Returning to the squadron

Getting back to the ships had been surprisingly easy. While Vel might have had no idea where they were, not just in relation to the ships but at all, Nerea had been a different matter. She had known their location precisely and with the help of her shoal, which seemed to be something like her extended family, finding the ships proved trivial as well.

And no more breaks were needed to fill Vel’s lungs. It was strange, now that he knew he’d be fine underwater in the future, he simply was. It wasn’t that he could breathe underwater either, he found he did not need to draw breath. It thoroughly impressed his newest lover and her shoal. Not that they needed any further impressing. His status as the Promised One was enough to strike awe into them all.

Finding and returning to the ships had indeed been the easy part. As soon as Vel climbed abord the Aluvian Fury and waved goodbye to a group of merfolk, the hard part began.

He was immediately swarmed by servants wishing to see if he was all right, the almost touchingly concerned old captain assigned to the Fury, and even a few curious crewmen with questions. The latter group were swiftly chastised and sent back to their duties by the captain, but they’d hardly be the last people to ask about what had transpired. Velas wasn’t sure how to deal with that yet. For now, he assured everyone he was quite fine and craved nothing more than a meal in his quarters, as he was famished. Which was true, he hadn’t eaten since before jumping overboard.

The only company he accepted for his meal was Dina. His sister had initially held back, standing a bit away from the swarming masses. She was happy to see him of course, something she had shown him with a burningly passionate kiss as soon as they were alone, but she had not been concerned. He had assured her he was fine before leaving, and her faith in him was absolute.

“Especially when there’s a woman involved. You seem to have a way with those. A way of getting into those, at least.”

The two of them also discussed what Vel should reveal to whom, and he found himself grateful for his sister’s levelheaded council.

His oldest sister he had of course told everything, even shown her some of it. The captain, who served directly under Vel and deserved to know something, he would give some broad strokes at most. Nothing about the prophies or his powers, but he was definitely going to imply that something raunchy happened. The same went for the other flag officers, but the lower crew, sailors, and menials would have to make do with the rumor mill. As for their aunt, that would be the trickiest part. Dina recommended telling her exactly what he planned to tell Captain Avlogg, but he didn’t think that was a good idea. He didn’t know Fionne well at all, but he could tell she was a shrewd woman. The best Vel himself could come up with was that he’d figure it out when he had to.