Post by Timeon on Nov 16, 2013 1:24:14 GMT
We have to get off this island. Niva affirmed in Vidar's mind.
The first mate was a heavily tattooed man, his skin the honeyed brown of Bhakhtar, his accent a tortured hybrid of Havsgardian Common and sailor's babble. Vidar looked to him, hopeful that he would be knowledgeable and experienced enough to take charge of the situation. He stomped towards the sailor who had doomed them, the man who had waved and yelled at a native of the Isle of Regret. This was the land where speaking was blasphemy. Trying to pull himself free of his comrades, the guilty sailor looked at the first mate with dumb terror, seconds before a cudgel took him between the eyes. The first mate did not stop there, and hit him once, and then twice, across the jaw.
"As of now, the talking ends outside of my tent." the first mate spat, and threw the bloody cudgel to the ground. He looked to the hills, his mouth working, his eyes hard. Then he spat again, and walked into the tent. Vidar watched as the crowd broke up, and returned to salvaging the ship. The show was over.
I have warned him of this place. Niva's voice resounded in Vidar's mind, startling him. Common Law applies here. But the Mistress does not respect it.
What are we to do? Vidar asked. If we can't speak-
We need to find a ship, or get a message out. Niva looked as grim and hard as the first mate. Though her body was that of a frail young woman, there was nothing in her body language that was childish or weak.
How are we going to do that, without talking? Vidar looked back to the jagged hills where the native had spotted them. Somewhere beyond those rocks and shrugs would lie the City of Silence, in all its dread. He had never set out for an adventure like this. It was too soon. He was not ready.
The people of this isle have a sign language of their own. I know something of it. We must go to the nearest town and plead with their elders.
Vidar wondered if spirits could go mad. Of course there were tales of the Radiant Lord's decadence, and the violence of the Silhouette of Stars, but madness? Perhaps Niva was mad.
That sounds dangerous. You are my spirit, I am not sure I want to risk you like that-
And you are my human. I will need you. Come with me. Niva actually smiled, and Vidar would have choked on his breath alone had it been possible.
Sailor's eyes weighed down on him, and he saw that some of the crew had stopped their work to watch him. He was standing in front of Niva, staring at her, and she was staring back. They could not hear the mental communication he had with Niva, but could they guess? Or perhaps they simply looked like two frightened lovers, lost in one another's gazes.
Why not just steal a small boat from a village in the night? Why risk... communicating... with them? We already broke their laws.
You have a responsibility to Idmundr and Master Kario, and to the crew as well. Niva answered immediately.
We can leave them, if need be. Master Kario is a wreck, a shell of a man. What good is he? And Idmundr already lost everything. And the crew-
"When you are all that stands between a desperate man and a horrible death, it is your duty to reach out a hand." Niva said out loud, surprising Vidar once again. "I will speak with the first mate. If you will not come with me to the village, then stay here."
She was gone for five minutes, and then ten, and then time stretched. Vidar tried to help the sailors, but only seemed to get in the way. Idmundr was the only one to clap him on the back encouragingly, but it was not enough, and Vidar gave up. As he was walking towards the tent, Niva strode out, followed by a feeling of calm satisfaction passing from their bond.
"Captain Alassan gave us his leave to go. By his estimate, there is a town just to the west of here. Of course, it has no name. No spoken one."
"The captain is dead." Vidar grunted, though he knew she was referring to the first mate, whose job it was to take command now.
Niva looked dour, and returned to speaking through their bond.
I have something to show you first. A place within, that all humans have, but which most have forgotten. It can be a sanctuary, though it can also be a hell just as easily.
What are you talking about? Vidar nearly said the words aloud, though his face did most of the talking.
There are a lot of things that the Dominion doesn't tell you. All humans have an inner sanctuary, in their hearts and minds. A gateway. In days of old, men would explore their inner halls, and try to map them, and master their inner gates. It is a place where one can master oneself, and where one can take refuge. This place I speak of is different for every man and every woman, and I had hoped to keep this a secret from you for a while longer. But if we get in trouble, this place is somewhere that you can hide, even if your body suffers. Sit down.
Vidar wanted to protest, but could think of no reason to. This was what he had wanted, wasn't it? For Niva to teach him, and now she was finally going to do that. She could have chosen a better time. Vidar found the nearest rock, and wearily lowered himself onto its wet and slimy surface.
Close your eyes. Niva said. Like you did when you peered into the spirit realm, to find me. I will help you find the way.
The first mate was a heavily tattooed man, his skin the honeyed brown of Bhakhtar, his accent a tortured hybrid of Havsgardian Common and sailor's babble. Vidar looked to him, hopeful that he would be knowledgeable and experienced enough to take charge of the situation. He stomped towards the sailor who had doomed them, the man who had waved and yelled at a native of the Isle of Regret. This was the land where speaking was blasphemy. Trying to pull himself free of his comrades, the guilty sailor looked at the first mate with dumb terror, seconds before a cudgel took him between the eyes. The first mate did not stop there, and hit him once, and then twice, across the jaw.
"As of now, the talking ends outside of my tent." the first mate spat, and threw the bloody cudgel to the ground. He looked to the hills, his mouth working, his eyes hard. Then he spat again, and walked into the tent. Vidar watched as the crowd broke up, and returned to salvaging the ship. The show was over.
I have warned him of this place. Niva's voice resounded in Vidar's mind, startling him. Common Law applies here. But the Mistress does not respect it.
What are we to do? Vidar asked. If we can't speak-
We need to find a ship, or get a message out. Niva looked as grim and hard as the first mate. Though her body was that of a frail young woman, there was nothing in her body language that was childish or weak.
How are we going to do that, without talking? Vidar looked back to the jagged hills where the native had spotted them. Somewhere beyond those rocks and shrugs would lie the City of Silence, in all its dread. He had never set out for an adventure like this. It was too soon. He was not ready.
The people of this isle have a sign language of their own. I know something of it. We must go to the nearest town and plead with their elders.
Vidar wondered if spirits could go mad. Of course there were tales of the Radiant Lord's decadence, and the violence of the Silhouette of Stars, but madness? Perhaps Niva was mad.
That sounds dangerous. You are my spirit, I am not sure I want to risk you like that-
And you are my human. I will need you. Come with me. Niva actually smiled, and Vidar would have choked on his breath alone had it been possible.
Sailor's eyes weighed down on him, and he saw that some of the crew had stopped their work to watch him. He was standing in front of Niva, staring at her, and she was staring back. They could not hear the mental communication he had with Niva, but could they guess? Or perhaps they simply looked like two frightened lovers, lost in one another's gazes.
Why not just steal a small boat from a village in the night? Why risk... communicating... with them? We already broke their laws.
You have a responsibility to Idmundr and Master Kario, and to the crew as well. Niva answered immediately.
We can leave them, if need be. Master Kario is a wreck, a shell of a man. What good is he? And Idmundr already lost everything. And the crew-
"When you are all that stands between a desperate man and a horrible death, it is your duty to reach out a hand." Niva said out loud, surprising Vidar once again. "I will speak with the first mate. If you will not come with me to the village, then stay here."
She was gone for five minutes, and then ten, and then time stretched. Vidar tried to help the sailors, but only seemed to get in the way. Idmundr was the only one to clap him on the back encouragingly, but it was not enough, and Vidar gave up. As he was walking towards the tent, Niva strode out, followed by a feeling of calm satisfaction passing from their bond.
"Captain Alassan gave us his leave to go. By his estimate, there is a town just to the west of here. Of course, it has no name. No spoken one."
"The captain is dead." Vidar grunted, though he knew she was referring to the first mate, whose job it was to take command now.
Niva looked dour, and returned to speaking through their bond.
I have something to show you first. A place within, that all humans have, but which most have forgotten. It can be a sanctuary, though it can also be a hell just as easily.
What are you talking about? Vidar nearly said the words aloud, though his face did most of the talking.
There are a lot of things that the Dominion doesn't tell you. All humans have an inner sanctuary, in their hearts and minds. A gateway. In days of old, men would explore their inner halls, and try to map them, and master their inner gates. It is a place where one can master oneself, and where one can take refuge. This place I speak of is different for every man and every woman, and I had hoped to keep this a secret from you for a while longer. But if we get in trouble, this place is somewhere that you can hide, even if your body suffers. Sit down.
Vidar wanted to protest, but could think of no reason to. This was what he had wanted, wasn't it? For Niva to teach him, and now she was finally going to do that. She could have chosen a better time. Vidar found the nearest rock, and wearily lowered himself onto its wet and slimy surface.
Close your eyes. Niva said. Like you did when you peered into the spirit realm, to find me. I will help you find the way.
