“I’m... sorry?” I resumed walking. It’d been a foolish question. She was nothing like Gideon, besides her fair skin. Instead of blue eyes, her’s were a greenish color with flecks of blue, and even—was that, did I catch a hint of purple? It was impossible to tell while walking, with her facing the road. But while Gideon’s hair was as dark as a moonless night, her red hair grew more fiery every second as the sun rose. Where Gideon stood tall and strong, this girl was diminutive. Waif-like enough that a heavy wind could likely carry her away.
“I’m from Rusalka,” she said, as she struggled to keep up with me. She made walking look like a difficult task.
Rusalka was in the depths of the ocean; a place humans had never and would never see.
“You’re a... Meremaid?” I trailed off, staring openly now. “I’ve never, that is, I—” I stumbled over my words, searching for a respectful way to ask what in the name of Jinn had made her leave her watery kingdom? “It’s not everyday I meet a Meremaid. In fact, I don’t believe I’ve ever had the pleasure...”
“That’s because the Mere can’t stand humans.” She shrugged, smiling. “And don’t get me started on the Jinn.” She made a strange trill of disgust that sounded distinctly dolphin-like.
Even as she spoke, all I sensed around her was dead air.
Not a single thought.
Not about me, or even an inane one about what a lovely day it was or how perfect the weather.
I slowed. Memories resurfaced from my training growing up. It was rumored the Mere were immune to Jinni’s Gifts—something to do with the bad blood between the two races that led to the Mere creating protection spells and boundary lines, withdrawing to the sea over the last few centuries.
I wanted to tell Kadin. What if they would share their protection spells with the humans? Could they be convinced to share if they hated our kind so much?
I tensed, wondering if she could read my mind like Gideon, but she only kicked at the edges of the cloak as she walked, engrossed by the way it flung out with each step.
“Where’s your tail?” I blurted out. Once the words left my mouth, I cringed. I’d been away from court etiquette for too long, the crew’s honesty had rubbed off on me. I shrugged off the thought, uncomfortable with the way it made me miss them.
Fortunately, she only laughed, touching her shell necklace. “We have spells for everything.”
On the road ahead, a farmer’s cart approached, distracting me from the strange girl and reminding me of my mission. “Keep your cloak closed,” I hissed. “If he sees what you’re wearing—or rather, not wearing—he’ll have questions. I don’t have time for that.”
“We don’t?”
“Idon’t,” I repeated, emphasizing the singular. She wasnotcoming with me. “If you want someone to see you in your birthday dress, be my guest, but I’m in a hurry.”
“I don’t own a birthday dress,” she replied, keeping up with me even when I picked up my pace, stumbling less and less. “Where can I get one of those? And why are you in a hurry?”
I resisted rolling my eyes. After this was over, it would be wise to be on good terms with the Mere. I needed to tread carefully. “I have to get home. My father’s in trouble.”
“Where’s home?” she asked, obediently pulling her cloak together as the farmer drove by on his cart.
Did he notice her bare feet? Whether he did or not, he didn’t stop.
I let out a breath, pointing to where the Hodafez castle nestled on one of the mountains in the distance. “That’s it right there.”
“That’s far. How long will that take us?”
I half laughed, but her face was solemn. “I do apologize,” I said, summoning up a politeness I didn’t feel. “But I’m afraid I have to make this journey alone.”
“Why?”
My mouth opened and closed. How to tell her I planned to sneak into my own home? “I just have to.”
“But you promised me a dress.”
“I didn’t—you can’t—” I threw my hands up. “I’m not going through the front gate, okay? I need to keep my presence a secret. Having company would make that ten times harder.” There. Straightforward without being rude.
“I love secrets.” She grinned at me. “Don’t worry. I’m very good at keeping them.” The Mere didn’t seem to understand subtleties. “How long until we reach the castle?”
I blew out a breath. Glancing up at the mountains again, and the long road that stretched out across the distance, I murmured. “It’ll take all morning just to reach the town. Maybe longer.” I stopped in the road to face her. “Listen.Ifwe reach the castle without incident, andifI manage to find my way inside, andifwe actually reach my rooms without anyone discovering us, I will give you a dress if you swear not to tell a single soul.”
“I suppose I can spare a morning,” she said, as if she was doingmea favor. “Very well, I agree.”
