The King swam slowly down the canal. There had been a time when he would have stopped in the bar for a drink and a quiet greeting to its owner, watching the people gather and chatter and sing drunken songs while he quietly enjoyed their successes and their energy.
Now, he was uncertain of his welcome, and Torchline's waves were large enough this season without adding to them. The Tidebreaker was turning away, prepared to swim past on his way to the shore and the open sea beyond, when the muffled, hoarse sobbing reached his ears.
It would not be the first time someone was crying outside a bar. But there was a hopeless, wounded note to the sound that reached straight through the scars that crossed his chest and plucked lightly at the strings of his heart, pulling him nearer. As near as the water's edge would let him come, at least. In the end it did not matter who it was; one of his people was hurt, and perhaps he could offer some solace.
But in the end it did matter as emerald eyes recognized Jude in the darkness, and the Mer King paused for only a moment in stunned silence before he pulled himself out of the water until only the end of his tail still trailed in the canal. He had nothing to offer except his presence, but his deep voice was quiet as he spoke. "May I stay here with you awhile?"
Now, he was uncertain of his welcome, and Torchline's waves were large enough this season without adding to them. The Tidebreaker was turning away, prepared to swim past on his way to the shore and the open sea beyond, when the muffled, hoarse sobbing reached his ears.
It would not be the first time someone was crying outside a bar. But there was a hopeless, wounded note to the sound that reached straight through the scars that crossed his chest and plucked lightly at the strings of his heart, pulling him nearer. As near as the water's edge would let him come, at least. In the end it did not matter who it was; one of his people was hurt, and perhaps he could offer some solace.
But in the end it did matter as emerald eyes recognized Jude in the darkness, and the Mer King paused for only a moment in stunned silence before he pulled himself out of the water until only the end of his tail still trailed in the canal. He had nothing to offer except his presence, but his deep voice was quiet as he spoke. "May I stay here with you awhile?"
