...The feeling of warm salty water, without any being present, surrounded her. She felt warm and encompassed. She felt neither safe or in danger, but felt as if she was floating. As quickly as the sensation comes, it passes and she finds herself bound by the chains of gravity, and the pull of Elanthia that binds her feet to the ground...
The Elf slowed her steps, frowning slightly. Shaking her head as if to clear her thoughts, she resumes her brisk pace down the temple stairway. Despite her devotion to Damaris and by extension Phelim, she neither dreamed nor suffered the hallucinations that plagued the mages she knew. This was something more, a direct brush with the divine. Brushing her fingertips across the surface of her wedding band, she steps through the doorway and into a tempest. A huddled group of people gather before the gates, maintaining a cheerful appearance despite the lashing rain. She briefly looked over the crowd, subconsciously making a list of who she would not be permitting to sail with her (This one, afraid; that one, far too arrogant), before stepping forward to pass out offerings to the Lord of Storms.
Some time later, after her husband arrived and assumed control of the scene, they made their way to the docks. The others chatted amongst themselves, their nerves starting to show now that they stood so close to the water, but the Elf and the Prydaen stood quietly, their minds firmly on the task at hand. He produced a small vial from his pocket, and after murmuring a quiet benediction passed it into her hands. The contents shifted within the vial (A feather? A tooth?) but her hands were steady as she tightened her fingers around it.
"Drogor, Lord of Storms, we ask for safe passage through your waters..."
She inhaled slightly and then lashed out, smashing the vial against the ship's hull. The contents evaporated quickly, as did the stinging shards of glass in her palm, and the waves grew more choppy, slapping against the docks. Liurilias threw his head back and howled a prayer to Drogor into the wind as the water rose, the ship's rocking growing slightly more gentle. The group divided themselves and boarded their ships. Sendithu narrowed her eyes slightly when the Human girl, the fool who had cursed Drogor mere days before, joined them on the Elothean Spirit. Briefly she considered refusing her, but one never knows when a sacrifice would be required, so she met the girl's eyes and curled her lips into a smile. Sharing a quick glance with Zamara as the Human walked by, they climbed aboard.
As the boat slid free of the docks, it quickly became apparent that they were being watched. Marine-hued lightning danced across the railing, the mast, the ship's bell. Dolphins and sharks were visible amongst the storm tossed waves, and at one point before reaching the harbor at Aesry even the pilot stiffened in alarm when a kraken was seen in the distance. -That- sight had Sendithu sliding her fingers over the hilt of her favorite blade until Liurilias joined her at the railing, the simple pressure of his fingers on her arm enough to relax her shoulders once more. She glanced back at the group and noticing Zamara's scowl, turned her attention back to the conversation. The Human girl, Kintryn, complaining about the loss of favor and her inability to regain it.
Kintryn quietly said to Liurilias, "He's still pretty mad at me I think."
Sendithu narrowed her eyes slightly as Liurilias replied, "Perhaps you should take this opportunity to ask forgiveness."
"I've been trying to ask forgiveness of Eluned and Lemicus," Kintryn protested, glancing over the rail and avoiding the eyes of the rest of the group.
"I don't think they are the ones who are upset with you," answered Liurilias. "If there was ever a great time, I think this is probably it."
"Enough. I find the direct approach is best, not that I ever have to apologize for anything." Sendithu stepped forward, producing a shark tooth and gesturing at Kintryn. "Take it. Prick your finger. Apologize and offer it to the waves. We are in His territory now."
There was a long pause as the Human stared at the Elf, shock and confusion playing over her face. "My finger?"
"Your finger. Offer your apologies, offer your blood, toss it into the sea and hope that it is enough for now." Sendithu folded her arms across her chest, her violet eyes boring into the girl's green eyes, and finally Kintryn relented.
The Human bowed her head slightly, murmuring "Drogor, I ask your forgiveness for the things I said." Wincing slightly, she pricked her finger with the razor edge of the shark's tooth. "Drogor, for what its worth, I offer my apologies." Steeling herself, she dropped the tooth into the churning waves below, and in the distance a pod of dolphins swimming alongside a group of sharks became visible.
"Dolphins and sharks?" remarked Kargath.
"A good sign, I think," replied Liurilias.
Suddenly a net of marine-hued lightning covered the ship's bell and around the spoked wheel. It traveled over the ship's sides, giving the entire vessel a glow. It pulsed once, and then again before going dark. The group fell silent, contemplating their journey. It was still a long way through stormy waters to reach safe harbor and the brilliant flashes of marine-hued lightning blasting through the not-too-distant sky was a stark reminder of just how small they really were.
|