Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK II - Scene LXXXVI

"You must come," begged Liofia loudly, as the ship left Brynnyfirdia. Trading the dark green island for the dark grey sea. Julen shouted repeated words to the same effect. Whereas Goola just looked out at Box, with sad, stoic eyes; teary in their stillness. Deep down all three had believed that, when push came to shove, Box would follow them and leave too, but no. Looking, and feeling like the little harbour fool, she stood there and watched them off. Her quiver at her back, and her sword at her waist. The rain making her look like a dour vagabond, lost and destitute. She watched the ship disappear, the last of the five to make the exodus, then trampled off to join the forces heading east. The King of Tunid, the glowing Prince Estorie, weary Colm, and countless other Brynnyfirdian men and women. All to defend their little island. She thought of the half-tails, beset, and no doubt vanquished, by the terrible forces of the mainland kings, and finally she thought of Taxilian and Mayleen, back home. The muddy flowerbed at the centre of the world; the animals and the crops; the cosy warm beds with their rough, but snug sheets. The hay in the barn, yellow with summer. It was a far cry from the greying whirlpool she found herself in now. The rain and sleet and gales and sludge. The clank of battle that grew nearer with each forest step.

Meanwhile, far away, the Queen of Tunida looked out longingly at the snaking sea. The waves impassable and unwilling of peace. The fires that were lit broke the snap of cold, but even she felt the nip beneath her rich, billowing dress. Her dragon's blood and heavy eyelids, stony and unmoved against the wind. Flashes of light criss-crossed the dark ocean sky, and its slow thunderous tremor was matched by tremors of the ground. The firm belly of the earth, awaking from an eternal slumber. The queen could dimly hear the crash of war, travelling on the air; and could smell the scent of blood on the ocean foam.

It was the Day of Fire, but the males were far away from the island, and few felt the need to celebrate.