Eala's mood was still troubled as she got dressed and combed out her hair. Outside the sun was rising on Firiona Vie. A cool breeze was blowing in off the sea, making the curtains at her window dance and tugging at her skirt. She briefly considered breakfast, then decided that she wasn't hungry. Instead the cleric slipped out the inn's back door, and made her way over to the marble temple of Tunare. The other clerics and paladins who resided there regarded her gravely, one or two offering a slight smile, but none attempted to strike up a conversation, a fact for which she was profoundly grateful.
The High Elf allowed the serenity of the temple to envelop her, dispelling the lingering feelings of unease created by her nightmare. Eventually she found herself on the small plateau behind the temple, overlooking the sea. Above her burned the blue flame held by the statue of the Koada Dal princess who had lent her name to the outpost, Firiona Vie herself.
Eala sighed, and let her mind drift as she watched the waves. The breeze blew gently around her, and she closed her eyes as it swept over her face. What to do now? She had to find her sister, but where should she start? Antonica was such a huge continent, there was no way she could search every corner. Even if Aly helped her - and she was not sure that he would - it would be like searching for a grain of salt on a beach. As for Alyindar...
She sighed again, and blinked hard as tears filled her eyes, threatening to fall. The pair had barely spoken since the Wurmslayer incident a week ago. The ranger still could not accept her reasons for aiding the Dark Elves, and while he said he had forgiven her, the strain on their relationship was still palpable. Any conversation was stilted and unnatural, carefully avoiding the issue.
"Peaceful, isn't it?"
Ealandariel spun round, surprised. Another High Elf female stood beside her. The stranger smiled at Eala, then turned back to the ocean.
"I used to come out here quite a lot. The sea... it helps me think."
Eala nodded, but said nothing. The woman turned towards her again.
"I understand. You'd prefer to be alone."
She began to leave, then paused for a moment.
"You can't hide from it, Ealandariel. Sooner or later, it has to be confronted. And only when you accept that you are one of the Mother's Chosen, will you truly find peace. The ocean can only help you so far."
Startled, Eala turned to follow the woman, to ask her what she meant. To the cleric's astonishment, though, the other Elf had vanished completely. Eala stared at the spot where she had last seen the other woman, and then jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder.
It was Alyindar.
"I thought I'd find you here." he said softly.
"Aly! Did you see... I mean, a woman, she was here... but now she's gone... I don't..."
Alyindar frowned.
"It sounds like you've seen Elliana the Peaceful. A tall High Elf, blonde like yourself, who talks about the tranquility of the sea?"
Ealandariel nodded her reply.
"Yes, I've heard she sometimes appears to those who are in need of guidance."
"I see. Well, she could have said something a little more helpful then."
Aly chuckled, then quietened again.
"I came to tell you... I had a dream last night. And I believe it's telling me where to go next."
Eala smiled at him. So far he seemed more like the old Alyindar she knew.
"You too? I got my instructions as well last night."
The ranger nodded.
"I was planning on leaving for Kelethin this afternoon, assuming we catch the boat."
Eala blinked.
"Kel... Kelethin?"
Alyindar looked at her in consternation.
"Yes, Kelethin. Why, what's the matter... oh."
His voice trailed off as he took in the look on Eala's face.
"You're not coming, are you? Your instructions are for somewhere else?"
Tears brimming in her eyes, the High Elf nodded again. Pulling Alyindar to her, she hugged him tightly, struggling with her sobs.
"This isn't how I wanted this to end." she cried.
"I know," he replied. "But we have to trust that Tunare knows what She is doing. I'm sure we'll meet again Eala."
Just then a shout came from the outpost.
"The good ship Maiden's Voyage will soon be departing our docks, bound for Faydwer! Make your way aboard now or you risk being left behind!"
Eala pushed the ranger away from her, towards the docks, while wiping her eyes on her sleeve.
"Go." she said. "Or you'll miss the boat."
Alyindar kissed her cheek gently.
"Good luck on your quest Eala. May Tunare be with you."
"And with you." she replied softly.
Ealandariel stood and watched as the ship set sail, taking her companion back to Faydwer. She sat by the sea for the rest of the day, with only her thoughts for company. As the sun set, bathing the area in hues of orange and gold, the same question resounded in her mind.
What do I do now?
The sun had set on Firiona Vie, and also on Ealandariel's partnership with Alyindar. The phrase "All good things must come to an end" came to mind, yet that did not bring any comfort to the High Elf cleric. As torches were lit around the outpost, Eala wandered slowly back towards the inn, lost in her thoughts.
It had been months since she had last had to travel alone. While she was capable of defending herself, somehow the road always seemed shorter with a companion, goals seemed more attainable. She had no idea where to even begin to look for her sister, but she supposed getting to Antonica would be a good start. The journey would be long - taking the boat to Faydwer and then onto Freeport, but at least that would give her plenty of time to decide where to begin her search in earnest. After supper, Eala decided, she would pack her things, and leave first thing in the morning.
Back at the inn, the dining room was busy, yet not too crowded. Eala ordered a meal for herself, then settled in a corner to contemplate her next actions. A group of people at a table next her seemed to be having a disagreement of some kind, which she couldn't help but overhear.
"It just can't be done Flexen! We need a cleric, and that's that!"
This remark, louder than most, caught Eala's attention. Not wanting to be distracted from her quest, she lowered her head, hoping to avoid notice. The speaker, a Barbarian male, from his looks and speech, continued;
"Yes, I know I can heal. But it's going to be tough down there, I'll have me hands full."
One of his companions, a wood elf thumped the table in frustration. At first, Eala thought him to be a ranger, then she saw his plate armour, and realised that he was in fact a warrior. She nearly giggled at the thought.
"Look, Cuch, all you have to do is get us down there. Once we get her out, she can heal for us on the way back out. Better yet, take Darck with us and he can port us out. It wouldn't be that hard!" the Fier'Dal protested.
"No. I'm sorry Flex, but no." The Barbarian - "Cuch?" Eala wondered - regarded the warrior with sympathy in his eyes, but his expression said clearly he would not change his mind.
With a stifled curse, Flexen turned to another of his companions, a female High Elf.
"Tass, could we get down to the bottom under one of your invisibility spells?"
The robed Koada'Dal shook her head.
"No, there's a mixture of living and undead creatures down there. I can only shield us against one type at a time, not both. Sorry Flex."
"Cuch" leaned forward.
"Look, Flexen, I know you want to get her out of there as soon as possible. But we'll just have to be patient, and wait for Senodara or someone to come back. There's just no other way."
The warrior cursed again, stood up, and started to stalk away. In his fury, however, he didn't notice the patch of grease on the floor where some stew had been spilled. With a cry of surprise, he slipped and cracked his head on the side of a table as he fell.
Eala reacted without stopping to think. Even as
blood oozed from the blow, and Flexen put his hand to his head in
pain, she began to cast a spell calling on celestial healing. Soft
blue light gathered around her hands, and above the warrior's head,
then slowly faded. Gradually, the wound closed and Flexen sat up,
gingerly touching his head as an expression of surprise crossed his
face.
Turning, he faced Ealandariel.
"You cast that?" he asked.
Eala nodded.
"So you're a cleric, then."
It was a statement, not a question, but Eala nodded again.
Flexen came and sat at her table. He was quickly joined by his companions, asking if he was alright.
"I'm fine." he said absently, "Thanks to...?"
"Ealandariel." said the cleric softly. "But most call me Eala."
"Eala. Right. Thank you Eala, for your help."
"It was my pleasure."
Flexen looked meaningfully at Tassa and "Cuch".
"What do you think guys?"
They both shrugged.
"Might as well ask, I suppose." replied Tassa.
Eala was watching them, her heart sinking as she realised what would happen next.
"Eala," Flexen began, "We have a proposition for you..."
"Firstly," Flexen began, "Allow me to introduce myself and companions. This lady here is Tassa, an enchantress. She's a High Elf... most of the time."
Tassa gave Eala a friendly smile.
"My bearded friend there is Cuculainn, a shaman of the Tribunal. He comes from Halas, as you may have guessed. And I'm Flexen, warrior of Keleth-"
"That's Onya, Flexen Onya. He likes his drinks shaken, not stirred." interrupted Tassa, with a mischievous smirk on her face.
Flexen mock-glared at her, and as he turned away, Tassa winked at Eala. The cleric smiled in return. These people were... odd, but pleasant nonetheless.
Cuculainn spoke up at that point.
"We're members of a guild called Silent Avengers." He told Eala. "And we need your help to rescue one of our other guildmates - Flexen's wife."
"Why, what's happened to her?" asked Eala, curious.
"We were in the old ruins of the city of Guk, on Antonica." said Flexen. "We had heard that there was a frenzied ghoul lurking in Old Guk Bottom who was guarding an item that I could use. So my wife and I headed down that way, confident the two of us could handle it. We were proven to be wrong, and she was captured by the frogloks who still reside there. I managed to get out, and came straight here to find my guildmates and get help."
"That's where we come in." interjected Tassa.
"Aye," agreed Cuch, "But as you may have heard, I don't think it's safe to even try and get down there again without a good group of people - including a cleric."
"I see." Eala pondered this. While her main objective was her search for Sierra, at least heading to Antonica with these people would be a step in the right direction. And maybe... maybe after this was over, one of them might help her in her search. It was worth a try.
Flexen, Tassa and Cuculainn were regarding her anxiously.
"Alright," she said, smiling. "I'll help you."
"Woot!" exclaimed the other three.
"Eala, thank you so much!" said Flexen. "You don't know how much this means to me. And Sierra will thank you herself when we rescue her, she'll be so grateful. I'm sure the two of you will get on really well, in fact, you look quite like her..."
Eala lost track of what Flexen was saying as the name he had given his wife sank into her mind. The dining room faded away as her head spun, and it seemed like the voices directed at her were coming from very far away.
He had said "Sierra". How could it not be her? On Antonica, her old family, and her new family-to-be? She already felt the connection with these people, the resonance the name "Silent Avengers" had within her soul... it all fit so neatly...
"Ealandariel? Are you alright? Eala!"
She opened her eyes, and looked into Cuculainn's face. Behind him, Flexen and Tassa stared at her, concern etched on their features.
They probably think I'm crazy now Eala thought. Best that I don't mention Sierra yet. In case it's not her... but surely it will be...
Cuch gave her a hand to her feet.
"I'm fine." she assured the others, managing a weak smile. "I'm just tired, I think. A lot has happened over the past few months, I think it just caught up with me."
"Are you sure?" asked Tassa, looking worried. "I'd hate for you to end up getting hurt from trying to do too much, and we could always try and find another cleric..."
"No, no, I promise, I'm alright." protested Eala. "I just need a good night's sleep - you weren't planning on leaving tonight, were you?"
"We hope to catch the first boat after sunrise tomorrow." Flexen replied.
"Well then," the cleric smiled again, trying to convince them that everything was normal. "I'll see you all in the morning. Trust me, I'll be fine."
Ignoring the continued looks of concern thrown her way, Eala bid the three Silent Avengers good night, and retired to her room. As she climbed the stairs, her head was still spinning from the shock. It had to be her... it just had to be. Curling up on her bed, Eala tried to clear her mind enough to sleep. Only time would tell what tomorrow would bring...
