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News » For the Sake of a Soul: XXXI
Plans of the Mighty
Medalpha had moved through the wooden walls to sit with Celatia. The centaur was braced in a stall doing her best to remain calm as the boat rocked from the divine agitation outside. The amber haired half-horse had been singing songs, and it was those tunes that had brought the princess. Vocal lessons were part of the normal schooling of the young noble, and she did find the activity entertaining. Celatia had been singing to calm herself, but allowed Medalpha to use the musical lyrics to attempt to escape from reality.
The group finds themselves facing death as their goal looms before them.
Plans of the Mighty
Medalpha had moved through the wooden walls to sit with Celatia. The centaur was braced in a stall doing her best to remain calm as the boat rocked from the divine agitation outside. The amber haired half-horse had been singing songs, and it was those tunes that had brought the princess. Vocal lessons were part of the normal schooling of the young noble, and she did find the activity entertaining. Celatia had been singing to calm herself, but allowed Medalpha to use the musical lyrics to attempt to escape from reality.
The two suddenly hushed as they realized that Dathol was yelling at them. The dark skinned holy man was commanding the princess and centaur to rush upon the deck. Now that they stopped singing, the two could tell that there now was a disturbing quiet. While the movement of the water outside had caused the wooden vessel to creak, there were presently no sounds from the boards of the inner structure or outer hull. Peals of thunder had been sounding along with crashes of moving barriers of water, but none of those sounds were presently apparent. As Dathol again broke the silence with his strong statements, the two ladies decided that they needed to heed him.
Terish felt ecstatic seeing bright sunlight. He knew what he was attempting, but really expected Terdeskollit to prevent the maneuver. The deity had lost more than a little history when he removed all memories of Terish or his people however, the deity had severed a connection that allowed him the intimate knowledge of the one who had once been a creation.
The youthful appearing hero knew that he had been on a crest of wave when he had the boat jump through a rift in the omniverse. He had not really concerned himself with that problem. Just managing to get the ship in the proper position required enough mental concentration, and sustaining the vessel as it maneuvered through interdimensional space taxed his mind.
Straekin rushed from the lower deck of the ship only to find herself needing to lift one of her arms to shield her eyes from the illumination. As her blue orbs adjusted however, she wanted to cover them with both arms. All she saw was a vast plane of water and the ship quickly descending towards a landing. The empress turned her head to see Terish and Ferrigote on the wheel house smiling broadly. Straekin's arms dropped in exasperation.
The ship did not break up upon impact. The stocky sturdy craft hit the water with the same strength as encountering another enormous wave. This wall of water was not broken with a multitude of raindrops and interacting forces, but its surface tension was cohesive with non-disturbed tranquility. The superstructure of the large vessel thus cracked as it returned to a place of rest upon the water.
Dathol's voice broke the proud expression on the face of the two heroes on the wheelhouse. "Are we within swimming distance?"
Terish pointed off to his left. If the omniverse were a perfect place, all points on all worlds would be equidistance to each other. Each pantheon of creative forces had however bent their universe to better manage certain relationships. It was not usual to find paths through the omniverse that would enable one to get from one place to another via a very short route, but the youthful appearing hero had gone insane due to achieving an ultimate understanding of how all things related and he had displayed his knowledge by charting a course from the storm to a spot near the desired island.
Horses came running from below as the satyr verified that water was pouring into the hold. Ferrigote spun the wheel to direct the ship towards the island. The vessel did change its heading, but acted with a sluggishness that stated its wounded condition.
A dark cloud suddenly erupted in the sky behind the boat. None of the group bothered themselves with the manifestation of Terdeskollit. Their eyes darted between the island and the ship with all wondering if the vessel would survive the distance.
The water began to foam as a voice sounded in the midst of the adventurers, "There is no way that I am going to allow you to have things so easily."
Terish moved down from the wheelhouse as he loudly said, "What has been easy, Terdeskollit? We have met your challenges. There is no reward on that island. Merely another soul who has been abused by you."
The group felt earlier feelings were becoming vindicated as strange spider like creatures started bobbing to the surface of the water. While water had been scooped into bowls, none had stepped into the liquid of this world for fear of what might be eating below. These auskranids had bodies that looked more like lobsters, and a clacking of claws sounded that there was more to fear from these creatures than their sharp feet.
Straekin noticed cuts into Terish's skin, but did not let the damage to her lover prevent her from focusing on the real problem. "If you are going to kill us, Terdeskollit, then go ahead and do it. What is the purpose of all this? Are you stupid enough to think that us being killed by those creatures will absolve you of the crime?"
The sky continued to grow dark as the deity stated, "This is my universe. I can do as I please."
Thaunya understood that if her empress and her friends were going to resolve this situation, they did not need to waste time gathering everyone together. Phillip and Tujorn were frightened, but a touch and a nod was enough to get the two active gathering the horses. Medalpha was still moving with Celatia, but Thaunya approached to also get the princess's aid in gathering things. The raven haired lady did not ask the centaur for help, understanding that she had her own calling.
The island was becoming closer, so Ferrigote felt a need to stall. "Come on, Terdeskollit, we can make it past those creatures." The fighter started striping off his armor as he continued to bluster, "I can swim, and I can fight in water. I almost once took a mermaid as a wife. I will gain my lady of gold."
Laughter sounded along with a crunching from the hull of the ship. All moved as the vessel ceased its motion. While there suddenly was no more fear of the once sturdy craft sinking, all knew that it would not provide a safe passage to the shore of the island.
The voice of the God again sounded. "You are going to have to prove those words."
Ferrigote was not scared, but he also was not completely foolish. He moved to Phillip and took the reins of one of the horses that the man was attempting to calm. The horse reared as the fighter climbed upon its back, but Ferrigote stayed on the animal. There was no doubt in the mind of any what stunt the bearded muscular man was attempting to perform, but none felt their situation provided a kinder response. Thus all held back any words to make the fighter consider another action.
Terdeskollit enjoyed the sensations as the actions of Ferrigote caused those watching to wonder about miracles without the aid of a deity, then consider what words to say at the man's final funeral. The horse did not refuse the kick to its shins, but whinnied with a sound that could have been imagined to be defiance before launching itself forward. The animal hit the top of a couple of the shelled auskranids and there were thoughts that the animal would run to shore on the creatures' backs. Such a dream was only shortly hoped before the animal went plunging into the water. Ferrigote moved to the back of the horse as it screamed with pain even as it furiously moved its legs to send it to shore. There was a hope that the animal would survive as all saw a kick as the hooves of the animal connected with the sand. That eruption of the animal was its dying act however, and soon the muscular man was entering the surf. The water foamed as his sword sliced through the liquid. Blood poured from his lower torso, but Ferrigote reached the shore.
The sand shifted as the bearded hero kept up his march upon the island, and the voice of Terdeskollit loudly exclaimed, "No! You must proceed to the lady of gold together."
Dathol called Phillip over to him before stating to the God, "You have no power over me, Terdeskollit. As for this one, you already tortured him enough. His life is meaningless to you."
The words of the holy man must have been true, because no disapproval sounded as Dathol wrapped one arm around the robed man. Phillip was worried as he went with the dark skinned cleric, but there was a confidence in Dathol that helped support his movements. The holy man walked upon the water. A few claws moved in the direction of the long haired cleric and his companion, but no action was a true attack and the two men reached the shore without taking any damage.
Medalpha already had the reins of a horse in her hands, and she climbed into the saddle as she stated, "I was born a noble, and will one day become a queen. It is my duty to protect my land. I cannot do so effectively if I have not proven my abilities."
With that the princess kicked her horse and sent it from the deck of the ship. The movements of her animal did not start with the initial grace as had the fighter. Medalpha's steed went directly from the wood flooring to the depths of the water. The young lady's weapons moved to each side of the animal in an attempt to keep the aquatic auskranids from tearing at her horse. The acts were fruitless, and soon the princess herself was directly battling the monsters. Ferrigote moved back into the water to rescue Medalpha, but when he reached the young lady she was still fighting. Those aboard the ship breathed a sigh of relief when both reached shore.
Straekin turned to the animals that were left as she said, "I guess that it is my turn."
Terish grabbed the lady's arm as he stated, "It does not matter. I know that Tujorn is scared to death of needing to cross the distance. I can only imagine how terrified the horses are, and will not have another be sent as food for those creatures." The youthful appearing man had his voice drop as he added, "And I definitely will not use Celatia in such a manner."
Straekin did not know what plan Terish had, but turned her eyes back to her lover waiting for his command. She agreed with his words, and would do whatever he suggested. It did not matter the power of the forces that she would be challenging, but would act simply on the conviction that it was the right thing to do. Terdeskollit was definitely evil, so to defy him could only be something good.
The voice of Terdeskollit showed his pleasure in the emotions that were flowing as he said, "You have no choice. All must cross or die in the attempt if the golden lady is to be saved. This is my world, and I can make whatever rules I please."
Well, things come to a conclusion with the next chapter, "Maybe a Lack of Despair."
Posted by TerishD on Thursday, July 03, 2003 (05:26:15) (665 reads)
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