“Hot damn, Abigail. You look smoking. It’s not really fair. These wrap things are designed for tall or thin. Not those of us that are ... curvy ... yeah, let’s go with curvy.” Both hands were planted on said curvy hips, lower lip jutted out in an exaggerated pout.
“So what has been happening since the Isle?” I ignored her, while continuing to look around.
I loved this area. The deck was huge, with a few different levels hidden from view. I couldn’t see Brace or Lucas. Not that I was looking for them.
“We dragged your unconscious butt through the water, and Gladriel grudgingly let us board her pontoon. We’re traveling back to the Earon’s territory; apparently Spurns don’t mix in each other’s quadrants for too long. They end up having a hair-color dance-off or something.”
I laughed at the mental images.
“What’s an Earon?” Had that been mentioned before?
Talina took my arm, her other already clutching Lucy. She led us over to an outer deck that spread out over the side of the pontoon. Samuel didn’t bother to follow. He just moved back to where he’d been before. This outer section had no railings, and it felt like we were flying above the water. There was a soft bedding spread out, like the one I had slept on till I woke.
“We are Earons.” She ran her hand through her emerald hair as we sat.
The ocean was calm now, which helped settle my queasiness.
“There are four clans on Spurn. Baroons are the blues, the top clan, with the most territory and numbers. Earons are second; Yetle, the golden third; and the Gerks, the grays, are the smallest and least powerful clan. As the leader of the Baroons, Ladre holds dominance over basically all of the clans.”
“Do all of you live on these boat things?” I gestured to the flat-bottomed barges that surrounded us.
“No, not everyone.” Talina shook out her long hair. “Ladre spends most of his time in Silver City, a place under the sea, in the center of the four territories.”
Seriously?
“Let me get this straight.” Lucy sat forward, her face alight, eyes sparkling. “You can live under the sea? Do you just swim down there? What anchors it to the ground?”
“Why don’t you all live there? Is there any way we can visit?” I added my questions.
Talina looked at us. “Hold up,” she said, laughing. “Silver City is a huge underwater structure, built by the Spurns many moons ago. It is encased in a large tensile bubble, blown by the monstrone species.”
I raised my eyebrows, but she continued before I could speak.
“They’re an underwater species, mammalian, like Spurns, but they cannot breathe above the water. They are extremely rare. I’ve only ever seen one in my life. The strongest swimmers can make it down to the city without assistance, while the rest of us use the tube,” her eyes flashed, “and before you ask, if we have time, I’ll take you there and you can see it for yourself.”
Lucy and I sat straighter. That would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“The tube pumps essential air and nutrients down to the city, which means, if allowed, you can visit.” Her wistful expression was trained on the horizon. “I have only been there once. I find it uncomfortable down there.”
“So what’s with you and Ladre, of the blue-hairs?” Her fascination with the only Spurn taller than herself had not escaped my attention.
Talina’s pink skin darkened and her head dropped to a point where I couldn’t see her expression anymore. She answered me while looking down.
“Next to my brother, Ladre is the best Spurn. He has all the power, but I‘ve never known him to abuse it.” A disdainful laugh escaped her. “And if you truly understood the nature of my race, you would understand how special he is.”
“You should tell him how you feel.” Lucy’s eyes locked on Samuel as he continued to stare outwards from the side railing. “Life is short, Talli, and the worst that can happen is a bit of rejection, which won’t kill you.”
I could tell Lucy had to restrain herself from leaving us to stand beside Samuel. My friend was not an individual anymore; she was now invariably tied to another being. I just wished that her choice wasn’t such a damaged man. I could tell that she was struggling to ignore his current distress. She noticed me watching her and smiled.
“It’s just been a stressful few days for him. He doesn’t like to be imprisoned, and seeing me in danger just wigs him out,” she answered too softly for Talina to hear.
Reaching out, I squeezed her hand.
“I can’t.” We both swung around as the words burst from Talina. “If it was just rejection then that’s something I could deal with. But it can never be.”
I had a terrible feeling this was one of those insurmountable segregations of their society.
“Baroons will never mate with those outside; they are afraid to mar the purity of their clan.” She was looking up again now, her voice flat. “And even if once-in-a-land-sighting they did deign to ‘slum it’, I’m a halfling, which is basically worthless here.”
“The clans never inter-marry?”