by R J Kaldanis
“Riyah how have you travelled so far?” He asked, as politely and charming as ever.
“Fine. I haven’t seen you this whole time though, I was worried you might have stayed on board.” She responded. He smiled and laughed a little, coyly looking towards his feet a moment.
“Oh no, don’t you worry love, I am here. I have just been sticking close to the royals, that is all. I am their personal healer on this journey, the most qualified for the most important, you see.” Confidence oozing out of him.
“I’m so sorry that you have to sleep outside, Sekher! Make sure you rug up warm tonight.” Rachida butted in, yelling across the table. Both Sekher and Aardriyah looked in confusion at her statement,
“It’s just that I can’t imagine they found you a room big enough for that head of yours.” She explained, before taking a sip of the strong clear liquid in her tankard.
“Lucky I am earth blessed and can simply move the rooms walls and ceiling to fit my big head in. If you would like, Riyah, I can put a soundproof wall between your bed and hers, so you can actually catch some sleep.” He jibed back at Rachida as he took a seat and poured himself the last drop of the liquid from the glass bottle on their table. Aardriyah noticed that Rachida had poured some for her. Together the three of them clinked their tankards and skulled the foul-tasting liquid; a wretched look spread across their faces shortly after the liquid had burnt down their throats.
After a few more bottles the discomfort of the hard rock chairs was forgotten. The company was in high spirits and revelling in the stories shared amongst the comrades. Queen Iber was being teased for her tale of the water maiden she had spotted the night before, and beckoned all of those who doubted her to join her on a steep journey down the cliff face to the water’s edge, where she was sure her water maiden would be awaiting her.
“I have got to see this!” Rachida excitedly told Sekher and Aardriyah.
“I’m pretty tired to be honest, I might just head to bed.” Aardriyah excused herself from the ongoing party moving out of the cave dining hall and into the crisp night air towards the cliffside carved stairs. Rachida shrugged her shoulders and ran after the company, leaving Sekher and Aardriyah alone.
“I will walk you to your room, love.” Sekher said to Aardriyah, whose heart felt as though it was ready to take flight. He gestured to the hallway down which the cave tunnels to the bedrooms led. Aardriyah had never been overly confident around anyone, let alone men and she found herself trying to find the right words to conjure up a meaningful conversation. Before she was able to, Sekher interjected with an apologetic tone,
“I am so glad you are safe and well. I haven’t had a chance to apologise for the events of that night and the consequences of my poor judgement.” He said.
Aardriyah turned to face him, confusion running across her face. He used a warm hand to palm off some of her hair that had fallen in front of her hazel eyes.
“Chastion told me-” He paused, correcting himself, “Prince Chastion that is. He informed me that they believe the prisoner made his way on board by impersonating a healer; the same healer I was asked to supervise. Truth be told, I never had the opportunity to meet them, or see them. They were very secretive and requested to be left alone in the healer’s bay when they were on duty. At most I knew they wore a purple hooded robe, but I didn’t see much more of them.”
“It’s ok. I think they would have found me one way or another.” Aardriyah tried to reassure Sekher.
“Do you know who they are? Or why they want to harm you?” Sekher asked in hushed tones; intrigue spreading across his face. “I’ve tried to pry it from Chastion, but he is very guarded about it all.”
Aardriyah was surprised to hear Sekher use her brother’s name again without the formal title. Then she recalled the exchange she witnessed between the two and curiosity rose within her.
“You seem close to the prince.” She said. Sekher seemed to blush, pursed his lips a moment before he responded,
“Well I do work closely with the royal family, love. Prince Chastion and I went through The Arcane Academy at the same time, so I have known him quite a while. That is all.” She wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince more; himself or her.
“How… close are you?” She pushed further, wondering if he knew who she really was and if perhaps his special attention towards her was on request of her brother. Sekher looked around the cavernous tunnel, satisfied there were no prying ears, he leaned closer to her and said,
“If you are asking if I know who you are, the answer is yes.” Noticing the disappointment spread across Aardriyah’s face, he followed on, “But I would look after you with the same amount of care regardless, Riyah.” He placed a palm on her shoulder, squeezing it tenderly. Of course, the only man she had interest in was only being kind to her because of some command Chastion had given him. Undina forbid someone was genuinely interested in her, attracted to her, for who she was without any special requests from the heroic and brave Prince Chastion. She shrugged off Sekher’s palm and exhaled heavily, too exhausted to entertain any further conversation or discussion with someone who was probably just spying on her and reporting everything back to Chastion.
“I’m really tired, excuse me.” She turned and entered the small doorway, ducking as she did and wishing the darn room had a proper door to close, rather than the few shells and pebbles only partially obscuring the view of Sekher’s downcast face. Kit was already on the bed, sprawled across a good quarter of it. Pushing him over, Aardriyah blew out the bedside candle and prayed to whoever was listening that tonight she would just get through the entire night without any disruption or hauntings in her sleep.
While her mind was left silent for the evening, no dreams seeping into her conscience, a calm and soothing song rose her slowly to alertness. Realising the song continued as she awoke, she laid awake for a while wondering where it was coming from. In the darkness she couldn’t make out her surroundings or if she were alone in the room.
“Chidi…” she whispered, hoping her roommate had made it back from the treacherous climb. She whispered again but found no response from the space beside her bed. Kit began to whine in a high pitched, worried tone that seemed to carry through the cavernous tunnels of the inn. Aardriyah reached around at the space beneath her bed, trying to find her boots whilst fumbling in the dark. Once they were on, she stood up a little too quickly and forgot how low the ceiling was, bashing her head as she did. For all the times she would need a fire blessed to provide light and warmth, right now would be high on the list. She staggered around the room, arms in front feeling for the walls. She jumped back slightly as her hands brushed the shell and pebble door on the front of the room. Moving out into the hallway, her eyes started to adjust as a faint orange glow shone down the end of the tunnel. Kit stayed close to her side reassuring her with his warm presence.
The song that awoke Aardriyah continued, an ethereal feminine voice almost guiding her forward. It was the most beautiful song she had heard, though no words were being sung and no instruments accompanied, it promised endless happiness and joy, caressing any that heard it into a sweet intoxication. Aardriyah hardly noticed the steps she was taking, down the cliffside carved stairs, the angle so steep a single trip would result in a tragic fall to the bottom and certain death. The wind was blowing furiously, almost threatening to carry her away on it, but she remained bound by gravity to the stairs and reached the sandy beach below without a single wrong step.
In front of Aardriyah were members of the camp, still drinking and enjoying the cool night breeze, along the shore of the beach. She made her way towards them and faintly noticed in the dark waves of the night, several of the male guards, servants and staff wading into the water; beckoned on by the ethereal voices still singing their sweet song. She wanted to join them, wanted to find that endless happiness that the song promised, but she was stopped by a transparent barrier. Beyond the men wading into the water she noticed other bodies,
several women with distinct tails of sea creatures.
She turned in her spot, noticing to the right of her several large rocks were jutted out of the water resting in between the depths of dark water and the shoreline of hard, wet sand. Queen Iber sat atop the rocky outcrop, still swigging from a transparent carafe, laughing loudly for the world to hear. Several fire blessed lit balls of fire in their hands, casting ominous shadows on the sand behind.
Beside Queen Iber sat three women of the sea, beautifully haunting in their presence. They spotted Aardriyah, eyes narrowing on her as they sensed some unearthly presence around her. They hissed in her direction, almost fearful of her approach.
“Don’t worry! Is just unblessed, she is no danger to you…. Or anyone” Queen Iber said calming them down at the same time as sending a roar of laughter towards the company, who responded with the same amount of drunken enthusiasm at the joke.
The woman of the sea directly next to Queen Iber had to be the leader, she wore an elaborate crown of sea jewels upon her head. Her hair had been sectioned into tightly woven braids that flowed down the back of her body, seashells were braided into them along with long tendrils of seaweed. In the centre of her forehead was a star fish which appeared to still be alive, pulsating and every now and then wriggling one of its legs. Several strings of pearls attached to the separate legs of the star fish and were pulled back along her hair line, leading up to the large fan shaped shell atop the back of her head. Aardriyah immediately noticed why Queen Iber had such an attraction to the woman, her dark skin was not dissimilar to Queen Elin’s, but had a glistening opalescence to it, glittering in the fire light. Her two kin beside her also bore the same skin, but ones was as dark as Sekher’s, her eyes and teeth the only visible parts of her that Aardriyah could make out in the darkness besides six large crab legs sticking out of the crown of her head. The other woman of the sea, was the smallest of the three, her hair matted and knotted in long dreads covering her breasts, while a simple circlet made of shells adorned her forehead. The three of them continued singing the sweet song that had beckoned the current company to the spot they all sat.
“Where are all the men going?” Aardriyah asked the remaining company, which she realised was only made up of women, half a dozen or so upon the sands.
“They are all weak - they didn’t want to come meet lovely ladies of sea.” Queen Iber responded.
“No, I saw them, I saw them walking into the water over there.” She pointed to the spot she had witnessed their colleagues descending into the dark abyss of the water. But she pointed to a vast and empty expanse, not a single guard, servant or staff member in sight. The men had vanished, or perhaps she was mistaken, and they were never there to begin with. She shook her head, trying to shake the foggy cloud swamping her mind. The company around her laughed, jesting at her outrageous claim.
“I swear, they were just there!” She pointed again at the very spot she was sure she had seen the men. Not bothering to listen to her any further, the company returned to their fireside banter and stories. Aardriyah looked at where her finger pointed. In the space she had sworn the men were, she noticed a light growing brighter, coming closer, up and out of the water. Then, a body appeared, she squinted, trying to make it out. It was drenched, plucking seaweed and other sea waste of its clothes.
“Look!” She exclaimed to the party, who listened and watched on as the person started walking out of the water, towards them. The three women of the sea screeched, the sweet song that had filled the air stopping entirely as panic spread across their faces. From their necks small, webbed, fins rose and shook in clear warning of the being approaching them. Whatever it was, whoever it was, sent them into a panicked frenzy and without further hesitation they made their way off the rocky outcrop, into the water. The company watched as their magnificent tails marked their departure.
The remaining women snapped from their former trance, expressing utter confusion as to why they were on a beach on such a cold Moons Exhalation night. Their sudden awakened states raised more pressing questions than who the figure was that was almost upon the beach. Aardriyah could now make out it was a man with a lantern, and she approached him despite her better judgement to avoid strange men in strange situations.
“Old Man Teme?” She gasped as she saw the frizz of his grey mass of hair and recognised the lantern as the one he always took with him. The man stopped, smiled and opened his arms. Aardriyah raced towards him, caution thrown to the wind. She embraced him tighter than she ever had, tears of confusion and happiness falling down her cheeks as he gently kissed her head.
“I was sure that I would never... Princess Kibo told me …” She couldn’t finish the sentences, too overwhelmed by his apparent rise from the dead. He held her tight as he inhaled and quietly said,
“That I was lost to the sea?” He finished for Aardriyah. She pulled herself away from him and nodded, tears still streaming from her eyes. He wiped them away and said,
“Well I was, that’s true. But I managed to find my way out and find my way back to you. That’s all that matters.” He pulled her back into an embrace, his wet clothes saturating hers and kissed her head once more.
“Who are you? What are you doing with her?” Queen Iber bellowed from the sand beyond. Aardriyah and Old Man Teme turned towards her, hand in hand they walked onto the shore.
“Old man? What are you doing here?” She asked, more confused by his presence than the presence of the half woman, half fish beings that had just departed.
“Apparently, saving the rest of your servants.” He said, motioning towards the women huddled together on the beach. Queen Iber counted them, confused she said,
“Why no men? Where did they go?”
Old Man Teme rung out his clothes, twisting them and letting what must have been weeks of water fall upon the golden-brown sand.
“Well I would say that your women of the sea probably stole them, it is their breeding season and it’s rare to find so many men along this coastline.”
Queen Iber looked confused, the strong smell of alcohol radiated from her body. Her drunken state had her tricked, while she wanted to believe the women of the sea were real, she realised that if they were, it meant that she had just sacrificed half of the royal guard and half a dozen of their best men to them. She swore strongly, cursing the sea before ordering the remaining company on the beach to get back to the inn at once. The company abided, scuttling away in a scene reminiscent of small sand crabs trying to outrun a predator. One of the women remained though, and after a slight hesitation ran towards Aardriyah and Old Man Teme.
“Riyah? Are you ok?” Rachida asked, alarmed in confusion to her friends sudden appearance on the beach, the strange old man beside her and the unrelenting sensation that she had misplaced a few hours of her life.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
a bird called white tip
When the remaining company awoke at first light, they were informed of the unfortunate events of the night before. Queen Iber declared Old Man Teme a saviour and thanked him for breaking them from the intoxicating spell they had been under. In light of the loss of more lives, Sekher spent his morning jotting down the names of the missing in his black book of the dead, disappointed that more had perished on what was meant to be an uneventful journey home. Rachida had been sheepishly quiet all morning, Aardriyah suspected it was because she was embarrassed by her involvement in the events of the night before, but she decided not to ask her if she was right and instead enjoyed the rare moments of silence.
Chastion had hovered around Aardriyah, not talking to her but keeping a keen eye on her every movement. She sensed his presence but still too shocked by the revelations she had stolen from his mind, she paid no attention to him. At the tables for fast meal, Aardriyah begged Old Man Teme to tell her where he had been and what he had meant by being lost to the sea, however he was in no rush to relay the events that had befallen him and instead focussed on the planned journey ahead.
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br /> “I used to know an Osmu breeder here, many years ago. I’m sure he’d have a few spare for us to borrow, make the journey much quicker than on foot.” He mused.
“Osmu?” Aardriyah asked, scrunching her face up in confusion. Rachida finally piped up for the first time that day,
“Haven’t you read about Osmu before? Heard about them at least?” Aardriyah kept shaking her head.
“Well Osmu are native to Capap but have been bread all over the southern end of the new continent. Most kids who grow up around here are taught to ride them from a young age. I even had a pet one for ten or so years, her name was Long Leg Peg.” She smiled, reminiscing over the pet Osmu she had spent her childhood with.
“Anyway, they are birds, I suppose? They don’t fly though; they are far too big to fly. They’re moody, grumpy and bad mannered in general but they have their own charm.” she continued. Aardriyah felt her stomach flip in excitement and trepidation, she had seen enough strange creatures the past two weeks to last her a lifetime. She wasn’t in a rush to add another to the list but was also curious to see this land bird.