Free Calm by Viola Grace

went.”
    “Apparently, they snuck onto Earth during the Enjel and Dhema thing. No one would notice a few drops in the ocean.” She smiled and gently stroked her fingers over his gills.
    “I am glad for those drops, though I would love a look at your histories about the Harlivs.” He smiled and stroked her spine.
    “There isn’t much, just stories of sailors pulled from ships and seduced by watery maids. Then again, there are also the selkies, the kelpies and a few other water-born stories. Huh. I guess it might be useful after all.” She rubbed her pearl strands against his chest.
    He chuckled and cupped her ass. “I am thinking that this is not the time for a history lesson.”
    She kissed her way up his neck and settled on his lips, murmuring, “I think history is best left in the past. I have a distinct interest in your present.”
    He rolled her to her back and loomed over her. “Is that a euphemism?”
    She laughed and wrapped her legs around his thighs. “It wasn’t, but it is now.”
    * * * *
    Mediating neighbour disputes took up most of Vehn’s time and meeting with scientific officers took up Meri’s. She provided venom samples to the Lahash researchers and was set to appear at Niika’s school now that she had caught up to the others and gained the self-control that would keep Vehn and Meri from getting calls.
    With Vehn mediating, Meri was on after-school collection, she swam into the wet entrance to the school and climbed out to face the teacher and two other parents with their offspring.
    Niika walked over to her and took her hand. “I got into a fight today.”
    “Oh, Niika, what happened?”
    One of the parents stepped forward, “Madam Kao, our son was forcibly restrained by your daughter.”
    The teacher watched intently.
    “What were the circumstances?” Meri kept tight to Niika’s hand, sending reassurance through their connection.
    The father on the other side inclined his head when the first speaker didn’t say anything. “My child was being picked on, he is younger and smaller than the others in the class, so it makes him an easy target. Your daughter kept the other boy from attacking my son Powik, his father wishes you to bear the punishment for his spawning a bully.”
    Meri scanned the other parent and the sullen child. The parent felt rage, guilt and frustration, so Meri dampened it with calm before the aggression could get out of control.
    He looked at her with shock, but it was calm shock.
    “So, Niika merely restrained a child from striking another? Where is the issue?”
    The man opened and closed his mouth before saying, “Your daughter laid hands on my son.”
    Meri shrugged. “In two decades, it will be one of his fondest memories. Being a bully is not a good choice for making oneself attractive to the opposite sex. Being known to be the father of a bully is not a good idea either.”
    The man flinched and nodded. He jerked his head toward the teacher and tossed his son into the wet exit.
    The other male came forward and shook her hand. “Thank you, Madam Kao.”
    Powik did the same with Niika. “Thank you, Niika.”
    They inclined their heads and disappeared under the water in a few seconds.
    The teacher came forward. “Madam Kao, you handled that well.”
    Meri bent and Niika climbed on her back for the swim home. She still wasn’t fast in fresh water, but at least her hands webbed when she breathed liquid. “Thank you. It was nice to practice.”
    The teacher shifted from side to side and cleared his throat. “I have been asked to pass on a request from the school board.”
    “Yes?”
    “Would you be interested in having a seat on the school board as one of the trustees? We occasionally need someone to speak to other parents when issues such as this arise and you have a unique ability to deal with this sort of thing.”
    Do you mind if I am involved in your schooling?
    Does it mean I am in trouble?
    No, silly. It just means that I will be at the school more