Water gently lapped the logs and rocks by the docks as Baetica, and Cidaris broke the surface between the boats.

Someone tapped his fin from under the surface. Pushing Cidaris beneath the waves, Baetica braced himself for a lecture on violating the prince’s order and bringing an untrained child this close to shore.

Nucello bobbed below the surface. His hands on his hips—a stark contrast to the excited grin on his face. “Now just what are you doing in these waters? I do believe my cousin told you to stay far away from here.”

Baetica crossed his arms and glared at the merman.

“Fine. I want in. Now what’s going on.”

“We found a note in the water about Count Derrin being here,” blurted Cidaris, before checking himself and glancing over at Baetica. When Baetica nodded slightly, Cidaris grinned. “We thought it was worth checking out.”

“Ah, and we figured this would be a good time to get his fins wet?” Nucello tilted his head in Cidaris’ direction.

Baetica nodded again and swam for the surface. Cidaris and Nucello surfaced beside him.

“What do we say if they spot us?” asked Cidaris. “Or do we just swim away without a word?”

Baetica arched his eyebrow at Cidaris. “We are here to measure this threat,” he waved the sodden page in Cidaris’ face. “Once we determine whether or not there is a risk to us and our peace with the humans of Razadak, we will be off and they will be none the wiser.” He dipped below the surface and swam closer to the shore before popping up again. Looking around, he spotted no nearby humans, so he waved Cidaris closer.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

He watched as his cousin slipped below the surface and winced at the sudden splash when his cousin’s tail broke the waters. When his cousin reached him, he put his hand down to hold Cidaris under the water while he scanned for any passing Zandenites. He noted Nucello doing the same from where he was waiting to be called from where Cidaris had been. The commotion seemed to have been overlooked.

Slowly he raised his hand out of the water and Cidaris’ head popped up beneath his palm. He was quiet, but not as quiet as Baetica could have managed and not nearly as quietly as Baetica would have liked. Suppressing a groan at his cousin’s inexperience, he signaled that they should both go beneath the surface together. Nucello would keep watch. At least he knew how to travel near humans without being spotted.

Once they were under the water, he leaned his head closer and whispered into Cidaris’ ear—not that it was strictly necessary, as far as he was aware the humans couldn’t hear under water, but more because he hoped to impress the seriousness of their situation upon his cousin. “If we are seen, we will swim away without any remark. Let them come to their own conclusions about why we were here and what we have done.”

The young merman nodded solemnly. “Alright, give me a spear then. Just to be on the safe side.”

Baetica suppressed a laugh and responded with as much composure as he could manage, “No. A weapon may cause you to linger when you should leave.” His aunt and uncle would never forgive him if Cidaris was mounted on a fisherman’s wall.

“Oh, come on,” whined Cidaris. “You said we were here to cause trouble. How am I supposed to do that if you won’t even let me hold a spear?”

“You are not a warrior,” called Nucello from the surface.

Baetica glanced up and noticed that the other merman was low enough in the water that his mouth and one ear were below the surface, but his other ear and both eyes were above the waves to keep watch.

“Should you be spotted,” continued Nucello, “dance like a seahorse impressing its mate. They may be too stunned to do anything but watch.”

“I’m more likely to sink than impress anyone.”

The sound of Nucello’s chuckles filled their ears. “That works even better.”

“Come,” said Baetica before Cidaris could get offended. “Let us be off to the manor to learn what we may.”