Hadama had spent a long day out on the reef with his rangers, inspecting the coral and the plants where the voidshell tumseas had passed. He knew little enough about coral and aquaculture, but as king it was still his duty to survey the damage and listen to the recommendations of his people who did know about it. By evening he would have to send the orders out for the farmers, fishers, and hunters to root out any corals and associated sea life too corrupt to recover, whenever they came across them.
The reef was healthy enough to survive some pruning now, but the long term effects of continuing to do so weighed heavily on his mind as he swam slowly past the marketplace and towards the palace, lost in thought. He could have aquaported back, but he wanted time to think, and the swim had done him some good.
He moved with grace through the water, the broad wings that spread from his shoulders stroking with a quiet strength through the currents. He wore a simple harness over his chest for attaching smaller bags and nets to, and holding tools that he found useful. Three things set him apart from most other Merfolk, however: the golden tattoos that covered his scars on the brown skin of his torso and the black scales of his manta half; the fine jewelry that he wore at ears and neck and wrists, including the silver armlet around one thick bicep; and the trident made of coral of starlight that he carried across his back within the peaceful fathoms of the city.
The shortest route from the direction he was coming from was through the back door of the palace, but as he neared his destination his path was partially blocked by the long curling legs of an octopus Mer and Hadama slowed as he approached her. Your pardon, he murmured, arching his muscular frame up and over her before noting the burden she carried. Would you like help with that?
The reef was healthy enough to survive some pruning now, but the long term effects of continuing to do so weighed heavily on his mind as he swam slowly past the marketplace and towards the palace, lost in thought. He could have aquaported back, but he wanted time to think, and the swim had done him some good.
He moved with grace through the water, the broad wings that spread from his shoulders stroking with a quiet strength through the currents. He wore a simple harness over his chest for attaching smaller bags and nets to, and holding tools that he found useful. Three things set him apart from most other Merfolk, however: the golden tattoos that covered his scars on the brown skin of his torso and the black scales of his manta half; the fine jewelry that he wore at ears and neck and wrists, including the silver armlet around one thick bicep; and the trident made of coral of starlight that he carried across his back within the peaceful fathoms of the city.
The shortest route from the direction he was coming from was through the back door of the palace, but as he neared his destination his path was partially blocked by the long curling legs of an octopus Mer and Hadama slowed as he approached her. Your pardon, he murmured, arching his muscular frame up and over her before noting the burden she carried. Would you like help with that?
