Lysi gave my hand a squeeze, catching my eye. We both suppressed a smirk.
As we approached the shipwreck, the prickling of iron worsened. Lysi must have felt it, too, because her aura became subdued. I supposed all these merpeople had learned to live with the discomfort.
A canyon yawned beneath the ship, curving out of sight. The rock walls were indented with dozens of caves—whether natural or carved by merpeople, I couldn’t tell. Many had wooden doors or seaweed across the entrances.
At least two hundred mermaids and mermen must have been here, judging by the number moving about the canyon. Some brought their families. Children moved in flocks—or were they called pods or schools? I had a distant memory of Lysi telling me mermaid families usually had enormous amounts of children.
Of the few here with northern appearances, I wondered how they’d come to join this group from the South Pacific. It inspired hope that the different underwater cultures might be able to join forces. And if they were happy to work with each other, maybe they could also ally with humans.
Galene stopped us at the mouth of the canyon. A group of teens beyond it turned to stare.
“Get Dione,” Galene barked at them. “I have mermaids from Eriana Kwai.”
They flitted away, and she turned to consider Lysi.
“Look at the state of you, poor thing. You’ve had such a long trip.” She pulled a clump of seaweed from Lysi’s hair.
Ugh.Were all merpeople this forward?
“It was tiring,” I said shortly. “Think you could go grab us those herring eggs?”
Galene smiled at Lysi as though she hadn’t heard me. From the canyon, a southern mermaid approached.
Dione had a regal presence about her, with dark skin, dark eyes, and dark hair. Every bone in her body was distinct, like she had been chiselled from stone. Braids floated eerily around her head, supported by kelp buoys. A row of diamonds pierced her left collarbone.
“It’s you!” said Lysi. Then she seemed to come to herself and said, “I mean, hi.”
Dione offered a smile. “I wondered if fate would lead you to us. The gods did not disappoint me.”
She spoke in a deep, pronounced dialect that I had to strain to understand.
“We never properly met. I am Dione, member of the queen’s council and lead representative at Kori Maru.”
“I’m Lysithea. This is Meela.” Lysi turned to me, face alight. “Dione is the one who saved me from the serpent at Eriana Kwai.”
“And I expect your knowledge of the serpent will prove valuable. Please, come with me.”
She drifted into the canyon. We followed, leaving Galene behind.
“You know where to find me, sugarkelp,” she called after Lysi.
I snarled. Lysi laughed and kissed me on the cheek.
As we drifted nearer to the wreck, we attracted stares from everyone we passed. Either new allies seldom joined them, or there was something strange about us.
Lysi tried to smooth her hair. I took her cue and did the same to the poufy mats that had once been braids.
Dione led us into a cavern beneath the ship. Unfortunately, this was not a private grotto where we would be able to rest. Several merpeople were gathered around a stone slab acting as a table. They looked up when we entered.
They were all from the South, with tails of sundry colours and gems glinting across their bodies. Nearest to us were three young mermen who must have been my and Lysi’s age, lean and muscular, not yet scarred by battle. On the far side floated a mermaid whose hair was white-blonde. Next to her was a merman with waist-length dreadlocks and a ring in his nose.
Lysi crossed her arms across her stomach, as though trying to hide how grimy and chapped her skin had become during the trek.
“This is the mermaid I spoke of,” said Dione. “She has information on the serpent.”
Lysi and I exchanged a glance. This abruptness surprised me. I knew the Reinas would want information about it, but I’d thought we would have a bit of time to learn their plan first. Suddenly apprehensive, I wondered how much we should tell them. All that time Lysi and I had spent alone and we hadn’t once discussed what we would say, or what we shouldn’t.
“Girls,” said one of the young mermen, darting over. “Welcome to the Maru.”
