Page 109 of Salt in the Seas
Nori gestured up the beach where several more soldiers carried heavy clothing and strange glass helmets. “That’s why we’ve brought our training suits.”
“Training suits,” Gaeren echoed uncertainly.
“They might be a bit snug on you,” Nori continued. “Most of ourchildren learn to control their transformations in their adolescence, so our suits are small. But we have a few larger ones that we think will do the trick. Some of our eldest have to use them again in their final days.”
“I don’t understand.” Aeliana said, even as she took the clothing passed her way.
“Transforming into our water forms might seem as simple as breathing,” Nori said, “but it’s more like walking. It’s something we learn to do when we are young, and we often stumble and fall. But when we’re older, it becomes natural. The suits are used for those who have not yet learned to control their transformation to ensure that they don’t transform underwater and drown themselves.”
Aeliana shuddered.
“It’s perfectly safe,” Nori reassured her. “We wouldn’t use it for our own children if there were any danger.”
Velden pulled on the suit without hesitation, but Gaeren and Aeliana glanced between the suits and the water.
“No offense,” Gaeren said, “but this would be an easy way for you to accidentally get rid of us all.”
Nori gnawed on her lip before responding. “I know we’ve not had a great start. Our hope is that showing you our prized cove will give you confidence that we truly wish to get along.”
“Releasing our friends from prison would probably be more convincing,” Gaeren said.
Nori winced. “You have to understand that we’re also waiting to gain the same assurance from you.”
“Maybe only one of us should go,” Aeliana said.
At this, Gaeren tensed. “Absolutely not. I stay with you.”
She held his gaze for another indecisive moment, then nodded and pulled on the suit’s trousers. Their weight alone was surprising, and she suspected it might weigh her down to allow her to walk along the sea’s floor. The glass that went over her head felt suffocating until Nori took Aeliana’s hand in hers, her webbed hand suctioning to the only exposed part of Aeliana’s skin.
“I can share my air with you in this way. If it ever feels like too little, ask for more.” She demonstrated a gesture of pinching her thumband fingers together and drawing them toward her body. “If we get separated, you have permission to remove your suit and swim to the surface. It’s deep, but not so deep that you couldn’t make it.”
Her voice sounded muffled through the glass, but Aeliana nodded her understanding.
“It will be difficult for us to communicate through speech,” Nori admitted. “It’s why we use Water Words. But if you truly must tell us something, signal to Gellen, and he can tune in to your current thoughts to translate to us.” She pointed out a soldier with dark green scales and deep purple seaweed-like hair, but the words felt more like a warning than an offer for assistance.
This man could tune in to their thoughts at any time. That might have caused her fear in the Myndren Mountains, when they approached Mayvus, but here it almost felt like an asset.
“We have nothing to hide,” she said. And it was true. Sylmar had told them they wanted to see Lady Merinnia, and that was all they’d come for. That and giving Velden the closure of returning his mother’s tail. She almost wanted Gellen to sift her mind if it would get them past their mistrust.
But she supposed they’d already done that with Sylmar. That was probably why they were even being offered this tour of the coves. The trust process was slower than Aeliana would have liked, but she had to have faith that it would eventually bear fruit. She needed answers to save her mother.
Even though the suits prevented them from floating, they were still able to swim through the water, partially pulled by their much faster, and somewhat impatient, Sayhleen guides. The journey was lengthy, but after a time Aeliana grew comfortable with the strangeness of remaining under water, obtaining air from Nori’s hand. Velden and Gaeren each had a soldier doing the same, and they made a strange procession among the school of fish and bottom dwellers. The dolphins swam ahead and returned, like dogs on a hunt leading the way. One looked familiar enough that she thought it might be Eyelee, but there was no way for her to confirm the suspicion.
Their surroundings grew darker as the sea floor sloped, but then light shone ahead, a mix of fluorescent seaweeds and unnatural lightthat had been produced by progenies. It helped highlight the full spectrum of colorful plants and sea life, an entire jungle of foreign creatures inhabiting a space Aeliana had never thought she’d be able to explore.
A coral reef spread out before them, a maze of amethyst, aqua, and turquoise fingers beckoning them to enter. Unlike the few Aeliana had seen in Lorvandas and Vendaras, this was not only an intricate pattern of plants but one that created a structure suitable for living.
Gellen turned back, his smirk directed at Aeliana.
Nori frowned and signed something to him. When he signed back, she grew angrier, her hand motions faster. Finally, Gellen rolled his eyes and swam back to Aeliana, taking her free hand.
They’re not plants. They’re animals.Gellen’s voice spoke into her mind almost the same way the sprite’s had, leaving Aeliana feeling invaded even though she found the information helpful.They created this haven for us because we also provide for them.But they’re fragile. Don’t touch them.
Gellen’s hand left hers the instant the words reached her mind, as if he couldn’t stand touching her a moment longer. Guilt flashed across his face, and she knew he’d received her own thoughts identifying the snub. Even if that hadn’t been enough proof, the fact that he’d known she’d thought of them as plants made it clear that he was constantly evaluating her thoughts, whether it was his assignment as a soldier or his preference as a progeny.
She couldn’t help appreciating Gaeren’s careful use of his noetic skills a little more.
Even so, she had nothing to hide. Might as well let Gellen keep digging.
