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The mermaid chuckled. “I do this for a living, you know.”
“Very nicely matched pair,” said one of the other apprentices, studying Merletta’s new shells with a professional eye. “You did well with those.”
“They were intended for the daughter of Lady Waverider, as part of her uniform for school,” said the mermaid cheerfully. “I redirected them.”
Merletta didn’t know whether to laugh or grimace. The rest of the apprentices knew no such uncertainty—uproarious laughter met this announcement. Evidently the lady in question was known to them, and not popular.
“Well, they look great,” called one voice.
“Absolutely, an excellent match for your skin tone,” approved another.
Merletta couldn’t help grinning. She didn’t even mind the intense level of scrutiny being leveled at her form. It was so pleasant to feel part of a large and boisterous crowd. Although her friends at the program were wonderful, they were such a small and sedate group. She couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to live in such a bustling community. She’d never been accepted like this in the charity home.
The comparison drew her up. She remembered what Tish had told her soon after she’d started her apprenticeship. She’d said the apprentices were depressingly similar to the beneficiaries they’d grown up with, that there was always someone willing to carry tales. She shouldn’t let herself be lulled into carelessness by their approval. She was popular in Tilssted now, for reasons which she still found a little strange. But while that might make them outwardly friendly to her, it guaranteed nothing about what they might do behind her back. And any mis-stroke she made could have ramifications for Tish.
“Have you thought more about the sponsor program?” The tall apprentice eyed Merletta. “About whether you could help out?”
“Uh…not really,” Merletta admitted.
The other mermaid nodded. “I suppose it’s a little more complicated for you to come talk about what you do than for any of us.”
Merletta nodded, grateful for the offered out. “A little, yes.”
“Did you really mean it that you would live outside the barrier?”
The new voice surprised Merletta. The speaker was a stranger to her, and certainly hadn’t been present when she’d made the comment.
“I told them all what you said,” the other apprentice boomed, no hint of apology in her voice. “Everyone was really interested.”
Merletta felt a sinking feeling in her gut, and her eyes flew involuntarily to Tish. Her friend looked nervous, one finger curling around a strand of her pale hair in the way it always did when she was anxious.
Tish dropped her eyes, and Merletta looked away, to find every other eye at the table fixed expectantly on her.
“What I said,” she started carefully, “was that with the right planning and protection, I’d be willing to try.”
“You’re not worried about all the dangerous creatures out there?” chimed in another apprentice.
Merletta shrugged. “I’m not saying there’d be no risk. But that’s where the planning comes in. There are ways to protect against predators. The guards manage it on their patrols, don’t they? When’s the last time we lost one of them to a shark attack?”
“But we did lose some to something, didn’t we?” someone pointed out.
“Yeah, aren’t you worried about land sickness?” a dark-haired mermaid asked, her eyes wide.
Merletta met her gaze, debating with herself. Part of her mind was repeating the need to proceed with care among these strangers. But on the other hand, their questions were perfectly reasonable. Why should she lie to them to protect the Center’s secrets? Surely she could answer them without incriminating herself.
“No,” she said simply. “I’m not.”
“Or dragons?” another asked, seeming fascinated by Merletta’s calm.
“I’m not worried about them, either,” said Merletta.
“Brave, or stupid?” muttered a voice from the back, and a few sniggers sounded.
Merletta shrugged. “Neither, especially.”
“You are brave,” Tish piped up unexpectedly. “You always have been.”
Merletta smiled at her friend, warmed by the display of loyalty. That was the Tish she knew, who was so kind-hearted she would always think well of Merletta even when everyone else hated her—even when Merletta’s behavior didn’t entirely justify the good opinion.
