Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 162269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
Jorie was doing somewhat the same, but as his tail was at least three times longer than Ha-Lah’s, and mine was Ha-lah’s length, I watched her far more closely.
Once I felt I understood her movements, and could mimic them, I emulated her, and it felt both natural and unnatural, as I made my way to the surface.
I broke it, experienced an odd sensation at my neck, but ignored it to seek my husband.
I found I had my back to the ship. Thus, I twirled around and saw him, his fingers curved over the railing as if he was preparing to jump it, and he was glowering over the side.
When he caught sight of me, relief swept through his expression.
I lifted my arm and waved as I heard Jorie and Ha-Lah surface either side of me.
“You are well?” Mars boomed.
“I am, husband!” I called back, still waving.
It took but a moment before he grinned indulgently and shouted, “Have fun, bellezza.”
Oh, but I loved my husband.
I blew him a kiss, looked to Ha-Lah, Jorie, and Jorie said, “Let’s go swimming, little sister.”
Then he surged up, and down, the entirety of his big, powerful body, including his glorious fin breaking the surface, the powerful caudal striking up on a spray of sea before he disappeared into The Deep.
Ha-Lah grabbed my hand, I turned to her, and she pulled us both up with the strength of her tail.
I tucked my head as she did…
And we were under.
We held hands as we undulated our fins, and I felt it that time, as I was not experiencing my tail forming, thus that taking the whole of my attention.
There was a sensation on either side of my neck, like the scratch of a kitten.
Ha-Lah must have read my thoughts for she said, “Gills. This is why you can breathe.”
That hadn’t even occurred to me, that I could breathe.
But I could.
I could breathe underwater!
I nodded, more than likely smiling like a fool, and I asked a question, the answer being obvious, as we were doing it, “We can talk underwater?”
“We can, and we can understand one another. But when I guided Aramus from Amphite to home, I spoke to him and he said it came out as gibberish. I asked Jorie about this, for I didn’t know of it, and he said this is why we understand the beasts of the sea, something the Mer are as well, for we have the ability to listen and understand underwater.”
This was important to know.
And I wondered, if this hearing underwater had something to do with why I could hear so well out of it.
“Silence,” she called.
“Yes,” I answered, I thought unnecessarily, as I was right there.
“My friend…” she let me go, “swim.”
For a moment, I was suspended. Uncertain.
Then I looked around.
The water was very blue.
The depths below seemed very gray.
And I saw a vast school of tiny, shimmering, silvery fish swimming some distance away.
This was before I felt a whisper of something against my fin, another, and I flipped it automatically as all about me another school of glistening fish swept by me, causing what felt like an all-over tickle.
I laughed and pushed after them, feeling Jorie and Ha-Lah swimming at my sides, but behind me, and I looked over my shoulders in turn to send them grins.
A sentiment they both reciprocated.
The school as one suddenly darted to the left, and I messed the turn, going wide, but I watched as Ha-lah looped her head, dipped a shoulder, and spiraled into her turn in an elegant manner I made mental note to try myself.
We followed the school for some time, striking ever deeper, though it was probably only me doing it in wonder.
I could see fish, floating bits of detached seaweed.
But mostly, I sensed the vastness around me.
It went so far down, and so wide in all directions, it felt like I could swim for years and years and then keep swimming.
However, this was not overwhelming.
No.
Instead, I felt…
Free.
Of a sudden, Jorie powered ahead of us, before he swam in front of me, cutting me off, helixing up, and Ha-Lah and I followed him.
And when Ha-Lah passed me, smiling back my way, she did this exclaiming, “Oh, Silence! You’re in for a treat!”
We both chased after Jorie’s powerful tail, me doing so pleased that I had found my pacing with my fin, and it wasn’t long before I saw them.
And begorrah.
What marvel!
I kicked my fin faster as Ha-Lah and Jorie pursued them.
This was when I felt a tickle in my throat, the emotion sting my eyes, as I watched Jorie, then Ha-Lah, join a large pod of dolphins.
There had to be thirty of them, maybe forty, even babies!
They were glorious.
Jorie’s big body and long fin curled around one, then another, and they began to butt him with their bottle noses, and I would swear to the gods, they were smiling at him.