Chapter 1- Finder's Return to the Ratterlin
"Her name is Finder. The very same that Lady Lirael Goldenhand sailed to find her destiny. Now it's your turn Abrael. She will guide you well on your journey." Sanar clasped her beautifully tanned hands and stared down at her only daughter. At age seventeen she was the perfect image of a clayr. She had long blonde hair that hung to her waist and curled elegantly at the ends. Her eyes were a breath-taking sea green and her skin was lusciously tanned.
"This is the same boat the Abhorsen-In-Waiting sailed on? I feel honored, but do I really have to leave the Glacier, Mother?"
Sanar sighed heavily and hugged Abrael to her. "I know what you are feeling. I feel the same way too."
"How can you? You don't have to leave your home since birth to find a man you know nothing of! I wish I didn't have that bloody vision!" Tears came spilling out of Abrael's green eyes.
Sanar herself was close to tears. Abrael's journey sounded too much like the one Ariel had to take on. Of coarse in the end peace was restored, but they knew almost nothing about Abrael' vision. All that was shown was shown was Abrael in an affectionate embrace of a man under the grand fig tree that must be the one on the Abhorsen's island. "Look at me Abrael!"
Abrael was caught by her shoulders and was forced to look her mother in the eyes. "What?" She snarled.
"You must be strong! Think of Ariel, and what she has done for everyone!" Sanar hoped this would put some courage into her daughter.
"Think of Ariel?! The woman's dead! You want me to end up like her?" Abrael could not believe her mother would compare them. Had she gone mad?
"We don't know what your fate will be, but I hate to think what will happen if you don't do this. Besides, Ariel and the Abhorsen did not love each other. It was only for duty. It was quite clear that the man in your vision had great love in his eyes. The same goes for you. Please Do this Abrael. Please let fate take its toll." Sanar's eyes were pleading.
Abrael's eyes traveled to the elegant boat. The woman carved at the bow seemed to plead with her too. I must do this. It is my duty as a clayr. I have no choice. She told herself. "Fine, but if you find out anything else, I want to know immediately."
"Agreed." Sanar's heart ached. Her only child was leaving on a quest frightfully similar to Ariel's. But something told her it would be okay. Mother and Daughter would meet again. She devoured Abrael with kisses and then watched her check Finder's supplies.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye Mother. Would you mind casting off?" Sanar ran to the rope, threw it to Abrael and gave Finder a strong shove away from the dock. As the wind took hold of Finder's sail Abrael and Sanar waved to each other. Despite how hard she tried not to, Sanar began to cry.
"Good luck my darling and stay safe!" Sanar called. She stood there on the dock till the little boat was out of sight.
As Finder led her away from her beloved Glacier, Abrael found herself thinking back to the man in her vision. He was a tall man with unnaturally white hair. Not white hair that made him seem old, but white hair that made him look magical and powerful. His eyes were a brilliant green that, (At the moment) were warmed with love. They looked as though they knew and saw all. Then there was that smile.. It looked somewhat wicked, but she could she the kindness hiding behind it. What a Strange man. How long will it take before I find you and where could you be? She would first make her way to the Abhorsen's House to check out the Great Fig Tree.
As her mother had said, Finder guided her well. Finder was once again on the river she knew so well and traveled it with perfect ease.
"Her name is Finder. The very same that Lady Lirael Goldenhand sailed to find her destiny. Now it's your turn Abrael. She will guide you well on your journey." Sanar clasped her beautifully tanned hands and stared down at her only daughter. At age seventeen she was the perfect image of a clayr. She had long blonde hair that hung to her waist and curled elegantly at the ends. Her eyes were a breath-taking sea green and her skin was lusciously tanned.
"This is the same boat the Abhorsen-In-Waiting sailed on? I feel honored, but do I really have to leave the Glacier, Mother?"
Sanar sighed heavily and hugged Abrael to her. "I know what you are feeling. I feel the same way too."
"How can you? You don't have to leave your home since birth to find a man you know nothing of! I wish I didn't have that bloody vision!" Tears came spilling out of Abrael's green eyes.
Sanar herself was close to tears. Abrael's journey sounded too much like the one Ariel had to take on. Of coarse in the end peace was restored, but they knew almost nothing about Abrael' vision. All that was shown was shown was Abrael in an affectionate embrace of a man under the grand fig tree that must be the one on the Abhorsen's island. "Look at me Abrael!"
Abrael was caught by her shoulders and was forced to look her mother in the eyes. "What?" She snarled.
"You must be strong! Think of Ariel, and what she has done for everyone!" Sanar hoped this would put some courage into her daughter.
"Think of Ariel?! The woman's dead! You want me to end up like her?" Abrael could not believe her mother would compare them. Had she gone mad?
"We don't know what your fate will be, but I hate to think what will happen if you don't do this. Besides, Ariel and the Abhorsen did not love each other. It was only for duty. It was quite clear that the man in your vision had great love in his eyes. The same goes for you. Please Do this Abrael. Please let fate take its toll." Sanar's eyes were pleading.
Abrael's eyes traveled to the elegant boat. The woman carved at the bow seemed to plead with her too. I must do this. It is my duty as a clayr. I have no choice. She told herself. "Fine, but if you find out anything else, I want to know immediately."
"Agreed." Sanar's heart ached. Her only child was leaving on a quest frightfully similar to Ariel's. But something told her it would be okay. Mother and Daughter would meet again. She devoured Abrael with kisses and then watched her check Finder's supplies.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye Mother. Would you mind casting off?" Sanar ran to the rope, threw it to Abrael and gave Finder a strong shove away from the dock. As the wind took hold of Finder's sail Abrael and Sanar waved to each other. Despite how hard she tried not to, Sanar began to cry.
"Good luck my darling and stay safe!" Sanar called. She stood there on the dock till the little boat was out of sight.
As Finder led her away from her beloved Glacier, Abrael found herself thinking back to the man in her vision. He was a tall man with unnaturally white hair. Not white hair that made him seem old, but white hair that made him look magical and powerful. His eyes were a brilliant green that, (At the moment) were warmed with love. They looked as though they knew and saw all. Then there was that smile.. It looked somewhat wicked, but she could she the kindness hiding behind it. What a Strange man. How long will it take before I find you and where could you be? She would first make her way to the Abhorsen's House to check out the Great Fig Tree.
As her mother had said, Finder guided her well. Finder was once again on the river she knew so well and traveled it with perfect ease.
