Yes, he said simply. Both to the creeping horror of the deaths themselves and to finding out - and ending - the cause of it. It is not the way of the mer. And the fact that it had extended to the encantados and the realm of the sea was of particular offense.
But he listened gratefully as Ray sought a lighter topic, and at the mention of the new mother he nodded recognition. I know of her. The calving was a blessing. It has been welcome news in the undersea. Where in recent seasons - recent years - there had been little enough in that City.
The mention of puppies and kittens took the merman longer to parse. 'Cats' and 'dogs' were unusual enough, though he'd learned of them in his travels through the canals. Their offspring had their own names, of course, and he had to draw on context as well as memory before he nodded in understanding. A welcome harmony, he agreed, his approving mental voice a deep, quiet rumble like distant summer thunder.
He relaxed slowly into the more pleasant topics, and tilted his head at her in courteous inquiry.
What brings you this far from shore?
But he listened gratefully as Ray sought a lighter topic, and at the mention of the new mother he nodded recognition. I know of her. The calving was a blessing. It has been welcome news in the undersea. Where in recent seasons - recent years - there had been little enough in that City.
The mention of puppies and kittens took the merman longer to parse. 'Cats' and 'dogs' were unusual enough, though he'd learned of them in his travels through the canals. Their offspring had their own names, of course, and he had to draw on context as well as memory before he nodded in understanding. A welcome harmony, he agreed, his approving mental voice a deep, quiet rumble like distant summer thunder.
He relaxed slowly into the more pleasant topics, and tilted his head at her in courteous inquiry.
What brings you this far from shore?
