Myth: The Sea Awakens

[Weeta]

"Oh."

Weeta licked the fish from her fingers thoughtfully. "Is Ariadne sad?" She would be sad if her father had died. "I am sure the Great Birds will take him to the edge of the seas..." but she didn't sound sure, because she was aware that the Glauca buried their dead at sea, not in the air like the Mer.

[Mr. Glasswater]

"She was sad for a short time."

Standing, he gathered up both his and Weeta's bedrolls and stepped carefully around the campfire. His horse was already saddled, and Glasswater lay the sleeping blankets behind the seat, mindful to form a spot for Weeta to sit on.

"But she has her duties. She is Fyrian, now."

[Weeta]

Weeta skipped over to him, swinging her arms. "Oh, yeah!" She turned a cartwheel in the soft grass, and added, "Maybe she'll take me on her ship. Kariun would never let me."

Her ears twitched, and she looked around. "Do you hear that?"

[Mr. Glasswater]

The smile he afforded her melted away as he too listened intently. His hearing wasn't so attuned as Weeta's, but it wasn't long before the sounds of approaching horses was heard by him as well. His brow furrowed, and his efforts to pack up their campsite redoubled.

Odds were good that it was simply a group of travelers, but the Glaucan knew enough to be prepared. If they needed to make a quick getaway from thieves, they'd be in a better position to do so while already on horseback.

Matraca, who'd happily been scrounging through the ground for leftover crumbs of breakfast, perked his head up as well. A moment later he hopped forward and up, taking to flight.

The rest of their possessions were stowed easily, and Glasswater kicked dirt over the fire to smother it out.

"Come on Little Cousin," he spoke gruffly.

And without waiting for an answer from her, he swept her up and set her easily on the makeshift seat before climbing up into the saddle himself.

[Weeta]

Weeta squeaked as Glasswater easily manhandled her, and was barely able to get her hands on his belt before he was kicking the horse. Her second eyelid closed to protect her eyes from the wind, and she looked back as the campsite disappeared behind them.

The saddlebags were lumpy under her legs, and she squeezed with her knees, trying to think of the horse as the deck of a boat and using her balance to relieve her tight hold on Mr. Glasswater.

Low lying branches whipped around them, and she thought she saw movement. "What is it?" she shouted, trying to get his attention.

[Mr. Glasswater]

After a short distance, Glasswater pulled at the reigns to bring the horse to a halt. The animal turned in circles, hooves hitting the forrest floor in impatience as he craned his neck left and right, then front and back.

"I don't know."

The sounds they'd heard grew louder, coming from the direction they'd just been, and the Glaucan kept the horse steady. Whatever was coming through the forest sounded vaguely familiar; the rattle of metal and the creak of leather. It wasn't a large group, but it was certainly more than one person.

Caution prevailing, Glasswater drew the curved scimitar from his belt. It was a wide blade, sharpened on only one side.

Holding it at a downward angle, he watched with growing trepidation as shapes began to appear through the trees before them.

[Weeta]

Weeta pressed her lips into a firm line as Glasswater drew his curved sword. She put her hand on the pommel of her double edged short sword, and swallowed hard. She'd never really fought anything bigger than a shark, before.

Of course, sharks got mighty big.

It sounded like a bunch of horses as the sound became clearer, and she was hit by a sudden feeling of dread. Weeta tried to determine how to hold on and not get in the way of the Glaucan's sword arm, or if she should draw her own weapon or if she'd be more likely to stab her ally if she did so.

She decided not to draw it, and hooked one hand around his belt, putting the other on the rump of the horse to steady herself.

[Ariadne Fyrian]

There'd been word passed about that movement was sighted up ahead, but Fyrian paid little attention to it.

The group had ridden hard, Mako it seemed determined to catch up with Glasswater before the day was out. They'd made a small camp the night before, and were already set out as the sun's rays began touching the earth.

Fyrian and Erifa both rode beside the Imperator, speaking little. Erifa, in a seemingly eternal sour mood, often cast angry faces to Mako while Fyrian simply rode. She secluded herself in her thoughts, worried for the future. Would Mako force her to return to Necia? As much as she wished to, the Glaucan knew that it would mean her life was forfeit, at the hands of the one who had once been so kind to her.

A motion skyward caught her eye, and she looked up. Erifa had also seen it, and her face broke into a smile.

Fyrian knew the shape of the bird overhead, and she lifted her fingers to her lips, letting out a piercing whistle.

The raven, hearing the call of his mistress, swooped low and circled around the front of the group before alighting on Fyrian's outstretched arm. She leaned in to deliver a gentle kiss to the bird's head.

"If Matraca is here, so is Glasswater."

Fyrian nodded at the girl's words. The question now though, was exactly where Glasswater was.

[Cneidon Mako]

"Good."

Mako watched Fyrian and the bird which seemed to respond to her beckon call.

"Cipa."

One of the soldiers in the column rode ahead, and dismounted a few meters beyond. He crouched in the trail for a moment.

"Only one set of fresh tracks, Imperator."Mako looked again to Fyrian with a self-assured smile.

"Let's bring this heist to an end today."

He reached to the crest of his helmet, pulling down the stylized facemask so that the fair-featured visage of the Necian hero Frifax stared serenely ahead, his wavy metal locks parted down each side of the armor.

[Mr. Glasswater]

He heard the whistle; it was unmistakeable and familiar. Ariadne. Apparently she'd not made it to Ha'ainn Inniu yet, and was catching up with him.

Glasswater breathed a sigh of marginal relief at the thought, but still hesitated. He could hear more than one horse. Had she brought some of the crew with her?

A quick glance over his shoulder at Weeta, and the Glaucan gave a reassuring smile.

"It is Ariadne. Apparently she's not made it to the Fian city yet."

His rigid posture softened, and Glasswater rolled his shoulders back while replacing his sword at his belt. Slowly nudging his horse forward, they began retracing their steps.

[Weeta]

"Oh," said Weeta, but she didn't relax. Somehow her dream kept bugging her. As the horse turned around and started walking back the way they'd come, the Mer kept her hand on the hilt of her sword.

Something didn't seem right. Of course, she was so far away from the ocean that she couldn't even hear it, so there weren't many things around her that did seem right. Weeta tried to relax.

[Ariadne Fyrian]

Fyrian gave a doleful look to the Imperator, but otherwise said nothing before returning her attentions to Matraca. The bird fluffled his feathers, obviously happy to be on the arm of his mistress. Fyrian smiled in spite of herself and ran a hand over the avian's head. Such a wonderful animal, such a loyal animal. She leaned in to deliver another soft kiss to his head before finally turning to look at Mako.

"Don't bull your way into this. There are gentler ways to get what you so desire."

With a sweeping motion, the Glaucan woman reached over to the Imperator. It was a stretch, but she was able to delicately take the lower cusp of his facemask and pull it up once more so that his face was exposed.

"If you so wish for the return of your lantern, all you have is to but ask me and I shall give it to you. Why take with force when you can retrieve with grace?"

[Cneidon Mako]

Mako studied Fyrian's face for any treachery. If any existed, she was obviously gifted in concealing it. Reluctantly, he relented.

"Very well."

He glanced back to the guard, who dialed back their expectation for immediate conflict, to a state of watchful readiness.

[Mr. Glasswater]

He could sense her reserve and worry, but Glasswater merely turned about in his saddle to wrap his arm about her and give a squeeze.

"It is alright," he said gently while nudging the horse forward. "Ariadne has only brought more of the crew with her. Perhaps even Blackpool is with her."

The party ahead began to materialize through the morning mist, and as his eyes searched the shapes before them the Glaucan gave a soft hrumph. The group did not seem to be pirates; or at least they didn't give the appearance of being so.

Glasswater brought his horse to a sudden stop then as one man in front became clear. A Necian; not hard to discern considering his armor and just the very way he sat atop his mount. Surprise at this sudden turn, his eyes went to the two at either side of the Necian; Ariadne and Erifa.

A moment of silence, and then the big Glaucan burst out laughing.

[Weeta]

Weeta jumped at the Glaucan's sudden burst of laughter, nearly falling off the horse she was so surprised. She recognized the Necians, well, not personally, but in general.

And there was Ariadne! Weeta waved wildly before she could stop herself, excited to see her friend. But what if she was a prisoner? She was Fyrian now, after all. The Mer gulped.

[Ariadne Fyrian]

Glasswater's laughter rang through the trees clearly, and Fyrian stared at him from over the tops of her eyes, a grin playing across her face. His reaction was enough to make her inwardly laugh at Mako. Did he honestly think that his haughty airs and finely polished Necian armor would intimidate a man such as Glasswater? Perhaps herself to a degree - yes - but the big Glaucan was of a different mind than most.

But what was this? Did her eyes decieve her? Weeta, energetically waving, sat atop a horse! It made Fyrian let out a laugh, and with an upward gesture of her arm, she sent Matraca skyward once more.

Erifa, all smiles, waved back to the little Mer.

Lifting herself from the saddle, Fyrian dismounted lightly, her boots touching the ground with soft crunches. The Imperator was given an almost defiant look, and without waiting for his permission, she started toward Glasswater and Weeta.

[Cneidon Mako]

Mako pulled back on his reigns, causing his horse to cool its hooves momentarily. Standing somewhat idle, the beast shifted its weight a few times, and snorted. He watched the interaction of Fyrian, her pirate accomplice, and this young Mer woman. He was acutely aware that he was taking a risk with allowing Fyrian some degree of liberty, and so he remained silent, but with a cool wariness about him.

[Mr. Glasswater]

Laughter dying down, Glasswater canted his head to the side and was rewarded with a series of snaps as his neck popped. Fyrian it seemed had gotten herself into a bit of a spot, and while he was mindful to keep his guard up, he could tell by the way that she walked that not all had gone horribly wrong.

It still nagged at him though, how his captain had looked to the Necian before starting his way.

Careful to not disturb Weeta too much, his slowly dismounted as well.

Gently the Glaucan reached up to take the little Mer by her waist, sliding her forward so that she now occupied his spot in the saddle.

"Now don't touch anything, Little Cousin," he whispered softly while giving a pat to her leg.

And then he turned to face the group. Striking out ahead, Glasswater kept a hand on the pommel of his blade as he drew closer to Fyrian.

"You have made friends it seems, Captain."

She smiled back at him.

"An unfortunate position, Mr. Glasswater."

"Is it really? If I were to venture a guess, would I be correct in thinking that you've decided to break away from your father's prejudiced natures?"

The two Glaucans stopped a scant few paces from each other.

"And if I have, would my navigator remain at my side?"

Glasswater took on a stern face then, his shoulders squaring back as he looked past Fyrian. He took a moment to seemingly size up the Necian beyond her.

"Your navigator," he finally rumbled, "... will follow your orders no matter what."

He half-turned then, looking to Weeta and giving her a reassuring smile.

"... else our Little Cousin would never speak to me again."

[Weeta]

"That's right," said Weeta. "Never ever!"

She frowned at the Necian soldiers. "What are they doing here?" Shifting around, the Mer accidentally stuck her hand in one of the saddlebags. There was something hard inside of it.

[Ariadne Fyrian]

Fyrian gave the Mer a soft gaze, taking note of the frown.

"They... " how to explain?

"... they travel with me in good faith."

Which was the best she could think of to describe it for the moment.

A scowl of her own, and Fyrian shifted her gaze back to Glasswater.

"I've come for the lantern."

"Is that so?"

There was no challenge in his voice, instead a raised lilt that betrayed his curiosity. Biting her lip, the Glaucan woman laid a hand on her horse's neck.

"I do. Kariun angered Denetion by taking it -"

"He is not the only perpetrator in this crime," the navigator hissed, his voice low for only her to hear.

"I know that. But the one who encouraged him to commit this offense will be held accountable in his own time. Right now it is our duty to at least mend our side of this wrongdoing."

Glasswater gave a cautious glance to Mako, and Fyrian made a pained face at the thin-lipped contempt that her shipmate openly displayed.