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News » Dreams of a Family: V
Chapter Five
William carried the mermaid as the group marched to Wrossin. The primary reason was that he felt that he should care for the body of his son. By the time that camp was broke and the march began, there was no longer any sign of Charles in the form. The mermaid was lovely. She had a narrow face more elven in appearance, although there was a green tint to the skin that clued those that looked at her at other minor features which set her apart as a different race. The small scalloped ears were easily hid by the length of thick yellow curls that poured from her head. The female torso appeared delicate with the manly shirt of the one who had owned the body before her appearing too rough for her skin. From the hips down was a long scaly body that showed no signs of normal human bones. Instead of feet, the mermaid had a wide caudal fin. William claimed that the lady was not heavy, and once her body found a comfortable position around the man he did not complain of his labor.
Something magical happens with this chapter, I begin to tie my two main threads together. Read for yourself to determine how big my plot hole is.
Chapter Five
William carried the mermaid as the group marched to Wrossin. The primary reason was that he felt that he should care for the body of his son. By the time that camp was broke and the march began, there was no longer any sign of Charles in the form. The mermaid was lovely. She had a narrow face more elven in appearance, although there was a green tint to the skin that clued those that looked at her at other minor features which set her apart as a different race. The small scalloped ears were easily hid by the length of thick yellow curls that poured from her head. The female torso appeared delicate with the manly shirt of the one who had owned the body before her appearing too rough for her skin. From the hips down was a long scaly body that showed no signs of normal human bones. Instead of feet, the mermaid had a wide caudal fin. William claimed that the lady was not heavy, and once her body found a comfortable position around the man he did not complain of his labor.
The mermaid was not unappreciative of the efforts of the man. She spoke kindly to him and sang songs to keep his thoughts from considering her weight. None in the group knew the language of the merpeople, but Jackal did attempt to hum along with the rhythm of the mermaid's voice. She listened to Jackal's songs in return and sung the choruses with him. She said that her name was Feshixy, and spoke of ways she might repay the kindness.
None of the mermaid's options to restore things was met with approval. The first problem was that there was resistance to condemning anyone to having their existence condemned to the box. Jackal did admit that it would be proper to put the body of a malicious criminal condemned to death to a proper use, but felt that condemning a soul to a fate where it would stay in a stasis without having to face the divine was unmoral and to have the possibility of the felon to again be released in the future was unethical. The only vote such an option had in its favor was that none could offer a better solution.
There was no fault assigned to Feshixy. She freely spoke to all and answered any question asked to her. None in the group felt that she was evil. She was a smart lady who definitely had her own opinions, but her more radical viewpoints were clearly either from her perspective as one who grew up in the ocean or just her youth.
The mermaid cried when there was an attempt to guess her age. She had set her spell to restore her form to the body her heart was placed in, but none were sure if the youth she radiated was actually true. Feshixy did not really have a sense of time from her entrapment. She admitted to having the time to mentally study and alter the magic of her cage, but considered such manipulation to only be the results of days. The mermaid also admitted to being very bored , but did not feel that she had been trapped for an overly extended amount of time. Certain references that she made about rulers on the surface were recognized, although placed back a number of generations. Feeling that she was not destined to be reunited with her husband caused Feshixy to strongly hug the one who carried her as she wept.
Arriving at Wrossin brought no relief to the travelers. The high priest personally took the matter into consideration, but had to admit that even Muysdian was puzzled by the situation. The primary problem was that there was not a simple solution to the restoration of bodies. What had been Charles' body was now truly that of the mermaid. The fact that it was her heart beating in the form prevented a simple dispelling of the magic to restore things to normal even as the magic that placed it there empowered Feshixy's own alterations to a degree beyond any normal restoration. The god stated that his constraints placed by the Order of Vintagelle prevented him from taking any drastic action, but that he would check with his peers to see if a solution was available just as it had been for the curse that had recently attacked the land.
The sailors commented that they really did not see much difference in the present elven lady and as she appeared during the curse. Watussin did not argue with the men, and even admitted that the battles enabled her to spend the energy of her hormone soaked body in a more controlled fashion. What she considered the major difference in the two periods was that now she could rationally discuss her behavior while under the melt she could not. The sailors truthfully thought it as odd to speak with a elven woman on certain topics as it was to see her frantically going from fight to fight, so equated the two units of time.
Dethii was grateful to Watussin for being so social with the sailors. The reddish-haired lady did not want to discuss her thoughts, and with the men speaking to her friend they did not speak to her. Magrut wanted to say things to Dethii, but understood that he was presently returned to his station as leader of the expedition so could not act as a lovesick boy. She recognized certain comments to have deeper meanings, but attempted to ignore such as she tried to get her subconscious to reveal hidden secrets of its own.
The human lady had to admit that she found no faults with Magrut. He was a little older than most of her other suitors, but still had a desire for adventure. When asked a question, he always responded honestly even if the answer might show things he had rather hide. Dethii considered the man to be similar to Jackal in that they both did not strive to overcome any opposition, but worked to prove their own worth by their own deeds. Jackal had lost Watussin however, although Rain was a worthy competitor for her hand and did have assets of his own. Magrut was also not the only man trying to gain Dethii, but she considered that he did not have anyone who could stand beside him. The problem was that while Watussin considered marriage to be a release from her prison, Dethii felt that it would be a step into a cage for her.
All heads lifted as a horn sounded. A few horsemen in the distance were seen with one of their number waving a banner. Watussin's importance to the barony had caused a soldier of Newuhal to be assigned to the group, and at the nod of the elf lady he lifted the banner that he carried.
Dethii recognized the banner, and made a comment to certain sailors about her earlier question concerning if they would protect her. The men did not understand the comment until she mentioned that the banner was of the Viscounty of Gerastal, so quite certainly had been sent by her parents. Magrut made a comment about getting the meeting over, then rode up to Watussin as she waited for the alternate group to approach.
It was five men who rode up to the group. Three were armored as being of the elite of the forces of the viscounty. One was armored similar to the three, but his features showed youth and his horse was loaded down with equipment. Watussin and those with her considered the lad a squire of one of the knights of the realm, although felt it strange that a squire would be present while those armored showed no insignias of themselves being a minor noble. The man who rode to take the lead had only some leather pieces over a nice suit.
"I am sorry, but I do not recognize your banner. I am looking for directions to a new barony whose banner I also won't recog … Lady Dethii, thank the gods, I was looking for you."
The reddish haired lady rode forward to make the introductions. "Advisor Chekon is the Minister of Tarriffs for the Viscount of Gerastal. Advisor Chekon also happens to be an uncle of mine. The one not so well armored is my brother, Mauthri. The three well armored are probably some well paid bodyguards."
Dethii was much more pleasant with her identification of her companions. Even the sailors got good things said about them. The lady had to turn her head to hide from her relatives the scrunched expression that came to her face as her uncle recognized the name of Magrut. The sailors were highly entertained by the expressions on Dethii's face as she had to pause while Magrut had his hand shaken and some recent facts about himself stated to the man. Only after the sound of her uncle's voice stating how wonderful the day was turning out to be finally hushed did Dethii finish her introductions.
Chekon gladly took over the conversation once all greetings had been said, "Lady Dethii, I am so glad to see you about the land. Your homeland suffered greatly in the recent calamity. Your family is all doing well, except for …" Eyes moved to catch the expressions of others as the man made comments about certain cousins, even more distant relatives, and trusted servants. "Such is not the true horror that made me come to you, however." Now he again had the attention of the group. "You see, there was an object of extreme power being sent to Wrossin. It was originally found by Lord Magrut here, and entrusted to his majesty, King Wiraste of Formorll."
The man being mentioned decided to speak for himself. "What I entrusted to King Wiraste was the Reliquary of Yenottob. It was said to be a most honored item holding the most delicate of treasures. It was said to hold the heart and soul of a past queen of the merpeople. She turned evil and corrupted their plans to build a grand home uniting their kind with the surface dwellers at the Falls of the Abyss. After the collapse of the towers, one of which my men and I have found, the merpeople found the box and realized the deception. They attempted to restore the true soul to their queen, but failed with the box being lost."
Magrut now turned to Dethii to tell her things that he had not yet said. "I did not need the box, but did need to return some gratuity to those who helped finance my trip. I told you about the golden chain, well I got to keep it because the value of the box more than covered my debts."
Chekon went back to speaking, "Your debts are paid, Lord Magrut, and I did not come for you. I was sent to hire Lady Dethii, who seems determined to continue to adventure, to go after the box. I have no complaints seeing my niece already present on some mission, and will return to inform others to advance other plans."
"Uh, Magrut?" All turned to hear what the captain of the Ibis had to say, "The god Aegir tells me that the box is being brought to Wrossin, and the mermaid has been restored. Whatever questions that we have about our journey can now be answered."
"That is wonderful news, Benord, but why would Aegir tells us this? I mean, thank him, and note that I will offer a sacrifice next time I enter one of his temples, but I did not think that I rate."
"No offense, Lord Magrut, but I believe that I am the one that rates. You know my plans to build my home near one of the towers and erect a sanctuary for pilgrims to Aegir nearby. The god thus informed me so I would know to head to Wrossin to learn things that would aid my dreams."
Magrut looked to Dethii as he smiled, and suddenly he was struck by an idea. "Keir Benord, ask Aegir if it was my lady's friends, Jackal and Rain, who found the box."
"Not directly, but it is presently in their possession."
"Lady Dethii, when things turned very bad you had me go to the home of your friends. Now that things have improved, would you mind if we went and met them?"
The face of the lady brightened as she said, "It does sound a lot less like work."
Aha, I have been able to tie my two threads together. Well, I go off on a tangent with the next installment, but I promise that the story will be advanced.
Posted by TerishD on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 (06:34:38) (1038 reads)
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