estdeus_innobis | (no subject)

"I don't know you (http://community.livejournal.com/estdeus_innobis/405311.html?thread=10273087#t10273087)," I say, "nor anyone here. But I meant no harm, and hope I have caused none." And my companion asks where they have come from, and that is a good question, but I add my own. "And why? This is a place to travel to or through, but so many at once--nine of us at once--seems unlikely to happen by pure chance."

"Reckon we all three ovvus knew each other, somehow."

I look at Syl thoughtfully, and then down at Tess.

"Are you cold?" I ask her. I wish I remember how I knew her. "I remember your laugh," I say. She looks so serious now.

The older woman asks me where I'm from, and the girl with a blank face adds another question.

"I was blown here," I say. "It sounds strange, I know. I live - lived - in the forest, and a girl came. She had a wolf hidden inside her, and she blew my house down, and I was blown here..." I push back my wet hair. "And Syl saved me," I say, nodding to her. I don't mention that she was a seal then. "I'm Kate," I add. I've never kept my name hidden; I don't think it's got any secret power.

I can hear CeeCee being entertained with the story, so I stay with the women at shore. I recognize the one, Kate she is called. I recognize her well. Faith enough to defy my Lord and break his enchantment that trapped me within Lucien. This just keeps getting more interesting.

Kate steps forward and claims to know the sea creatures name. She kneels down and whispers it, and the creature goes still, true named and knows it.

They untagle her from the nets, and the stories start, of who they are and how they got here. Some start to puzzle together that they know each other, and that our meeting is no strange trick of dream.

"I'm Arik." I say, stuffing my hands in my pockets. A lie, for that is not my true name, but a name I am called none the less. "I came looking for my daughter and my Lady, but until I was on the beach, I was not aware that I needed to search for them. Does anyone know the name of the place we are, or it's ruler?" I look to the serpent woman, thinking she is more in the waking world than just a woman. Maybe she has an inkling of an idea of what the fuck is happening.

I am a witch, mother-naked, sun-warmed.

I am a friend, soft-hearted, steadfast.

I am a lover, thin-skinned, skin-kissed.

I am a priestess, goddess-bound, demon-knowing.

The snake-woman speaks not. I look out into the water, and there's something stirring there, I think. I cast my net back out, and it floats and sinks and - catches. It's heavy, and I strain to pull it back, and then it's pulling me, across the water, and I can't get my hands free of the nets...

A great and terrible head rises up from the water, scales and eyes like stone, and its mouth opens wide. I am here to be a sacrifice?

And dark.

Swimming swimming swimming sounds in the water muffled, sounds of moving meat, and something coiled round me round round tight hurts and rise to the surface to the light and

become

different in the air, and I see the woman before me and swallow her whole, and rising from the water I throw my coils around them all, a great loose loop, that I can pull tight if they try to run.

"Solve a riddle to save her," I say. "Give a riddle to save yourselves."

"Sapphira," I say, "old name and true," and I look towards the woman with the nets and then the sea breaks, bursts up and out and falls into scales and teeth and she is gone, she and her net are gone, and the great coiled hulk of the leviathan, like the witch-snake as feather is like to bird, is wrapping us 'round.

And I swallow, and look up to it, and I do not know, I cannot think, but--it swallowed her whole, did it not? Yet a chance, maybe, and I look around at the serpentine snare and the changing witch and the women, and gather myself to speak.

"Part of the bird that can't touch the sky," I say shakily,
"Hides itself low 'tween the serpent and ground.
Swims in the sea and yet remains dry,
Look to the light, it will never be found."

I am a stag: of seven tines,
I am a flood: across a plain,
I am a wind: on a deep lake,
I am a tear: the Sun lets fall,
I am a hawk: above the cliff,
I am a thorn: beneath the nail,
I am a wonder: among flowers,
I am a wizard: who but I
Sets the cool head aflame with smoke?

I am a spear: that roars for blood,
I am a salmon: in a pool,
I am a lure: from paradise,
I am a hill: where poets walk,
I am a boar: ruthless and red,
I am a breaker: threatening doom,
I am a tide: that drags to death,
I am an infant: who but I
Peeps from the unhewn dolmen, arch?

I am the womb: of every holt,
I am the blaze: on every hill,
I am the queen: of every hive,
I am the shield: for every head,
I am the tomb: of every hope.

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The sea errupts, and before anyone can think, the older woman is devoured. I turn to gather Celeste and take her to safety, but Celeste, in her youthful excitement has run to me right before the serpent cut off escape, and I cannot risk her safety. Almost immediately I transform, looking human be damned! Wings unfurl blood amber from my back, and where once stood a man now stands a seven foot tall humanoid lion with blood amber wings, blazing eyes and razor sharp claws.

I growl in annoyance, knowing that somewhere Lilith is saying I told you this would happen! and pull my daughter close to me. "Stay close, do not leave my side kitling!" I rumble in her ear.

The creature calls for riddles to save our lives and an answer to save the woman she devoured. Now I have had a few eons to collect riddles, so while others offer theirs up, I scan my memory. My turn comes, and my voice is a thunderous growl over the roar of the surf.

"I never was, am always to be,
None ever saw me, nor ever will,
And yet I am the confidence of all
Who live and breathe on this terrestrial ball."

I don't know if J is gonna come or stay away (http://community.livejournal.com/estdeus_innobis/405311.html?thread=10292287#t10294079), but I wait my turn to ask a riddle and try really hard not to bounce and look impatient. I don't want the Sea Serpent to think I'm rude.

If he looks at me is it okay to wave? I shouldn't ask so I'll just guess. I can't believe Sea Serpents like to play games! Daddy doesn't think it funny though cos he turns into a Lion guy! I only squeel a little cos I've only seen him like that when he thinks about it! "Stay close, do not leave my side kitling!"

"Okay," I whisper as Daddy asks it a Riddle too. Oops I'm bouncing again. I shove my hand into the pockets of my dress and tell my feet to stay still. Maybe I'll get to ask it if it eats monkeys too. Are there monkey's in the sea? "Can I ask mine now?" I whisper up to Daddy.

"Part of the bird that can't touch the sky
Hides itself low 'tween the serpent and ground.
Swims in the sea and yet remains dry,
Look to the light, it will never be found."

I turn the riddle over over over and I say:

"A shadow," and I hiss the hiss of the pleased-by-thinking. "A good riddle, blank-faced girl, that I can give to my kin for a moment's amusement. You may yet live."

And the witch snake speaks next, and I listen, and my great eyes narrow, and I hiss the hiss of the angry.

"That is no true riddle," I say, and lower my head to near her face. "It has no neat answer. As above, so below. (http://www.suite101.com/content/unlocking-the-stonehenge-code-merlin-and-the-stone-alphabet-a258881) I like neat answers." I touch the tip of my tongue to her face. "I do not know what I will do with you."

The man who is a lion gives me another riddle, and I laugh the laugh of the one who knows the answer and say: "that is an old one. The answer is tomorrow. But you do well enough." I look at the small human. "Do you have a riddle?"

It likes Daddy and the ladies riddles --They were good too!-- then its looking at me, "Do you have a riddle?"

"Can I have something of yours too?!" I ask and then cover my mouth with my hands. That wasn't very polite of me! But a tooth would be neat, I'd keep it forever and wear it around my neck! I stay by Daddy's side cos he'd be mad if I didn't and mt stupid feet won't stop bouncing as I ask,

"In birth I spring forth, in life I unfold.
In death I wilt and die,
but rebirth restores all.
What am I?"

That's one of my favorites! I'm trying not to stare, cos it might make him mad, but it's so pretty and BIG!!

The small human asks for a gift and I hiss the hiss of the outraged.

"You can have a bite from my fangs if I do not like your riddle," I say, and she gives it to me. Over and over I turn it because it is a riddle of land not of sea, and then I say:

"A leaf."

I look at the woman who stinks of seal, and I say to her:

"You've given me no riddle. But seals are often dull riddlers. I shall give you a riddle instead, and if you solve it you may have your friend back. If not I may eat you all, for riddling makes me hungry." And I hiss the hiss of the amused.

"He who buys me cuts my tail, takes off my suit of silk, and weeps beside me when I am dead," I say. I like riddles about skins.

Well, th'day jes' keeps gettin' more'n more int'restin', don't't? First th'whole skin thin', then th'blonde girl an'er snake girlfriend, an'en a talkin' sea serpent comes up an'eats somebody in front ovvus. An'en starts a riddlin' contest. Me, I ain't a fan'a games, I don't know th'lady who got eaten from bloody Adam, an'm pretty sure I c'n outswim'is fucker, so I stay quiet 'n let others play'is bloody contest. But'en't turns t'me, "You've given me no riddle. But seals are often dull riddlers. I shall give you a riddle instead, and if you solve it you may have your friend back. If not I may eat you all, for riddling makes me hungry." Oh, well, great. Still think I c'n likely outswim'im...but 'ere's th'blonde girl, an' th'snake-witch (an' how'd I know'at?). I got some c'nnection t'em, an'm a li'l reluctant t'watch'em get eaten 'fore I find out what't is. So. "He who buys me cuts my tail, takes off my suit of silk, and weeps beside me when I am dead."

I think. Riddles ain't m'thing. But I consider...an' somewhere'er's a mem'ry a'diggin'n th'woods, bringin' a sack'a plants home....sittin' by'a table'n choppin' (hand goes t'm'thigh, lookin' ferra knife't ain't there)...cursin' cuz th'damned thin's 're makin' m'eyes sting'n water...

"An onion." I says, an'I think'm right. Bloody hope I am, anyway...an'I loosen th'skin 'round m'waist jes'n case I ain't.

She takes a little while, and I hiss the hiss of impatience, but at last she answers.

"Yes," I say, dipping my head. I look at the other pale haired woman, the one who has a face, and ask her for a riddle. To cross the water I'm the way, for water I'm above. I touch it not and, truth to say, I neither swim nor move. "A bridge," I tell her, and nod.

"You've kept your end of the bargain, and so I shall keep mine," I say, with some regret, because I would like to digest what's in my belly. But instead I vomit the woman up into the water, and then I slide away.

I fall headfirst into the water, swallowing salt water, and think I: drown I will not after escaping from the belly of a serpent. And there are hands drawing me up, and I splutter hard, coughing out water.

There's something in the palm of my hand, and I open it to see a golden cog.

"Pulled this I must from its stomach," I say faintly. It seems to hum in my hand. "I don't think it's meant for me." I glance out across the water at a little boat that is bobbing, and I wonder.

It's so quick coming in, waves and gears all running together like strings and brass in music, forward and forward and the blurred shadow of the boat rises to meet us, running quick and ragged across the stones of the sea.

"Excuse me! (http://community.livejournal.com/estdeus_innobis/405311.html?thread=10254143#t10302527)" I sing out as we're closer. "Are you alright, what happened, what did it want?" Hopping out of the boat and drawing her up and that grounds me for a minute, makes the moving slower, but then I'm hurrying again, up to meet them.

I feel dizzy with everything that's happened, and I'm glad I learned riddles at school so that I can ask something. I help up the woman who was swallowed by a snake, and then a little boat is mooring up on the beach, a boy - no, a girl, a short-haired girl - jumping out, and there's the palest girl I've ever seen behind her.

"Are you alright, what happened, what did it want?"

"Riddles," I say faintly. I look at Tess, and reach out and put a hand on her shoulder.

We stare at the huge magnificent snake for a time and then it heaves out a woman and goes slithering back into the sea. Some thing gleams on the share and Zann turns the boat and then we are moving so much faster towards the ground. And then we are slowing and then stopping. Except that Zann does not really stop she just gets out of the boat and heads straight for the people. I follow more slowly.

Some one, a woman with blonde hair who I think I remember from somewhere tells us that the snake wanted riddles. I can't help asking, "But why? Why would it want riddles?"

I must say there is a great relief to not being eaten. The salt air is strangely sweet, and I am shaking a little as I help the fisherwoman to her feet. Kate is tending to the snake-witch, and I bow my head towards them.

"I am sorry," I say, "for any trouble I've caused you; I truly am."

Then a new voice says "But why? Why would it want riddles?" and I cock my head at the white woman and think she must be very new to things indeed. The sea is coughing up the strangest people today; I would not swear to my luck, but it has certainly been an interesting day to be fishing.

"Ask the fair man," I offer, gesturing towards Arik. "He likes giving answers to that sort of question." The power of names and caution around wishes, I'm sure he has something to say about the use of riddles. Meanwhile the small dark woman is circling--nearly everyone, I think, looking around and darting through the small crowd minnow-quick, and then coming up and asking to see the cog that's been brought to light.

I am Amergin, sharp-tongued, fire-speaking.

I am a minnow, small-bodied, quick-darting.

I am an apprentice, unknowing, learning.

I am a wife, serving and served.

I am Tess, self-heeding, true-loving.

Th'serpent takes m'answer, an' fin'lly vomits th'woman back up. I help pull'er up, since't seems like th'thin' t'do, an' she holds up a toothed wheel made'a gold. "Pulled this I must from its stomach. I don't think it's meant for me."

Nod. C'n see'at. As we's talkin', I hear th'crunch'a wood on sand an's th'rapid crunch'a runnin' footsteps. Excuse me!" Calls a girl, short-haired 'n bright-eyed's'n otter. "Are you alright, what happened, what did it want?"

S'another'a those weird moments, like when I saw th'snake-girl, an'I press m'hand t'm'head. "I know you too," I says t'er. Wish t'fuck I knew from where, but I do. 'nother comes wit'er, blonde, askin' silly questions. "Th'why don't matter sometimes." I says. "What counts's'at allovus're still alive." I shake m'head, "Anyone got any idea what th'fuck's goin'on 'ere?"

I can honestly say I know what fear tastes like for the first time in an age when my CeeCee speaks as only children can and angers the serpent. This may have started out as a mere shared dream, but there is real danger in this. My lips pull back into a snarl as my arm encircles my daughter. Thankfully, she remembers one of the riddles I shared with her and manages to appease the beast. As do the others, and the Selkie woman answer the monster's riddle in kind.

The fisher-woman is spat back up, and the serpent retreats back into the sea. Releasing a breath I did not realize I was holding, I transform back into Arik, hoisting Cee Cee to my hip and resolving not to leave her side again. There are now more people, the ebb and flow of voices about us, and I don't care, I need to get---

"But why? Why would it want riddles?"

"Ask the fair man, He likes giving answers to that sort of question."

Look about to see some of the assembled looking towards me. "It was the way of things, ages ago." Look to the sea. "Riddles talk in circles, as many ancient things are wont to do. Also, it makes one think in new ways and directions, opening one's mind. I could say more, but I believe Aristotle covered it already in Rhetoric." I say with a shrug.

The Selkie woman gets more to the point, that it doesn't matter now because we are all still alive.

"Anyone got any idea what th'fuck's goin'on 'ere?"

Arch an eyebrow at that. Am I the only one that realizes what's going on? Should I tell them? "Let me as all of you a question; Does the word Excolo mean anything to anyone here?" Hopefully that will help.

Tess. The feel of her shoulder is a comfort to me. I've known her all my life, I think; all the life I know, even though I didn't remember her until I found her again. There's a great babble of voices, and then the man who turned into a lion and then back again returns to his lion form.

"Is everyone here part animal?" I say faintly. "I wonder if I should check for a tail."

"Let me as all of you a question; Does the word Excolo mean anything to anyone here?"

"All roads lead," I say promptly, and then frown. "I don't know where I heard that."

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