I tried to put what she was saying together.“So, you mean that you are at war with other mer tribes.”
She nodded slowly, as if she wasn’t fully certain that was correct.“Yes. When we happen across other mer tribes, we have war.”
“But you said you go the other direction if you see other mers.”
“Yes. That is true. Fighting is only if going our own way does not work to avoid the conflict. It has been many, many years since we have engaged in a hunt, or in war, as you say. The ocean is big enough that we can share, and for the few tribes that do not migrate through the seas, we respect their chosen territory. We were close to the Volitan tribe only days ago, but avoided contact.”
We’d been near another mer tribe, and I hadn’t even realized. Close to a fight too, it seemed.“Why would you be at war with other mers?”
She looked at me, a sadness flickering across her face.“Why is it humans have war?”
I wasn’t sure if she really meant the question to be rhetorical, but that’s how I left it. I had no idea how to begin explaining all the reasons humans engaged in warfare, just and unjust reasons alike. I couldn’t really explain it to myself, let alone someone from a different species and culture. Of course, maybe that was exactly Syleen’s point.
Looking at the mers swimming around us left me with a different impression than before. Lovely, yes, but thinking of them fighting, being at war, it was nearly impossible to picture. Not only did they not have magic to help them, have a low birthrate, and were as destructible as humans, but they also killed each other from time to time. No wonder they seemed on the verge of extinction.
Again, as Syleen spoke, I didn’t think she was really speaking to me, but more to herself.“I’ve heard of times when mers were not at war with each other. Tales of great feasts and celebrations between the tribes. These were long before my time. I have never seen proof of such stories.”
“If the tribes are at war with each other, how did Wrell come to be part of your tribe?”
A soft smile curved her lips, giving her plain features a rather lovely light.“There are exceptions to everything, as you surely know, Brett.”She looked forward, directing her gaze at Wrell’s back.“It was actually your father, Therin, and Riendt who are responsible for Wrell being a part of us.”She looked back at me.“You would not know Riendt. He is no longer with us.”
I remembered Riendt. The father of Ventait, who was stolen and his mom killed herself. I couldn’t remember her name. I didn’t see any reason to correct Syleen, since I wasn’t sure how she’d respond to knowing that Lelas had told me parts of recent mer history. Maybe she wouldn’t care. This conversation was blowing my mind, so maybe we were past all the drama.
“Riendt and your father were out hunting.”A gentle laugh echoed behind her words.“Or, more likely, were simply out racing. Riendt and Therin were always trying to prove to the other who was the fastest swimmer. It was not until Riendt was gone that Therin conceded the title to him.”
She looked around as if to see who was close to us. She paused when her gaze reached Therin a few yards in front. She looked back to me, and this time when she spoke, I knew I was the only one who could hear what she said. I’m not sure how I could tell. I just knew. I figured it was a good sign. Maybe one that meant I would soon figure out how to direct my thoughts as well.
“I am not sure of the entire tale. To be honest, I doubt that I was given the full details. The few I have are gruesome enough. I assume Therin and Riendt are the only ones who know it all, and possibly Wrell, depending on how much he remembers.”
Again, she paused. Whether she was gathering her thoughts, debating how much to tell me, or bracing for the upcoming story, I wasn’t sure. When she began, her words were quieter, a greater tinge of respect framing each one.
“Therin and Riendt came upon Wrell and his mother. They were under attack from several sharks. From what I understand, Wrell had a deep wound on the underbelly of his tail and was bleeding profusely. I do not recall hearing where the wound came from. It was not from the sharks, but they believed it was what drew the sharks upon the mother and Wrell, and even that detail they received from Wrell after the fact. He was so young that his perception may have been skewed.”
“He was young? You mean he was just a kid when they found him?”
She nodded.“Yes. Wrell was only four or five years old, at least to the best of our understanding and comparing him to the size of our own young. However, as a tribe, the Volitans are larger than us, so I suppose it may be feasible that he was even younger, but I would venture that we are fairly accurate.”
“Wait, didn’t you just say we were close to the Volitan tribe a few days ago?”
Syleen nodded again.
“We were close to Wrell’s tribe, and he didn’t even know?”
“Yes. He knew. He can tell when they are close. Wrell is the reason we were able to avoid them.”
She waited to see if I was going to ask another question, then continued when I didn’t. There were too many things to ask questions about to be able to actually pick one to ask.
“Wrell and his mother had no weapons, but the Volitans are a fierce tribe. Therin and Riendt said the mother had somehow already killed two of the sharks before she was killed herself. I cannot fathom how she was capable of such a feat. Though I have heard from those who have birthed children that there is nothing they would not be able to do in order to protect their young.”A wistful expression passed over her face, but she forced it away.“Presumably, it was the blood of these two sharks that drew their attention and prompted them to inspect what was happening. In essence, even though she lost her life, she was successful in saving her child by drawing Therin and Riendt to them. They do not know how she survived as long as she did, as they arrived in time to see her ripped apart by two of the other sharks around her. She had been backed into a crevasse of stone and had managed to get Wrell behind her before the sharks attacked fully. Therin and Riendt never went anywhere unarmed, even on their races, and they were quickly able to kill the remaining sharks. I do not think they even noticed Wrell until after the blood had begun to fade.”
“He remembers this?”
She gave a motion that was part nod, part shrug.“To some degree. He woke up in fits of terror for over a year after he came to us. He said very little about what happened, but between the trauma he demonstrated during that time and knowing Wrell as I do, I imagine there is little that has escaped his mind.”
“No wonder he doesn’t say anything.”
“That is the way of the Volitans. They communicate through images, not through words as we do.”
“The whole tribe isn’t able to speak?”
