are we supposed to do? Take your word for it?” Wyll spoke up, searching for an approving glance from his hope-to-be father-in-law.