Compromises and Escapes

Havermouth, Present Time

Niarthen’s meeting took place within the vehicle that they had travelled in. A portion of the dashboard functioned as a screen, and showed an ornate meeting room, the walls curved and smooth but layered like the inside of a shell, and softly iridescent. The seats were stepped into the floor, and male and female Mer in beautifully draped cloth and elaborate jewellery, sat solemnly as Niarthen began to speak.

Although she did not understand much of the conversation between Niarthen and the panel of serious-looking Mer that he spoke to, she could pick out the names of Aislen, her mates, and Leighton when they were spoken. From the frequency of their names, she guessed that Niarthen was relaying the events of the previous day, and the story regarding the origin of the water pollution.

As the meeting progressed and the Mer on the other side of the screen began to speak more and more, and mostly amongst themselves, with Niarthen occasionally interjecting, Lyric coul