Chapter 54

Much like the Desanti, the Vodani did nearly everything together as a community. The main meals of the day were no exception. Striations of the same purple crystal that made the spires lined the walls of the massive cavern that served as the great hall, glowing softly with the sunlight that the spires captured. Lamps were hung on the pillars that supported the roof, adding to the illumination as the glow dimmed with the setting sun.

The Vodani clustered in various groups, from the various schools of learning within the community to ship crews that were often a single family, with the youngsters clustering together at smaller tables suited to their diminutive statures. The sounds of chatter and laughter mingled with the distant sounds of ocean waves coming from the outer windows.

Ilsa invited the Dusvet Guardian and his students to sit at her table, the Vodani woman watching the group’s interactions over the edge of her glass with keen interest. She spoke to the bard seated to her right with a careless nonchalance. "I can see now why you stay with them. It is like watching oil and spirits mix and needing only the tiniest of sparks to ignite things." She smiled faintly when Emil turned to scold Emaris again. "How fascinating!"

"Ilsa, just keep your curiosity to yourself." Not wanting to draw his companions' attentions, Mureln could barely keep his voice even.

She laughed quietly at the dark look the bard gave her. "Oh, do cheer up, Mureln. You are being far too serious. I will behave myself. Besides." She made a minute gesture towards the Desanti and Forenten. "It will only be a matter of time. You do not need my influence for that to happen."

At the far end of the table, Storm and Skyfire were quietly speaking as they poked at the unfamiliar food uncertainly. Without warning, Storm spun around on her bench and came nose to nose with a young Vodani boy no more than eight years old who froze in shock, his finger outstretched, caught mid-attempt to touch one of her swords. Wide eyes stared at the gleaming blade Storm had drawn, the point hovering right in front of his nose.

Storm smiled faintly as she put her knife back in its sheath. "You are very good. I almost didn’t notice you." The boy just stared in outright terror. "My name is Storm." She offered her hand in greeting, the boy shakingly responding to the gesture. "What is your name?" she prompted.

"J-J-Jakkee," the boy stammered.

"I am very pleased to meet you, Jakkee." Storm turned around on her seat to fully face the boy, crossing her arms as she studied him. "Do not worry. I don’t bite."

"Unless ye ask," Emil piped up. "Ow!" the Sevmanan yelped as he got an elbow from each side, glaring at Emaris and Skyfire. "Ye all got no sense of humor."

Jakkee clapped his hands over his mouth to smother giggles, relaxing a little. Storm glanced over at a small gaggle of children hiding behind the nearest column, whispering to each other and pointing excitedly. "I see you were the only one brave enough to come meet me."

"They triple dared me to touch your sword!" he said, as if there was no choice.

"Ah, I see." Storm nodded with complete understanding. "Of course a young warrior as brave as you could not back down from a challenge." She stood smoothly, the boy shuffling backwards and falling on his backside. "I should like to meet your friends, Jakkee. Would you honor me by introducing me to them?"

Jakkee’s eyes lit up. "Really?!" On his feet instantly, he grabbed Storm’s hand and pulled her after him.

"Your Swordanzen certainly makes an impression wherever she goes, does she not, Dusvet?" Ilsa asked Almek, smiling indulgently. "Already she has won the hearts of Home Port, the Wave Dancer's crew and now the youngsters here."

"She is not that impressive," Amelana stated loftily.

"Oh?" Ilsa replied before one of the others could say anything to the Forentan woman. "And what have you done to compare to the Swordanzen woman?"

"My family is-" Amelana began.

Ilsa interrupted. "Not your family. I neither know nor care about your family. This is Vodanya. We care little about your landwalker social hierarchy, but your own achievements. This is about you. Tell me what makes you better than the Desanti woman?"

"My great grandfa-"

"You," Ilsa repeated, but this time with more of an edge. "Surely you have done something to make your family proud to call you one of their own." She gestured towards the others at the table. "You sit among the Dusvet Guardian, master bard, master healer, Illaini Magus, and two Githalin Swordanzen." She glanced at Emil and Emaris, adding grudgingly, "And masters at other things. Surely you must excel at something to be more impressive than a Swordanzen." When the Forentan woman didn't respond, she asked, "At least equally as impressive?"

Amelana flushed as some of the others at the table began to chuckle, either hiding it behind their drinks or not even bothering at all. She glanced at Ash, who did not even look at her as he drank his wine. Verging on tears, Amelana ran out of the hall.

Mureln looked aggrieved. "Ilsa."

Ilsa rose as most of the others in the hall did, tables and benches being moved aside, ignoring Mureln. Gliding over to Taylin, Ilsa smiled warmly. "My dear, would you honor me with your company? Sevmanan healers have always fascinated me, but they so rarely leave their temples on the mainland. I would very much like to speak with you about your arts."

Taylin smiled at Ilsa, still chuckling from Amelana’s verbal smack down and nodded. "Of course, Ilsa." She easily fell in step with the willowy woman.

Almek put a hand on Mureln’s shoulder to restrain him. "Taylin can take care of herself."

"Ilsa seems to enjoy creating waves," Ash observed as other Vodani, emboldened by seeing Storm with the group of children, eagerly approached Skyfire, Terrence, Emil and Emaris to invite them to various entertainments of dancing, gambling, or storytelling. None were quite brave enough to approach Almek and Ash as they spoke together. "Another sister of yours?"

Mureln shook his head sharply before turning on his heel to stalk away. "My betrothed."

Almek nearly choked on his wine and stared after Mureln. "Betrothed? I suppose I can still be surprised, even at my age."

Watching Mureln stalk away, Tulis approached, offering the two men a respectful bow. "I see Ilsa has been seeing how many ripples she can create again. I apologize on behalf of my people, Dusvet Guardian Almek. She is not representative of our people with her behavior."

"She and Mureln seem to have a history," Ash commented, sipping his wine.

Tulis smiled warmly, shrugging one shoulder. "It is more the lack of history that makes him so intriguing to Ilsa. Because our people live in such small, distant groups, it is not uncommon for families to arrange marriages to keep the bloodlines strong."

"And he turned down the arrangement," Ash concluded, watching after the bard with empathy for his situation.

Tulis shrugged one shoulder. "Mureln could not abide Ilsa's manipulations and refused to make the match official. And once the music called Mureln, he never looked back." Waving one of the servers over to refill their glasses, he added, "He is the one person she has desired but has never been able to bed despite many attempts to convince him otherwise."

It was Ash's turn nearly to choke on his drink. "Excuse me? Isn't she your wife?"

Tulis tilted his head, puzzled for a moment. "Oh, forgive me. I forget how restrictive you landwalkers are about your pairings." He waved a hand absently. "Marriages are for having children. The act of copulation is a sharing of pleasure and company, a celebration of life. Something Mureln has outright refused Ilsa. That has made him something of a personal challenge for her."

"So, you do not stay faithful to one person?" Ash asked, fascinated despite himself.

"Why? Life is for living." He looked between Almek and Ash. "It is a belief that has its roots in our Desanti ancestry. Mureln says the Desanti belief is to enjoy the moment, for tomorrow you may die. Vodani are not so morbid." He smiled faintly. "But life is to be experienced to its fullest, do you not agree?"

Ash stiffened, irritated that no matter how he answered, he believed he would be mocked for it. "Forgive me, I thought there was some... attachment between you both."

The Vodani man's easy smile was so without malice, Ash could not help but relax. "Ilsa and I have been companions for many years. We had only one daughter who died during her adulthood trial. Ever since then, Ilsa has been more interested in meddling with others' lives. She means no true harm. She has always had the best interests of Water's Resonance at heart."

Almek mused. "At the moment, she seems more interested in causing Mureln grief than about Water's Resonance's welfare."

"Ilsa was the only person who could get under Mureln's skin, ever since they were children. She delighted in unsettling him. It is probably why my brother rarely ever comes home anymore."

"Brother?" Tulis inclined his head to Ash in mute acknowledgement. "I see." Ash finished his wine and gave the glass to a passing serving girl who blushed and curtsied to him. "I should check on my journeyman. If you will excuse me."

"Of course." Almek turned to Tulis. "Perhaps you could enlighten me on news of the lurkers your people have reported?"

"Of course, Dusvet. I would be honored," Tulis replied, guiding him towards one of the remaining groups of people.