“You are dismissed, swift tides and favorable currents to you.” A guard with a horsehair created helmet said as they left the queen’s domain. “Lady Cassandora, royal guard. If you intend to head to visit the priestesses then I’ll be your escort.” She cants her head to Carmen. “You are interested in the armor as well, I noticed?”
“And the muscles beneath it.” Carmen answered. “Pleased to meet you, Cassandora.”
The two mermaids parted from Jenn and company and swan further into the temple. “Cass is fine, if you don’t have much time, easier to shout in a battle.”
“That reminds me, this place has all these ancient ruins and magic and your queen clearly needs the protection. What gives? This whole endless ocean seems pretty idyllic to me.”
“It’s beautiful, Carmen, but beauty doesn’t mean a lack of danger.”
“I’m well aware.” Carmen spoke lasciviously.
The bronze tailed warrior grinned at her. “You’re quite right, but it’s no less true in this case either. There’s huge sea animals, most of our kind have a way with them, but sometimes there’s uncommonly belligerent ones. And we might all be long lived and gorgeous, but make no mistake- all of us, even Tethys herself, was human or descended from one, and we still act like it. There are bad actors among the merfolk, just like the landwellers we came from.” She pauses, and she grows abruptly haunted in her appearance. “Then there were the Deep Ones, but they’re all gone now.”
“Sounds like it’s risky to just go out there with our assess in the breeze.” Carmen replied with clear concern.
“The currents surrounding the palace are well patrolled, as long as you don’t go out too far, we’ll be there to answer if there’s ever trouble.”
Carmen broke the silence that followed. “Say… you aren’t recruiting are you? I’m not gonna just ditch my friends, but it sounds like you have a job worth doing.”
“We could always use scouts if that is so. You’ll have to report to the barracks weekly of course, for briefings and training, but I can see from your physique you’d have the aptitude, and you’re clearly eager and willing… speaker of willing, this is the place just ahead. Livinia will take care of you from here. I’ll be outside when you’re all finished up.” With that, Cassandora left Carmen as she shut the door behind her.