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"Ah, the fish eyes," said Merrow. "Delicious!"

Lena's hand halted.

"The eyes were only harvested after the fish had died," Melusina hastened to assure her.

"Oh," said Lena, her own eyes wide. "Thank you. Maybe later. Mama, please tell me about the vote Grandmother mentioned."

"After the welcome song," said Melusina, "the village voted on whether or not you would be allowed to remain."

CHAPTER 36

Lena stared. "And? Do I have to leave?"

"No, dear one. The vote was in your favor. Do not trouble yourself about it," said Melusina.

"But when did everyone vote? I didn't see that."

"After the song," said her mother. "Those who placed their hands on you were bestowing their blessing for you to remain. Forever, if you like. Those who merely bowed and departed were indicating that you should be a visitor only."

Lena's lower lip trembled. What did it mean that some of them did not want her to stay?

"Come," said her mother. "We shall find a place for you to rest. I will bide with you until I must surface again. Have you eaten your fill?"

Lena nodded. "Don't I have to surface?"

"Not yet. The cloak protects you. Once you take it off, the enchantment is broken, and you will join me in surfacing."

"Take off the cloak? I can't take it off——I'll drown!"

"No, indeed, my child. You must trust in the magic."

Sure, thought Lena. I'll trust in the magic enough to take off the cloak when I'm about five feet from the surface.

Melusina swam with Lena past several large caves. Peering into the mouth of one of the caves, Lena could see mer-folk curled up on beds of seaweed.

A short distance away, Melusina led Lena into a different cave, slightly smaller. There were beds of seaweed clustered here, too.

"Here is the sleeping cave where I take my repose," said Melusina. "We all sleep at ... what is the word? Various times, depending upon our need for air. Let me make you comfortable before I surface."

"You have your own cave?" asked Lena.

Melusina turned away, adjusting a bed of soft seaweed for Lena. "I am the only one who uses this cave."

"Why?"

"This is the cave for the Riven," answered her mother quietly.

"The Riven?" said Lena.

"Let us speak of these things when you have rested," said Melusina, avoiding Lena's gaze.

"No, Mama. Please. I'm not sleepy."

"Selena, my child," said Melusina. "You are stubborn as a limpet!You must rest." She caressed her daughter's cheek. "But I see that you will not be at peace until you have answers." She settled down next to Lena. "You may ask three questions. Then I must surface."

Lena nodded. "Okay. What is Riven?"

Melusina closed her eyes, as if gathering strength before speaking. "One who is Riven has chosen to forsake the world beneath the waves. She rises out of the sea and endures the riving light of the full moon upon her body. When legs take the place of her tail, she dares to walk upon the land. This transformation is against the most ancient laws of mer-folk. Thus, when a mermaid returns to the sea, she regains her form, but is known ever after as Riven. Mer-folk do not abandon their own, but one who is Riven must always remain outside the circle, in some ways."

Lena's heart was beating hard. "Outside the circle? You mean they treat you like an outcast?"

"No, my dearest. Not an outcast. You see for yourself the closeness of our kind. When I returned to the sea, full of grief and woe, I was reunited with my people and tended most lovingly. But one who is Riven once chose land over sea, and that betrayal can never be forgotten." She touched Lena's hand. "Forgiven, but not forgotten."

"I don't understand why that means you have to sleep somewhere else, though."

"Mer-folk communicate with our minds, as you have learned. The dreams of mer-folk have the power to drift from one sleeper to another, much like our thoughts. My dreams are a danger to others, for at times I dream of my life on land."

Lena shivered. "So you remembered us, sometimes, in dreams?"

Melusina nodded. "Only in dreams. Each