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“I know,” said Letitia with a firmness that didn’t sit naturally on her gentle face. “But I want to.”
Some of the girls in the room were starting to stir, so Merletta didn’t argue the point, instead slipping smoothly in through the opening. No one spoke to her as they all made their way down to breakfast. The mutual silence suited her just fine. The only person from the home she had any desire to talk to was lingering outside.
She ate quickly, shoving extra servings into her satchel when no one was looking. After the meal she made straight for the head’s office, keen to get the necessary dismissal over as quickly as possible.
The grim-faced mermaid looked her over unemotionally, taking in the small kelp satchel slung over her shoulder. “You’re still determined on this course, Merletta?”
“I am,” she confirmed, holding her head up and meeting the older woman’s gaze. Something flickered over the head’s face, and Merletta frowned. She had expected nothing but disinterest, or perhaps amusement at her lofty ambitions. But for a moment she could have sworn she saw quite a different expression in the other mermaid’s eyes, one she had felt all too frequently herself in recent days.
But an instant later, it was gone. “You know that if you fail, you can’t come back?” The head’s tone gave no support to Merletta’s momentary suspicion that the woman was feeling nervous for her.
“Yes, I know,” said Merletta, trying to keep her voice level. As if she would want to come back here.
“Well, then,” the head said, dismissing Merletta with a flick of her hand. “You are released.”
Merletta turned, leaving the office without another word. Tish was waiting for her outside the building. Unlike the head, her nervousness was clear on her face.
As the two mermaids swam away from the building, Merletta glanced back at the large stone structure in spite of herself. As little love as she had for the place, she couldn’t help feeling some kind of sentiment at saying goodbye to the only home she’d ever known.
Letitia didn’t comment, just swam silently beside Merletta as they made their way into the waking streets of Tilssted. The light of the sun had penetrated even to their depths by the time they made their way into Skulssted. The guards at the border between the two city-kingdoms gave them a suspicious glance, but made no attempt to stop their passage.
Merletta could sense her friend growing more overwhelmed by the moment, but she kept her own eyes ahead, refusing to be intimidated by the extravagance around her. She focused on her goal instead of her surroundings, and before she knew it, they had reached their destination.
Staring up at the elaborate doorway in front of her, she read the words etched into the stone.
Center of Culture.
This was it. She was here.
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
Merletta sighed, trying to restrain her impatience at the question she had heard at least twenty times in the last few days.
“Yes, Letitia, I’m sure.”
“It’s just…”
Letitia trailed off, and Merletta turned to look at her friend. Letitia was looking around them, her unease clearly written across her face. The other girl didn’t need to finish the sentence. The two of them were as out of place in this neighborhood as a couple of tasty herrings in a pod of seals.
“I’m going to be all right, Tish,” Merletta said firmly. “I’m going to make it.”
Letitia nibbled her lip, an unflattering but kind-hearted skepticism in her eyes. “Why don’t you let me speak to my master?” the golden-haired girl offered for perhaps the tenth time. “Maybe there’s another shellsmith apprenticeship available.” Her pale cheeks colored slightly. “I know it’s not glamorous, but it could be much worse, you know. It’s better than a lifetime of labor on the outlying kelp farms.”
Merletta’s expression softened, and she took her friend’s hand in hers.
“Tish, I don’t think badly of your choice. I’m pleased you’ve found an apprenticeship, you know I am. It’s just…not for me.”
Letitia sighed, her expression troubled but resigned as she met Merletta’s eyes. “I know,” she said softly. “You’ve always been meant for something more.”
Merletta remained silent. For reasons she couldn’t explain or justify, she believed the words with all her heart. But while it was sweet of Letitia to say it, it would feel arrogant for Merletta to agree. At least out loud.
“They’re not going to be kind to you, you know,” Letitia said, her forehead creasing as she glanced toward the ornate double doors outside which they were floating.
Merletta gave a humorless laugh, following her friend’s gaze toward the portal into the headquarters of the Center of Culture. “I can handle unkind. It won’t exactly be anything new, will it?”
Letitia sighed. “No, I guess not. But you’ll have to be careful, Mer. This isn’t a home for abandoned kids in the slums of Tilssted. I mean, look around.” Letitia did so herself, her unease still clear on her face. “This is Skulssted. And the Center won’t be any better. People will be watching. You won’t be able to get away with your little…” she glanced around once more for good measure, “…excursions.”
Merletta pursed her lips, remaining silent. She had no intention of giving up her outings, but there was no need to tell Letitia that. Her sweet, timid friend would only worry.
