Page 16

With an elegant flutter of his fingers, Kaerius offered his name sign, fully aware that they would not understand that either, but feeling obligated to abide by courtesy anyway.

“What is your name?” asked the princess gently.

Kaerius smiled as he repeated the gesture. Perhaps this was the beginning of understanding between them.

The princess blinked, and then said, “Is that the same motion you did before? Were you telling me your name?”

Kaerius beamed and nodded.

“My name is Marin,” the princess said. “Is there a sign for that?”

The prince tilted his head. The name was not used among the Mer folk, but the sounds were not strange to his ear. He combined the sound signs for her and added the honorific for royalty.

“That’s lovely.” She studied him. “How long have you been mute?”

He held up two fingers, presuming that counting was done approximately the same above the water as below.

“Two years?”

He shook his head.

“Two months?”

Another head shake.

“Two days?”

Yes.

She stared at him. “But your signs are far too advanced to have been mute so short a time. Do you come from a people who are often mute?”

He shook his head and signedWe often use signs when hunting, and it is considered good manners to be able to converse fluently on any topic without creating unnecessary sound. Then, with a feeling of futility, he addedDo you remember me? We’ve met before.

The princess made a passable attempt at his name sign, and his heart constricted a little within him. What was that feeling? Of course she didn’t remember; he had not expected her to. He shoved the sudden tightness to the back of his mind and stepped forward to reach for her hands.

A moment later, he was sprawled on the stone steps looking up the length of Brighton’s gleaming sword.

“Don’t touch the princess,” the guard said with no traces of his former friendliness.

The sharp point of the sword pricked Kaerius’s throat.

“Brighton,” said Marin. “I don’t think he means any harm.”

Kaerius raised a challenging eyebrow at the guard and smiled slowly. His rival would not be able to keep him away from the princess.

“And you, respect my guard,” Marin said with an edge of anger.

The prince’s smirk deepened. He signed,Of course. Still, do you not think me much prettier than him?

“What does that mean?” asked Brighton suspiciously. He reached down with one strong hand and hauled the prince upright and several feet farther away from the princess.

Kaerius laughed to himself. Even without words, he would triumph sooner or later.

The princess steepled her fingers under her chin. “The Boravian delegation arrives tomorrow afternoon,” she said quietly. “I wonder if our mute friend here can help me with that little issue.”

The prince grinned roguishly and twitched an eyebrow upward.How might I be of service? I am eager to delight you.

“Your Highness,” Brighton said, and then he stopped.