Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK I - Chapter 69

Her eyes opened suddenly as she awoke. She'd been lying on the cave floor, on her side, in a rare period of sleep. The rain still greasy on her skin. An off-white linen cloth wrapped around her body - the only thing between her and the wild cold. As she bolted up, sweat and rain dripped down her forehead, and above her wide, witchy eyes the distinctive ichor bough ran a soft blue beneath the wet gleam. Her hair matted and mangled, clinging to the floor.

As she got up and walked quickly from the cave the white linen sheet dragged at her feet. Adding a muddy hem to the damp and filth. She clutched it tightly at her chest with her left hand to keep it from falling as she headed to the small boat that was rocking in the wind and spray. She stood on the edge of the ocean and looked out. The sea was tempestuous and grey, and rain and clouds fell in layers across the sky, right down to its dark blue edge. She plucked an eyelash from her left eye and cast it to the wind. She then took a precious red stone from a small pouch that was tied around her waist and cast it into the ocean. Before sprinkling a powdery mix of strange herbs and dried flower petals onto the foam. She could feel the damp sand beneath her feet as the rain lashed against her face. As she untied the boat from its mooring she bent down and drew a circle in the firm wet sand with her finger. Finally, she took a small vial of potion that was hanging loosely from a string around her neck and poured its contents to the sea. She then stepped into the rickety boat and pushed herself off.

The waves were swelling and swirling, and the boat tossed about helplessly on the undulations. She stripped the wet linen sheet from her body and fixed it to the small mast. A soaked sail on the damp sea. The wild wind dragging her, with purpose, into the storm.