He furrowed his eyebrows.
“But will there be another big monster, do you think?” I asked. “Because I don’t think...”
“Oh, there you are!” someone yelled from behind us. Levent and I both jumped and turned toward the sound. Feenaly trudged toward us through the silvery trees in the garden.
I glanced at Levent. “Oops,” I said.
“What- what happened?” the mermaid yelped, gesturing at my ink-stained clothes and the scattered mess of parchment.
“I fell down,” I said, standing up and brushing myself off. Levent quickly gathered up the papers and stood up himself.
“Bwuh.” Feenaly puffed up her cheeks, shaking herself awake. “Let us get back inside. I’m sure you must be tired.”
She headed back toward the tower. Levent and I followed, a little slower.
“I have a question,” I said after a moment.
“What’s that,” he said.
“How was it that I was able to sneak up on you? Even Feenaly just now...” I glanced up at him with an impish smile.
Levent frowned, rolling his eyes just a little. “It’s the wind,” he said.
“Pardon?”
“There is none,” he said. “I couldn’t smell you. Or her.”
I blinked. “Wait. Smell? You smell us?”
“Yes. So?” He looked down at me.
“But, isn’t that kind of... weird?” I said, flailing my hands a little.
“I don’t think so,” he said, turning away and walking a little faster than me.
“But smell? I mean, what do I smell like? I can’t smell that much! You can smell me from that far – hey!” I scuttled after him. We reached the doorway with the guards. “What do I smell like?” I asked.
“Like you,” he said simply, trudging off in the opposite direction from my room.
“What does that – Levent!” I said. I frowned as he walked off. “Good night!” I yelled.
Without turning, he lifted his hand in a short wave. I shook my head.