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“I have found you a tutor for the ways of humans.”
I slammed my hands against the table, wincing at the impact. “I will never learn anything about those creatures.”
Mother frowned. “You have to. It is your duty.”
“I don’t care. Honestly, Mother, how do you think I’d feel after spending day after day in the sick ward, tending to the wounds humans made?”
“She does have a point, dearest.”
My mother shot him a scathing look. He just grinned delightedly and kissed her on the cheek. Mother turned her glare to me, but I held my ground. “You have no choice in this matter, Allura. You need to learn about them. If we don’t find a way to mend our relationship with humans, we will continue to be hunted and slaughtered.”
She paused, straightening her back. “There is a position on the human land that has been filled recently, in an attempt to mitigate our feud.” She bared her sharp teeth in a ghost of a smile. “Our kind has caused them enough trouble, too, with the loss of their riches to the bottom of the sea. Our magic did that, too, not just the ocean.”
I snorted, completely unladylike, and Mother shot me a look. “It’s always about their treasures.”
“Don’t act like you don’t like baubles,” said Father.
With a shrug, I nodded. “Of course I do. But I wouldn’t kill for them.”
“Nevertheless,” cut in Mother. “You are to learn their ways so we may greet our ambassadors. They will be visiting our city early next week.”
I shot up from my seat. “You’re bringing the enemy here? Now they’ll know where we live.”
“Do you take me for a fool, daughter?” asked Mother. “They cannot make it to our city without our magic. It has always been that way.”
“Their mages are powerful,” I said. “Do not underestimate them.”
“I will not be lectured by someone who does not take her duties seriously. Your tutor will be here tomorrow. Do not disobey me, Allura.”
Father nodded at me encouragingly and I slumped, defeated. I did not have the energy after the sick ward to continue to stand my ground. “Fine, Mother.”
I shoved my plate back, no longer hungry. “Good night.”
Mother’s mouth dropped open. “You’re going to bed this early?”
I merely lifted my shoulders slightly, not answering, and swam out of the room, heading to mine. I shut my door tightly, turning the stone contraption to lock it.
Settling into my hammock, I picked up a book I’d been reading. All our books came from before the fall, when our city was on land. Since then, we hadn’t found a successful way to keep paper from disintegrating. It seemed like a witch’s spell, and there were no witches in our city. All our new books and notes were on stone, carved by stone quills. Thankfully, every merperson had enough magic to smoothly and quickly carve out their letters, rather than having to chip away for hours.
Bored, I set my book to the side and stared up at the ceiling. I was trying to figure out ways to end my tutoring session tomorrow—faked sickness would only get me so far—when someone knocked on the door.
The stone scraped against the floor, deepening the well-worn grooves. Nerus and Nixie stood there, and I raised my eyebrow at them. “What?”
“We’re going to a party by the cavern. Do you want to come?” asked Nixie, her eyes pleading.
I pursed my lips, debating for a minute. Merpeople parties usually lasted late into the night. If I were tired for my lesson, maybe I’d be able to zone most of it out. “Sure.”
“Squiggles, want to go?”
A squeak and a shake of his head before he shot back into his tangle of weeds told me all I needed to know. I joined the others, shutting my door behind me.
Nerus swam ahead, leading the way, and I hung back purposefully next to Nixie. “Are you sure you want me along?” I whispered.
She nodded, her eyes desperate. “I suggested the party to him, but he wouldn’t go unless you were.”
“Nixie, you know you shouldn’t waste your time on losers. If he’s not choosing you, he’s an idiot.”
“I know, I know,” she said, twisting her hair into a rope. “I just keep hoping if we’re around each other enough, he’ll... I don’t know.”
