by Jeremy Dwyer
CHAPTER 21: Poisoned by the Venom of Serpents
A portal opened and the Tidal Sovereign appeared on the waters of the Gradaken Ocean. Victoria looked upon the waters and prepared herself. The power of the tiara had been expended again, and would need to be renewed. She, too, would need rest, so she returned to her quarters on the ship and her scouts stood guard around her.
~~~
When the portal opened and the Tidal Sovereign appeared from nowhere, it was noticed by a light scout on a distant lookout ship also sailing on the Gradaken Ocean. This light scout was among those who were particularly strong in far sight – after drinking the waters of the Lujladia Ocean, of course – and thus could see hundreds of miles away, even over the horizon.
The light scout – Derek – was a man of thirty-seven (37) years, whose mind and eyes were both keen. He had the ability to concentrate and focus completely without distraction. This mental ability was not a result of drinking the Lujladia waters but a personality trait. He took his career seriously, and was a high-ranking member of the Civilian Perimeter Guard of the Ihalik Empire. He had been able to earn their trust, and his position, at the age of sixteen (16), when he volunteered and proved himself the superior of many other scouts ten (10) years his senior. His personal intensity – and far sight powers – were unparalleled. He also had eyes for the ladies, but only at a distance, as he had a very cold personality, that was all work and no play. For this reason, none of Derek’s relationships lasted long, and he never had any children, as he had no time for them or the women interested in having them.
“Captain, a ship has appeared in the distance. It is over four hundred fifty (450) miles into the southwestern quadrant, at a bearing of three sevenths (3/7) of the quarter (1/4) turn from west to south. It did not have the ordinary visual transition of having emerged from the darkness, yet it is now visible,” Derek said.
“It may be an enemy ship preparing for attack. It may even be the Ahitan woman. I’ll send the signal,” the captain said.
Captain Ackley was a man of fifty-three (53) years, having spent forty-two (42) of them at sea. He had been raised by a military father, and joined the Civilian Perimeter Guard at the age of twenty-three (23) as a way of placating the old man. This allowed him to travel the seas, and work part time in cargo and passenger transport, without the full time commitment to the military. Defense responsibilities took precedence over commercial interests, but the income was guaranteed even in tough times, and so he liked it. He never had to see combat himself – only carry troops or lookouts or supplies.
Captain Ackley took one of the red crystals that had been provided to the Ihalik Empire by the man named Brynmor, and then distributed to the various lookouts and company captains. The red crystal was mounted on a small metal rod to be easily held in the hand. He flicked it back and forth, up and down to create pulses of light of different durations – the way that one might do to send fire signals with a torch. However, the signal code was transmitted instantaneously and was readily seen by the land-based lookouts in the palace in Ihalik – over two thousand three hundred (2300) miles to the northeast.
~~~
In the continent of Ihalik, a lookout in the northern palace saw the red signal, and decoded the pulses of lights to know the message about the sudden appearance of the ship. The lookout used his own red crystal to relay the message to one of the company captains at the harbor town of Lahavinik on the eastern coast, over one hundred fifty (150) miles to the east.
~~~
A scout in the harbor town of Lahavinik saw and decoded the relayed red signal and reported it to a general, saying: “General Povaximus: I have just received a relayed report of a ship appearing suddenly in the Gradaken Ocean. It was reported by a light scout of the Civilian Perimeter Guard, appearing four hundred fifty (450) miles into the southwestern quadrant, at a bearing of three sevenths (3/7) of the quarter (1/4) turn from west to south.”
“I shall report this to the Supreme Commander,” General Povaximus said.
Lavakara appeared before him, seemingly from out of nowhere, but it was from the spirit world, where he was waiting and hiding.
“You already have reported it, general,” Lavakara said. He could hear what the general had said, and knew what it meant.
General Povaximus was startled by the sudden appearance of the Supreme Commander, even though he frequently saw Lavakara do just that. The general wasn’t sure if it was to keep the others on their guard, or to check for traitors. Povaximus was a drinker of the Medathero Ocean waters, giving him a slightly sharper mind, and he could reason strategically at some level. Yet, his true potential would have been for a different water, as his mind wasn’t terribly sharp to begin with. He often thought that the Zovvin Ocean waters would have been better, so that he could see into the spirit world, and learn what happened to those who had died. Instead, he drank of Medathero Ocean waters, so that he could calculate ways to fight strategically and stay alive in a dangerous world.
“It may be the Ahitan woman, preparing to strike again,” General Povaximus said.
“I agree, general. The probability is very high that it is Victoria. She has the assistance of a demon, who carries her ship away from distress, as well as protecting her personally,” Lavakara said.
“How many ships would you have me send?” General Povaximus asked.
“None until further notice. I will not have us deplete our resources unnecessarily. Have the scout share his report with the Jendaldej ship,” Lavakara ordered.
“They will ask what ships we are going to send. What shall I tell them?” General Povaxmius asked.
“Tell them that we will send every ready warship available in the Gradaken Ocean,” Lavakara said.
“You said, earlier, that we were not ready,” General Povaximus said.
“You are beginning to understand me, General. Now send the scout to share the report,” Lavakara said.
General Povaximus turned his back to find the scout who had given the report.
When he did, Lavakara disappeared from the material world and returned to the spirit world and followed him.
“We will share your report with the Jenaldej Empire’s ship, and give them the position and bearing, that they might bring their own forces to against the common enemy,” General Povaximus said to the scout.
“Yes, sir, General,” the scout said and they both walked toward the Persistent in the docks.
“Jenaldej Prince, I must have a word with you, urgently,” General Povaximus said, calling up to the crew on the Persistent.
At this, Prince Emerond walked down the boarding ramp and met with him. Judith and Ovid both followed Emerond.
General Povaximus approached Emerond and said: “We have a sighting of a ship having appeared in the Gradaken Ocean. A report was relayed by a light scout in the Civilian Perimeter Guard.”
“The unknown ship was sighted at four hundred fifty (450) miles into the southwestern quadrant, at a bearing of three sevenths (3/7) of the quarter (1/4) turn from west to south,” the scout beside him said.
Judith and Ovid both recorded this encounter and its details in their books.
“We have reason to believe that it is likely the Ahitan woman,” General Povaximus said.
“We will depart immediately. I must ask - how many ships will you be deploying to that area, so that we might know what additional forces are available to confront and surround her?” Prince Emerond said.
“We will send every ready warship available in the Gradaken Ocean,” General Povaximus said.
“That would be how many?” Emerond asked.
Povaximus was hoping that would not be asked, but he was quick enough in his response, saying: “We have over two hundred (200) warships. The number of those that will not be destroyed or disabled by her initial attacks is yet unknown. We have already suffered losses in the earlier conflict.”
Judith and Ovid both recorded this conversation in their books, as well.
Emerond saw no need to press the matter further. He returned to the Persistent and Ovid and Judith followed him.
~~~
Unseen by all of them, Lavakara also followed, from the spirit world, where he could see but not be seen. He boarded the Persistent unseen, hoping to make use of the Jenaldej effort and ability, and discover whether the Spirit Sword could be of use against Victoria.
~~~
“We must move quickly, as an airship, to reach this ship in time, if it is Victoria,” General Joshua said.
“Agreed. Convert to airship mode, at least for the overland travel,” Prince Emerond said, looking to the crew of the Persistent, who carried out his orders.
The crew converted the Persistent to an airship, pivoting the main masts to the sides so that the sails became wings. All on board placed thin, protective crystal visors over their eyes, as needed, to reduce the intensity of the light from the many suns. These visors were required for airship travel, although not always used: those who did not wear them often enough suffered gradual – or not so gradual – eye damage over time. Anyone who drank the waters of the Trerada Ocean could disregard this advice, of course, with essentially no consequences, as those waters prevented – or even healed – all eye damage.
The ship then rose to one hundred twenty (120) feet above sea level and moved quickly to the west, across the continent of Ihalik. Airships ordinarily moved many times faster than ships traveling over the seas, and they made their way to the western coast, two thousand four hundred fifty (2450) miles away, in a matter of only three (3) hours. There, they returned to sea level in the Gradaken Ocean. Once at sea level, they sailed according to the bearings given.
It was generally wiser for ships to stay at sea level when on the oceans than for them to travel as airships, despite the loss of speed. Usually, the burning suns above were a great peril to health for travel above one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude, and even at that height, there was some elevated risk of sickness from the suns. Hence, airship travel was restricted to the bare minimum, which was for travel over land. That was one good reason to return to sea level. Also, airships could be noticed more easily by enemy scouts, and strikes against them could cause them to lose altitude rapidly, which made it far more dangerous to the crew in combat situations – an airship that fell from the sky due to sails torn in combat could have its hull snapped on impact, and its crew could suffer debilitating, if not fatal, injuries. Combat is what they were expecting...they just didn’t know exactly what form it would take.
~~~
On board the Tidal Sovereign, while sleeping in her quarters, Victoria had a dream of piercing blue eyes staring deep into her soul, and watching her every move. She found this unnerving, and it made her angry. She tried to walk away from their gaze, and found herself walking on waters filled with snakes, and they bit at her arms. Then, a tiger’s claws sank into her back. She was now both angry and terrified, and woke up screaming.
The scouts that guarded her quarters rushed in and saw her.
“I dreamt of blue eyes gazing at me, and snakes all around, and a tiger’s claws,” Victoria said.
“By the powers of light, I see no one hiding in the darkness here, gazing upon you, nor out at a distance,” a light scout said, looking around the room and out the cabin window.
“By the powers of darkness, I see no one hiding in a false light here. Nor do I see snakes or tigers,” the dark scout said.
Both scouts had now become slightly wary of Victoria’s dreams, as they had been harbingers of wounds that Victoria received. Yet, they said nothing, being ever watchful and daring not to say anything to anger or frighten Victoria.
“I am rested now…and ready to strike again. This world will soon belong to the Ahitan Empire, as those who would oppose us will soon be dead!” Victoria said.
The voice of the demon, Matatirot, spoke to Victoria, saying: “The creatures of the sea are fierce. Even through armor their fangs can pierce. Command them to strike with their venomous sting. Many deaths their bites will bring.”
Victoria then left her quarters and stood on the deck of the Tidal Sovereign and held out her arms as if to grasp the entire Gradaken Ocean and make it her own.
At this, the blue diamonds in the tiara began to glow very brightly, and then the still air became a breeze, and then a strong wind, and then a dangerous gale. The ocean waters rippled and stirred and then waves of water rose and went out in all directions away from the ship.
The wind and waves struck at the western shores of the continents of Ihalik and Meridianus and the eastern shores of the continent of Waderav. The Admiral Ramalaxis Bridge – the land bridge which extended north from Meridianus to Ihalik – was also under assault. The Uplifter’s Trail – the land bridge which connected from the northeastern corner of Waderav to the southeastern corner of the continent of Volaraden – did not escape the assault, either.
“To the northeast, the tempest has struck the coast of Ihalik. The bodies of our enemies swept out to sea number over two million nine hundred thousand (2900000),” one light scout said.
“To the southeast, the storm has hit Meridianus and the Admiral Ramalaxis Bridge. The corpses of our enemies washed away by the waters number over eight hundred twenty thousand (820000),” a second light scout said.
To the west, the waters have battered Waderav and the Uplifter’s Trail. The bodies of our fallen enemies dragged under by the waters number over four million three hundred thousand (4300000),” a third light scout said.
“Sailing upon the seas, I can see another two thousand (2000) ships having been torn apart, and the corpses of the perishing crew number no less than three hundred thousand (300000),” a fourth light scout said.
“The wind and waves are just the beginning of my vengeance! Now, the special powers of these waters shall be unleashed!” Victoria said.
The tiara channeled the specific powers of the waters of the Gradaken Ocean – the command of plants and animals – and gave these powers to Victoria. She focused this power and called to the sea serpents. They were filled with deadly venom and varied in size from nine (9) inches long to over one hundred twenty feet (120) long. They rose up from the sea and struck even many of the ships that had not succumbed to the waves and wind. Then, the sea serpents struck at those people who were still alive on the western coasts of Ihalik and Meridians and the Admiral Ramalaxis Bridge, and the eastern coasts of Waderav and the Uplifter’s Trail. The larger sea serpents would lunge onto the shores and strike, with the teeth alone being enough to instantly kill. The smaller sea serpents would swarm into moist areas and deliver their deadly poisons to those not expecting to see them as well as those having already been injured by the collapse of buildings due to the strike of the tempest, and left unable to move away quickly.
“I see another one hundred thirty thousand (130000) have fallen to the serpents’ venom in Waderav and the Uplifter’s Trail,” one of the light scouts said.
“I see another fifty thousand (50000) have been taken by the serpents in Ihalik,” a second light scout said.
“I see twenty-two thousand (22000) killed by the serpents in Meridianus and the Admiral Ramalaxis Bridge,” a third light scout said.
“Their corpses are the flowers of our gardens! This is how each day should be – filled with the sight of our enemy’s decay!” Victoria said, triumphantly.
CHAPTER 22: Preserved by the Purity of Water
Genevieve, who was formerly a countess of a northern territory but was now in exile, remained in the continent of Waderav. She frequently traveled to the northeastern coast to purchase supplies of waters from merchant ships and tubing from glassworkers, all to use in her own experiments. She still purified the Trerada waters through her own experiments before drinking them, so as to have a greater effect on her health and her appearance was still a decade younger than her true years. The effect of the Count the Days song had not yet left her, but she noticed that it had diminished by half. Unfortunately, the singe
r of that song, Nerine, was back at Genevieve’s former castle, along with the creature of fire who had killed Genevieve’s husband, Count Perceval.
Once again, she needed to refresh her supplies of waters and glass tubing, so she left the small cottage she had purchased to live in and made her way to the northeastern coast. However, for her current trip, she picked the worst possible day to visit the eastern shore where the continent of Waderav was bordered by the Gradaken Ocean. Soon after she arrived, waves of water assaulted the coast, dragging people out to sea to drown. The shores were flooded, and buildings were destroyed, before her very eyes. Genevieve ran for cover, but the accompanying wind knocked her off of her feet. This was a storm beyond anything in her experience – she had never even heard of such terror.
It was more than a storm, as Genevieve soon discovered. She learned that when a sharp and terrible pain ran through her left leg and she looked and saw that a small serpent from the sea had bitten her. Now, she was filled with dread, because she knew that the fangs were usually filled with deadly venom. She barely noticed around her that the same was happening to many others, and their screams filled the air, and were carried by the winds. Some of their bodies were carried out to the sea by the next wave of water that came to shore. Others began to succumb to the venom while they languished on the land.
Genevieve did not, however, fall victim to the bite of the sea serpent or its venom. Still, she did feel its powerful sting within her leg. The highly-purified Trerada waters flowed through her, giving her robust health. She stood up and moved quickly, away from the Gradaken Ocean, and ran back toward her cottage. She felt her body recovering from the bite, and the physical exercise of the escape was invigorating. She even wondered when she would be able to make it back to purchase the supplies that she was unable to acquire today.
She arrived at her cottage slightly winded, but soon her heart rate eased to normal. She was nearly every bit the healthy young woman she had been at thirty-three (33) years old, despite actually being fifty-eight (58) and looking around forty-five (45). The run felt good, despite the bite on her left leg. There was still a powerful sting, but she couldn’t feel it spreading.