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by you in my friend’s home!*
    Cynthia pulled the power of the sea around her until the entire grotto vibrated with carefully bridled energy. They could all feel it, and she saw nervousness in their movements. They knew very well that she could kill them with a single plea to the sea; the water was their home, but they were not immune to it.
    *Do you challenge me?* she signed, narrowing her eyes at the mer opposing Tailwalker and Quickfin. *Any of you? All of you?*
    The mer froze in place, shocked by her sudden and uncharacteristic vehemence. Cynthia had always been non-confrontational, playing the mediator and diffusing tensions. This was not like her.
    The large male’s tail fluttered in frustration, the muscles in his powerful torso rippling with fury.
    *We cannot challenge a seamage and survive,* the male with the red fin-crest signed, interposing himself between the angry warrior and Cynthia. *We do not seek confrontation, but discussion with the Trident Holder’s eldest. This one, with his spear pointing at us, has made threats. We wish to converse, not fight.*
    Eelback touched his ally on the shoulder.
    *Redtail signs truly. We came to converse with Tailwalker. We became angry with Quickfin’s threats.* He made a gesture equivalent to a polite bow. *Our anger is not with the seamage, but about the seamage, and the bonding of mer with landwalker.*
    *I made no threats that were not earned,* Quickfin signed, lowering his spear. *If you do not seek confrontation with Seamage Flaxal’s Heir, apologize. Now.*
    *Quickfin, please! There has been no challenge. The insult is void without it.* She didn’t know what had transpired to put her friend in such an antagonistic state, but demanding an apology would not stabilize the situation. *If Eelback and his friends wish to discuss something with Tailwalker without the presence of a landwalker, I will say what I have come to say and go.*
    *There is nothing remaining to be discussed,* Eelback signed, making a gesture signifying departure without the formality or friendliness of a goodbye.
    The four mer aligned their orientation, a sign of unity, and left the grotto. Cynthia noticed a lingering display of subtle eye contact and body language from the female toward Tailwalker. The display was nothing she could translate, but its meaning was obvious: the female was flirting. There was more going on here than a simple confrontation over politics.
    *What was that all about?* Cynthia signed when the eddies from their departure had stilled.
    *I am sorry that you were here to witness this, Seamage Flaxal’s Heir. They sought alliance against the union of mer and landwalker,* Quickfin signed, making a dismissive gesture. *They became insulting when Tailwalker declined.*
    *And the female wanted some other type of alliance, I assume?* She made a gesture of suspicion as she looked fixedly at Tailwalker, who was remaining uncharacteristically passive and showing signs of embarrassment with shifts in his coloration. Her smile revealed her joke, and the fluttering gill slits of the three mer told her that her jest had hit its target.
    *The female is named Slickfin. She is the sibling of Redtail.* Chaser’s tail flicked twice in a whip-like fashion, propelling him around in a tight circle. *She wants more than an alliance from Tailwalker, I think.*
    *She is nothing but a bribe!* Quickfin signed, his fins extending in sustained anger. *They use the promise of sex to shift Tailwalker’s alliance.*
    This surprised Cynthia. She had assumed the female’s interest in Tailwalker to be unrelated to the political discussion, because the mer did not have casual sexual relationships. In fact, the term “sex” in mer language referred to the intentional act of creating offspring. Slickfin was offering to become his mate.
    She made a gesture implying polite inquiry, and signed, *Could she offer to be your mate and help rear finlings without a betrothal, as my mate has?*
    *She could, but she does