Page 57 of The Noble's Merman

Kent couldn’t help but laugh at that. “No, I suppose not. Fine, fine, I’ll do it myself.”

And so, Kent mustered up as much strength as he could—and he threw his arms underneath the merman, lifting him up and plopping him down into the tub.

TWENTY

Another quarter moon passed and Mo boarded the ship just like before, only now, it was better than ever. Each evening before the sun set, he was carried belowdecks to Kent’s private quarters. Oh, and privacy they shared, indulging in precious intimacy with his one special human. Spending time alone with Kent was a dream come true. The only thing that could make it better was for him to become human himself, which he knew could become a reality very, very soon.

How he wished he could sleep on board with Kent, but his own fears held him back. What would happen to him if he stayed out of the water for too long? There was the tub in Kent’s room, but it was small and uncomfortable, threatening to give him splinters with any wrong movement. He’d rather sleep alongside Kent anyway, but he’d heard countless stories of merfolk drying up on land if they lingered longer than a single day, losing their strength and withering away without saltwater to sustain themselves. He wouldn’t need to worry about such things if he had a human body, himself. ’Twas the disadvantage of coupling with a human as a mer, but Mo was determined. Kent was perfect. No one else could compare to him, no merman, or even another human, could ever replace him. Visiting as much as he could on the ship was the best they could do, at least for the time being until further notice.

What was he missing? What if their connection wasn’t strong enough to enact the shift? Mo had talked with Noon more about it, to which she suggested he lay out his feelings plainly to the human. ‘Tell him you love him,’ she’d said. ‘That is my only advice.’ But he was worried that even that would not be enough for the shift. What difference would it make saying the words aloud if they felt the connection in their hearts? Did Kent feel the same? What if Kent’s affection was not reciprocated with the same intensity as Mo’s own? What if Mo was simply being a dunce, worrying about all this for nothing? Perhaps there was something else required to shift, something even Noon couldn’t place.

Such thoughts kept swimming in his head as he was lifted onto the ship again yet another day. Just like always, he set his carry-bag by the railing, and he spent time on deck with Kent and the crew, chatting about and tossing cards in games he still was trying to grasp the rules to. The wind shifted a bit chilly today, and it surprised Mo how his skin puckered in little bumps as it blew over him. While the sea might be rather cold—especially cold to humans—his own body was made for that. Air, however, was a completely different monster. For once, he actually wished he was wearing clothes like the other men.

It wasn’t only Mo who noticed the difference in temperature. Plenty of the other crewmen who weren’t assigned to any specific duty suggested they go into the forecastle to stray from the wind as rain was to fall, and Mo was glad he didn’t need to bring it up himself. Kent walked with them into the ship as Allen carried Mo, thankful that the wooden walls gave much needed warmth.

Inside was a gathering of merriment, cups floating between men’s hands, claps and conversation filling the space. It was a bit later in the afternoon, scant sunlight filtering through windows yet supported with lanterns scattered about the room like small stars. Mo had known men congregated here in this room, though usually he sat out, staying wherever Kent went. But Kent encouraged him to join in, saying he wanted to take part in the festivities as well. They weren’t celebrating anything in particular. But as sailors, they didn’t need a reason. Another successful day managing the ship was reason enough to celebrate, he was told.

“I haven’t drank since before I came aboard,” said Kent as Mo was lowered into a wooden chair by Allen. The burly redhead let them be as Kent pulled up a chair of his own, sitting next to Mo. “Been even longer since I’ve had the taste of rum.”

“What do you mean? Drank? Rum?” Mo pouted.

“Oh! Yes, you would have no idea. Wait a moment…” Kent put his hand to his chin. “Living in the water, you wouldn’t drink anything aside from that, would you? Wow.”

“Yes, I mean, in the water all there is, is water!” Mo chuckled. “Well, there is another liquid-like substance I’ve had quite recently, provided by a very special person?—”

“Mo, shut your mouth!” Kent laughed as he slapped his palm over Mo’s lips, halting him from speaking. “There are other people here closeby, you know.”

“Mm-mm!”

“Are you going to behave?”

Mo shrugged. He smiled against Kent’s fingers.

“Oi, what are you two talking about?” Davies walked into their space, cup in hand. His long brunet hair was loose today, tumbling over his shoulders and framing his sun-tanned face.

“Nothing important,” Kent said quickly, pulling his hand away from Mo’s face. “How’s the rum?”

“You haven’t had any yet? Why, I shall get you a cup! How about one for Mo, too?”

“Me?” Mo pointed at his chest.

“Yes, you! You’re a part of the crew as any of the rest of us. Have you ever tried rum before?”

“I’ve not the slightest idea what that even is. Ke—Fareham was just about to tell me.” Despite knowing he needed to call him the courtesy title, it still was a struggle to do when he was so used to what he called his ‘Christian name’.

“Then you’re in for a treat!” Davies laughed, taking a swig from his cup.

“Have you ever been inebriated from another substance before?” asked Kent. “Being high, tipped, muddled, tow-row, there’s lots of different ways to describe it. Not sure what you’d be familiar with or call it in mer-tongue…”

Mo smirked. “Well, there is one particular person who gets me high?—”

“Shush! Mo, I’m serious!” Serious, he said, yet he laughed playfully.

“All right, all right.” He laughed too, and so did Davies, still listening in on the conversation. “Yes, there are some particular sea fungi that do effects on merfolk, and I’ve tried them a few times. But really, it wasn’t much.”

“I wonder if those same sea fungi would do works on humans, too,” Kent pondered.

“Perhaps you could find some and bring it aboard.” Davies chuckled. “Here, I’ll grab you both cups.” He walked off, making his way around the other men in the room.

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