Sekali, "The Sister City"
Chapter 51
Six weeks took the Harbringer closer to the North Lands where dwelt an enemy Sekali and his companions had little knowledge of. This is what Sekali feared the most about an enemy, and a growing trepidation plagued him constantly. He needed to meditate, and so, once again, he sat at the stern of the ship. After nearly falling into the depths of the Navarian Sea, neither Uther nor Sekali wore their armors.
It was early in the evening as Sekali knelt, watching the water, enthralled by its depths. As he did so, his eye was caught by something moving gracefully deep within the waters below, and there were more of these things than he could count. They were, to him, as great white-winged creatures with tails that fanned out behind them like many long and slender tentacles. Slowly they rose up before and to either side of the ship, graceful and wondrous to look upon in their watery flight. The most curious thing about them was their pure, snow-white skin, luminescent as the rays of the moon.
Sekali spoke aloud, not knowing he was being observed by the captain, “What manner of life is this?”
He peered down at them, letting go of his caution. A faint, soft wail, followed by many more echoed all about the ship.
“They are Sea Spirits, Sekali.” The captain startled him, and he nearly toppled headfirst into the water.
He stood and glanced at the captain, nodding. “Will they attack?”
“No, they are peaceful. They follow every ship that passes through this area of the trade route.”
The captain smiled for the first time and unbuckled her sword, setting it down on the deck. Then, she shocked Sekali by running and leaping off the side of the ship. As she gracefully arched through the air, Sekali could have sworn he heard her laughing just before she plunged into the water. The movement of the Sea Spirits caught his eye and he noticed they headed for the area the captain had jumped into. His heart began to beat faster and faster as one of the Sea Spirits dove under the captain and raised up slowly, lifting her up out of the water, yet not breaking the surface itself. She raised her hands high into the air and laughed, as it bore her smoothly alongside the sailing ship. He could not believe what he was seeing. Her crew began cheering her on as the Sea Spirit sped along, racing the Harbringer. The captain laughed as Sekali gaped in wonder, a smile spreading across his face as their eyes met. The creature she rode was graceful and wondrous to the eye. The sounds, that came to all the crew, were not unlike the haunting melodies of many of the dead, who rest in peace and comfort after a life well lived. Their song mesmerized him fully, and a joy of unspeakable happiness filled his soul.
The captain beckoned him to join her with a wave, to which he declined. The truth of the matter was he was terrified of the water; he did not know how to swim. She made the distinct motion, shrugging, then lay down on the Sea Spirit’s back as it dove out of sight into the depths below, where the eye could not go.
Time passed as Sekali watched, and his smile began to fade; she had been submersed for a long while now . . . too long. His heart skipped a beat as the crew returned to their duties. He bent over the edge as Finyat poked his head through the railing in wonder, the amusement of it all fading from his face as well. Uther had watched up until this point, and quickly shook his head in disgust.
“Who would want to ride a slimy fish. Hrmph!” With that Uther stalked off, vanishing to some other part of the ship, not to be seen for a long while.
Finyat looked at Sekali. “Think she’s alright?” Finyat looked about at the unconcerned crew. “They don’t seem very worried.”
Sekali swallowed his nervousness. “Yes, she’s alright. I wager this is not the tenth time she’s played in the water.”
He approached Finyat and sat down, his back against the railing of the ship, and closed his eyes, feeling the Harbringer’s gentle sway as it coursed along through the water at full sail. He thought he would never get used to the rocking motion, and the horizon constantly tilting, but Uther had gotten a good supply of Desh Weed, and it did a perfect job of keeping the sea sickness at bay.