I |
stared at myself in the mirror, bewildered at the transformation I had undergone. My briny human leathers had been replaced by a flowing, greenish-blue mermish garb. I smelled like flowers and my hair was curling as it dried.
I estimated it to be over an hour since I received the key to Tahninym’s temple. The king – King Julreus, I found out – had some of the tower’s servants lead the kin, Rio and I away to get prepared to what he called “dinner” and what the servants called “a grand feast.”
Thus, I had met a spritely creature by the name of Feenaly. She was a mermaid just a little taller than me and possibly half the weight. She escorted me to my room and dressed me in the strange ensemble I was examining now.
“Is the color to your liking, Miss Taimi?” Feenaly inquired from the other side of the privacy curtain. Her words heavily accented.
“Huh? Oh, yes. Thanks,” I mumbled uncomfortably. It seemed other people were dressing me quite often lately.
“The feast will be ready, soon. Shall we move to the dining hall?” She gave me a smile as I reluctantly emerged.
I gave her a slight nod. We left the room and headed back toward the main tower. The antechambers were empty as we walked, but my ears picked up a great deal of commotion ahead. Just how many people were at this feast?
Feenaly showed me to the dining hall, leaving me at the door with a polite bow.
I walked in and immediately halted.
Ahead were at least a hundred people in the huge room. They shuffled about and chatted around the long, stone table that sat in the center. Everything was adorned with coral candelabras.
I stepped backward and pulled the bright fabric of my robes around my shoulders. No one had noticed me yet, thank the ancients, but it was only a matter of time before over two hundred eyes were upon me. I was becoming nauseous at the thought.
“Naitlya,” a gruff voice said from my right. I jumped.
Levent stood there, looking just about as out of place as I among the merpeople. He, however, was at least in his own clothes. I blushed a little when I