Blood of the Sea, Chapter Twenty

Chapter 20: Vegvísir

Astrophel

As the new Five, Astrophel and his friends take their seats upon the thrones for their respective tribes as the crowd continues cheering. Once they are all seated, Astrophel stands up again, and the room works to quiet itself. He takes in each of his friends, each with their own shiny Hilt laid on the table before them.

“Tribes of Magellani, you have your leaders.”

The room whoops and hollers, their voices quieting once again when Astrophel raises a hand after a moment. At the back of the room, Raelyn stands in Vance’s embrace, nodding her head to whatever he is whispering in her ear. Astrophel ignores them.

“I know my friends and I are grateful for this opportunity, and thankful you deem us worthy.” He pauses and glances toward Dionne who is already watching him. He sees the knowing in her eyes and continues. “A few of us discovered a journal in the last week.” He purses his lips in thought. “There is no easy way of putting this.”

Dionne stands, “Tiberius, can you tell those of us gathered what happened in Yerevan?”

Tiberius, who Astrophel had missed in the crowd, steps forward, his brow furrowed against the attention Dionne has drawn his way. “You saw it yourself.” He turns to the rest of the room, “One of our ships came back tattered - nay, ruined. Broken from an unknown enemy.”

“Enemy?” Astrophel frowns, “It could be a sea creature.” As he says those words, the scorch marks come to mind, unbidden. He swallows another protest and gestures for Tiberius to continue.

The older man clears his throat. “An unknown source. We weren’t attacked directly, but my people came back injured. Scared.” He puffs out his chest as if daring those around him to challenge the story.

From the back of the room, Astrophel sees Vance peel away from Raelyn and enter the room more fully. The water-caller scoffs, “What does one broken ship matter? Ships break. Houses break. Bones…”

“Thank you, Tiberius.” Dionne ignores Vance and redirects to Astrophel with a wordless glance.

“There’s more out at sea than we know.” Astrophel plunges forward with the line of thought, even as people around him protest that they know the ocean. “Peoples, places, ways of living. We used to know this information - the journal says as much - but we have forgotten, and now it is as foreign to us as swimming through the sky.”

Various shouts come from the crowd.

“We should leave it alone, then.”

“It’s not for us.”

Vetra steps forward and those around her quiet out of respect. She directs the question to Astrophel, her gaze piercing through him, “What are you planning?”

“I propose a voyage made to rediscover the lands once known to us. It could be a long trip, and…”

“You were just appointed. You want to leave Magellani now?” Vance laughs, “You had the opportunity before taking this position.”

“I see it as being in our best interest,” Astrophel leans over the table, bracing himself against the wave of uncertainty in the room.

Nox pushes their chair back, standing at their place at the table. “I believe this is a worthy course of action.”

Sulien raises an eyebrow, glancing from Nox to Khalil. Khalil rubs at his jaw but shrugs and says, “Might as well.”

Sulien rolls his eyes but stands, “I’ll put it to the Five. A voyage comprised of willing volunteers, traveling to a land unknown to us…” he holds up a hand against words of protest, “however far out beyond Yerevan as our forebears deemed worthy of a trip, to see what there is to see. That is what is proposed, yes?”

“Yes,” Astrophel and Dionne chime in together.

Khalil and Nox raise their hands, agreeing silently to the plan.

Sulien sighs, laughing under his breath. Turning to the room, he says, “It’ll be an adventure. Who wants in?”

The crowd pauses and Astrophel says, “Not everyone all at once.” There’s a small laugh scattered about the room, and he follows up, “You don’t have to decide right now, but make sure to decide before we push off.” He scans the room, some faces curious, others skeptical or unsure. “We will need a few days to collect the necessary resources.”

Dionne raises a hand, checking in nonverbally with each of the other five, before saying, “You all are free to go. I know it’s a lot of information. Take your time and talk to your families - no one will be forced to go, but volunteers are more than welcome.”

The volume in the room grows following the dismissal. Some people trail out to continue their conversations outside, while others group up throughout the council room. Sulien grabs Astrophel’s arm and drags him deeper into the head of the room. “What is all this about a journal? Other people in far away lands? Do you know how insane some of that sounds? And right after we got appointed as the next Five?”

“Easy, Sul. Dio found the journal and we were looking into it. Things lead to the south, to Yerevan, and then they had a ship arrive, mostly destroyed. It… it wasn’t like anything I’ve seen before. And then Eulla…”

“She spoke to you about it?” Sul releases his grip on Astrophel, canting his head to the side.

“It wasn’t done by something in the water. Something… flying? It looked like fire. We don’t know of anything that can use fire, except us.”

“What’s the journal say about it?”

“That there are others. People, creatures, a whole other life. We used to know them. Know about them at least.”

“Why didn’t you tell us sooner? Why drop it on us here, in front of everyone?”

“When was I supposed to tell you, Sul? Honestly.”

“Uh oh. Trouble in paradise already?” Vance’s mocking voice, though low, hits its target as Astrophel feels his shoulders stiffen. Raelyn inches closer along the long wall, her gaze sharp as one hand rests protectively over her bump. She glances from Astrophel to Vance, her gaze like the prick of claws upon Astrophel’s skin.

Sulien glares at Vance, “You surely have better things to do than lurk.”

“My, my. You did ask for volunteers. Am I to understand that some of us are banned from joining?” Vance’s lip curls as if he were an ‘urga rearing back its head over a squirming prey.

Astrophel folds his arms over his chest. “You want to come?”

“I’m volunteering,” Vance taunts. He raises his voice, “Are you going to stop me from volunteering?”

Astrophel glowers, “You are allowed to come. Everyone is welcome to come if that is what they wish to do.”

Vance grins, several people closest to them now paying attention. He stands taller, chest puffed out with the attention as he continues, “Well, good then. You’ll need a wave caller if you’re to make the journey in any reasonable stretch of time.”

A few murmurs from people not of Vance’s tribe reach Asstrophel’s ears. Wave callers historically have been well respected, and he knows that’s why Vance chose now to announce it. Word would spread quickly, and he would be viewed with much of the same esteem as the new Five. He wouldn’t bear a Hilt, but he could move the water when the wind died down, and that would be enough to sway a few people towards joining the expedition. In some way, Astrophel supposed he should be grateful for Vance’s arrogance over his own Magic. It would help him and his friends in the long run, even if he were skeptical of Vance’s motivations. “I should count you amongst the first aboard the longships then.” Vance nods, grinning with a flash of teeth, before he strides past Raelyn, kissing the back of her hand on his way out of the hall. A few people follow him, probably to ask a few favors using his Magic, and Astrophel snorts. He wanted the attention. Let him see how he is expected to perform now that he’s made such a big deal about his powers. A few women gather around Raelyn, asking her questions about Vance - if Astrophel had to guess - given the love-struck smile on her face.

Sulien nudges Astrophel’s shoulder, drawing his attention once more. “He will cause problems. We don’t need that sort of arrogance on board.”

“Whether he does or not, it is not up to me.” Astrophel gives his friend a pointed look. “Eulla will judge him particularly harshly should he misuse Her gift.”

Sulien scowls, “I don’t trust him.”

“Then trust that we are in this together, brother.” Astrophel claps him on the shoulder. Sulien peers past him and nods in greeting. Khalil, Nox, and Dionne move to join them, shrugging through the remnants of the crowd - most people having moved outside following Vance’s bold claims. Raelyn tries to stay behind in the longhouse, but those conversing with her usher her out the door with them. Astrophel feels a small bit of relief loosen his shoulders when the door closes.

“Dionne was showing us the journal,” Nox offers, and Astrophel nods in thanks as he focuses on his friends.

“A bunch of indecipherable scribbles,” Khalil mocks, “but if it brings adventure to our door, I’m all for it.”

“You’re just too young to read it.” Vetra’s voice surprises Astrophel, but he dips his head to his mother out of habit. She taps him on the chin, “Stop with that. You’re the Five now, not me.”

“Yes, mother.”

Astrophel offers her a smile and she continues, “Tiberius read some of it to you?”

Dionne hands Vetra the journal, “He did. I could get a few words, but he strung together sentences.”

Vetra thumbs through the pages, careful of the old binding. Her fingertips brush lightly over a sketch further in the journal than Tiberius read from. An illustration of a ship covered in the shadow of a large wingspan. Astrophel shakes his head, trying to imagine anything that could dwarf a forty-oar longship. It’s almost incomprehensible.

Vetra hands the journal back to Dionne, but Sulien intercepts it and peers at the lettering. He mutters, “Would be easier if they drew the things they ran from.”

“They said it was time to leave, not that they were running from the other lands,” Dionne’s tone is defensive.

Sul peers at her curiously, “You wouldn’t know if they were fleeing or returning home victorious. You admit to not being able to read it.”

“Not all of it, dimwit.”

“Whether they were running or not,” Khalil interrupts, “We should go in prepared for things which we can’t truly prepare for.”

Nox sighs, “How are we supposed to do that?”

“By gathering volunteers. Rations, supplies.” Astrophel looks to each of his friends, “We have to plan for the worst, and hope for the best.” He pauses, waiting for them to agree. “I’ll be visiting Eulla’s Voice before we leave.”

Dionne’s brows hunch together like they are sheltering from a storm, but Sulien nods, a line of tension leaving his face. “That is a sound plan I can get behind.”

“As long as you don’t get left behind,” Khalil ribs. He and Sulien mime throwing punches before Khalil drags Sulien under his arm, trapping Sulien’s head against his chest.

“I’ll go with you, if you don’t mind the company,” Nox offers, voice quiet but sure.

“Of course, friend.” Astrophel dips his head to his mother, who returns the gesture, shaking her head despite still smiling. “Let’s be on our way. I expect once people come around to the idea, we will be flooded with supplies, and we will set off sooner than later.”

“There’s a change of clothes in the longship. Say hi to Iska,” Vetra calls after them as Astrophel and Nox head to, and out through, the door to the longhouse. Astrophel waves in acknowledgement before the door swings closed behind him.

“Would you prefer Dionne to come with?” Nox offers, tugging on one of the leis adorning their torso.

“No,” Astrophel turns, placing his hands on Nox’s shoulders. “You’re welcome to come with me, always, friend. Dionne will come and go as she pleases.”

“If you’re sure.”

“Absolutely.” Astrophel squeezes their shoulders and continues down the beach, scanning the waves for his ‘urga. Not seeing her, he heads to his mother’s longship instead and finds the spare clothes she mentioned. Nox heads off to their tribe’s lead ship, also swapping out their ornamental outfit. Nox hits the water first, a binder wrapped around their chest and full length pants hugging their legs. Nox dives under and Astrophel jogs into the water, steps forcibly slowing as the waves welcome him, tugging on his legs as the salt spray hits him in the face, a wave clapping against his chest. He paddles out deeper, slicing through the water once the breakers are at his back. The water cools, the sun only piercing through the first few lengths of water with any real heat.

Diving under the surface, he loses the feeling of the sun kissing against his skin and warming him to the bone, instead it is replaced by a refreshing cool that could steal a person’s breath with its unexpectedness; familiarity with the sensation keeps his breath trapped safely behind his lips as he blinks, trying to force the darker shapes under the water to form as something more recognizable. Some shift away, and others sway closer with the currents. Gritting his teeth, he pulls himself through the water with measured paces, catching sight of Nox further out with Qora close at hand. Nox turns, almost as if sensing Astrophel, and smiles, waving. In the space of a blink, he is at Nox’s side and Qora rears back, foreflippers lashing with surprise. Nox’s eyes are wide and flick from Astrophel to back towards the shore. Nox gestures to the surface and the two of them kick toward the glittering light.

Almost before Astrophel’s head has broken through, Nox is spluttering, “... was that?”

“Huh?”

“What was that?” Nox shakes their head, “You just… appeared next to me. Is that your Magic?”

“Appearing in another place?” Astrophel asks. At Nox’s nod, he shrugs, “Seems like it might be. Something similar happened in the council room.”

“With Eulla?”

“With Eulla.” Astrophel pauses, the thought crossing his mind and tumbling out of his mouth before he thinks twice about it, “What’s your Magic?”

Nox looks away.

“You don’t have to tell me…”

“It’s not that. I don’t think I got Magic.”

“The Five always…” Astrophel stops himself. “What happened with Eulla?”

“Nothing. That’s why I wanted to come with you. Maybe Her Voice has something to tell me.”

“If it would help…”

“It would. I… I need to know, Ast.” Nox climbs on Qora’s back, looping their arms around her neck. “Do you need a ride?”

Astrophel scans the water once more but takes Nox’s offered hand and holds onto Qora as the ‘urga flicks her tail and disappears underwater, barreling in the direction of Falun.

~

Sunset has come and gone, melting into the darkened sky and given way to the starlight, which acts as a backdrop to the three moons. Albiorix, the largest, hangs as a crescent, followed by Eyidee waxing toward full, and Thrys with just a sliver showing, having spent the prior night as a shadow of itself. The water ripples with silver light, reflecting the long labors of the day as fish and creatures alike find somewhere to spend the night. Qora swims on, tail weaving a tale of their passage, her flippers pressed in close against her body, save for the moments where she changes direction or comes up for a breath. The water around them has cooled with the setting sun, but as they near Falun, it warms again from deep below them and Qora’s pace increases again, her eagerness to reach shore mirroring that of both E’len settled upon her back.

Stirring, Astrophel stretches first one arm, then the other, spotting the temple of Falun illuminated on a stretch of rock. Preserved through both Magic and attention, the temple dedicated to Eulla has stood the test of time, dating back beyond living memory. He doesn’t have to see the silver lined temple, it’s archways and pointed roof, the tall columns on every side, to remember the grooves etched into its face. The columns bear the rough surface of stone withstanding a sea climate, but also the names of the babies born to the living waters. The pediment on both the east and west ends of the temple are decorated with scenes of Eulla and the ocean. The flooring, well worn from hundreds - no, thousands - of feet passing through are carved with memorials to the five tribes and their dedication to the Goddess. The interior is painted in hues of blue and purple, of course, but also subtle hints of reef life - yellows, oranges, reds, greens.

Qora bellies up to the shore, bumping against the stony edge of the island and turning, offering Nox an easier dismount while Astrophel slides free of the ‘urga, avoiding her tail, and swimming up to the island’s shelf, hauling himself out of the water. His arms shake from holding on for the long ride, especially given the speed Qora carried them with, but he is grateful to be on the shore.

Nox gestures for Qora to swim free for now and sucks in a breath when they turn to face the temple. Astrophel waits for them to speak, not wanting to interrupt.

“I just,” Nox blows out the breath. “I don’t know what to say to her. I don’t have Magic. I feel like she chose wrong.”

“How would she have chosen wrong?” Astrophel asks softly.

“You need Magic with your Hilt. My blade is black.”

“But you have a blade.” Astrophel crosses the distance between them and holds out his. Gripped familiarly in his hand, the blade springs free with silver and white light. Nox looks startled but similarly holds out theirs, and as they said, the blade erupts in black, the edge fuzzy like mist.

“I don’t know what it means. Yes I have a Hilt, but why don’t I feel Magic? Yours is already responding to you.”

“Not responding. I haven’t told it to do anything, things just have started… happening.”

Nox sheaths the blade, reattaching the Hilt to their waist. “I should ask Her Voice before it gets too late into the night.” Astrophel follows suit, his Hilt tapping against his thigh.

The temple waits for them, perched on the stony island, watching the sea for miles all around. The sound of the ocean shifts in this place, muting as a different, more tumultuous sound rises to the top like bubbles seeking the surface. It shifts from thunderous crashing down to the shushhurrrr of waves rolling over sand, before a weighted silence mellows out even that sound, encapsulating Nox and Astrophel as they cross over the threshold into the temple itself, the columns standing at their backs like sentinels. Light dances in: silver, muted, and soft as it dances and dapples over the flooring and walls. At the far end of the room, the altar is decorated with finely woven fishing nets, oiled seal skin, and colorful sea shells. A pair of finely crafted oars flank the altar, too ornate to be anything but gifts. Kelp is arranged around the base of the altar like a skirt, and there’s the sound of dripping water that comes from nowhere and yet everywhere all at once. The air inside the temple is humid enough that Astrophel can feel it filling his lungs with a certain sort of wet weight, but it doesn’t make him feel like he is drowning.

Their footsteps might echo in the space on another day, but today it sounds like they are walking through water no deeper than the length of his finger, though no water covers the floor. Kneeling in front of the altar, Nox places their Hilt on the floor and bows their head, hands braced on their knees. Astrophel stands back a few paces, turning so he can keep an eye on Nox and the doorway at the same time. He distantly hears the shriek of a seabird, carried on the night wind, and his eyes are drawn to the door. A whisper of fabric along the stone floor catches his attention, but there’s no one else in the temple with them. Astrophel hears it again, and realizes it’s on the other side of the temple walls as billowing blue comes into view, followed by the heavily inked hands of Eulla’s Voice, her hood still overhead, deeply shadowing her face save for the tip of her nose and the ghost of a smile playing over her features.

“Hello darling ones.”

Nox startles, picking up their Hilt as they turn, rising to their feet as Astrophel bows at the waist. Nox says, “I hope we didn’t disturb you.”

“The sea never sleeps, so it is no bother.”

“We know it’s getting late,” Astrophel adds. Eulla’s Voice’s gaze sweeps over him but she doesn’t reply to that.

Instead, she holds out her hand toward Nox, “What seems to be the problem with your Gift?”

“I don’t feel anything. I’m worried…”

“You think She chose wrong,” the Voice’s tone is surprised.

“I…” Nox swallows and hands her the Hilt instead.

She takes the metal, turning it over. The black blade ignites, smoking softly in the humid temple air. “Lacuna. She did not choose wrong.” She holds the Hilt back out for Nox to take.

“Lacuna?” Nox takes the Hilt, studying it as though it will answer them.

“Your Magic.” She turns to Astrophel. “What is your question?”

“I just wanted to tell you we were leaving.”

She hums to herself softly and Astrophel glimpses two black lines running from her lower eyelid down to her jaw before her features are shrouded by the hood again. “You think I do not know the will of the Goddess?”

“We need the Paroxysm Tide.”

“Ah, the Waters.” She folds her hands, the long sleeves hiding her hands in their folds. “Yes, that would be wise. Tell your people to bring barrels, and we will see to it that you have what you need for burial.”

“Burial?” Nox squeaks, tuning back into the conversation. Their eyes dart between Astrophel and the Voice. “Astrophel…”

“I will. Thank you.” Astrophel bows to his Goddess’ Voice, biting back the shoal of questions plaguing him about their journey and his role in it all. A small part of him screams that this will be the last time he gets to ask these questions, but another part reminds him that sometimes it is better not to know. Fate will carry me on her currents wherever I need to go. I submit to these waters. He shudders, noting he is staring directly into the pale white-blue eyes of the Voice, something he had never seen before. Her pupils expand beyond their normal capacity, seemingly swallowing her eyes in dark pools as tears of black drip down the ink embedded in her skin. In his mind, he hears her say, “I wish you luck, Prince of Stars. Know you are most dear to Her and She never wished this fate for you, but there is no other way. The waves will sing Her sorrows when you are lost to Her.”