Dancing On Ice

Sign Language

"Wait, how did you figure that out?" Perry asked, staring at her.

"I asked and we figured it out with signs," Cynthia said simply, smiling, "So I asked if she might teach me some so we could talk more freely."

Perry stared at her, then held back a sigh.

This princess had beaten him to it.

Cynthia tapped his arm, making him look up and she made two gestured with her right hand.

He looked blankly at her and Cynthia smiled.

"I asked 'How are you?'" she translated.

Perry looked at Aeralie. "So how do I say 'I'm fine?'"

Aeralie showed him and he relayed that to Cynthia.

And on they went, going over signs and learning new ones and Perry realised just how in depth their secret language really was.

Within the hour passed within the blink of an eye.

Within two, three and four also passed.

And Cole stood at the palace gates, frowning up at them, debating on whether he should drag his subordinate out by the ear or not completely humiliate him in front of the ladies. Because that was undoubtedly where he was.

Cole let out a dramatic sigh and ran a hand through his wild hair, yanking his fingers free when they snagged on a knot.

"He's so weak against pretty girls," he muttered, walking through the gates and up the grand walk to the palace, going straight through the front doors without waiting for anyone to open them for him and making his way upstairs.

"Knock, knock. Favourite person coming in," he called as he opened the door to Dalton's office.

Dalton was behind his desk, looking at papers, head bowed, forehead in his palm.

"Have a seat," was all he said without looking up and Cole let out a breath.

"No snapping at me for that today? You must be low," he said, walking over and dropping into a seat. "So... I take it no luck with your merman."

"I don't understand it," Dalton muttered.

"Come on, Dal, he was probably stolen. Can you imagine the price a real merman would fetch? Perry said himself that he was priceless. You have some amazingly loyal servants working under you but no one's perfect. Chalk it up to a loss and let it go. You would have got bored of him anyway."

"It's not like that," Dalton muttered.

"Not like what? Think about it, what would you do with him? It would be creepy to have a human face looking at you constantly like that. How long until you got rid of him anyway?"

"It's not like that!" Dalton snarled, slamming his fist on the table and looking up.

Cole looked at him in surprise.

"It hasn't anything to do with keeping him or profit or prize or any of that worthless stuff!" Dalton snapped, "I didn't even intend to keep him that long!!"

"Huh?" Cole said, staring at him, "But you've been looking for a mermaid for years. A merman is the next best thing."

"Yes but not for a pet!" Dalton cried, "I owe a mermaid my life! I wasn't looking to keep one forever! I just wanted one until... until..."

He gritted his teeth and looked away, his eyes narrowing.

Cole stared at him for a moment, then sank back into his armchair.