The Maelstrom is Near

[Evelond Formos]

Remembering when first I held
The wheel in my own hands
I took the helm so eagerly
And sailed for distant lands

"Sir," I had called, excitement in my voice. "Sir, yonder - land!"

I thought at first he had not heard me, for he continued to gaze eastward. Some weeks had past since we'd departed, but the Lieutenant always regarded the distant mass of Dasaria as if it were less than a half mile away. Perhaps it was, to him. It would be surprising - like his home, he was very distant from the crew throughout the voyage.

"Sir," I called again, but more softly. Seconds passed, and he turned his head to face me.

"I see it, Anders. Tell Rennalds to set a course."

"Yes, sir."

--

"Friends," he had said, his eyes drawn tight by the sun, "today, we embark upon a mission new to the eastern Empire... Indeed, to Varana as a whole."

He had frowned, but only slightly - not a single eye caught it, but my own.

"Never before have the emperor's men seen the sights we are soon to see. Never before have sailors breathed the air we are to embrace. Never before have good men of our lands stepped into the darkness only to find another light...

"Friends! It is with great pleasure that I tell you this: We of the Fleet, we able-bodied men and women of the Empire, shall, this day, step into the dark waters, only our beloved ship to support us. We shall step into the darkness, and we shall find another light. So has it been decreed: We of the Fleet have been dispatched as explorers.

"It is you and it is I that shall sail for distant lands, our peoples - and new peoples - to benefit. It is you and I that shall tell of our voyages on this ship, and of our experiences during our continuing mission: To explore strange new lands... To seek out new peoples, new civilizations... To boldly go where no one has gone before!"

--


The ship arrived at the shore just hours later. We had officially begun our mission.

[Alterity]

Nice piece Eve.

[Evelond Formos]

But now the sea 's too heavy,
And I just don't understand:
Why must my crew desert me
When I need a guiding hand?

"Ensign!" he called, his voice muffled by the wind, and the roar of the waves. "Damage report!"

The sun was quickly setting, but there was no way we could tell: Rhauth's fury shrouded the skies in thunderclouds and torrents of rain unfathomably fierce. Somehow, we had displeased the Lord of the Sea, for a trident of lightning had angrily struck the ship's hull. Slowly, swiftly, the ship was sinking.

The Lieutenant called to me once more, urgency in his voice. His words were no longer comprehensible, so there was no way mine would be. Suddenly, I was blinded - a great clap sounded from above, screams from various voices... voices that I knew well. A moment passed before I could see once more. Half of the ship was in flames. I could not see the Lieutenant.

My vision failed once more, but at this instant, I found myself also deafened. Explosion after explosion erupted in my ears. Surely I was dying.



..



"Wait!", he had called, but not a single soul could hear him. "Wait, I live yet!"

Dark waves crashed over the man, suffocating him, but he persisted still. The great torch that once was his ship floated by, ever disappearing into the waters of Hell.

Still...

The ship arrived at the shore just hours later. We had officially begun our mission.