He beams right back at her. "Hello Alai."

Alai's expression turns sheepish. "Roan, can you help me with something? If you're off duty, that is."

"Of course! What do you need help with, little seachild?"

Alai frowns at him. "Roan! I've told you not to call me that!"

He laughs. "I know, but it's so much fun!"

She scowls deeper. "Roan."

"All right, all right baby sister. I'll stop teasing you. But what did you need me for?"

Alai's scowl turns into a smile. "Well, I'm taking them on a tour of the Kingdom, and I was wondering if you could help me with the land part."

Roan frowns in confusion. "You know the tour like the scales of your tail. How could you possibly need my help?"

"Queen Lahira has forbidden me from using my powers to carry them in their water bubbles, so I need your help to carry them."

His frown deepens into one of worry. "Alai . . . Why did the Queen forbid you from carrying them?"

Alai looks down at the ground sheepishly. "I overused my powers."

Roan's eyes widen in shock and anger. "Why?! Alai, why did you not stop when you reached your limit?"

Alai's response to his outburst is mumbled. "I was trying to not let the Queen down, because I was helping her by carrying them."

Roan sighs angrily and runs his hand down his face. "Alai . . ."

Alai steps forward and hugs him. "I know, I know. I don't need the lecture again, Roan. Can you please help."

"What do you actually need me to do, because I'm pretty sure they can shift and then you don't have to carry them."

Kyma responds before Alai can. "They can't shift."

"Can't , or won't . . .  what's your name?"

"They can't shift. They physically can't. And my name is Kyma."

"Well, Kyma, why can't they shift?"

Alai whacks him across the stomach, and he lets out a whoosh of air. "Roan! Don't be rude."

Roan frowns at her. "Well why not, Alai? They aren't part of the kingdom. They could be dangerous. Besides, what tailed merrow can't shift."

Alai narrows her eyes at him angrily. "First of all, Roan, that's why they are getting a tour. Second of all, they can't shift because they aren't actually merrows."

"Then who are they? Because I don't trust the silver one." Alai prepares to yell at her brother again, but Kyma waves her off, wanting to fight her own battle.

When Kyma finally speaks, after several seconds of breathing in to remain calm, she almost yells at him. "Don't call me 'the silver one', my name is Kyma."

"Uh-huh. I don't believe that. Your coloration tells me that you aren't from here. So who are you, really."

Kyma scowls darkly. "My coloration? Seriously? Why can't you guys let go of it! I don't see you harping after Tidehealer Talulah over it!"

"Harping?"

Kyma tries to find a synonym for it. "Badgering?" A shake of the head. "Annoying?"

Finally, their expression clears, and Roan begins the argument once more. "Oh, you mean being a barracuda. You can't even deny that you aren't a merrow now, every merrow knows that term. And we don't act like barracudas to Tidehealer Talulah over her coloration because she is an albino. The only familial line of merrows who are albino is Talulah's, so don't even use that as an excuse. So, who are you, Kyma."

Kyma draws herself up to stand as tall as she can against this guard who is so intent on shutting her out of his home. "I tried to settle this another way, but fine. I am Queen Lahira's daughter."

The emotions of shock, then fear, and then surprisingly anger flit across Roan's face. "Queen Lahira has no daughter."

Alai finally steps in, fed up with seeing her brother fight with her new friend. "She's telling the truth, Roan."

"How do you know, Alai? The Queen doesn't have a daughter."

"She was pregnant when we were babies, Roan!"

"And I thought the child didn't make it, Alai!"

Alai scowls at him. "If you are so intent on kicking my friend out of our home, then-"

Roan cuts her off angrily, his words almost at shouting level. "You've known her for what, a day? Two? Alai, be serious!"

"I am serious, Roan!"

He frowns at her. "You can't be! The Queen never-" He cuts off, then bows, his voice much quieter. "Queen Lahira."

Kyma turns around to see her mother standing behind them. Lahira smiles warmly at Kyma, before turning her attention back to Roan. "Surfaceguard Roan. What are you shouting about with Alai? I presume she asked you to help with the tour."

"Queen Lahira, it's the girl."

"Oh? What about Kyma."

"She claims to be your daughter. And as far as I know, you don't have any children. Besides, she doesn't know merrow terminology, and she looks like she is from somewhere far away from here."

"Well, I'm going to quell any and all misconceptions right now. Kyma is my daughter. As to why she doesn't know our terminology, that is because she was raised on land. She only recently became aware that she was a merrow. I appreciate you trying to protect our Kingdom, Roan, but you have overswum your boundary. Inform the other guards, both the Coveguards and the others. Now, help Alai with the tour, and teach Kyma what you can of our people while you are doing so."

Roan bows. "Yes, Queen Lahira. May the tides favor you."

Lahira smiles and sweeps away from the group.

________________________________________________________________________________
Well now Roan is a jerk. Great. He was being very harsh and condescending to Kyma. She didn't deserve that. But that's how the book chose to be written, sooo. *shrugs* We'll see. And I loved making that term, "being a barracuda" What do you think will happen now? And I don't have a picture for you today, sorry!

Happy reading, and I'll see you next chapter!

~Goddess of Fate, signing out.