The mermanta was not caught in the shower, as luck would have it. He instinctively reached out with his magic to arrest the water's fall as the orb broke apart, each drop held motionless and shining in the Longheat sunshine. For a moment he paused to consider what he had done, a hint of surprise in his eyes at the level of control he was able to exert. The droplets began to move, not down, but around, regathering themselves into four new orbs that were now only the size of large golf balls.
"Perhaps I will get lucky this time," he murmured, the ghost of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Then the smaller targets began their flights towards Maeve. The first curved to the right this time before speeding up and flying towards the Queen's shoulder. The second, a few seconds later, mirrored the path from the left. The third and fourth were spaced more closely together but came straight on: one aimed high and the other flying low, a little off to the side.
"Perhaps I will get lucky this time," he murmured, the ghost of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Then the smaller targets began their flights towards Maeve. The first curved to the right this time before speeding up and flying towards the Queen's shoulder. The second, a few seconds later, mirrored the path from the left. The third and fourth were spaced more closely together but came straight on: one aimed high and the other flying low, a little off to the side.
