Peri stood at the deck, leaning on the rail. She sort of felt like crying, but not quite. Yoshimo, dear, beloved Yoshimo... I am traveling closer to your homeland now. I know that you are not in the pain Irenicus promised you... but still I can't help longing for the love we never had. You were my soulmate, you know. You knew that life is not pretty, but it has a certain beauty of absurd to it. You had your honor and decency, but you never bought the pomp and uppity ways of the righteous ones. You just observed what is, and laughed at it, instead of preaching about what should be. We could have been so much together... why didn't you believe in me more?
She involuntarily swallowed a sharp bitter sob. DAMN! She would not weep. She knew Sarevok would comfort her, but didn't want to share this with him, or with anyone.
- "Me lass! Why are you weeping here alone?"
It was Saemon. Peri could not help noticing that the man had a very attractive grin, long cheekbones, twinkle in his blue eyes.
- "I am not weeping. " Her tone was murderous enough to make Samoen drop his knowing grin.
- "Uh... if ye say so, girl. But you certainly are a beauty of a woman, Peri. Your kind needs to dance, drink and rejoice! Not to mope around," he said.
Peri frowned, thinking for a moment. Then she slowly let a grin form on her face.
- "True enough! So Saemon? Do you know songs? Do you have music? Where are the wineskins?"
- "Aha, lass! Now you are talking my language," the man laughed. "Let ol' Saemon take care of the entertainment."
There was a whirlwind of knowing arrangements and occasional affirmations thrown at Peri's general dimension, and very soon there was a band on the deck. A fellow playing lute, another one a flute, and a third yet banging a crude drum. Sameon himself appeared grinning happily, waving a full wineskin in his hand.
Without a further word Peri grabbed the wineskin and downed the longest gulp she could manage.
She handed the wineskin back to Saemon. Suddenly everything was so much better. What purpose does anything have but sweet intoxication?
- "Saemon! Dance with me!" Peri said, laughing, her glossy hair enchantingly swirling around her.
And so they danced. Peri jumped, grinned, whirled, and when they made the most flamboyant moves the crew rewarded them with admiring oohhing and aaahhing. For hours they danced, the singers singing their voices raw, Peri laughing, drinking deep, deep gulps from the wineskin, wanting to feel irresponsible, full of life and passion, joy, carelessness, everything.
Now life can be a mudhole
of some dreary bad dimension
I cannae nick a dime without
fearing apprehension
Now life can be a bitch who nags
when you reach your home door
It can be pint of stalest ale
when you don't need no more
But life can be the sweetest dance
where girl and man rejoice
It can be all the things you lost
before your saddest choice...
Peri felt the rhythm in her veins. Saemons body was happy and alive, like hers. His eyes sparkled, his mouth was like the mouth of one who eats or drinks something rare and special. After not too long Peri started to stagger, and Saemon took hold of him. Peri could see flashing, chaotic visions all around her. She got a glimpse of Winski and Sarevok, their eyes displeased, angry, and worried. She cared not. She was alive, happy and sane. Uncomplicated, carnal and spontaneous.
She giggled and leant on Saemon, who led her towards his cabin. As if by accident, she brushed Saemon's goldish brown hair.
