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“I’ll be eighteen in a few days.”
“Definitely time for an upgrade,” the other mermaid said. “Isn’t it part of your uniform, as a trainee?”
Merletta shrugged. “I think it’s supposed to be, but…”
“But what?” The apprentice gave her a shrewd look. “They’re not in a rush to meet all their obligations with the trainee from Tilssted?”
“Well…”
Merletta hesitated, but why should she cover for the Center? It was perfectly true that those in charge of the program had not only failed to provide her with the education and resources she was entitled to as a trainee, but they’d often gone out of their way to make it difficult for her to succeed.
“That’s it in a clamshell, yes,” she said frankly. “I doubt I’ll be offered a new uniform anytime soon.”
“We can’t have that,” said the apprentice bossily. “You’re one of us, and you’re the only one of us who’s one of them. It won’t do for you to look like less. I can hook you up.” She narrowed her eyes as she took in Merletta’s form again. “I reckon I’ve got a pair waiting for processing right now that would fit perfectly.”
“That’s very kind,” said Merletta quickly. “But I don’t think I could wear them. They have to match the rest of the trainees’ shells, and—”
The other girl cut her off with a laugh. “Bless you, love, who do you think supplies the shells for the Center, and the other fancy folk in Skulssted and Hemssted? I know what type of shells you need, don’t fret.”
“Again, I appreciate the offer,” Merletta tried. “But I don’t have any means to pay for it, to be honest.”
“Don’t worry about that,” said the apprentice. “For you, no charge at all.”
“Well…all right,” said Merletta, feeling a little dazed by the force of the other girl’s personality. Was this how Tish had always felt with her? “Thank you, then. When should I come back to get them?”
“I’ll get started on them tonight,” said the girl. “Come by the tower in three or four days.”
“I’ll come on rest day,” Merletta said. She cast a glance at Tish, suddenly remembering that she’d expressed a desire to distance herself from her now highly visible childhood friend. “I mean, if that’s all right.”
“Of course it is.” Tish smiled, but the expression didn’t reach her eyes.
Merletta squirmed a little at the awkwardness of it all—it was so hard to believe that things had really come to such a point with Tish, once the only one she felt comfortable with—but she couldn’t really back out now.
“Great,” she said half-heartedly. “You never told me what you’re doing here, by the way. Your work tower isn’t around here.”
“We were visiting the home, actually,” Tish said.
Merletta’s thoughts must have shown, because the other apprentice jumped in again.
“I can see you’re surprised, and I don’t blame you. If I hadn’t just seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed any place could be so cheerless! Bunch of crusty crabs. If I’d grown up there, I doubt I’d want back in anytime soon. But it makes me all the more supportive of Letitia’s idea. She’s trying to set up a sponsor program where apprentices like us can help some of the older beneficiaries find their way into apprenticeships. Good thought, if you ask me.”
“A brilliant thought,” said Merletta, both surprised and impressed as her eyes rested on Tish.
The other mermaid had always had a kind heart, but Merletta had never known her friend to show such initiative before.
“Maybe you could take part,” said the other apprentice eagerly. “Come and speak about the training program, explain the pathway to get in and such like.”
Merletta bit her lip. She had a strong feeling that idea would not be sanctioned by her instructors, and if she even considered it, she’d have to be very careful what she said, given that most of the training program was supposed to be highly confidential.
“I’ll give it some thought,” she said noncommittally.
“Good,” the other girl said. “We can talk more about it when you come to get your shells. You know how to find the tower?”
Merletta nodded.
“Good, good,” said the apprentice. Her voice darkened. “Assuming we’re still there, and haven’t been knocked down.”
“What do you mean?” Merletta asked, alarmed.
