Blood of the Sea, Chapter Six

Chapter 6: Hydrurga

Astrophel

The shushhh shurring of the tide washing over the sand as it squishes under Astrophel’s bare feet is comforting as the noise easily drowns out the many thoughts that try to swallow him up during the day. The day is bright; the sun not yet reaching the highest point in the sky, but covering Astrophel with a blanket of heat nonetheless. Waves splash up his legs and soak into his knee length, cottony pants making this exercise all the harder, but still all the more worthwhile. The suction around his feet from the water and sand makes it harder to move in time with the blade swinging in his hand, but he leaps at his opponent all the same, forcing Dionne to block with her greatsword. If it were anyone else, they would have taken a step back, but as Astrophel lands again in the calf deep water, their weapons straining against one another, Dionne just smirks at him.

“Gonna have to try harder than that.” She shoves forward, both hands on her greatsword which forces Astrophel to step around her, his back to the ocean as he pulls his sword free of their clash. He eyes her form as she spins the blade in her hands and plunges the point down into the water at her side. A mischievous look enters her honey eyes as she shakes her head, forcing her wet brown hair to fall around her shoulders, though several strands stick to her face and neck. “In fact, you might want to watch out.”

Skeptical of being fooled, Astrophel points his weapon level with Dionne and turns his head towards the sea. A moving crest of water rushes the shore and from it erupts a sleek head with dark, expressive eyes and lips that peel back from double rows of serrated teeth. Scenting the air, the creature’s sealed nostrils flare and puff as fresh air travels through into its lungs once more. The creature warbles as the surf deposits it in the shallow water where the combatants stand. Scanning Astrophel and Dionne, the creature shakes out its neck, its ridge flaring along the crest of its head and down its spine as its tail smacks the waves that now lap around its flippers. A warbling rumble thuds through the creature’s chest and it dips its head towards Astrophel, sniffing at him as the man lowers his sword arm and rubs his closed fist over the bridge of the creature’s nose and up its forehead.

“The Hydrurga are coming to shore already?” Astrophel slants his eyes back toward Dionne, directing the question at her while the creature before him shoves its head into his hand harder, murmuring and rolling onto its side to get more pets. Astrophel sheaths the practice sword over his shoulder and half crouches among the splashing tide to oblige, scratching gently under the fore flipper which the creature raises for him.

“I had heard Khalil say he thought he saw them surface by the Trident at dawn. I wasn’t so sure, but…” she trails off, a smile in her voice as Astrophel catches the way she scans past him, the Hydrurga on the shore, and then more distantly, toward the waves rolling into the cove they chose for the morning’s exertions. “Seems he was right.”

“It will be good to see what the brood turns up this season. They’ve been water-fresh for some time, haven’t they?”

“It’s true. We’ll get to see if Iska made off with Ryju after all.” Dionne smirks at Astrophel. “If the pup has their colors, you owe me a new greatsword.”

Astrophel laughs, “I remember. You were so sure.”

“I have an instinct for these things. They were so aggressive before turning out. You saw them.”

“I did indeed,” Astrophel offers her a soft smile before rubbing his hand down the Hydrurga’s stomach, checking for sex and if it fed recently. “This one’s male. Handles well enough, but I’m not familiar with who might ride him.” Most of the herd is epicene anyway. “Whoever works with him should be asked to stay on at one of the stables. This kind of attention and expertise would be wonderful to have on hand.”

“Ask Saoirse. I believe she keeps a closer record of the bonds.”

“I’ll have to.” Standing up, Astrophel pushes at the Hydrurga’s face as it yawns and asks for yet more attention. “I gave you my time, creature, go on now.” Turning back to the waves, the creature waddles and sways out into deeper water, the waves crashing across its back before its nostrils clamp shut, and it dives under with a grand flick of its tail, which drenches both Astrophel and Dionne, even though she stood further back. The water feels cold against Astrophel’s bare skin under the hot midday sun, and he shakes his head: loose silver hair flicking water every which way. “We should be getting back anyway. Particularly if the Hydrurga are shoring.”

Dionne throws her arm over Astrophel’s shoulders and they walk together towards the sagging, sand-castle-esque tower slouching atop the island’s solitary hill like a loyal but forgotten pet. Astrophel’s eyes sweep over the structure as they approach. Asos was a proud outpost in its glory days. He lets his hand trail over the crumbling exterior wall as Dionne releases him to ascend the jagged stairs first. Now, it serves as little more than a cobbled together tower. Granted, his hand falls away from the rough texture as he starts the ascent, we still love coming here.

The broken stairs wrap around a third of the tower before Astrophel heads through an archway and into the dim interior. Dionne is bent over a table set along the longest wall, her hands cupping a small flame as she coaxes it to life and ignites another candle. She hands the newly lit one to Astrophel who sets it in the alcove by the lookout window so it’s out of the wind. Picking up a small mirror, he positions it behind the flame and slowly rotates it so the light reflects out across the harbor.

Astrophel folds his arms over his chest, watching the bay sparkle in the light of the day. “If Nox or Sulien are on this side of Thiene, they should see the flame and come get us.”

“Sulien was gliding today. My bet’s on Nox.” Dionne joins him, peering out of the window. “Though, depending on where the herd is, Khalil might show up even faster if he finds Lleida.”

“You mean if she finds him.”

Dionne laughs and claps Astrophel on the shoulder as she turns away back towards the table, “True.” Her boots scuff against the floor as she retreats, and the waves fight again to be the dominant sound in Astrophel’s ears. The crinkly rustle of parchment tells him that Dionne is unfolding the map once more, her fingers straightening out the edges that always want to curl in on themselves. He turns, leaning his shoulder against the edge of the lookout so he can watch the sea and his companion. With her back to him, she raises her voice to be heard, “When do you think the next shoal will convene?”

“Depends on the ‘urgas. And if the tides are right, there should be more soldiers looking to make the plunge. The shoal will be after the test.”

“You sound so sure.”

“We always need more E’len. The Five might wait to see who gains prestige in the clans from passing the trial.” Those who attained the rank of E’len, or tide-riders as some called them, were famously the pride of the clans. It took skill, but also connection - a blessing of sorts - for one to ride an ‘urga.

Dionne turns to face Astrophel, “You don’t think they’d change their minds this late, do you?”

“Not about those of us with an ‘urga, but…”

“You’re thinking about Nox, aren’t you?”

Astrophel grimaces and glances out the window. He hears Dionne curse behind him.

“Phyrlin’s beard, Ast! Nox will find a Hydrurga this season…”

“I’m not worried about them,” Astrophel rubs a hand over his face.

Dionne softens, “You’re worried about the competition.”

“Nox isn’t as established as … well, Vance, who I know will be trying for a hilt.”

Dionne’s hand clasps Astrophel’s shoulder, “You kept him and his friends at bay every year prior. You’ll have the First…”

“Only if the others agree. You know no one can claim it for themselves.”

“You wouldn’t try either. That’s why you will…”

The sound of a conch shell trumpeting rises over the noise of the surf breaking. Astrophel and Dionne lean into the window, catching sight of a glossy damp hide lumbering up onto shore.

“Later,” Astrophel suggests.

Dionne agrees, “Later.”

The two of them dash towards the crumbling stairs and down to the water. Their feet catching in the sand. Years of traversing the transition from solid land to the shift and slide of beaches keeps them from being brought to their knees as their feet pound onward. In front of them, the sleek fawn hide of Lleida ripples as she shakes, sending water droplets flying every which way just in time for Khalil to slide down from her back. The fabric of his clothing is plastered against his skin almost as much as the smile upon his face. The black strands of hair escaping from his topknot sprawl across his cheeks and brow, not quite managing to obscure his shining gaze. Lleida slaps at the surf with her flipper and headbutts Khalil, grunting – a sound Astrophel recognizes as being affectionate.

“Don’t tell me I beat Nox and Sulien.” Khalil scans past Astrophel and Dionne as he clasps arms with the two of them.

Dionne shakes her head, “Lleida found you quickly. We only just saw a male ‘urga shore. The others are boat-bound.”

“We set up the mirror,” Astrophel gestures toward Asos’ ruins watching over the water quietly in the background.

“That’s something, then.” Khalil rubs a fist over Lleida’s forehead as the ‘urga hrummphs and she settles upon the sand next to her E’len. Her dark, intelligent eyes scan the waters, but nothing seems to catch her attention. Khalil glances from Dionne to Astrophel. “You haven’t seen any pups yet then, have you?”

Astrophel shakes his head, “Not yet…”

“I’m counting on Iska and Ryju having one,” Dionne announces, smirking at Astrophel.

Khalil laughs, “You’re begging for the greatsword, aren’t you?”

“The greatsword?” Astrophel asks.

“Oh, you have to know she has this grand idea of what it’ll look like,” Khalil shakes his head at Astrophel as Dionne snorts.

“Guilty. You know your mom’s blacksmith makes the prettiest stuff, Ast.” Dionne’s eyes plead innocence.

Astrophel drags a hand through his salt kissed hair, trying not to wince as his fingers catch on knots. “If we are to be the Five, the hilt will be a far better gift than what the pup would get you.”

“Perhaps,” Dionne grins and punches his shoulder, “but the one you’ll give me will be coated in sweet I told you so victory.”

Astrophel catches her hand as she pulls away and traps her in a hug against his chest. His voice lowers as he says, “You know I would have given you one anyway.” He glances up in time to catch Khalil glance away and Lleida’s head snaps up as, faintly, a horn sounds across the bay.

“That’s us then,” Khalil trudges through the sand back towards the water, getting waist deep quickly before swinging a leg over Lleida’s back as she snorts and slaps eagerly at the water with her tail. Dionne and Astrophel watch them go, searching the waves themselves.

Dionne steps out of Astrophel’s hug and makes her way toward the alcove where they beached a rowboat earlier. “C’mon then. They found the herd already.”

Astrophel’s legs feel heavy, and he hesitates to follow her, though the beach remains empty of his own Hydrurga. Sighing, he jogs after Dionne before she rounds the corner.

~

Water surges in turbulent waves which slap and claw at the hull of the longboat. Despite all that, Astrophel leans out over the water, one hand clutching at the figurehead. A shout goes up behind him as the next wave erupts carrying a large, sleek bodied creature out of the water and sailing past Astrophel before its mass pulls it crashing back into the ocean. Astrophel raises his off hand and a whoop goes up from a nearby ship as a pair of young men leap overboard, diving after the creature. Several other splashes join them as those taking the plunge get right to it. The waves calm for a breath before frothing from renewed activity below the surface.

Out in front of the ships’ prows, a couple of figures bob atop the water as they sit astride the very same, mostly aquatic creatures. Astrophel catches one E’len’s eye and their mount slips beneath the surface with little prompting. A couple of the other tide-riders urge their Hydrurgas to fan out, setting up a loose perimeter for the bi-annual Seiche. Astrophel’s mind drifts, following his gaze as it sweeps from ship to ship. Some ‘urgas would always slip through – there weren’t enough potential E’len for the whole herd, and some of the creatures simply weren’t suited to riding, but hopefully this batch would provide fruitful and the rudimentary bonds between E’len and ‘urga would hold.

Blood colors the water and the ship to his left hollers and cheers. Astrophel’s nose wrinkles with distaste. Someone’s getting maimed. He quickly scans the ships to his right for Nox, but doesn’t see his blond friend. By Eulla… don’t let it be them.

Flippers roll out of the water and a Hydrurga thrashes, its head coming out of the water, teeth sunk into one of the men Astrophel saw leap into the water. He grits his teeth as he corrects himself. Part of one of the men. Another ‘urga surges out of the water, crashing into the one with half a torso and they fight over scraps.

A series of clicks comes from below him and Astrophel spots a familiar dappled head. Dark, intelligent eyes peer up at him from the waves and he sucks in a breath of air before dropping from the prow and into the chaos below. Blinded initially as he slices through the surface, a bump against his side has him wrapping his arms around the sleek, slippery hide of his own Hydrurga. Iska butts her head against his hip and as he lays against her back, she zips forward, weaving around the multitude of rolling bodies.

Iska dodges out of the way as a black ‘urga snarls. As his mount pulls out of a backflip, Astrophel isn’t surprised when a flash of silver fills his vision and Ryju crashes into the offending ‘urga, snapping at their face. The two tangle together in a flurry of limbs before the black ‘urga is sent racing away with thin trails of blood following them. A warning spat. Ryju shakes his head and bobs in the water, eyeing Astrophel with a flash of recognition before darting away again. Dionne might get that greatsword after all. He smiles to himself, knowing his clan’s blacksmith was working on the weapon again this morning.

Iska banks away from the main fray, clearly looking for someone as Astrophel’s own head swivels, on the lookout for Nox. It’s not long before he spots Vance swimming after a reddish ‘urga who appears to be avoiding him. And so the dance continues.

Across the way a shock of red hair lets Astrophel know Sulien has arrived to the scene as well. His marbled grey ‘urga, Ender, chirps and barrels over. One of the only true male Hydrurgas who has been stabled, Ender is a third smaller than Iska, though his playful energy makes him seem larger at times. Ender bumps up against Iska who bares her teeth at him, urging the male to wind away from her, weaving his flippers back and forth over his stomach. Sulien gives Astrophel a mock salute and slips back into a loose patrol of the herd clustered around the bellies of the boats. Astrophel scans the commotion again. Where are you?

The black ‘urga sails past Iska’s snout with a blond person clinging to their neck. Writhing aggressively, the ‘urga does a backflip not far from Astrophel and he fights the urge to sigh with relief, if only because it would force him to surface for more air. Nox. Finally. The black corkscrews through the crowd and a flash of red fur passes between them and Astrophel as he watches on. His attention catches on Vance, atop the reddish ‘urga as it wheels about, also trying to throw him off. Astrophel’s mouth twitches with a smirk. Don’t make it easy for him. He searches for Nox again, his heart sinking in his chest when he spots his friend treading water, facing the black ‘urga as they zip away from Nox and wheel back around, flippers tucked against their body as their mouth opens. Iska squeals and surges forward; Astrophel clinging tightly to her neck as they race to Nox’s side. Astrophel clenches his teeth as the black gains on his friend faster. Eulla save them.

As the prayer crosses his thoughts, a blur of brown streaks out of nowhere, colliding with the black ‘urga, barely blocking Nox from their serrated teeth. Brown and black roll over and over, shrieks and growls filling the water as people and ‘urgas alike give the two some space. Their frantic battle clouds the water with blood and Astrophel steers Iska away from the commotion, despite his desire to see his friend safe. Their battle muted by the water, Astrophel tracks the brown ‘urga nonetheless. Outweighing the black by twice as much on his best estimate, as the two whirl around and around again, he watches the newcomer female sink her teeth into the black’s back and grip their body with the claws adorning her fore flippers. He grimaces as she rears her head back, taking a chunk out of the black’s hide, followed by a burst of bright red coloring the water. Wriggling free, the black frantically swims away, claw marks scored into their hide, blood trailing densely behind them. Astrophel spots a swimmer trail after the wounded black and he shakes his head. Scraps won’t earn you respect in the tribes. Even if the black survives, the wound would be very close to where an E’len rides upon the ‘urga’s back, making for a challenge if a bond were formed.

In the sudden calm left behind by the battle, the brown female turns back to Nox and glides cleanly through the water towards them, slow enough to size them up and be sized up in turn. When she reaches his friend, the ‘urga slows and draws herself up to her full height, staring down at Nox. Nox, to their credit, bows their head and holds their hands out, open at their sides in thanks. The ‘urga tosses her head and moves forward, laying her chin over Nox’s shoulder, allowing them to wrap their arms around her neck. Astrophel grins and turns away, his grin melting off his face as he spots Vance atop the reddish ‘urga from earlier. Vance meets his gaze and dips his head, a cocky smile gracing his features. The two stare at each other until the water vibrates with the sound of a horn being blown overhead, and their ‘urgas surge toward the surface.

As Astrophel’s head breaches the surface, Nox’s blond mop of hair comes up not far from him, their new ‘urga’s brown snout bobbing proudly over the water, gaze trained on the woman blowing the horn. In the unfiltered sunlight, Astrophel sees the brown creature is really the color of polished wood: streaked through with lighter browns, darker browns, and some hints of gold. Pride fills him as he takes a moment to appreciate the sight of Nox on a Hydrurga. And not just any Hydrurga, one that fought for them.

Licking the salt from his lip, ocean water dripping into his eyes, he turns his attention to the horn blower, the current Leader of the Five Tribes. Her clothing is nothing special: trousers which are salt stained and tattered at the hem, and a shirt made of fabric and netting tied around the back of her neck, leaving her arms bare. Her arms are the true signifier of her importance. Long inked lines dance over her skin telling the tale of her own plunge, her battles to keep the Tribes united, the claiming of her Hilt, and much more. Her hair is tied back in a mess of braids and is adorned with shells and beads, but it still shines brightly as the sun glints off her silvery strands. Longing threatens to choke Astrophel, not for the power that the Hilt would grant him, but for the ability to prove himself, and do right by his people.

The woman’s breath trails off, full bodied and strong from years of practice before she lowers the instrument and scans over the crowd. The horn’s bellow echoes over the waves for a moment longer in the humid air, the soft splash of water against the hulls of the ships drawing it out. Those gathered hold their breath as the noise and excitement dies down, and the dominant sound becomes the snorts of Hydrurga. Finally, the woman raises her arms and the crowd on the boats and in the water go crazy as cheers, splashes, whoops and hollers, grunts and growls fill the air. Her gaze lands on Nox and Vance before finding Astrophel and burning into him. He dips his head to his mother as she cries, “Let’s have our shoal!”