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Sage swam forward obediently. Merletta followed more slowly, her bemused gaze on her friend’s back. She’d never heard Sage introduce herself that way. Was her family high-ranking in some way Merletta didn’t know about? Or was it just that her mother was a record holder?
When they entered the dwelling’s main living space, it was to see a flurry of activity as the family cleared up the meal. At first Merletta was overwhelmed by a general impression of chaos as the room seemed full of brawny bodies, but a moment’s observation showed that there was a rigid order to the method by which the task was being completed. A quick count showed one middle-aged mermaid—presumably Andre’s mother—and six mermen.
“Merletta, Sage!” Andre’s cheerful voice drew both mermaids’ attention to him, as he emerged from the flurry of tails and limbs. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
“We wanted to congratulate you on passing your first year test,” Merletta told him, borrowing Sage’s excuse.
Andre beamed, but before he could respond, one of the other mermen in the room paused in passing to elbow him hard in the ribs.
“Don’t congratulate him,” the merman protested. “Commiserations would be more in order.”
Andre rolled his eyes, not even bothering to respond to the sally. “Come on,” he said to Sage and Merletta. “Let’s go outside where we can breathe.”
He led them through a formal living area and out a doorway to a large private coral garden.
“It’s so nice to see you both,” he said, his eyes bright. “You especially, Merletta. It’s been ages.”
“Is that your family?” Sage asked, casting a dazed look back toward the dining room.
Andre nodded, his face splitting into a grin. “Bit different from your family meals, I’m guessing. Something tells me you have servants who clear away your leftovers, right?”
“Well, uh…yes,” Sage admitted, a little too obvious in her avoidance of Merletta’s eye.
“So could we, if we wanted to,” Andre said comfortably. “But Father doesn’t believe in luxuries. Everyone has to do their part, like one of his patrol squads.”
Merletta cleared her throat, diplomatically refraining from pointing out that the fresh oysters she’d seen being removed from the table were very much a luxury where she came from.
“Why was one of them commiserating your success in your test?” she asked instead.
“Oh, ignore him,” said Andre dismissively. “Didn’t I ever tell you that I have four older brothers?”
Merletta stared at him. “No.”
“Yep,” he said, with flourish. “And all four of them are either in training or already qualified to be Skulssted guards, like my father. I’m kind of the albino dolphin of the family.”
Sage snorted. “Because training to be a record holder is such a rebellious pathway.”
“Do they all live here?” Merletta pressed, fascinated by these details.
“Not normally,” said Andre. “But they’re here for tomorrow, because of…uh…”
He trailed off, and Merletta jumped on the opening. “Your birthday and test-passing celebration,” she finished for him. “That’s the other reason we came to speak to you.” She paused, looking around carefully to make sure they were really alone. “Will August’s wife be there?”
Andre looked astonished. “Eloise? Yes, I believe she’s coming.”
“Excellent.” Merletta gave a determined nod. “This is as good an opportunity as I’m going to get.”
“Opportunity for what?” Andre asked.
Merletta drew in a mouthful of cool, salty water. “Andre, I never got the chance to properly tell you about my test a few weeks ago.”
Andre cast a glance around the walled garden before dropping his voice. “You mean about the armed guards waiting to kill you afterward? Emil told me.”
“Didn’t you wonder how I managed to evade them?” Merletta pressed.
Andre nodded. “How?”
“I had help.” Merletta watched his face carefully.
