Aramus’s tone had warmed a shade when he went on to inquire, “And he is no longer amongst us?”

“No,” Jorie answered shortly.

“I am sorry,” I said to Jorie.

“I am as well. He was a good man, a good king, and a good father,” Jorie replied.

“Silence, Queen of Firenze, is dear to my wife,” Aramus declared. “I call her husband friend. At any time, but especially in times like these, I would not want to introduce anything into her life that would upset her.”

“You assume I would upset her?” Jorie demanded indignantly.

“No, but you say your father was a good man, and yet he begot Silence, and this is unknown to Silence. I do not know for certain, but we suspect Silence not only is unaware she is Mer, now, I more than suspect she does not know the father who raised her is not her own,” Aramus returned carefully.

Jorie lifted his chin.

And then fortunately, he gave in a little.

“My mother died. She was young. I was but seven years old. My father was most grieved. Amongst the Mer, when one’s mate perishes, it is custom to go swim-about. A mate can be gone years in their search for solace after they lose the one they love. My father was gone for two. I know he went to the land, took his legs, traveled widely with the Zee people who are like many of us. They wander in schools, wherever they wish to roam. I did not, and he did not, know, in his meanderings, his seed brought forth a child.”

Jorie took a breath and continued.

“That is, I did not know until word reached us that the new Queen of Firenze has silver eyes. No one but the royal line of Mer has silver eyes. My two aunts have silver eyes. My cousins have silver eyes. As you can see, I have the same. My aunts have not left the underwater realm to go to land. However, my father spent much time in the country of Wodell, and in his diaries, spoke of meeting, and lying with, the lady of the arbor. I did not know until I knew of Silence that the lady of the arbor was the Lady of the Arbor. And thus, Silence, Queen of Firenze is my sister.”

Jorie’s expression changed, grief seeping into it, before he cleared it and carried on.