Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK II - Scene LXII

A tree, a leaf, a breeze, a tempest. With word reaching King Mizmeam that the Harbour Lands had fallen his fresh wave of ships left their own harbours. The wet and stormy sea dotted with a wooden swarm. A thousand hornets on their way to Brynnyfirdia. Meanwhile, not a million miles away, the King of Tunid manned his own ship, the Merbird, through the torrid waters. Like a tiny spider on a blustered wind. Fated by direction.

Only fools would attempt to make such journeys, but kings, in their wisdom, refuse to wait for calmer days. In the mind of Man the wind blows, like a breath from some bearded god, but in reality the sky sucks the air. Like a vacuum hoovering the world away. The high pressure of living life pulled towards the low pressure of nothingness. Atop the Earth the clouds turned in strange whirlpools; and the ocean flickered between dead stillness and sudden un-sailable torrents.

Within half an hour one thousand ships were but four and ten. The terrible sea and sky a deadly serpent, rising from above and below to devour the mere men and their crafted endeavours. The few straggling ships dashed off course in wild direction. The King of Tunid, beautiful and craggy against the spray, tied himself to the mast, as the Merbird bobbed on the chaotic waters. Only the grip and suction of the sea beneath stopping the winds from ripping the little vessel up towards the pitch black night.

Further off on land, a sea-swept woman stood in the howling wind and rain, and watched on from the shore. The power of her prophecy manifest in the destruction. The people gathered near in awe and wonder. Amazed and terrified that her words had been so far-seeing. The angry mainland king, for the first time in fear of her magic, responding with unrestrained rage.

"Arrest this sorceress, we must have her killed."