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"Lorelei!" This time it was Nereus who reprimanded Lorelei. "That is quite enough. You have greeted your cousin, now be so kind as to allow others to meet her."

Lowering her head, Lorelei retreated.

Melusina's face had paled, and she did not answer Lorelei's question.

From the crowd of mer-people, an older merman emerged, coming closer to Lena. He was powerfully built, with broad shoulders and chest. His shimmering blue-green tail was single-finned and marked with several scars. A smiling mouth curved above his long beard.

"This is Merrow, your grandfather," said Melusina.

Careful not to dislodge the sealskin cloak, the merman put his arms around Lena, saying softly, "Welcome, child of my child." He patted her gently, then drew back to study her. "Ah, look upon the fairness of her face," he crooned. "Look upon her cunning legs!"

Melusina laughed. "Beauty and strength, indeed."

"Precious maid," said Merrow, his eyes shining ... eyes the same gray as Lena's. "When Melusina had the memories back, and we knew of your existence, I longed to see you."

"Grandfather," said Lena. "I did not know about any of—" She looked around. "This. You."

Merrow hugged Lena more tightly. "Alas, we did not know about you, either. Else we might have aided Melusina to return to you long ago."

Lena nodded, feeling safe in her grandfather's arms. So many years lost, when her mother could have been with them on land. But what about Mom? She felt a stretch of blank confusion opening up in her thoughts. Mom? Her mother was right next to her! But there was someone else on land, someone she cared for ... a woman, with kind eyes. Something about diamond earrings ... Oh, Allie! She would not have been there if Melusina had come back. Lena felt a pang, but the vague thought drifted away as she rested in Merrow's embrace.

"Commence the greeting," called someone, and other voices added their agreement. "Yes, the greeting." "Bring her to the circle."

"Come," said Melusina. She took Lena's hand and led her through the crowd of curious mer-folk. Then they entered the kelp forest, swimming between the heavy stalks. Lena felt sure she would have become lost without her mother.

Where is my grandmother?

A couple of minutes later, they emerged in the village.

"Is there a castle?" asked Lena.

Her mother looked at her, perplexed.

Lena laughed. "There's a fairy tale called The Little Mermaid. In the kingdom below the waves, there's a big castle with, you know, fancy windows and gardens and stuff. I remember the line about the fishes swimming in and out of the windows."

"Ah, I fear I must disappoint you. Our village is not so grand, nor so permanent. We must live simply, with few possessions. When the threat of discovery seems nigh, we must leave this place until our scouts tell us it is safe to return."

"Leave?!"

"Humans are incorrigibly curious." Melusina smiled. "We leave the village, sometimes for days, sometimes for weeks. We take what we can carry. When the danger has passed, we return. Look there." She pointed to an immense stone slab. "To prying eyes, that resembles nothing more than a very large rock formation. To us, it is the communal dining table."

Lena looked at the huge empty slab. There were a few boulders around its perimeter, like makeshift chairs. She could see heavy gold bowls and shallow stone basins, some of them still containing food, as if their diners had rushed off in the middle of their meal.

They came to see me, she thought.

Melusina led Lena into a large clearing, which was bounded by a loose circle of stones.

In the middle of the circle, Melusina stopped. "Have no fear," she said. "This is the ritual of welcome." Then she squeezed Lena's hand and let go, leaving her alone in the ring of stones.

CHAPTER 35

As Lena waited, the mer-folk first gathered outside the circle of rocks, joining hands. They began to sing, wordless melodies at first.

"It is your song of welcome," said Melusina.

The delicate