By: Greyda Posted on: July 21, 2004
It was a cold morning in late Daedalan, and the wind whistled eerily through the
trees to the south of the Prelatorian Highway. The road was desolate, and the
gravel on the ground afforded little comfort to Rafenn as he sat, preparing to
eat his breakfast. He had been walking since dawn, on his way from Thera to do
some trading in Delos, his father's mule heavily laden with coils of rope.
The figure of a man appeared in the distance to the west, moving jerkily down the center of the road. Wrapped within many folds of a hooded grey cloak, he was humming to himself as he approached, and did not seem to notice Rafenn until he was nearly an arms-length away.
"Ah now," came a hoarse, aged voice from within the hood, stopping abruptly and towering over Rafenn. "Another journeys like myself upon this road. Might you spare some food, from one traveler to another?"
Rafenn nodded and offered a roasted rabbit sandwich to the stranger, who accepted the gift with long, white fingers.
"Terribly dry, this," he said, taking a bite. The lower portion of his face was visible, pale and wrinkled, as he chewed.
Rafenn tried not to stare, but noticed thin flaps of skin stretching between the stranger's fingers. The man jerked his hands away quickly and turned to look down the road as he ate.
"You travel east, my boy?" he asked. Rafenn nodded and told him of his destination.
"Perhaps we might continue together," he said slowly. "I am called Nolnathinir. My way lies east as well, far past Delos. I have... relatives that live... near the sea."
Rafenn smiled politely and, when they had finished eating, they began to move down the highway once more. It was slow going, as the old man moved with something like a limp, and Rafenn doubted he would be able to make it home by nightfall.
It was well past lunchtime when they arrived in the busy Delos marketplace, and Nolnathinir thanked Rafenn for the company, continuing through the town towards the Eastern highway.
As Rafenn watched him disappear through the crowd, he heard a boisterous voice call out his name, and he saw Eithne waving her hand at him. He smiled as she pushed her way through the crowd, grinning as she sucked on a piece of candy.
"Hi, Raffy!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him in a jubilant hug. She stepped back and smoothed her hair, looking in the direction Nolnathinir had gone.
"Odd companion you 'ad there," she said, jerking her thumb eastwards. "Saw the two of you walk in, I did. Don't see many o' them on land!" Rafenn tilted his head, confused.
"You didn't see? That was a merman," she laughed. "Bottoms of 'em is made like a fish tail! Always swimmin' in the sea, not too keen on us regular folk."
Rafenn frowned. "But if they have a fish tail instead of legs..."
"There's an artifact Merentesh 'as wot lets 'em walk on land a spell," Eithne explained. "Sometimes it's safer for 'em to cross the land, if you can believe it, than to swim around through the seas in the south. Strange spirits there, you see. Terrible slow way to travel for 'em though, I'm surprised you didn't notice."
"Well, I just thought he was old," Rafenn said and shrugged. Eithne grinned.
"It's a bit late for you to be getting in, dearie, d'you think you'll make it back to Thera by nightfall?" Eithne asked, changing the subject. Rafenn shook his head.
"It took a lot longer to get here, I think I'd better find a place to stay tonight," he said miserably, knowing the gold to board himself and the mule would come from his share of the rope profits. Eithne laughed at his glum expression.
"You'll stay with me tonight then, Raffy," she said matter-of-factly. "Just bring the mule by around supper time and I'll take care of you. Ah, and you'll be wantin' to send a dove off to your mum to let her know you won't be back."
"You're a lifesaver, Eithne!" he exclaimed, and thanked her repeatedly before heading off to the market to sell his rope.
* * *
After supper, Eithne suggested Rafenn take her pony, Sugar, out for a ride.
"She can't go too far, but she'll get there quickly," she explained as Rafenn saddled up. "She'll take you as far as the eastern sea if you ask her! It's a lovely ride to make in the evening."
Rafenn said that sounded like a good idea, and trotted off. Fairly soon the road became a path that led upwards into some low dunes, over which came the salty scent of the ocean. He urged Sugar up the path and soon found himself atop a cliff, gazing across the sea, moonlight reflecting off the vast surface.
A splash in the waters below caught his attention, and he saw what looked like a fish splashing in the water. Leaving Sugar atop the cliff, he descended a narrow trail down to the beach.
"Hello!" called a sweet, feminine voice from the water. Rafenn looked out where he had expected to find a fish, but instead saw a beautiful girl waving to him.
"Come play with me!" she called, and Rafenn grinned, wading out into the shallows. As he neared the girl he blushed, seeing that she was naked, save for her curly hair that fell into the water, covering her ample bosom.
"Hello, landwalker!" she giggled, and a large fish tail rose out of the water, splashing him playfully. He blinked.
"You're a... a... a mermaid?" he asked, and she let out a peal of giggles, nodding her head at him. Swimming up to him she fluttered her eyelashes flirtatiously, taking his hand in hers.
"Come play with me!" she repeated, and dove under the water, pulling Rafenn with her. He spluttered as he inhaled water, and she surfaced again. Tapping her chin she looked around, as deep in thought as was possible for her.
"Well, I want to show you something. But you might drown," she said slowly, a sly grin spreading across her lips.
"Ummm... maybe I'd better go then..." Rafenn started to say, and the mermaid laughed again. She looked down, her fingers opening a pocket on a shimmering blue pocketbelt tied about her waist, and produced a smooth, round object.
"This is prickly pear," she said, handing it to him. "You should eat it when we go underwater." He didn't see how the small red fruit would keep him from drowning, but as today seemed to be a day filled with surprises, he decided he might as well try it.
Once more the mermaid dove below the water, holding tightly to his hand as he bit into the pear, and a steady stream of bubbles surrounded him. He blinked rapidly and found he was breathing quite normally underwater, surrounded by a pocket of air.
It was dark below, the glow of moonlight fading as the mermaid descended further into the ocean, and Rafenn could see very little. But then, just before Rafenn thought he would be enveloped in complete darkness, the waters began to brighten.
"Are we going back up?" he asked, confused, and the mermaid's eyes sparkled at him.
"No, no... down... to a wonderful place! The most beautiful kingdom you shall ever see!"
The ocean depths lightened more and more, and it seemed as though the fish were more abundant, the colors on the coral more vibrant, the further they swam. Finally, the mermaid stopped, and Rafenn saw they stood before a tall archway of coral.
"Just through here," whispered the mermaid, looking uncharacteristically serious. Slowly, they passed through the archway and Rafenn looked around himself in disbelief.
A dazzling city sprawled before him, roads of white marble leading in all directions, lined with spiral buildings and coral of all colors. Marble statues of Tritons gazed stoically at eachother, while merfolk went about their business under the watchful eye of proud merman guards.
"Welcome to Riparium, my city," the mermaid said breathlessly, her eyes shining with excitement as Rafenn drank in the sight, spellbound.
"Not so fast there," came a gruff voice, and Rafenn turned to see a mighty guard heading toward them, wielding a dangerous-looking trident.
"What are you doing in Riparium, landwalker?" he demanded. The mermaid flashed him a smile.
"I brought him," she said proudly. "I wanted to show him the city!" The guard turned to her, raising an eyebrow.
"Iliria," he said to her sternly. "Your mother has been looking for you - your little brother Durli has gone missing. She is at the palace now." The mermaid gasped, and the guard cast an eye over Rafenn. "Take this one with you, as you are responsible for him in the city." With a powerful stroke of his tail, the guard swam off.
"Come on, we have to go to my mother... I... was supposed to be watching Durli," Iliria said sadly. She swam quickly, leading Rafenn down the street, until they came to a magnificent palace. The guards nodded as they entered, and Rafenn followed her through a maze of splendid passageways, until they entered a grand audience chamber. Seated on a throne which glittered with mother-of-pearl was an ancient-looking merman who, despite his obvious age, looked proud and regal. A number of other merfolk were gathered in the room, and all turned to look as Rafenn entered behind Iliria.
"My young traveling companion!" Came a familiar voice, and Rafenn smiled. It was Nolnathinir, the merman he had met along the highway. The old merman stood by the throne, without the cloak which previously hid his appearance, and Rafenn saw that he bore a strong resemblance to the merman on the throne.
"Welcome, landwalker," spoke the other. "I am Nissander, king of Riparium. I thank you for your kindness to my brother, Nolnathinir, this day. He has travelled from his own kingdom in the western seas to see me, and was telling me of your generosity and good company on the road."
Rafenn blushed and shuffled his feet, bowing slightly.
"Forgive me, your highness," he said. "I did not know I was with royalty."
Nolnathinir chuckled. "No, no, young friend, I was travelling inconspicuously. Or trying to, in any case."
As they exchanged pleasantries, a plump older merwoman emerged from the crowd, making a beeline for Iliria. The girl squeaked in fright, hiding behind Rafenn.
"Young lady!" thundered the woman, not seeming to care who else was present. "This is the last time you leave the city! Do you hear me? Your brother has disappeared under your watch!"
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" Iliria whimpered, her fingers digging into Rafenn's arms as she used him as a shield between herself and her mother.
"What if he ran into a jellyfish? Or fell into a polyp? Or - Neraeos help us all - found the Kraken?!" Tears leaked from the mother's eyes as she thought of the possibilities. Back on the throne, Nissander sighed.
"Please, could I help?" Rafenn asked hesitantly.
Nissander's brow creased in a frown as he contemplated Rafenn, and after a moment he nodded.
"Find the child," he said, "and we shall be eternally grateful."
* * *
The dark waters outside Riparium seemed dismal after leaving the sparkling city, and grew more difficult to see through, despite the clear pocket of air that surrounded him. He and Iliria made a wide circle around the city, silently looking and listening for any sign of little Durli.
After nearly an hour of fruitless effort, Rafenn heard a small shout, a tiny voice that seemed muffled. Iliria heard it too, and her eyes grew wide.
"It's him! Oh, that's Durli!" she said excitedly, and they began to swim toward the voice.
A high wall of rock lay before them, a narrow crevasse splitting it, and they could see movement through the opening. As they got closer, the tiny voice grew more urgent.
Iliria called out, "Durli! Is that you? We're coming to get you out!"
"Help! I'm stuck in here," replied the voice, "And there's a monster out there! Help!"
As Durli shouted, Iliria pulled back on Rafenn's arm, stifling a cry of terror as a giant octopus appeared in an inky cloud, waving its tentacles threateningly. Rafenn hesitated, then wrested himself from her grip and charged forward to the crevasse.
He was not quick enough. A long tentacle lashed out and wrapped itself about Rafenn's throat, breaking the pocket of air. Water began to pour into Rafenn's mouth, and he thrashed about, choking.
Frantically Iliria swam to him, a small red piece of prickly pear in her outstretched hand, and forced the fruit into his mouth. He could barely swallow with the octopus' tentacle squeezing at his throat. His fingers clawed at the octopus as the bubbles surrounded him again, allowing him to take quick gasps of air as the monster's grip shifted.
Iliria was busy trying to pull Durli free from the crevasse, which he had slipped into while trying to escape the octopus. Grabbing his arms she tugged hard, and with a POP! he broke through the small opening, the two of them spinning head over fins through the water.
When Rafenn saw that they were free, he balled up his fist and swung at the octopus in a burst of energy, stunning the beast momentarily. Tearing the suctioned tentacle from his neck, he made his escape, and the three hurried back to the city as fast as they could go.
When they again reached the chambers of Nissander, the court had departed, and only Nolnathinir and Iliria's mother remained with the king.
"Mama!" the small boy cried out as he ran to his mother, who scooped him up in her arms, tears in her eyes.
Excitedly, Iliria recounted how Rafenn held off the octopus so Durli could be rescued. Her mother embraced him heartily, thanking him repeatedly for saving her young boy, while the mer-kings looked on.
"You have done a great deed for us," Nissander spoke, beckoning to Rafenn. He approached the throne and kneeled at its base. "Few of your kind would spare the effort to assist us, and we are grateful you have gone out of your way. You shall be richly rewarded."
The king clapped his hands, and a merman swam into the room bearing a bejeweled box, which he presented to Rafenn. Amazed, the boy opened the box to find, nestled on a cushion of velvet, a diamond the size of his fist. The gem had a faint tinge of blue, and seemed to glow from within, the colors of the seas reflected on every surface.
"That is not just any jewel," Nissander explained. "This diamond was a gift long ago from the dwarves to my people, and has been passed down through the generations. I now return it to the landwalkers in return for your kindness and heroism."
There was much feasting and celebration at the return of the boy, which carried long through the night, but finally Rafenn insisted he must return to dry land. Iliria showed him the way out of Riparium, leaving him with a gentle kiss before he departed, one last thanks for his help. And so, with stars in his eyes, a precious gem in his pack, and an even greater treasure in his heart, he mounted the faithful pony, Sugar, and headed back to Delos, never to forget his adventure at sea.