THE LUNA CHOOSING GAME - Season 6 Episode 12

I gasped. Ambassador Zale! I Yet unlike the last time I had met him, when he had been more human shaped and wearing a tuxedo, now he was even more otherworldly. The biggest change was the lack of human legs. Instead, he had a long and coiling fish tale, covered in scales the same as the blue-green ones on his forehead and nose.

On his torso, covering his chest, shoulders, and arms, was a tight jacket similar in material to my swimsuit. Like my swimsuit, it was covered in various shells, all of which were shiny, colorful, and attractive.

At once, Bridget, Veronica, and Jessica bowed in greeting. But I remembered my last experience with the ambassador. So did Nicholas and Julian. As we approached, we lifted our hands to cover where our gills would have been on either

side of our necks, had we been merfolk, We gave the royal greeting, “My life, my friendship.” Zale beamed at us all. He mimicked the I gesture, lightly covering his own gills.

“My life, my friendship.” He lowered his “hands away. “What a pleasure to see you again, my friends.” Bridget cast me a sharp look back over her shoulder. Had she not been warned about the proper greeting? Good. Maybe Nicholas or Julian would have told her, had she not left me on that island.

1 did feel bad, however, for not warning Veronica or Jessica, though neither seemed overly upset. Zale’s friendliness extended to them as he cast them a kind smile, so there seemed to be no hard feelings.

Well, for anyone except for Bridget.

“I wanted to be the one to formally greet

you before you enter the banquet hall,” Zale said. “Many of the royal family has gathered there, as well as others in the { nobility who are anxious to meet you. We have also welcomed some of the well respected common folk who have well- earned a chance to be here.” “We are always pleased to spend time with whomever the royal family deems appropriate,” Nicholas said.

Zale turned his kind smile to Nicholas. “I am grateful to you, though do not feel overly pressed to speak with anyone you do not feel comfortable with.” His gaze slipped from Nicholas to the rest of us.

“Our customs differ from yours. You do not need to be courteous to those who have not earned it. Remember, honesty is valued about all else.” Nicholas leaned closer to me, enough to whisper in my ear without drawing attention or being overheard. “That rule applies to all but the royal family.

Whatever you do, be kind to them.” I gave Nicholas a look, hoping to indicate that I would never be unkind to anyore.

He offered a small smile in exchange. He knew that. But he wanted to warn me. I ! nodded, understanding.

i Zale continued to speak, “You will know who is of royal blood because only the royals are permitted to wear crowns.” “The larger the crown, the more important the royal,” Nicholas whispered to me.

I nodded, grateful for the tip.

“Now,” Zale continued. “If you are ready…” We were, so we nodded.

Zale turned and pushed open the large doors behind him.

Immediately, my mouth dropped. The banquet hall was spacious and wide, but

it was also deep, seeming to go down, down forever. The merfolk didn’t care about floor space, not when they could move easily in every direction.

We moved forward as a group toward the end of the walkway, before the very I ground disappeared. A plethora of merfolk turned to look at us. Some started a throaty call.

“A cheer,” Nicholas whispered to me.

“Similar to clapping.” Bridget immediately began to bow and wave. The others moved slower.

One of the merfolk moved closer. His scales were bright green and matched his eyes. His tail had many fluttering fins, all very attractive and well-taken care of. A crown of conch shells circled his head.

A royal then, of middling importance.

My nerves heightened, especially when he smiled right at me.

Wy TV Vie He covered his fins, gave a small dip of his head, and then winked.