Story on the Shore
The pristine water stretched out before the group, causing no small amount of wonder in those who had not seen it before. The ice barrier loomed in the distance, making the far shore look so close to touch and simultaneously an eternity away.
"The Great Lake!" Mairwen exclaimed delightedly. Her face radiated joy.
Renat's reaction was more subdued. He only vaguely remembered the hideousness of losing himself on the shore and nearly killing his wife in a mad rage, but the imprint of the events was still left on his soul. The scientist hoped that the location would not bring new flashes of the horrors he caused and endured.
Having seen the lake for as long as time itself, Hanna did not have the sense of awe that the humans did, but it did relieve a small burden from her soul by reminding her that she had finally returned.
That is, until she looked at the ice barrier. Hanna frowned. Perhaps her eyes were playing tricks on her. There was no need to say anything until the Fate knew more.
Alaron probably had the most mixed reaction. He had memories of this place that were both happy and foul.
Cafer had brought him to the lake only to have Devrim bring him forcefully back across it. The love the Emperor had for the Fallen Prince warmed the Guardian's heart.
Alaron had also spent a pleasant time here with his sister in the wake of a looming battle. He had met Dania—albeit under less-than-ideal circumstances—on the shoreline just a bit down by the next inlet.
He had also spent a short stint under the magical water in an underboat. He had absolutely no idea how to feel about that. All in all, Alaron viewed the lake more as a memory keeper rather than something desirable or disastrous.
With all the feelings sorted, the group now had to find a way to get across it and continue on their way. Devoid of its magic, the undulating water seemed forlorn instead of glorious.
"I guess there is no Polymedes to appear this time," the Guardian groaned.
"I understand he is working off his debt with the elves currently. That satyr will never learn." Hanna pulled her eyes away from the far shore with a small smile.
"Even if he were here, I doubt one of his boats could hold all of us, even with magic." Renat did some quick calculations in his head.
"Polymedes would have found a way even if it meant calling an entire flock of eagles. Ah, well, it is only a dream. Back to reality." Alaron let go of his hope of an easy journey. Cutting corners always got him into trouble anyway.
"We will take a short break before going around, if that pleases Your Highness," the last part was added belatedly by Hanna.
The princess smiled and tuned to her soldiers. "Get yourself and your horses water. If you are hungry, eat quickly. I would like to put a bit of distance behind us before dark."
Happy to have a moment to take in the scene, the group dismounted and stretched their legs along the shore. The chatter was light and excited as the humans all anticipated what they thought would come.
Some of the soldiers speculated what they would see beyond the ice in the land where humans were usually denied passage. Others were content with the beauty already before them. With the sun already getting low in the sky, the Great Lake looked like a mirror of the sky, equal in vastness and wonder.
Eira, Alaron, Mairwen, Renat, and Hanna set themselves a little apart from the rest. They had things to discuss. They waded in the chilly water away from the others, deciding to perch themselves on an outcropping of rocks adjoining the shore.
Mairwen went to take a seat on one of the larger boulders when her boot fell between two of the stones. She nearly fell over, but Renat caught her by the waist in a heroic gesture before helping her sit.
"What happened?" He asked. The princess was more steady on her feet than anyone he knew.
"I'm not sure. Something rolled beneath my feet." Mairwen allowed her husband to check her ankle for injury.
"Here it is!" Alaron pulled a broken piece of wood from the crevice. He studied it for a moment. "Curious! Rather round and straight for a piece of driftwood."
"May I see it?" Eria held out her hand. "Look at this scoring here. I think it is a broken military tent pole. Perhaps it drifted this way after our battle with the Abominations?"
"Looks much too old for that," Renat peered over the soldier's shoulder. "Unless wood ages differently here, that piece has been here a few years. I didn't think the army ever camped up here."
Hanna looked around at the spot. Then she burst out laughing. "I have a good idea of where that broken tent pole shard came from. Though I really thought Brinn cleaned up every piece of it back then."
The humans all wore quizzical expressions. "Why would Brinn have a military tent? Even as Spymaster, she preferred all of her own gear." Before Eira knew that the lady was in fact an elf, she found Brinn's blatant refusal of military-issued items quite bizarre.
"I didn't say it was Brinn's tent. If I am right--and I usually am--that is a part of the Empress's tent from the second time the ladies met." Hanna's mirth overflowed into her words.
"How did it break?" Mairwen did not understand the Fate's glee.
Hanna adjusted her skirt to compose herself. "Her Majesty was a bit stubborn about the location of her tent. In the end, it crashed into the very rocks on which we sit."
"Mother neglected to tell us this story in her journeys," Alaron opened a container of dried meat and began to pass it around. "This sounds like a perfect time to regale us with the history of this very spot."
Seeing the humans' rapt attention, Hanna could not resist the chance to regale them with the tale. It had been many years since the ordeal, and the Fate was sure Aurora would not mind.
"Well, on their first journey to this beach, the Empress and her consort made camp on the beach. Devrim told his traveling companion to post her tent on the beach, but the grass looked like a much softer place for Aurora to lay her head. So she ignored the advice and selected her own spot. And things were fine...for a while..."
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The story was so engaging that the group lost track of time. They only managed to make it a short way around the lake before being forced to stop for the evening.
Unlike Aurora years before, the group made camp on the beach to avoid an ant infestation. It was a cold evening, but not entirely unpleasant. All bundled up, a few fires were lit to keep the group warm.
"Do you think any of the creatures have come back to the lake since the Abominations were defeated?" Eira looked over her shoulder at the water behind her.
The soldier didn't much like the idea of being attacked if something thought she looked tasty.
"I hope so," Hanna answered wistfully. "The things that lived in the depths were beautiful and more varied than the entire sea of the outside world. It would be a shame if they were all just gone."
Thankfully, the lake had been empty when it exploded, or the creatures that lived there would have been strewn across the landscape. But they had abandoned their home for the wilds of distant waters.
"I do wonder how they are able to deal with the salt of the sea," Renat voiced his thoughts. "The lake is fresh, surely if any of them went to the ocean, it would affect them."
"Indeed it does," a silky voice answered. "My smooth skin may never be the same from all that time in the open water."
The people looked around. The sound had come from the water, but the firelight had ruined their night vision.
Only Hanna seemed unbothered as she answered, "The Selkies lived in the ocean full-time before the ice barrier was made. You are returning to the roots of your ancestors."
"My ancestors must not have had my delicate complexion," the Selkie answered. "I do hope the General is not with you to see what a state I am in."
"Nurlan is not here with us. You are quite safe from his scrutiny," Mairwen knew exactly which general was on the lady's mind. "Though I think he would find you beautiful no matter what."
"Best we don't find out today."
Out of the water, a sleek seal-like creature inched her way up the beach.
Phoca gave the company a whiskery grin. "Now, would you care to tell me what all of you are doing here? And in our favorite singing spot too!"