The Luna Choosing Game

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We stood in front of the ocean in a line parallel with the water. First Veronica. Then Julian. Nicholas. Elva, and myself.

Veronica raised her book. The book light was no longer needed now and turned off. Veronica read the invitation spell by the bright light of the morning sun.

The words were foreign. Merfolk, probably. When she finished, I held my breath. Waited.

In the distance, I continued to see the Oracle and her entourage bob under the surface of the water. They made no movement closer, nor did they move away.

I leaned forward to look at Veronica. She had a look of confusion on her face.

*Maybe your pronunciation was wrong," Julian suggested.

*I asked Ambassador Zale on one of his visits," Veronica said. "The pronunciation is correct."

Nicholas glanced at me. "Do you feel fear in your heart?"

"No," I said, confident. "I trust Veronica, as I trust all of you."

Elva tilted her head. "She can't hear."

"Huh?" I asked.

Elva looked up at me. "How can she hear what we say up here, when she is down there?"

I looked at Veronica. Veronica frowned down at the text.

"I'll show you." Elva tugged at my hand.

"Elva," I said, trying to hold her back, but she was insistent. Together, we walked right up to the water. Elva stuck her toes in the water. She leaned down toward the waves and shouted, "Please come ashore!"

It was adorable, if not ridiculous. I started to tug Elva gently back toward the shore.

We'd only taken one step back when The Oracle herself broke the surface of the water. Her seashells looked radiant, sparkling and glistening under the morning sun. Her scales shimmered as she approached us, with two of her followers at her flank. They wore matching colors, though not nearly so glamourous.

"Hello, little Elva," she said to my girl, coupled with a kind smile.

"Hi," Elva said. She was shy now. She clung onto my hand with both of hers.

"Please," I said and gestured for the merfolk to come ashore. "Join us."

"Thank you," the Oracle said. The others dipped their heads in acknowledgement. Yet she didn't move yet. Instead, she looked at me closely. I felt a tiny bit unnerved. With her sole focus on me, I felt like she could see straight through me.

But then she smiled so warmly, that the heat filled the uncertainty in my chest.

*I am pleased to see you have removed the fear from your heart," she said. "I am very eager to help young Elva. I assume you have decided on volunteers."

I motioned her toward the shore once more. This time, fortunately, she started moving.

"Yes," I said as we approached my friends. "Us four will be your volunteers."

The Oracle had no eyebrows to lift, but her eyes still opened wide in obvious surprise. "All four of you?"

Each nodded in turn.

The Oracle's kind smile lowered to Elva. "You are blessed, child, to have so many who love you."

If we had been back home, she would have had more still, of that I was certain. Susie, for one. Mark, another. The wolves, perhaps. And Anna, if she had been permitted to join us at the palace.

I was so pleased. Elva seemed to gather good faith and friends wherever she went. It was an ability I hoped would stay with her into adulthood.

"It will," the Oracle said, looking straight at me.

"..." Did she read my mind just now? What was I supposed to say to that? How was I to ask?

The Oracle didn't wait for me to figure it out. Instead, she looked toward Veronica.

"You've studied the book. You know what is to come."

Veronica nadded.

*Then I will tell the rest what you have withheld. I do not judge you. I know you seek to protect the girl, and do not question the will of your friends. They should know however."