The Glimmering Sea

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

Among the Mareans, the father's role in the Metamorphean Rites mimics the birth cycle when the egg the father had carried bursts into the sea, releasing a son or daughter; likewise, after years of caretaking, the father symbolically releases the son or daughter into adulthood. Armida finally understood the ritual.

Her father seemed to have recovered from his illness though he suffered Celestina's loss as they all did. He no longer assisted with scavenging or foraging but Armida spent evenings with him in the gathering room listening to stories from Marea's earlier years. When Paolo and Torquato joined them, life felt almost normal.

Armida offered her father and Torquato a basket of spider crabs, holding back a basket for when Paolo joined them. ≈Father, it seems merfolk have more than physical selves in common with Terrans. Mother had music, as do I, and Torquato is an artist—passions that can only be pursued abovewater. But I have heard nothing of your special talent.≈

Faro let her observation hang between them unanswered for a moment. Armida feared she had upset him in some way.

≈If you are ever on the Isolotto di Nuovi again, take the opportunity to review Torquato's library. You will find two books of my poetry there. They were published by the Aldine Press by my good friend, Aldo Manuzio.≈

≈I wish I had known sooner. They will be special to read.≈

≈The second one especially. It is dedicated to you.≈

≈And the first?≈

≈To your mother, of course. My third will be dedicated to Paolo.≈

Torquato had agreed to stay with them until they'd all had time to recuperate. Besides, he had some healing to do, too. More time in Marea would repair the damage of the months spent abovewater. Paolo would be the right balm for his wounds.

Armida replaced faded lumes, found the tools she needed, and set to work adding the gold coins to Paolo's necklace. She had promised to do it days ago. She had the opportunity now that he played again with his pod.

Torquato finished his crabs. ≈Paolo is improving every day. He has joined in games today.≈

≈Uncle, you have been good for him.≈ Armida allowed silence to fall agreeably between them. Questions for Torquato had long been on her mind since her time in Venice. With Paolo absent, she opened a new conversation. ≈What happened between you and Oriana?≈

Torquato leaned his head back with his eyes closed. ≈I suppose I owe you an explanation. My sadness over her death was a surprise. I had thought my heartbreak was behind me.≈

≈If sharing is too painful, let us discuss other things.≈

≈We can manage both, I think.≈ He glanced at Faro, who was apparently sleeping. ≈Oriana was your mother's best friend, allowing me to be near her frequently. Being my sister, Celestina encouraged us toward a bond.≈ It was impossible for Torquato to miss Armida's reaction. ≈Yes, your mother was hurt, too, by everything. As neither Oriana nor I considered other options, we made a bond promise and left for Venice for our service year when I was twenty-five.≈

≈What? You were so much older than Initiates today.≈

≈Things were different then. The Rites were later. Service years were delayed. We did not have the same pressures on merfolk then.≈

Armida shook her head. The unfairness of it still astounded her.

≈I did not know she met Nikos during our time in Venice. Oriana tried to honor her commitment, yet I noticed the distance she put between us. The closer we came to our bond oath, the clearer it became that we had a problem. She finally left for Venice without explanation. The rest you've heard.≈