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Whirling around, Merletta released her words bluntly. “It’s all right to tell me, Sage. Would it be too embarrassing for Andre to have the Tilssted trainee at his celebration? Would it, I don’t know, damage his reputation?”
“No!” said Sage, sounding distressed. “Honestly, it’s not that. Andre’s never seemed worried about that kind of thing to me.”
“Then it wouldn’t be inappropriate for me to ask to come?” Merletta asked, her skin burning with discomfort.
“Well…” Sage hesitated. “If I were you, I don’t think I’d ask to come, Merletta.”
Merletta wanted to shrink into herself, once again not meeting her friend’s eye. Usually she felt very at ease with Sage, but this was quickly becoming one of the most awkward conversations of her life. If she didn’t have such a specific reason for wanting to be at Andre’s celebration, she would definitely have dropped the whole thing by now.
“Of course you wouldn’t,” Merletta said, her voice stiff. “I wouldn’t ask for an invitation in ordinary circumstances, either. But I need to be there for a particular reason. Would it really be so bad?”
Sage hesitated, clearly searching for words. Before she could speak, however, a new figure surged into the room.
“What are you guys talking about?” Serena asked brightly.
“Go away, Serena,” Sage said crisply, scowling at her little sister.
“Nope,” said Serena. “Mother told me I’m allowed to be in here.”
“She did not!” scoffed Sage. “This is Merletta’s space.”
“I don’t mind her being in here,” said Merletta diplomatically, as she slung her satchel over her back. “Weren’t we leaving, anyway?”
Sage still looked troubled, but she made no further protest. Leaving Serena in sole possession of the territory, they swam out into the streets of Skulssted.
Chapter Two
Andre’s family lived in an entirely different part of Skulssted from Sage’s, and the plankton lanterns were well and truly glowing by the time the two mermaids reached his dwelling.
At Sage’s request, Merletta explained her reasoning for wishing to attend the celebration during the swim. When they came to a stop outside the relevant house, Sage still looked unconvinced.
But Merletta was distracted from their conversation by the sight of Andre’s home. It was larger than Sage’s, but less embellished. The stones were cut with precision, and there were no decorative plants poking out of windows.
“It looks like the home of a guard,” noted Merletta.
Sage cast an appraising look over the dwelling. “It does, doesn’t it? Andre’s father came to the dining hall that one time, didn’t he? He seemed fairly severe, from memory.”
Merletta nodded, swimming forward to rap smartly at the door.
“Merletta, wait!” Sage said, once again sounding awkward as she hurried after her friend. “About you coming to Andre’s celebration. It’s…it’s a good thought. Or, it would be, if…”
“If what?” Merletta pressed, her ears catching movement within the house as someone responded to the summons.
“Perhaps I could ask my mother again,” Sage muttered to herself, instead of answering.
Merletta stared at her, bewildered, but at that moment the door swung open, to reveal the very merman whom Sage had mentioned a minute before.
“Good evening, sir,” Merletta said respectfully. “We’ve met before, but you most likely don’t remember me. I’m—”
“Trainee Merletta,” he interjected, his crimson tail giving a barely perceptible flick. “I remember. What brings you here, Trainee?”
“We were hoping to congratulate Andre on his successful test,” Sage cut in quickly, drawing the guard’s gaze to her face. “My name is Sage, of the Skulssted family Clearfoam. My mother is Rowena, and my father—”
“Ah yes.” Andre’s father cut her off curtly, although his posture relaxed slightly. “Skulssted Clearfoams, yes, Andre has mentioned you. And I saw your names on the list for tomorrow’s celebration. Your mother is a record holder, is she not?”
“She is, sir,” Sage acknowledged. She glanced at Merletta. “And Merletta is a guest of my family during her break between her second and third year studies.”
“Well, well, you’d both best come in,” said the guard, his voice now pleasant enough.
