The water was warm in the shallows, though still comfortably refreshing compared to the heat of the shore beneath the burning sun. It felt good on Hadama's back as he swam alongside his guards, the trio of Merfolk ranged around the great manta's broad wings with weapons held loosely and eyes looking sharply through the water that surrounded them. Echo sharks had been spotted in the Isles again, a common nuisance, and Hadama had taken the opportunity to join the patrol today.
He had a great deal on his mind, and perhaps he should not have taken this small selfishness of normalcy. There was much to prepare and more to arrange but--
It was important, too, to remember what they fought and risked themselves for. These problems that could be faced and overcome without the fate of a world hanging in the balance, to make the lives of his Torchers a little safer and more comfortable.
The manta's star-strewn back broke the surface as he rose to scan the horizon for triangular fins, but it was a human figure on a nearby island that caught his attention. Shadows in the light, a familiar step, and for a moment he thought it was a different man upon the shore. Continue without me, he murmured to the patrol, who saluted and swam on while the manta turned towards the slowly-shifting island nearby.
It was the upper half of a man, bare-chested and brown skin slick with seawater, that rose from the wavelets near to the stranger, and only then did Hadama recognize who it was. Not a captain but a demigod. And he inclined his head in greeting as his thoughts shifted with slow care to adjust to the revelation. "Hello, Vesper. Is your family well?"
He had a great deal on his mind, and perhaps he should not have taken this small selfishness of normalcy. There was much to prepare and more to arrange but--
It was important, too, to remember what they fought and risked themselves for. These problems that could be faced and overcome without the fate of a world hanging in the balance, to make the lives of his Torchers a little safer and more comfortable.
The manta's star-strewn back broke the surface as he rose to scan the horizon for triangular fins, but it was a human figure on a nearby island that caught his attention. Shadows in the light, a familiar step, and for a moment he thought it was a different man upon the shore. Continue without me, he murmured to the patrol, who saluted and swam on while the manta turned towards the slowly-shifting island nearby.
It was the upper half of a man, bare-chested and brown skin slick with seawater, that rose from the wavelets near to the stranger, and only then did Hadama recognize who it was. Not a captain but a demigod. And he inclined his head in greeting as his thoughts shifted with slow care to adjust to the revelation. "Hello, Vesper. Is your family well?"
