Chapter XIII: To the Sea
Little happened as the Fieretka rejoined the road and stream, and continued on their way to Valraines. Everyone was too wrapped up in their own thoughts to pay much heed to the others, the impact of their journey finally hitting home.
Stefi’s mind whirled through a storm of thoughts and worries. Just what was her gift supposed to do to help the world? Everyone seemed to have such high expectations. Cédes said one day she could destroy worlds, while the somewhat cute (so she thought) Reilos had enamored her with his stories of a far away island that could well solve their problems easily.
Cédes was no less worried. Everyone expected her to know everything about Feregana. Truth be told, she barely knew anything. Being blind and hence unable to read severely hampered her love of learning, and she hated annoying her tutors too often. And to top it all off, her duties advising her fellow Furosans who so depended on her and keeping them hidden were mentally exhausting. Even though her gift was now waning and she knew little of the road ahead, she couldn’t help but feel like a great burden was slowly being lifted from her shoulders. That, and Stefi had helped her realize there was more to life than praying and sitting inside. She only wished Stefi would trust her for now; what sense was there in attempting a foolhardy journey far across the sea when they could reach the same result here?
As for Ifaut, she felt her feelings pulled one way and then the other as if stuck in some relentless tide. She couldn’t remember much of what had happened the previous night, and what she could made her want to kick herself. Had she told Sansonis how she felt, and if so, why wasn’t he saying anything about it? Maybe she didn’t say anything, or, Feregana forbid, she had and he was too annoyed to speak to her.
“No,” she whispered to herself, “just smile and stop worrying. Unless I’ve scared him now… Oh, I don’t know!” She shook her head in frustration, drawing Sansonis’s attention. She smiled awkwardly and he returned it before going back to his own thoughts.
Sansonis didn’t know if he felt more awkward for Ifaut’s behavior or not knowing what he should say–or do–to settle her. What she had said last night also bothered him. Had she been serious, or was she too messed up with the chocolate to have any idea of what she was saying? He sighed, catching Ifaut’s attention. She glanced sideways at him with questioning eyes but he just shrugged and muttered, “It’s nothing,” and continued walking.
And Rhaka, he couldn’t have been thinking of anything else, trying to replay the past ten years over in his mind, wondering if there was anything, anything at all, to fill in the large blanks of his memory. But no, the gaps remained, deep pools of blackness devoid of the light of recollection.
What do you think’ll happen to us? Gemmie asked Maya. She directed her thoughts to him so Stefi couldn’t hear.
Buggered if I know, he said matter-of-factly as he perched on Stefi’s opposite shoulder.
What about Stefi? Do you think we’ll have to go all the way to this Arolha Se-Boat place?
I don’t know! he said. I can’t see the future. If I could, she... would still be here with us.
I’m sorry. But you know what else bothers me? Everyone thinks we have some special connection with the world. I don’t feel anything special at all. Maybe we’re broken?
“Salty!” Ifaut’s voice broke the silence and quickly brought everyone back to reality. She sniffed the air and announced her findings again. “Salty! Smell it? It must be the sea!” She bounced from foot to foot.
“Yes, we must be rather close, for I also smell it,” Cédes said.
“Right, saltiness aside,” Stefi cut in, “we have to be careful when we get there. Valraines is meant to be a busy place, but I doubt they get many Furosans or Otsukuné there.”
Ifaut’s bouncing stopped and her ears flattened sadly. “I suppose I have to wear my hat again,” she said, mindful of what had happened the last time. At least then even some other Furosans had mistaken her for a human. She dug the battered hat from her bag and covered her ears, also hiding her tail under her shirt and pack.
“And I suppose I must disappear again,” Cédes added. “Stefi, would you please hold my hand?” Stefi did, and Cédes shimmered for a moment until only a vague outline was left, then even that was gone. “Please make sure not to lose me,” she said. “Being unable to see and unable to be seen is quite disconcerting at times.”
In reply Stefi squeezed her hand tight lest her touch, as well as her appearance, disappear.
“And dog-face?” Ifaut asked, squirming as Sansonis adjusted her hat. “Did anyone think to bring a leash?”
“Why not use the one you lead my son about on?” Rhaka cocked his head to one side and wagged his tail.
“Okay, did anyone think to bring a leash and a muzzle? We can’t have him talking and blowing our cover,” she said.
“I am capable of suppressing vocal outbursts, unlike somebody we know,” he said. Ifaut glared back at him. But at the same time she was enjoying it. It was all she could do to keep a straight face in light of Rhaka’s responses.
“Enough, you two,” Sansonis said and held up his hand. “Dad, you keep quiet. Ifaut, shut up. You’re as bad as each other.”
He bent down and scooped up handfuls of dirt and rubbed them into the Otsukuné’s fur. In a few minutes Rhaka was a dusty brown and his blue hue was virtually invisible.
“Now, come,” Sansonis said. Rhaka trotted over and stood expectantly at Sansonis’s feet.
“Sit.”
Rhaka sat.
“Beg.”
“Please stop subjecting me to this humiliation.”
“Good,” Sansonis said. He cracked a reluctant smile as the others laughed.
“Do I make a good dog?” Rhaka asked earnestly.
“Yes. I’d be proud to have you chasing my cat and eating my furniture.”
Just then Ifaut sidled in front of Sansonis, head held high. “And do I make a good human?” she asked eagerly and twirled as if showing off a new outfit.
“Yeah, you look pretty, like always.”
At the complement Ifaut blushed, ducked back behind him, and clutched his arm.
“And do I make a good…” Cédes disembodied voice trailed from Stefi’s side, “…thin air?”
“Of course,” Sansonis said. “Very… umm… breathable.”
“B-breathable?” Stefi laughed as she stumbled across the word.
“What was I supposed to say?” he asked, worrying until he heard Cédes laughing too.
“How about very invisible?” Cédes suggested.
“Okay. We’ll stick with that.”
After walking for another half hour or so, the Fieretka found the dark, loamy soil beneath their feet giving way to fine grains of sand. A few minutes after that they crested a small rise. Since Stefi was in the lead she was the first to see what lay before them.
“Wow, it’s beautiful!”
The others hurried after her to see what the fuss was about.
“To think something so pretty was so close by…” Ifaut said and removed her hat for a better view. At least no one was near enough to see her. “The sea, Saun,” she whispered to herself. “Told you it was nearby.”
Just beyond where they stood, the boundary of the Sumarana forest that had been long present like an old friend ended abruptly, giving way to stunted grass and tussocks. The ground sloped away as soil turned to sand and dunes, and then some distance away to cobbled streets. The town itself, a disorganized collection of drab buildings and stalls, sprawled languidly towards the shoreline and spread its reaches along the coast. Everything seemed to be coated in a fine layer of sand, giving the place the faded, washed out look of an old light-etching picture.
In stark contrast lay the sea itself, that vast body of water forever shifting through deep blues and emerald greens; boundless, unknown, unfamiliar. Towards the west the sun was beginning its descent to the watery deep. Its light danced upon the mercurial surface, seeming to cast glittering diamon
ds and sapphires upon the waters. Many wharves pointed like accusing fingers into the deep natural harbor, where the still waters provided safe anchorage. Only a few ships were moored there.
“It smells nice,” Cédes said, “a freshness not unlike that found near the waterfall back home, or after a storm. Does it look as beautiful as it smells?”
“Yeah,” Stefi said. “I just wish you could see it too.”
Ifaut interrupted, “Then let’s get a closer look!” She took off at a sprint, soon leaving the others behind as her bare feet kicked up spurts of sand.
“Shouldn’t we stop her?” Stefi asked as Ifaut disappeared into the town.
Sansonis shrugged. “Let her have her fun. She’s a grown-up girl, we’ll find her eventually.”
The Fieretka followed Ifaut’s footsteps and slipped into the town that started as abruptly as the forest had ended. The high windows of the stone buildings looked down on them like dead eyes, making them feel even more like outsiders than they already did. A few other people walked the streets but they paid the Fieretka no attention, too wrapped up in their own affairs to notice what looked like two humans and a dog. Cédes, unseen to their eyes, stayed close to Stefi so she wouldn’t bump into anyone.
After a few minutes a sudden crash echoed through the narrow streets, followed by a wave of voices and excitement.
“Ifaut…” Sansonis said. He wasn’t the least bit surprised. “Stefi, you and Cédes hang back. Dad, we’ll check it out. Did you see that old wharf as we came in, a little way to the east?”
“No, but I am sure Stefi did,” Cédes said.
Stefi rolled her eyes. “Yes. What of it?”
“If we can’t find each other again, we’ll meet up there. If bad decides to become worse, we can at least try to escape. And knowing Ifaut…”
Stefi nodded, and Sansonis ran towards the noise while trailed by Rhaka.
As he rounded a corner a large market square came into view. Its late afternoon crowd was clustered about a single stall. Or what was left of it. An assortment of fish and vegetables lay scattered upon the dusty ground, completely ruined. And there, sitting amongst it all, was Ifaut.
Sansonis forced his way through the ever-increasing crowd, while Rhaka trotted along at his heels like an obedient dog. “It’s all right, it’s all right,” he called out, putting on his most authoritative voice. He hoped it sounded confident enough.
He reached Ifaut and yanked her to her feet. Despite the circumstances she was grinning broadly, still clutching a fish in her hands.
“I-” she started. Sansonis cut her off.
“Look,” he said. His hand was clamped tight about her wrist. “I don’t want to know how you ended up in this mess. Let’s just get out of here before someone realizes what you are.”
Suddenly Sansonis felt a firm hand fall upon his shoulder. Shaking it off, he spun around to find himself facing a young man roughly his own age. A freckled face peered out from under a messy mop of blonde hair, wearing not an expected expression of anger but a cheeky grin.
“Hey!” its owner said happily. Almost too happily given the circumstances, Sansonis thought. “I couldn’t help but notice your little friend had an accident and broke my stall.”
“And she’s very sorry about it, aren’t you?” Sansonis said and tugged Ifaut’s arm to make her pay attention. She nodded and stared solemnly at the ground, still clutching the fish. Sansonis felt around in his pockets for some of the coins the Blue Tails had given him and handed them over. “Will this cover it?”
The young man’s eyes lit up greedily, glittering like the golden coins in Sansonis’s palm. “Sure! Say, you two aren’t from around here, are you?” he asked, more interested in the coins than Sansonis and Ifaut.
“No, we’re from further along the coast, from Zelbana. We came here to do some shopping and visit friends, but someone,” he nudged Ifaut, “got carried away.”
“Then you’re welcome to stay at my place, if it pleases you. Much cheaper than the inn. I’m Elian, by the way.” He stuck out his hand.
“I’m Sansonis, and this is Ifaut.”
“Why’s he holding out his hand like that?” Ifaut whispered. “Does he want more money?”
Sansonis didn’t answer but shook Elian’s hand.
“Some fancy ritual for transferring coins between humans?” she said and shrugged.
Rhaka shook his head.
“Then maybe a greeting of sorts? A way of determining who has the strongest hands so a fight doesn’t result?”
Rhaka let forth a throaty growl. Knowing what it meant, she fell silent.
“That’s some dog you’ve got there,” Elian said and patted Rhaka.
“Better not touch him. He bites.”
Elian recoiled in shock. “Anyway, feel free to keep that fish if you want. I can’t sell it now. Shall we get going?”
Once the crowd had realized nothing exciting was going to happen after the situation had been defused so amicably, it dispersed with disappointed murmurs and everyone went back to their own business. Rhaka couldn’t help but think about how close they’d come to being discovered. All because of that clumsy Furosan.
“Thanks. First I have to find someone else. Do you mind if we turn up later?” Sansonis asked.
“That’s fine,” Elian said. “It’ll give me time to clean up this mess. Look for a small house down by the wharves on the waterfront around sunset. There’s a sign that says ‘Geron’s Boat Repairs.’ Can’t miss it.”
“Should we go and look for them?” Cédes asked as Stefi guided her through the streets and away from the market square.
“Yeah, soon, but let’s just wait for the crowds to die down first,” she said, feeling strangely like she was talking to an imaginary friend.
Presently they came to the waterfront and Stefi found Sansonis and Ifaut scanning the streets, and Rhaka with his nose to the ground.
“There she is!” Ifaut squeaked excitedly and rushed towards Stefi, even now still clutching the fish. There was no doubt it had seen better days through its now dusty eyes.
“Nice to see you too,” Stefi said. “I thought the situation would’ve turned out…” She looked at Ifaut’s beaming face and chose another word to what she was thinking. “…different.”
“Look!” Ifaut said and held the fish at arm’s length above her head like a trophy. The late sunshine shimmered and danced across its scales like the waters of the sea once had. “Fish!”
“Really? I hadn’t noticed,” Stefi said as Ifaut thrust her odorous prize in her face. She hated fish.
“Sarcasm!” a disembodied voice at her side piped in.
“Anyway,” Sansonis interrupted, “when we’re done here, I found us a place to stay. Lucky for us, the owner of the stall that Ifaut… trashed… offered us a room.”
“That was nice of him, all things considered,” Stefi said and glanced at Ifaut. Now the Furosan was hugging the fish tightly, dooking all the while. She shuddered. She knew from experience that eating fish made ferrets smell strange. Hopefully it wasn’t the same for Furosans.
Since they still had a short while until the sun set, the Fieretka made their way to a small wharf away from the bustle of Valraines. They sat at the end, taking in the beauty of the evening sea.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Stefi said dreamily, caught up in its slowly shifting waters and deep colors as it sighed to itself.
“I would guess that it is,” Cédes said. “One day, if I find a way to see again, will you bring me back here? Then perhaps we may look at it together.”
“That’s a promise.” Stefi felt something she couldn’t see lean against her shoulder, then a wet warmth seeping through her shirt. Cédes was crying.
Stefi put an arm around the invisible Cédes. To anyone watching from a distance it would’ve looked quite strange. She didn’t care.
“Do you think there even is a way for me to see again?” Cédes sobbed, her body shaking.
“I don’t know, but
if there is I bet it’s at that Arolha Se-Baht place. And I’ll find it for you,” she said. “There’s so much to show you, Lady Cédes. This world, it’s so beautiful. There’s so much to see. There just has to be a way for you to see it.”
“I would really appreciate that. I feel so terribly lonely sometimes.”
“You have us.”
“I know. But I feel trapped in the darkness. Please, help me find a way out…” she sobbed again and could say no more.
Ifaut, meanwhile, exuded happiness, more interested in her new piscine playmate than the sights. She turned the shimmering fish over in her hands, admiring the way the scales caught the sunlight and the simply wonderful smell it gave off. At one point she had gingerly reached out her tongue to taste it, but Sansonis had scolded her and threatened to get rid of the “damn thing” as he called it. No. This was her treasure.
“You know,” Sansonis said as she turned it over for the hundredth time, dooking all the while, “it’s either that thing goes or I do.”
“You wouldn’t make me choose!” She glanced at Sansonis, then the fish, then back at Sansonis again. He knew what she’d choose; she looked conflicted nevertheless.
“Just one taste, then let it go.”
“You or the fish?” she teased.
Sansonis sighed. “What do you think?”
“Can it be both?” she asked, eyes sparkling.
He shook his head.
Ifaut took one last glance at the fish and, summoning all her will power, hurled it far out into the water, back to where it had originally come from. It hit the waves with a small splash.
“After all that, you wouldn’t even taste the damn thing?”
“You said I could choose just one,” she said and blushed, her heart thumping nervously in her chest. She sat down next to Sansonis, leaned over, and planted a kiss on his lips with a wet smack.
“Hmm,” she said thoughtfully, “not bad. But I think the fish would have tasted better!”