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“No.”
Permula raises her hand. “Ophelia Drakos is sponsoring you?”
“Yes.”
It’s Seolfor with his hand up like a teacher’s pet. “Were you aware that your mate wasn’t following orders?”
“No.”
His other hand goes up. “Do you believe officers should follow orders?”
I pause. This sounds like I’m going to get Nico in trouble. It’s one of those questions, like does this dress make me look fat? Or am I not smart enough to understand the material for this test? I’m not coming out of this one unscathed.
I go could go with my former inner good girl would say, yes. But instead I say. “If it’s my beliefs being used, then no.” And I immediately regret it. But I purse my lips.
Permula’s hand is up. “Should your mate have brought back the Skyrothasian princess instead of you?”
“I’m his mate.”
Her other hand goes up. “If he followed the directions of the governor he is bespoke to, you would not have become his mate.”
“I am his mate. And because of his actions”—I pause, debating what to say—“our society will not die out.”
Her eyes flash, and I’m wishing I’d gone with your society instead of lumping me in with them. But I think what Nico’s done was about not leaving me out of the picture. She purses her lips and waits. Apparently, she’s out of questions until someone else speaks.
Seolfor raises his hand. “The governor’s plan to bring Skyrothasian mermaids to Doria would have let our society not die out as well. What makes you better than a princess?”
“What makes a princess better than me?”
Seolfor raises his hand. “We ask the questions.”
“Nothing.” And I want to smack him upside his silver little head. I have a feeling it’s mutual.
Diamont is acting like the introvert in the corner. Or he’s got his mind made up already. I’m not sure which. But he raises his hand. “Did you know your mate was one of our most highly decorated warriors?”
“Yes.” And now I feel like the kid whose divorced dad is trying to tell his ex-wife something by talking through the child.
Permula raises her hand. There’s a smile on her lips. “When will you be adding to your pod?”
I get the feeling she wants to palm off one of her own spawn.
“Sigtont,” Diamant says without raising his hand. Which I’m thinking means objection.
“Don’t speak,” Nico whispers out of the side of his mouth.
I roll my tongue over my teeth as we wait for a while. The judges are quiet. Five minutes pass with nothing until a bell rings.
“Nikolaos Portsmouth,” Permula says without raising her hand. And I get the feeling they’re done asking me questions.
17
Nico
I’ve answered questions about my leadership, the battle of Hestertåtten, and the battle of Boston. My intent on outing merpeople to the humans and shifters. How long I’ve been without a mother—which made me want to drive my fist down Seolfor’s throat.
Diamont raises his hand. “How would you be able to lead a force after being on trial?”
“The same way I led them before. With valor and honor.”
