The serpent’s body continues to float there as I dismount and step to the edge of the water and shore. I cannot leave the liquid that surrounds me, as both my magic and my life essence will die.
The large one takes the woman who was almost meat for the beast and holds her in his arms. They speak the strange words to each other of those bound to the land.
The female with the white tresses and armored girdle of a Maiden comes forward and stands to my front. She waves her hand over my head and says. “You be a Nix water-sprite. I can tell by the liquid that continuously flows over your body, and your blue-tinted hair. People claim you are treacherous to those who walk the dry land. Unwary humans are lured into the water and drowned by your kind. Why have you abandoned your ways and saved our sister?”
Dian considers the woman standing there and wonders what magic she possesses to alter her tongue to be understood. “I am Dian Iverkin an outcast from the nation of Ocayjan. I was not always bound to the sea. A spell many years ago caused me to attain this form or die. I once walked the land as you do, but it has been so long it appears only as a dream to me.”
Amari and Natsha regard this being from the sea; clothed in kelp and seashells to hide her body. Her hair is blue like the seas and wild as fields of wind tossed wheat. The weapon she held is gone. She is a worker of water magic Amari thinks to herself.
The woman who was almost meat for the serpent stands to the arm of the Maiden and speaks. Amari has given us the ear to hear and speak your speech. By who are you called?”
“Why do you care? Be off and away from here!”
“I must know—why did you kill the monster and spare my life. You are a Nix. You owe no human allegiance.”
“Tis true land walker. We of the water realm care not what befalls your kind. Except, something moved my spirit, and I felt an unseen bond between thou and thee. My intrusion to stop the Senam making you its meal seemed the right thing to do. I did feel one such as you should not be meat for the hideous one.”
Dian takes several steps to the buoyant carcass. The water drips from her hand as she smacks the back of the still floating Senam. “It is fortunate for you that I am one of the few who knows the weakness of the Senam and where to stab with sword.”
As Dian is talking, little silver fish are beginning to crawl all over the monster. She steps away from the dead animal; coming to the water’s edge again. The body of the beast begins to float from the shallow water and slowly drops below the salt.
“What is happening there?” Gareth asks while pointing at the disappearing beast.
The Nix holds her hands below the water as if to cleanse them. “Those are Lokist fish. They devour the denizens of the deep after it dies. Over days, it will be reduced to bones. The indigestible parts remaining even for the Lokist will sink to the ocean bottom and become more sand of the seas.”
Natsha salutes Dian with her sword. “I owe you my life. I am debt honored to repay you in kind. You but only need to summon me, and I will stand at your side. Your foe is my foe.”
“No need to remain honor-bound to me land walker. I release the debt you have placed in your spirit. We will think on this no more. However, if thou grant this one boon? A spell was put upon me, and I have been chained to the waves for many decades. Tell me of your adventures. I can only see little of those who tread the land. Inland exploits are far beyond my sight. I have longed and dreamed of walking the earth once again.
Dian within arm’s reach of Natsha floats upon the waves. Natsha sitting in the shallows with gentle waves tugging at her tunic hem, tells the Nix tales of adventure, of battles, of love found and lost. This repast goes on for unmeasured time.
Amari listens intently, but is also doing something with her hands. She is creating a ball of light resembling water; with the surface swirling like the seas’ ebb and flow.
Gareth has retreated a short distance away and faces the woods…unmoving…listening. Nothing can approach will escape his watch. His right hand rests lightly on Helixx’s hilt. It is a reassuring feeling he could win any battle with this new power.
Amari stands and looks to Dian and interrupts Natsha. “My apologies’ sister, but I need to speak with Dian.
Natsha closes her eyes and nods agreement. She gets up from the water and stands next to Gareth.
Amari motions to the woman. “Dian, you speak of a cast spell that changed you from woman to Nix. Your present body is made mostly of the seas; little of the human woman remains. Do you remember who has put such a curse on you?”
“It was a witch that worked a dark magic. I once was a Maiden to the clan of Stormcat.”
“Stormcat,” Amari says while continuing to form the ball of light in her hands. It grows larger with all her molding and utterances. She is still able to speak to Dian while working an unknown magic. “My remembering is still coming back to me. Is not Stormcat a descendant of the giant cat Fireeyes who once mated with a dragon?”
“It is so you say white witch. My clan served the Stormcat for many years until most of us were slain by the dark evil one. She cursed me with this body as a warning to the others of my kin who escaped. I stood alone and faced her magic. My feeble skills were of no match to protect me then.
I have worked these many decades to grow in the magic that the seas have given me. Many evil men have I lured to the depths and stolen their life force to strengthen mine. But alas, I cannot break the spell that holds me thus.”
“Tell me true Dian, the name of the dark one that spat you into the sea with her magic?”
“It is a name I dare not forget, as I curse it with every moon rise. “Urel Irgini; the dark one that serves the Blood Druids and the King of Aventine o’re the tall mountains.”
I look to the sea woman and then to Natsha, who has come and stood beside me again.
“It was as I suspected and felt within my spirit. My sister who follows the shade has woven her magic against you Dian. As most magic can only be reversed by the ones that cast it—only she can undo this spell.
Dian lowers her head and idly cups a handful of water and spills it out of her palm. “I have long ago given up hope of restoring my human form.”
Amari wades into the shadows and clasps Dian’s wet shoulder. “Do not give up hope our new found ally. As Urel and I share the same blood of our parents, I believe I can break what she has put upon you—if you still wish it.”
“Why would you want to help me? I have pulled many of your kind under the waves to their deaths. It would be far better to use your magic to slay me, so I would have peace as I sink to the depths. I grow weary of those from the deep that would enslave me, or worse. It is as you say, your own blood sister who put this hex upon me. Why raise her ire against thou?”
“Dian, she is no longer my sister. In truth, we share the blood bond of kin, but she is of the darkness now. It is near impossible for her to come back to the light. Where she resides with blackness in her heart, she can never return. It saddens me. If we ever to meet; it would be on the field of battle and one of us must die. As I have many wrongs to right since my death sleep, I would rather she was meat for my sword than another.
However good fortune has found me with my sword sister,” as I lay a hand on Natsha’s shoulder. I motion to the mountain of a man standing guard, “and brother.” Together, we are a match for any that dares to raise sword against us.
Now, answer truthfully. Do you wish to shake the water from your heels and walk on the earth as you once did? Will you not think upon those that you cast below the waves in your present form? Will you join us in our quest to put an order back to this land and free those that are being trampled by the hooves of evil’s servants?”
Dian’s eyes linger on the Maiden as though her thoughts of what Amari has just offered. Her gaze shifts to the sea and the waves that have been her home these past decades. She dips her hand into the water and cups a portion of the liquid. The sea woman lets the drops trickle between open fingers. Could it be that her
pleading to the gods has been answered? Might this Maiden indeed withdraw the curse?
“Yes, I will honor your adventures as my own. My sword and magic will I add to the whole. For you to return me to human will be an honor-debt for all of my days. If you command me to come or to go, then I will be your servant and slave.”
“No! No such thing will I put on you Dian. You will be one of us. No greater or lesser than we. A true sword sister, equal in all respects. My enchantment will bring back who you once were. I will not alter the magic you possess. The sorcery which you have mastered will be yours alone…unless you desire to share with another.”
“Dian hesitates for only the briefest of moments before answering. “If you can restore my human body, and I can feel the sweetness and pain of the flesh, then I agree to share your quest as my own.”
“I must caution you; this may be painful, but only for a short time. Are you ready?”
“Do your worst witch!”
The ball of light I have been molding for the past hour is ready as I move my hands across its surface. Bending down, I cup my hand in the sea water. I sprinkle several drops on the ball of light. Going from the sea to dry land, I kneel and take hold of a handful of earth. With my fist tightly closed and wet, I push my balled hand inside the blue ball hovering before me. Once inside, I open my hand and release the earth.
Returning to where Dian stands in the shallow water near the shore, I recite the ancient enchantment words of my ancestors. I ask Dian to kneel in the water. As she does, I place the ball of light over her head and release it. It floats there for several seconds, and then the orb grows larger and brighter. I motion for her to stand again.
As the woman of the sea rises, the ball of light cloaks her body. The now large orb rises in the air bearing Dian with it. Inside the magic sphere at her feet is a measure of seawater; small bits of earth are all about her, suspended in the swirling lights. The orb floats gently over to the beach where Gareth is standing.
Natsha and I follow behind. All the while, I am speaking incantations, and a forgotten language that comes to me in short quick rushes. Gareth moves back several paces as the ball of light with Dian suspended inside stops just above where he stood. The orb of power darkens and emits sparks across its surface. A sweet tone carried on the wind escapes the magic sphere to lull the ears. The Nix is no longer visible within, as the inside of the magic sphere is alive with lightning and blinding white light.
Amari with hands raised and moving in a dance of magic and power; the globe begins to spin like a child’s toy top. It is hypnotic to watch as it spins faster and faster. Then in a blinding flash, the ball of light disappears and standing before them in swirling smoke is a young Maiden. Bare as the day she came from her mother’s womb. Her eyes closed, she sways back and forth unsteady on her feet.
Gareth is quick to catch her before she falls to the ground. In a swift movement of arm and hand, he pulls off his cloak and wraps it about the shivering body of Dian. Natsha helps to carry her back to their camp and fire. I continue with my magic words to seal the spell. Weary, I stumble to the warmth of the fire as well. Watching my brother and sister tend to our new warrior, I say. “I have added a spell that should protect her from any more of my sister’s evil if ever we confront her.
Gareth cradles the woman’s wet head with fiery red hair.
Natsha raises a flask of water to Dian’s lips. “This will taste much better than the saltwater that once was your drink.”
The now flesh and bone woman chokes down several gulps before pushing it away. She tries to speak, but cannot.
Amari touches her lips. “Do not try to utter words yet sister from the sea. Your throat has not been used to convey speech as a human in decades. It will return. The sweet voice I suspect you possess will reappear.”
Dian tries to rise, but falls back into the man’s arms.
After several attempts to sit, I give up the task. My eyes are blurry as from the ink dark waters left by a frightened eight-armed sea creature. My ears ring with pain, but I can hear and understand those who speak about me. My mouth cannot utter the words I once was able to say. My speech seems garbled. The witch says my tongue will return in due time.
The big male is gentle as he holds me. His cloak wrapped about my cold human flesh. He sweeps the wet hair from my face and eyes. The closeness of the fire is warming my body.
The warrior woman has tilted water to my dry mouth. All those about me care for my comfort. Why? This is our first meeting. Then I remember the Senam attack on the woman and my killing death. They are repaying my intervention with the compassion of their kind—my kind now. I have been a Nix too long and the remembrance of once a human is almost lost. I have been restored to my former self.
It is many days later that I am able to stand and walk on my own without the support of the others. The memory of walking on land and not floating among the waves returns. My voice arrives after much teaching and patience by the Maiden Witch.
I feel strong again, taking in breaths of air. I look at my body, now covered with a spare tunic and leggings given by the one called Natsha. My feet are without coverings, as I would rather feel the land under my stride. Strapped to my waist is a narrow belt of animal hide. Snug against my hip is a short sword given by Gareth.
In my past, I was the worker of the long bow. Gathering the materials needed, I have fashioned one from the layered wood of the Sea Willow growing along the shore. Arrows crafted from the hardwood of oak with feathered flights of sea birds, fill the quiver across my back. The tips of these shafts are chiseled bone, left by a whale shark that washed ashore. I am once more armed for defense…joining the Maiden and her companions on whatever quest they desire.
While sitting around the fire dining on roasted fish that I used to eat raw, the Maiden looks at me with a furrowed brow of questioning.
“Dian, I have waited long to put a question to you.”
“Yes sister. You need only to ask, and I will tell you truthfully.”
“The day you killed the beast that sought to drag Natsha below the waves. You wielded a shining sword that seemed to flow as water. What became of it, as I have not seen it since that occurrence? Was it lost among the waves?”
“No Maiden, my sword is still within my grasp if I so need it. I thought it may have left me when I was returned to walk the dry land, but I can feel its presence still with me.”
Amari looks to Dian’s body. “You were naked when we brought you from the waves; where does one secure it?”
Gareth and Natsha have a puzzled look on their faces as they listen to the exchange.
Dian stands and says. “Join with me.” She walks to the water’s edge with the others behind. Going to her knees in the sand, the waves lapping around her, she moves her hand over the water. A measure of liquid rises at her beckoning and takes the watery shape of a sword. The saber turns solid and a hilt now fills Dian’s hand as an ice blue blade glistens in the sunlight. When Dian holds the sword up, one can see through its transparency to her face behind.
She stands and says. “Though it appears like glass or ice, I have shattered rock and smashed steel.”
She comes closer to show the others when a low hum fills the air.
Amari and Gareth both look to their own swords. The vibrations are coming from the sabers at their sides. They each draw a sword and hold it up. Katana is bright white, while Helixx swirls with browns and tans.
Amari draws closer to Dian to examine what she holds. As she nears, Katana grows even warmer in her grasp. “Gareth, come close as well.”
The big man joins Amari and Dian as Natsha looks on.
“Dian touch my blade with yours.”
She does as the Maiden asks.
Once they touch both blades, it seems that the joining brings forth sounds and tones unheard of by human ears. “Gareth, now you; bring your steel to touch ours.
Gareth gently lays his sword blade across theirs. The sounds change, become deeper in ton
e, but remain.
“Dian, do you know what you hold?”
“Yes, it is magic I created from the depths.”
“It is much more than that my sister. What fills your hand is a Kcaj blade!”
Dian looks at her saber and back to the Maiden Witch. “What is a Kcaj blade?”
“Tell me, in all your wanderings you have not heard of the Kcaj?”
“No—it is a new to me.”
“There are five swords of the Kcaj Pentadiene. I hold Katana, the fifth sword; Gareth wields Helixx, the second sword. There is Pyrestorm the third saber and Mystic Wind, the fourth sword. What you hold is Hydrosin; the first sword created by the Goddess Aurelia.”
Dian’s eyes show a recognition of one word Amari spoke. “Hydrosin—This I have heard of.”
“Where pray tell?”
Dian gazes at the other blades touching hers and then to her companion. “Let us sit at the fire as the telling is long.”
She sits for many minutes collecting her thoughts before the recounting.
“I cannot remember the time, and the place where I took this from is a distant memory. I lost the path to where this Hydrosin as you call it was lying.
In my wanderings, I chanced upon a school of giant beasts with many tentacles. Each monstrous thing sought me for a meal. My only escape was to dive deeper hoping that these denizens could not follow. I found a large cut in the earth many leagues beneath. I managed to squeeze into a crevasse, though their long limbs drove me deeper to stay from their greedy reach. I found a cave in the rock to hide and wait for them to tire and leave.
While sitting at the mouth of a small hollow, I beheld a shimmering light from within. Having nothing better to occupy my time while I waited, I decided to see where the passage led. The tunnel was short and opened into a large grotto. Above I could see a light and the rippling water of the surface. It confused me as I was too far down. I swam up and when my head broke the surface, I realized that I was in a larger rocky grotto. Carved into the rock and high up on the walls were statues of warriors in various poses. On the ceiling was a rough painting of the gods looking down. A fading scroll held by a warrior woman, bore the words Hydrosin.
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