Rain Harlow
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(Vol 6) Chapter 9: Sway
🕑 Added 2024-07-30 14:52:47 +0000 UTCOnce Tenshai stepped back into place, Heizon continued, “Our leaders further extend a collective interest in friendship and peace, with hope for more.”
Tenshai offered, “The Mistress of the Currents knows the undertow of who you are, Seeress, for the Tides of Time speak also to her. We would not be forgotten in the annals of history’s culmination. We would not be seen as having done nothing.”
Alkai spoke in reverence, “I am given a privilege beyond me to speak, but were you to blow the horn now, we three would stay with you to serve, and if you desire it, at a time of your choosing, to escort you to meet our leaders at a most sacred and secret place. We would swear oaths of confidence to know you, and obedience to serve. That is our prescription for our peoples.”
Tenshai, eyes cast downward as if musing, continued, “The water must not try to be what shape it wants, but what fills the vessel of need.”
Heizon nodded solemnly. “The option to quicken answers is given to you, but caution is your leave, Seeress. Above all, we pray you consider these matters wisely.”
Samantha took a deep breath, nodding slowly as she looked down at the shell. I already feel the vibe with Tenshai. “More presence in the water is a huge benefit. Tell me, do you know of the Isle of Phantoms?”
Tenshai replied, “Of course. Forbidden territory and cursed. As are the ruins at the bottom of the sea.”
“Ruins?”
“A very ancient city beyond memory, but much of it has been preserved. We see the glitters from afar and feel sadness. We feel that we mourn a lost friend.”
Heizon was nodding in agreement as he looked off. “It is said there was once a great and noble king of land and sea. His shadow is still cast over it all.”
Hot damn! I couldn’t ask them to go, but maybe I could? The intrigue continues! “In any case, I’ll gladly take you three.” They bowed humbly in response. She cast Allspell Core to Identify the magic conch shell. It was a simple ‘sending’ type item, to any distance and producing the horn call from the other end, once an hour.
A primitive phone. Don’t think I’ll be lugging it around after this. She put it to her lips and blew, producing a typical horn call, but with a long series of echoes that only gradually faded.
With that, the three approached her and knelt on one knee, putting both hands over their hearts in a cross, fists closed. In synchronicity, they spoke. “We swear on our very breath and bone to hold the Seeress’s confidence in all things she deems sacred and secret — this we will hold forever. We swear to heed and obey her in all things that do not harm our own people. She is our second liege to whom we are leased until released by consensus between them.”
Samantha inclined her head solemnly. “I receive your oaths with honor and thoughtfulness. I vow to treat your allegiance likewise and to care for you as is due, returning your loyalty with my own. Our dealings will remain fair and just. So speaks the Goddess Samantha, the Goddess of Fate, Light, and Pneuma.”
The eyes of Heizon and Alkai widened before they bowed their heads. “Thank you, Goddess.” “Your heart is true, Goddess.”
Tenshai did not seem surprised as she bowed her head. “So it is complete, Your Majesty Samantha.”
“Indeed,” Samantha replied. “Please rise. I have to ask: do your people have deities?”
Heizon and Alkai looked a bit uncomfortable with the question as they stood, and glanced at Tenshai.
Tenshai smiled widely. “Complicated matters. It is forbidden among most tribes and the greater League of Eternal Peace because of the abandonment we all feel in our history, and the uncertainty and difficulties in establishing truth, as inflicted by the Slayer of Memory.
“You must understand, it is worse on non-humans. The further from them a being is and then the closer they are to fae, the worse it gets, and we seem even more susceptible. Take the Minotaurs, for example. They are linked to the unchanging mountains. This affords them some protection. What are we linked to? The ever-changing and mercurial waters which forever cast us into the fog. We wander to it and through it like it is our nature.
“There is an unofficial culture similar to Valuwei to respect spirits, but we do not give them novel names. As such, they are primitive, nearly like forces. There is tension and pressure for reform, however. Some say deities with greater protections could help us remember and preserve ourselves. Debate abounds.
“A little over a decade ago, civil war almost bloomed with the northern tribes when it was uncovered that a cult of the Serpent in the Water had broken out among them. There were unapproved skirmishes. Narrowly, cooler heads smoothed things over and the consensus of peace won out. Key warmongers were forced out of governance in shame.”
“Wow,” Samantha muttered. “I had no idea so much goes on down there. It’s like another world, I suppose. Hmm.” Serpent in the Water. Controversial? I could stand to gain if I can help bridge the gap. “What happened with the cult?”
“Many different methods were mobilized to politicize and shame it out of existence, but it remains an open secret that it persists in the anemones of the north.”
At Samantha’s confused look, Heizon offered, “Hidden in the anemones. A saying. I believe ‘underground’ is the equivalent here.”
“Yes,” Tenshai said, and nodded her thanks to Heizon. “My apologies. The Cult of Leviathan persists in secret. But, as I said, there is pressure for reform. Why block them at all, why shame? For tradition? Even the political efforts for suppression have lost their bubbles. Not only has its teeth not found purchase, the citizenry’s opinion has shifted.”
Heizon was nodding along soberly. “The Seriotikka, the Shanwysi, and the Wydeia, having the most contact with drylander societies, lead the way in campaigning for open-mindedness with their northern brothers. The people support their Highcallers to great consensus in this.”
Samantha looked between them all. Alkai’s eyes were averted. Hmmmm. “So. I am gathering your… talk of consensus means that not everyone approves of what we’re doing here?”
Alkai’s eyes shot to hers like she’d just had her mind read. Heizon’s face was stoic.
Meanwhile, Tenshai chuckled and replied, “That is correct, and shrewd of you to deduce, Your Majesty. Nonetheless, there is a quite solid consensus and that is how things are done.”
“The Shanwysi have tremendous sway,” Heizon commented. “All tribes are touched by their currents. Only fools do not heed them, as they’ve given us a dependable current out of the past of whirlpools and chaotic storms.”
Samantha’s eyes shifted to Alkai expectantly. There was a long, awkward moment, as she did not seem to want to speak. But she swallowed and offered, “I have family within the tribe that disapproves of deities. I am shamed, Goddess.”
Samantha gave her a sympathetic small smile. “It’s alright. I can understand being dubious. Hopefully we can change their minds with time, hmm?”
Alkai seemed relieved as she bowed her head. “Yes. Your Majesty.”
Tenshai eyed the exchange curiously. “Dissenters have their right, but it is the process of governance and their representative leaders they approve of, regardless of individual actions. As for the Mistress of the Currents, she knows this is what we must do.”
Heizon agreed. “Who cannot feel the sea itself shift? Even I saw the signs. As for consensus, Your Majesty, all tribes will soon send a gift, dissenters or not. You may want to appoint a dignitary. While we were given the honor of your presence, this is not expected for the second comers. Also, to be clear, we are not yet authorized for… worship and such things. The true believer aspects.”
Samantha inclined her head. “Of course. I didn’t expect it. We’ll figure it out. Especially communication-wise.”
“I have the means to communicate mentally with ease,” Tenshai said. True to her words, Tenshai popped into Samantha’s head with great clarity through the prayer vector. “Samantha. I would like to become a Follower.” Amusement was laced through her words.
Blinking, Samantha said aloud, “Excellent. Would you all object to being spiritually shunted into a mirror realm so I can easily transport you to our hideout for briefing by my organization, and getting to know my people?”
Simultaneously, she mentally replied to Tenshai. “Isn’t that trouble? What Heizon literally just said…”
The three voiced quick agreement to the suggestion, looking more curious than anything. There was not a trace of fear.
Meanwhile, Tenshai continued being mentally amused. “Comedic timing is the best timing. Speaking of timing, it remains short for the world, Your Majesty. Let us act dynamically, let us be ambitious to align every star against the dark.”
“Okay. I guess your comedy and poetic metaphor is pretty persuasive.” Not to mention, I knew this would happen eventually because of the vibe. “Madam is fine after the first address, by the way. We’ll do the Follower thing soon. Clandestine, right?”
“It being in secret is necessary, yes. For now. Heizon truthfully only speaks for himself, and if he knew, he’d laugh and shrug it off. Alkai might be scandalized. Regardless, they’d keep confidence. And their Highcaller even would only wring his hands a bit. A worrier, but a good merman. Despite a venerated age, he has the soul of a revolutionary.”
“Noted, Tenshai. More later. I’ll let my people break things down for you lot more personally, first.”
Sammy momentarily Mazed the three, putting them in a grand landscape of many-colored crystals in close resemblance to the Bridge of Edges. She figured awe-inspiring sights would be good for them. She was right. They were all smiling ear-to-ear as they spun around and marveled, pointing things out to each other. They took it all in with glee and supreme wonder.
She left them in it for a bit longer than was strictly necessary, as she assembled a few key personalities to greet them and bring them into the fold, more or less. Orsywyth wasn’t available, but Bast, Constance, and Canmore were. She added in Raphael and the Cat Sith Pythia for a more serious balance.
Once arranged, she spat them out of the mirrors and introduced them to the crew, who were more than eager to make their acquaintance. Bast and Constance fell right into the whole ‘trading hotness compliments’ thing they did. Constance was particularly praising of Heizon’s statuesque physique.
“Are all the boys in Atlantis as cut as you, Fair Heizon?” Constance commented as she looked him up and down, her voice flirtatious and extra husky. “Is it an underwater Sparta?”
Heizon was not bashful or offended, but he did blink in confusion. “I don’t know half of what you said, but judging from the truth of your eyes’ admiration, I think I understand. We are both naturally fit and muscular, and train our bodies diligently. Warriors and scouts even more so.”
“Alright, simmer down and dry off, Constance,” Sammy admonished. “These three need to know how we operate and how they’ll fit in. Get to it.”
Sammy left them to deal with the issue and dematerialized back to Heavenpeak, her mind split between the intrigues of new allies and the need in front of her: Spending FE!
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