I collected the pole and chair from where they were stored near the overturned boat and walked out onto the dock with Megan and Zotera. Zotera held the pole while I set up the chair. Then, she watched me cast the hookless line.
“You should use a spear if you want to catch one,” Zotera said
Megan snorted a laugh. “I like the way you think.”
Something hit the bottom of the dock.
“How long do we have to stay here?” Zotera asked.
“Are you getting cold?” I asked, concerned. “Do you want my hat?”
“No, I’m not cold. Only curious.”
“Until sunset,” I said. “So my winter shifts aren’t too bad. Summer sucks, though.”
My phone vibrated, surprising me.
I slipped it from my pocket and looked at the screen.
Adira: The session is ineffective with Megan’s presence. She is hindering their practice and needs to leave.
I turned the phone so Megan could read it as I responded.
Me: You overestimate my influence if you believe Megan will listen to me. However, she did mention she was interested in speaking to you. Maybe you can help persuade her.
“Oh, you’re good,” Megan said.
“Thanks.”
The line on my pole pulled tautly and then snapped loose. The pole bounced in its cradle and almost went into the water. Zotera caught it, so I didn’t have to. The mermaids under the dock hissed their frustration.
“We have no quarrel with you, Megan,” one said from below the decking. “Please leave so we can do as we were told.”
“Eliana said you had a beef with the council for allowing the Oracle to continue to kill your kind.” The water churned at those words, but Megan continued with more volume. “So why are you listening to Adira?”
“That’s exactlywhywe listen, fury,” the same voice said with growing anger.
A tail whipped up from under the dock, dousing Megan with a spray of icy water. Her eyes flickered red, and steam rose from her wet hair.
“Keep it up, bottom feeders, and I’m jumping in,” she said.
“Can I jump in?” Zotera asked eagerly.
“Sure,” a voice under the dock said. “Jump in. We’d love to play.”
The flames in Megan’s eyes grew.
“I think we should stay right where we are, dry and warm,” I said to both of them. “The key to this exercise is to ignore them. If you react in any way, you’re giving them what they want.”
Something hit the underside of the dock even harder, and the ground gave a brief tremble.
“Say that to my face,” a voice said.
I glanced at Zotera and gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s nice having friends with me. Next time, we should pack a picnic.”
“That’s a great idea,” Megan said. “Have you ever had pickled herring, Zotera? A dragon once told me that herring tastes almost like mermaid.”
Tails started hitting the boards underneath us. The boards bounced, almost knocking me out of my chair. Zotera held me in place as water bubbled up between the cracks. After a few moments, everything quieted.
