Hadama swam back a little ways, out of earshot of Noah in order to gave his friend space to say what he found needful to the masked god. It gave him a chance to work on his own offering, using a slender needle of water to bore a neat hole through each glotter tooth so he could string them onto a macabre necklace. The task occupied him until Noah returned and then it was the Tidebreaker's turn to approach the shrine within the tree.
He couldn't easily reach it, but he used his air manipulation to raise the necklace up to the altar. Then he reached up to remove one of his earrings; his fingers hovered over the emerald in his left ear before rising to remove a simpler silver stud higher up in the cartilage, between the webbing. It was a memento from his grandfather, who had begun his training as a seasmith, and he clasped it tightly for a long moment before sending it to join the necklace of teeth.
"Ludo," he rumbled quietly. "We will need all of your tricks and cunning in the days ahead. Your inspiration to evade our enemies. The protection of your shadows. And your guidance for our people who do not survive. Lead them well, with all our love." He bowed his head deeply, his more personal prayers being spoken in the silence of his heart.
When he raised his head he felt lighter for the offering, and he swam back to Noah with a clearer gaze and his head held high once more. "The Crimson Cataract next?" he suggested.
He couldn't easily reach it, but he used his air manipulation to raise the necklace up to the altar. Then he reached up to remove one of his earrings; his fingers hovered over the emerald in his left ear before rising to remove a simpler silver stud higher up in the cartilage, between the webbing. It was a memento from his grandfather, who had begun his training as a seasmith, and he clasped it tightly for a long moment before sending it to join the necklace of teeth.
"Ludo," he rumbled quietly. "We will need all of your tricks and cunning in the days ahead. Your inspiration to evade our enemies. The protection of your shadows. And your guidance for our people who do not survive. Lead them well, with all our love." He bowed his head deeply, his more personal prayers being spoken in the silence of his heart.
When he raised his head he felt lighter for the offering, and he swam back to Noah with a clearer gaze and his head held high once more. "The Crimson Cataract next?" he suggested.
