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really paid much attention to the books on cloud-gazing, but he
knew Night liked to indulge herself.
Whoever Night was.
While he was trying to remember, an east wind began to blow,
and a gleam of red-gold broke through the clouds, showing him that
it was sunset, late evening, the time of fading days and gathering
dreams. He stared blankly as the stars came out. His father had
taught him the constellations when he was a child, but he couldn’t
remember any of them now.
He fell asleep as the raft pitched beneath him.
In the dream, it didn’t feel like drowning.
In the dream, there was a surreal sense of calm. A weightless
floating, a slow drift downwards to the inevitable, but no panic. The
surface shone pale emerald, and he knew if he could just reach out
his hand… if he could only stretch his fingers up towards the light…
But he couldn’t muster the strength. The sea slowly cooled his
skin, whispering water-logic in his ears as it slowly dragged him
down.
Hands took him from the sea, and bound him with rope. He felt
himself get hauled up into the air, swinging now and then to bang
against the side of a ship. Why had they taken him from the water?
Fear death by water. Someone had said that once, but he couldn’t
remember who.
‘Why isn’t he responding?’
‘Heat stroke, probably.’
‘No.’ The voice spoke with soft authority, and he turned his head
to find eyes that shone like the waves. ‘I’ve drawn a few like this from
the water before. Watch.’
The owner of the blue-green eyes stood up, and he was laid gently
on the deck. At once he stood, moving forward until he could see the
water again, through the railings of the ship. The waves called to him,
enticing him back. Why had they taken him?
‘Sea-madness?’ Said another voice.
‘No. He would be dead, gone to join the waves, if it were so. I
don’t have a name for this. The sea took something from him.’
‘What should we do with him, Captain?’
‘Leave him,’ said the sea-eyed voice softly. ‘I have seen a few
healed of this, with time and care, but we cannot do it here. We will
take him back to Dragon’s Nest . Tend the sails.’
Dusk Falls
10