The wind was calm that night and the Hag's revenge drifted with no real purpose or destination, or so it would seem to the unaware observer. However down below the deck…still wracked with fever dreams Kel was aware of the pull of the current as it towed the ship safely toward it's new home. She could hear the board of the hull creaking and groaning under the stress of the swift unseen current…feel them crying out for relief from the strain…but the current was un yielding. With this symphony singing in her head and echoing through her heart she dreamed…this dream was much like the others…
The Wave walker waited for her when her dream self rose…and Kel…without a thought or word to the contrary followed obediently. The Wave walker took her to the island, though this time the distance was greatly reduced, it still took one of her great steps to cover the distance. Kel saw that another person waited for them on the shore. The Wave Walker seemed to know him…but Kel did not. He was easy on the eyes but she could see the clear outline of muscles underneath his heavy sleeping clothes. He was warrior…it was clear by the way he stood and the cautious look that he was giving her. He bowed deeply to the Wave Walker and shifted his turquoise gaze on her.
"Who are you?" His words held a hint of a long forgotten homeland…one that had disappeared under layers of other cultures. Kel opened her mouth to speak but was cut off, before she could start, by the Wave Walker.
"This is the warrior I promised you. She will bring your mother to her knees…if you agree, my son…" The Wave Walker placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and drew him closer to herself and Kel. He looked over Kel shrewdly before he nodded and bowed his head slightly to her.
" I am honored by your offer my kind Goddess…I will do whatever I must to save my people." The Wave Walker smiled and nodded happily at him. Then she turned to look at Kel, his gazed followed.
"Keladry, this is where the next step in your destiny lives. I will do what I can…but you must take steps to ensure that you are strong and able to complete the task before you." She reached out and tapped the center of her chest with two fingers and Kel felt a heavy weight tighten around her neck.
When she looked she saw nothing…but she could still feel it, she wanted to ask what it meant but she felt her real body tugging her back home. She locked eyes with the man and sketched his face on her memory…she knew that she would need to know him before this journey was done.
And she faded from the dream…
Kel opened her eyes to a flash of light in the room…before she was fully aware of herself…she became aware of another presence in the room.
She looked around and found herself face to face with the Graveyard Hag herself.
"Well done dearie…I have a gift for you…"
She extended her hand and a pair of dice dropped into her lap. Kel looked at them and then at her…but the Hag had faded leaving nothing but the dice and her echoing cackle in the room.