If Hadama was disappointed that their game of charades hadn't been successful he didn't show it. He nodded agreement to her decision to talk when they were on the surface again and allowed himself to be tugged along as they took a curving path along the outside of the City. There was more evidence of infected fish and coral there, though the merfolk guards were doing their best to root out and destroy corrupted creatures and plants when they encroached too close to habitations.
The Tidebreaker did reveal a rare frown, more relaxed in Flora's company, as they passed a section of coral that was not supposed to be purple; its vivid red antlers were now a rich violet instead, and the shadows of small black fish seemed to dart around it, hard to see directly.
The tug on his hand drew his attention back to his co-ruler and he tilted his head in a moment's thought before a twinkle came back into his eyes. He nodded slowly and indicated that she should wait while he reached into a pouch on his belt. He pulled out something that glittered and passed it to Flora to hold with feigned casualness while he continued searching for a jar they could use.
The filigree tiara was a pale gold that would gleam against Flora's hair and had been set with several polished cabochons of sea glass and sapphires to set off her eyes. It had been carefully crafted and, should she set it on her head, would be a perfect fit for Torchline's Queen.
A few moments later Hadama produced an empty bottle that had previously held Healing Fountain water before he'd offered it to Remi at Aumakua. He swam down to scoop up some sand in it before capping it and offering that to Flora, too with an inquisitive lift of a brow to see if she needed anything else while they were down in the deep.
The Tidebreaker did reveal a rare frown, more relaxed in Flora's company, as they passed a section of coral that was not supposed to be purple; its vivid red antlers were now a rich violet instead, and the shadows of small black fish seemed to dart around it, hard to see directly.
The tug on his hand drew his attention back to his co-ruler and he tilted his head in a moment's thought before a twinkle came back into his eyes. He nodded slowly and indicated that she should wait while he reached into a pouch on his belt. He pulled out something that glittered and passed it to Flora to hold with feigned casualness while he continued searching for a jar they could use.
The filigree tiara was a pale gold that would gleam against Flora's hair and had been set with several polished cabochons of sea glass and sapphires to set off her eyes. It had been carefully crafted and, should she set it on her head, would be a perfect fit for Torchline's Queen.
A few moments later Hadama produced an empty bottle that had previously held Healing Fountain water before he'd offered it to Remi at Aumakua. He swam down to scoop up some sand in it before capping it and offering that to Flora, too with an inquisitive lift of a brow to see if she needed anything else while they were down in the deep.
