Yerwan was fretting. He was fretting like a girl, fidgeting with his
fingers, chewing his lip until ulcers appeared and pacing up and down
frantically: up and down, up and down, up and down.
Eventually, Rue had had enough and she slapped him over the head with a flat palm. He frowned and continued to worry, still pacing. Rue looked up at the sky, grimaced and snorted. He ignored her.
Karm was the healer aboard the ship. Neither of the two novices knew there was a woman or a healer on board the Wavesong but there was. She was very delicate and slender, like a strange flower. She was probably what most girls wanted to be when they became Singers; very, very attractive but gentle and mysterious. She had a waterfall of ebony hair dripping down her back in large tight plaits, tied with green ribbons. These plaits were managed into another three plaits and that became one. It all looked so complicated, but each morning she drifted from her cabin looking fresh and her hair was modelling another incredible style. It never looked messy either.
Rue envied her this. It wasn't that she was not stunningly attractive or gentle or mysterious or she could not do her hair in all kinds of incredible ways that made the other male orderlies whistle, she just wanted to tame her hair like Karm did every morning. Hers was just a bushy mess of peculiar yellow, like dried straw, that never behaved. She really tried to put it into some sort of nice bun or plaits like Karm but Yerwan only laughed at her.
Karm was also supposed to be intelligent. She had locked herself in with the Second Singer and a huge bag of various herbs. She had asked for some glasses, a cauldron and a ladle to brew something that was supposed to wake him and the orderly who cooked grumbled about it all evening when they were having bread, cheese and cold fish for supper. She claimed he could wake the Second Singer too, with a pail of cold water and a slap. The other orderlies agreed and then they got drunk on a weird fluid called fohl. Yerwan didn't even touch it but Rue tasted it timidly and smiled. She knew that alcohol had consequences so she took mild sips of it to please the giddy orderlies. Even the cook had cheered considerably after the fohl.
Everyone had a severe headache in the morning except Rue. The orderlies had hangovers, the Second Singer had been knocked out the day before, Karm had stayed up through the night mixing a remedy for him (her plaits were still perfect though) and Yerwan had gone to bed early, listened to the drunken orderlies and had bad nightmares about the exaggerated tales of the Isle of Slaves. Rue, under the mild fohl, had slept calmly through the rest of the night. That dawn, she was the only one awake to cook breakfast, toast with melted cheese and pepper with lots of water, and trying to clear the mounting headaches. Karm, before going back to sleep, had instructed her with suitable cures for the headaches but she added cheekily as Rue left that the orderlies didn't deserve anything. Rue grinned.
The ship was mostly stationary that day. Rue did most of the work around the Wavesong, just to keep it clean while everyone was recovering. She discovered that she enjoyed sailing, especially alone, and she thought she had a knack for it. It certainly seemed natural to be steering the vessel, not far, but definitely moving it.
The next day, only Yerwan was still in his bunk, trembling under his sheets like a small child. The rest of the orderlies got on with the work and thanked Rue for organising them the day before. Then there was the usual atmosphere on the ship; the orderlies joking and sniggering, others flirting with Karm, the Second Singer, still vaguely disorientated, yelling commands. Rue herself was silently miming her pleas to help the orderlies, desperate to sail again. Unfortunately, no one understood her. They just stared, smiled awkwardly, patted her on the head and continued their work. She felt like crying. At the darkest moments, she felt like Yerwan was not there on purpose.
Yerwan was feeling extreme resentment towards Rue too. He was frustrated that she had smuggled herself on the Wavesong and then taken over. The Second Singer didn't visit him once. Dismayed at this and angry with his best friend, Yerwan decided to stay in his cabin until Rue apologised for taking his role aboard the ship. He far excelled her in any intellectual task.
But Yerwan's skills were useless when they had set sail. The orderlies were experienced enough in that department and the young novice didn't think it was a problem that he would not be needed on the journey. Unfortunately, he was now desperate to prove himself to the Second Singer.
Rue came to visit often, bringing fresh water and fruit, but Yerwan ignored her and hid under his sheets, moaning and groaning, feigning seasickness. Miserable and misunderstood, Rue was left to wander aimlessly about the ship, knowing Yerwan did not want her company. At night, it was just as lonely. The Second Singer, thinking she was now useful and not just a fugitive, had agreed to give her a private cabin. This cabin was next to Karm's.
Out of habit, Rue woke early to seagulls screeching and wheeling above the Wavesong every morning. In the time spare she had before anyone else was aroused from their slumbers, she tried fiddling with her hair. She studied Karm's often enough to memorise the techniques but she just couldn't do anything with her own tangle of mane. On the fifth morning, she encouraged herself to go and visit Karm in the neighbouring cabin and ask her to help. She knew that Karm was a gentle, kind woman. She would probably agree.
With several clips clutched in her fist, Rue rapped on the wooden door quietly. Hearing footsteps, she had the urge to prance about and then she wondered how she was going to explain her problem. Before she could escape, Karm peered outside. She looked like some sort of Goddess, her head haloed by light. She smiled warmly.
"Good morning, Rue. I didn't expect you so early. Come inside. It's all dewy out there on deck." Rue obeyed and entered the cabin. It was perfect but normal inside. And very, very warm.
She tried signing but it didn't work. Then she tried pointing to various implements on Karm's small table and her tousled head. The healer eventually got the point.
"Oh! You want help with your hair! Of course! I've been dying to ever since I saw you. You're really not making the best of your hair. Now, you have thick, blonde locks. That's quite common but let's punctuate it with something to make it unusual."
For the next few days, Karm coached Rue on how to organise her hair in several styles, simple but effective. Rue nodded eagerly all the time and Karm smiled often. They had many laughs. They became to know each other more and more and in return for her hair-lessons, Rue gave Karm lessons in her own signing. Soon, Karm was almost as educated as Yerwan for she was a quick learner. Eventually, she had learnt more in a fortnight than Yerwan had done in a lifetime.
Secretly, Karm pitied the young girl. Not having the ability to speak was probably very disheartening. Rue managed it well enough but Karm often thought of the advantages of being a mute. There were none.
At breakfast, Karm discussed her young pupil with the other orderlies and showed them basic signs as well. The orderlies listened, for they had also noticed how miserable she was when they couldn't understand her. Yerwan was completely unaware that nearly the whole crew could communicate in Rue's own language because he was submerged in a sulky, reproachful mood against her.
Rue still visited him but by now knew that he was not seasick. The orderlies told her that seasickness passed in a matter of days, even in severe cases. Yerwan had been in his cabin for over a fortnight.
Rue entered his cabin, signed an enthusiastic 'Good Morning' and deposited a tray carefully by his bed nearly every dawn when he woke. When she was busy doing something, an orderly would do it. Yerwan sniffed and turned over, hugging the sheets to him, nearly every time Rue came in. Rue was so sad that she cried at night, sobbing into her pillows and saturating them with tears. To comfort herself, she would practise doing her hair but Karm usually heard her and sat down on her bunk, hugging her and calming her. Rue was so thankful to the crew now that she tried to please them in every possible way. They were her true friends.
One morning, an orderly called Gelfan wriggled up the mast to peer out at the horizon. After inspecting it for some time, he yelled, "LAND OVER EAST, MATES! THAT'S SOUTHPORT ALRIGHT!" The whole crew cheered briefly before starting to prepare the Wavesong for full-sail. The deck was in turmoil with orderlies running about everywhere. Rue decided to hide until the rush was over for she knew she would only get in the way. She slithered into her cabin and closed the door against the excited shouts from Gelfan and his friends. She lit a candle, illuminating all the looming shadows, and listened to her friends outside happily. They were finally at Southport, their destination.
Then it occurred to her that she had no basic skills that she could use on the trip. She was completely useless off the ship. What would the Second Singer do with her then? She tried not to think about it.
Then, deep beneath the Wavesong, Rue detected voices, shrill and eerie voices, a chorus of them.
Daughter of stone-winger help! Shoal father in danger! Humans capture, cut, tear.
Instead of hearing the words, Rue almost felt them, felt them happening. She yelped but the urge from the voices pulled her to the sea. She ran from the cabin to the deck and leant over the sturdy barrier keeping her from the sea. Staring into the waves urgently, she listened as hard as she could to the voices and tried to contact them again.
Help, daughter of stone-winger! Stone-swimmers need help! Shoal father.
The voices stopped momentarily. Rue tried to find them again but they greeted her instead with wails and panicked shrieking that reverberated around her temples. It was horrible. Without thinking, she clambered onto the side and leapt into the writhing seas.
Instinctively, she drew breath before the freezing water flooded her senses with terrible cold. The bitter chill was surprising but she didn't care now. The wailing was amplified and it completely shocked her. Realising what she was doing, Rue struggled to reach the surface. But then she saw a face.
It had huge despairing eyes and willowy clumps of hair streaked across it, floating in the currents. The creature was bright green. Although the sight was strangely beautiful and emotional, Rue panicked and propelled herself through the water using her long, gangly limbs. But firm hands clasped her ankle and yanked her back down persuasively. The voices surrounded her in even more frightening detail.
Rue motioned to her chest and throat desperately. It the creatures kept her down, she would die from her own stupidity. She could see hundreds of them now; the larger intimidating males with their smaller, lean females and their tiny young flitting about like swallows in spring. They're beautiful, she thought. One female had a firm hold on her ankle and was looking expectantly up at her.
Her lungs began to ache. The creatures would drown her if they kept her under any longer. It seemed that she had been underwater for years. Panic settled in her gut and she screamed desperately in her head, LET ME GO! I'LL DROWN! I'LL DIE! PLEASE, I CAN'T HELP YOU. The creatures stared at her shockingly and the female released her so abruptly that she hovered underwater, unsure of what to do. We understand, they wailed, and, with several flaps of their beautiful, twinkling tails, they dived, light reflecting off their multicoloured scales. Rue watched as they departed and felt an overwhelming pang of sadness despite her agitation to be set free. Her organs shrieked and the panic seeped through her again. Kicking furiously, she reached the surface just as her lungs surrendered. She was so exhausted that for several blissful moments, she just lay on her back on the water and savoured the welcoming oxygen like her favourite food.
When she had recovered enough to contact her senses, Rue heard anxious yells and sobs above her. Her eyes flicked open and the yells increased in volume. She saw vague misty figures leaning over her and clouds and pale sky. Hands reached down to grab her and for one awful second, they reminded her of the creatures below. Suddenly, she was desperate to get out of the water. She grabbed the hands, which lifted her clear of the sea and onto the deck. Heaving and choking up bitter salty water, she sprawled mercifully on the wooden planks, gladness replacing the panic. Before she could stop it, darkness claimed her and she tumbled into an endless hole of blackness.
*
Eventually, Rue had had enough and she slapped him over the head with a flat palm. He frowned and continued to worry, still pacing. Rue looked up at the sky, grimaced and snorted. He ignored her.
Karm was the healer aboard the ship. Neither of the two novices knew there was a woman or a healer on board the Wavesong but there was. She was very delicate and slender, like a strange flower. She was probably what most girls wanted to be when they became Singers; very, very attractive but gentle and mysterious. She had a waterfall of ebony hair dripping down her back in large tight plaits, tied with green ribbons. These plaits were managed into another three plaits and that became one. It all looked so complicated, but each morning she drifted from her cabin looking fresh and her hair was modelling another incredible style. It never looked messy either.
Rue envied her this. It wasn't that she was not stunningly attractive or gentle or mysterious or she could not do her hair in all kinds of incredible ways that made the other male orderlies whistle, she just wanted to tame her hair like Karm did every morning. Hers was just a bushy mess of peculiar yellow, like dried straw, that never behaved. She really tried to put it into some sort of nice bun or plaits like Karm but Yerwan only laughed at her.
Karm was also supposed to be intelligent. She had locked herself in with the Second Singer and a huge bag of various herbs. She had asked for some glasses, a cauldron and a ladle to brew something that was supposed to wake him and the orderly who cooked grumbled about it all evening when they were having bread, cheese and cold fish for supper. She claimed he could wake the Second Singer too, with a pail of cold water and a slap. The other orderlies agreed and then they got drunk on a weird fluid called fohl. Yerwan didn't even touch it but Rue tasted it timidly and smiled. She knew that alcohol had consequences so she took mild sips of it to please the giddy orderlies. Even the cook had cheered considerably after the fohl.
Everyone had a severe headache in the morning except Rue. The orderlies had hangovers, the Second Singer had been knocked out the day before, Karm had stayed up through the night mixing a remedy for him (her plaits were still perfect though) and Yerwan had gone to bed early, listened to the drunken orderlies and had bad nightmares about the exaggerated tales of the Isle of Slaves. Rue, under the mild fohl, had slept calmly through the rest of the night. That dawn, she was the only one awake to cook breakfast, toast with melted cheese and pepper with lots of water, and trying to clear the mounting headaches. Karm, before going back to sleep, had instructed her with suitable cures for the headaches but she added cheekily as Rue left that the orderlies didn't deserve anything. Rue grinned.
The ship was mostly stationary that day. Rue did most of the work around the Wavesong, just to keep it clean while everyone was recovering. She discovered that she enjoyed sailing, especially alone, and she thought she had a knack for it. It certainly seemed natural to be steering the vessel, not far, but definitely moving it.
The next day, only Yerwan was still in his bunk, trembling under his sheets like a small child. The rest of the orderlies got on with the work and thanked Rue for organising them the day before. Then there was the usual atmosphere on the ship; the orderlies joking and sniggering, others flirting with Karm, the Second Singer, still vaguely disorientated, yelling commands. Rue herself was silently miming her pleas to help the orderlies, desperate to sail again. Unfortunately, no one understood her. They just stared, smiled awkwardly, patted her on the head and continued their work. She felt like crying. At the darkest moments, she felt like Yerwan was not there on purpose.
Yerwan was feeling extreme resentment towards Rue too. He was frustrated that she had smuggled herself on the Wavesong and then taken over. The Second Singer didn't visit him once. Dismayed at this and angry with his best friend, Yerwan decided to stay in his cabin until Rue apologised for taking his role aboard the ship. He far excelled her in any intellectual task.
But Yerwan's skills were useless when they had set sail. The orderlies were experienced enough in that department and the young novice didn't think it was a problem that he would not be needed on the journey. Unfortunately, he was now desperate to prove himself to the Second Singer.
Rue came to visit often, bringing fresh water and fruit, but Yerwan ignored her and hid under his sheets, moaning and groaning, feigning seasickness. Miserable and misunderstood, Rue was left to wander aimlessly about the ship, knowing Yerwan did not want her company. At night, it was just as lonely. The Second Singer, thinking she was now useful and not just a fugitive, had agreed to give her a private cabin. This cabin was next to Karm's.
Out of habit, Rue woke early to seagulls screeching and wheeling above the Wavesong every morning. In the time spare she had before anyone else was aroused from their slumbers, she tried fiddling with her hair. She studied Karm's often enough to memorise the techniques but she just couldn't do anything with her own tangle of mane. On the fifth morning, she encouraged herself to go and visit Karm in the neighbouring cabin and ask her to help. She knew that Karm was a gentle, kind woman. She would probably agree.
With several clips clutched in her fist, Rue rapped on the wooden door quietly. Hearing footsteps, she had the urge to prance about and then she wondered how she was going to explain her problem. Before she could escape, Karm peered outside. She looked like some sort of Goddess, her head haloed by light. She smiled warmly.
"Good morning, Rue. I didn't expect you so early. Come inside. It's all dewy out there on deck." Rue obeyed and entered the cabin. It was perfect but normal inside. And very, very warm.
She tried signing but it didn't work. Then she tried pointing to various implements on Karm's small table and her tousled head. The healer eventually got the point.
"Oh! You want help with your hair! Of course! I've been dying to ever since I saw you. You're really not making the best of your hair. Now, you have thick, blonde locks. That's quite common but let's punctuate it with something to make it unusual."
For the next few days, Karm coached Rue on how to organise her hair in several styles, simple but effective. Rue nodded eagerly all the time and Karm smiled often. They had many laughs. They became to know each other more and more and in return for her hair-lessons, Rue gave Karm lessons in her own signing. Soon, Karm was almost as educated as Yerwan for she was a quick learner. Eventually, she had learnt more in a fortnight than Yerwan had done in a lifetime.
Secretly, Karm pitied the young girl. Not having the ability to speak was probably very disheartening. Rue managed it well enough but Karm often thought of the advantages of being a mute. There were none.
At breakfast, Karm discussed her young pupil with the other orderlies and showed them basic signs as well. The orderlies listened, for they had also noticed how miserable she was when they couldn't understand her. Yerwan was completely unaware that nearly the whole crew could communicate in Rue's own language because he was submerged in a sulky, reproachful mood against her.
Rue still visited him but by now knew that he was not seasick. The orderlies told her that seasickness passed in a matter of days, even in severe cases. Yerwan had been in his cabin for over a fortnight.
Rue entered his cabin, signed an enthusiastic 'Good Morning' and deposited a tray carefully by his bed nearly every dawn when he woke. When she was busy doing something, an orderly would do it. Yerwan sniffed and turned over, hugging the sheets to him, nearly every time Rue came in. Rue was so sad that she cried at night, sobbing into her pillows and saturating them with tears. To comfort herself, she would practise doing her hair but Karm usually heard her and sat down on her bunk, hugging her and calming her. Rue was so thankful to the crew now that she tried to please them in every possible way. They were her true friends.
One morning, an orderly called Gelfan wriggled up the mast to peer out at the horizon. After inspecting it for some time, he yelled, "LAND OVER EAST, MATES! THAT'S SOUTHPORT ALRIGHT!" The whole crew cheered briefly before starting to prepare the Wavesong for full-sail. The deck was in turmoil with orderlies running about everywhere. Rue decided to hide until the rush was over for she knew she would only get in the way. She slithered into her cabin and closed the door against the excited shouts from Gelfan and his friends. She lit a candle, illuminating all the looming shadows, and listened to her friends outside happily. They were finally at Southport, their destination.
Then it occurred to her that she had no basic skills that she could use on the trip. She was completely useless off the ship. What would the Second Singer do with her then? She tried not to think about it.
Then, deep beneath the Wavesong, Rue detected voices, shrill and eerie voices, a chorus of them.
Daughter of stone-winger help! Shoal father in danger! Humans capture, cut, tear.
Instead of hearing the words, Rue almost felt them, felt them happening. She yelped but the urge from the voices pulled her to the sea. She ran from the cabin to the deck and leant over the sturdy barrier keeping her from the sea. Staring into the waves urgently, she listened as hard as she could to the voices and tried to contact them again.
Help, daughter of stone-winger! Stone-swimmers need help! Shoal father.
The voices stopped momentarily. Rue tried to find them again but they greeted her instead with wails and panicked shrieking that reverberated around her temples. It was horrible. Without thinking, she clambered onto the side and leapt into the writhing seas.
Instinctively, she drew breath before the freezing water flooded her senses with terrible cold. The bitter chill was surprising but she didn't care now. The wailing was amplified and it completely shocked her. Realising what she was doing, Rue struggled to reach the surface. But then she saw a face.
It had huge despairing eyes and willowy clumps of hair streaked across it, floating in the currents. The creature was bright green. Although the sight was strangely beautiful and emotional, Rue panicked and propelled herself through the water using her long, gangly limbs. But firm hands clasped her ankle and yanked her back down persuasively. The voices surrounded her in even more frightening detail.
Rue motioned to her chest and throat desperately. It the creatures kept her down, she would die from her own stupidity. She could see hundreds of them now; the larger intimidating males with their smaller, lean females and their tiny young flitting about like swallows in spring. They're beautiful, she thought. One female had a firm hold on her ankle and was looking expectantly up at her.
Her lungs began to ache. The creatures would drown her if they kept her under any longer. It seemed that she had been underwater for years. Panic settled in her gut and she screamed desperately in her head, LET ME GO! I'LL DROWN! I'LL DIE! PLEASE, I CAN'T HELP YOU. The creatures stared at her shockingly and the female released her so abruptly that she hovered underwater, unsure of what to do. We understand, they wailed, and, with several flaps of their beautiful, twinkling tails, they dived, light reflecting off their multicoloured scales. Rue watched as they departed and felt an overwhelming pang of sadness despite her agitation to be set free. Her organs shrieked and the panic seeped through her again. Kicking furiously, she reached the surface just as her lungs surrendered. She was so exhausted that for several blissful moments, she just lay on her back on the water and savoured the welcoming oxygen like her favourite food.
When she had recovered enough to contact her senses, Rue heard anxious yells and sobs above her. Her eyes flicked open and the yells increased in volume. She saw vague misty figures leaning over her and clouds and pale sky. Hands reached down to grab her and for one awful second, they reminded her of the creatures below. Suddenly, she was desperate to get out of the water. She grabbed the hands, which lifted her clear of the sea and onto the deck. Heaving and choking up bitter salty water, she sprawled mercifully on the wooden planks, gladness replacing the panic. Before she could stop it, darkness claimed her and she tumbled into an endless hole of blackness.
*