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Sage had reached her now, and Merletta returned her friend’s embrace. Her arms were shaking with the conflicting feelings of relief at being reunited with someone she trusted, and fear over how those in authority would receive her.
Her gaze slid over the rest of the group, noting a few familiar faces from the training program. It took her a moment to realize that it was strange for Ileana to be with the group, given she was no longer a trainee.
“Merletta! Welcome back.”
The jovial voice of Agner, the instructor responsible for combat, and other more general physical training, cut across her confusion.
“Shame you’re too late to join us on our patrol.”
“Patrol?” Merletta repeated blankly, swimming forward slightly to shake his offered hand. He was also looking at her without surprise or discomfort. Could it be possible that no one knew what transpired between her and Ileana? But that couldn’t be. Even if Ileana hadn’t wanted to tell anyone, the two of them weren’t the only witnesses. A small guard patrol had been part of the incident where Heath was speared.
“Yes, the trainees have just taken part in a patrol to one of the disputed areas,” Agner said, still cheerful. “Good experience to see how the guards handle these situations. Not to worry, though. As a second year, you’ll have plenty of chances to train with the guards.” He grinned at her. “I was delighted to hear that you elected to continue with the program, Merletta. You’d be wasted as a scribe.”
Merletta’s mind was still whirling in confusion—she had no idea what he meant by disputed areas, apart from everything else—but her smile was a little more genuine this time. Agner was the only instructor who actually liked her, and wanted her to succeed. Of course he would be glad that she hadn’t decided to stop with the qualification as a scribe that she had earned from passing first year. If she passed second year, she would qualify as a guard. Agner knew she intended to continue past second year, and eventually become a record holder, but that didn’t stop him trying to convince her, from time to time, to change course and join the guards permanently.
“Come on,” said Sage, slipping her arm into Merletta’s and turning for the entrance to the Center of Culture. “We were just heading back for lunch. You can join us.”
“Don’t I have to…I don’t know…check in or something?” Merletta asked cautiously, her eyes on Ileana as she allowed Sage to pull her through the Center’s receiving hall. Some of the mermaid’s coloring had started to come back, but her face was still a mask of shock.
“I don’t think so,” said Sage, surprised. “I never have after my breaks. You’re due back in classes tomorrow, aren’t you? As long as you’re there then, I don’t think you have to do anything else.” She frowned. “You did speak to Instructor Ibsen before you left, didn’t you? And told him that you were going to continue with second year?”
Merletta nodded, and Sage’s expression cleared. “Then you’ll be expected.”
Again, Merletta’s eyes flicked to Ileana. They had all passed through the receiving hall now, and were floating out over the drop off that lay between the building and the Center itself. The guard patrol, Ileana along with them, had broken off from the trainees and were swimming smartly toward the reef on the other side of the drop off. Merletta couldn’t help but notice that Ileana was pulling ahead of the group. Where was she going? It would be telling to see who she went to with her discovery of Merletta’s survival. But Merletta wasn’t game to follow her. She had no desire to risk being alone with Ileana—who had twice tried to see her killed—until she felt herself to be in calmer water.
“All right, trainees,” Agner said, addressing the group at large. “You’re dismissed. I’ll see you tomorrow morning, as discussed.” He sent Merletta a wink. “I hope you haven’t been too idle over your break, Merletta. We can’t have you losing your fighting edge. You’ve got to be quick to survive around here.”
Merletta stared at him. Was she imagining a certain intentness in his eyes, an extra layer of meaning behind those words?
Sage chuckled, clearly not noticing anything unusual. “As if you’re in any danger of falling so far behind in training. Now that Emil has graduated, and Ileana is with the guards, only Oliver and I outrank you in the program.” Her voice turned rueful. “And I at least am no threat to you when it comes to combat. It’s barely worth your while to spar with me.”
“Nonsense,” said Agner, startling Merletta. She hadn’t realized he was still listening. “Extra sparring with Sage is an excellent idea. You won’t get far on your own.”
Merletta made no answer as she met Agner’s eyes. He held her gaze for an unblinking moment before turning and putting on a burst of speed to catch up with the other guards.
Merletta and Sage followed more slowly. They were halfway across the drop off now, and the Center rose up from the gloom ahead of them. It was a beautiful complex, really more like a city. Its buildings shot up from the ocean floor, tall, smooth, and even. They ascended in layers, one particularly tall spire marking the central point. A thick coral reef formed a living ring around the whole place, signaling the end of the drop off that separated the Center from the rest of the triple kingdoms.
Merletta checked her pace as they drew near, and Sage matched her. The others drifted past them. Oliver made straight for the Center, without so much as a glance at Merletta, but a young merman whom she didn’t recognize cast a curious look back at her as he passed.
“I’m so glad you’re back,” Sage said warmly, once everyone was out of earshot. “I still can’t believe you disappeared off for your break without even saying goodbye. I thought you said you were planning to spend your month off in the Center. At first I thought something had happened to you, but I figured that I would have heard if that was true. I was just being alarmist.”
Merletta swallowed. Sage truly had no idea. Where did she even begin?
“Did you spend the break in Tilssted after all?” Sage pressed, when Merletta didn’t speak. “With the friend you’ve told me about?”
Merletta came to a stop, turning to face Sage. She shook her head slowly.
Sage’s forehead was creased now, and she stopped as well, hovering far above the ocean floor, which was dark but visible at the bottom of the drop off.
“I was just being alarmist, wasn’t I?” she said. “When I thought something had happened to you? I really was nervous not hearing from you for a whole month. I thought at least you’d want to talk over these new developments. Everything’s been in such an uproar at the Center—it’s a crazy time to have been away.”
“What new developments?” Merletta said quickly. “What did Ileana tell you?”
Sage blinked in astonishment. “Ileana? What do you mean?”
“No, you go first,” Merletta insisted. “What did I miss?”
“But you must know,” Sage said blankly. “Everyone must have heard, even in Tilssted.”
