Lunae was captivated by what she saw. The light shone as a purple haze, and ponds glistened in the light. She saw many children playing in the water, all with blue and green skin and silver hair. She then noticed that everyone was staring, some taking their children away. Lunae looked over at Fulch and realized that in this light, his skin looked like scales.
“You really are like a fish nixie,” Lunae said. Fulch smiled at her, and this is when she noticed that he looked nervous. Then Linth led them to the biggest hut and told them to wait. People started to whisper, looking at these strange new arrivals. The Master finally came to and immediately wanted down. Lunae noticed how tired and how old he looked. She had to admit she was concerned about him.
Finally, Linth came out and told them they could come inside. When Lunae came inside, she felt a rush, almost as if the magic inside was pricking at her bones, her very essence. She smelt a very powerful incense that reminded her of the ocean. She looked around and saw many people sitting on pillows with bowls of water in front of them, and near the end of the hut, there was a man sitting on a throne. He wore a crown that Lunae could swear was made up of water. He was older, with his greener skin. His sharp teeth were crooked, and he had an evil smirk. Lunae noticed that his eyes were dark purple.
“Come closer, we have much to discuss,” Nartuck said. They all nervously walked up. Once they got close enough, the Master bowed, and Lunae followed, but Fulch did not. The man clearly took offense at this.
“Who are you to not bow to me?” He asked. Fulch seemed petrified but slowly gained his courage.
“My name is Fulch, son of Ashmir. I bow to no one,” Fulch said, shakenly. This made the people talk, but Nartuck looked angry.
“It was thought that you died along with your family. How did you survive and not come back to your people?” Nartuck asked, but Lunae could tell that this was some sort of trap. This is when the Master stood up.
“The water made me save him and keep him safe; the water didn’t want him to come back until now.” This seemed to only make Nartuck angrier, but softened when the people in the hut spoke,
“Blessed be the water!” The priests said. Nartuck’s fury had to go somewhere, so he directed it towards the Master.
“You are only alive for what you did for our people, back when our home world was being overrun, but forgetting about us that is not so easily forgivable,” Nartuck said, getting up and motioning for people to leave. The tension could’ve been cut with a butter knife as people slowly made their way out. Nartuck waited till everyone was gone before speaking.
“So, Fulch, I expect you want to take control now since you are heir to the throne, but I must warn you I will not give up power so easily,” Nartuck said. His guards then pointed their swords at Fulch, and Lunae was scared for him.
“I do what the water decrees, that is the way of our people, or have you forgotten?” Fulch said, finding his courage. One of the soldiers didn’t like what he had to say and came after him with his sword. Before Lunae knew it, she made a dagger out of water, and it went through the soldier, falling in an instant. This shook everyone, especially Lunae.
“Who is this woman?” Nartuck asked.
“She is the lost daughter of the Signuck planet. She has come to take her rightful place as ruler…the water has decreed it,” Fulch said, but this seemed to confuse Nartuck.
“But they have been dead for centuries,” He said. Lunae thought it was time to say something. She hated the tension that was there.
“The water has kept me hidden and alive. I do not know why the water wants us here now, but it must have its reasoning,” Lunae said, hoping that all this chaos would soon end. Nartuck stood up, clearly contemplating what to do next. That’s when Linth decided to speak.
“The water is finally answering our prayers, please Lord, these are good signs,” he said. Lunae could tell that Nartuck wanted to fight against it, but the commotion outside put a damper on his rage.
“Clearly, the news has spread; we shall see how you stand up to all this, see if you truly are king material,” Nartuck said. With that, he left through the back. Lunae saw the smile on Linth’s face but also noticed the scowl on the soldiers. She knew they were not safe. The soldiers soon followed Nartuck, and all that was left were Linth and them. By the time they made it out of the hut, a huge group of people had gathered. Lunae could hear the people yelling,
“The king has returned!” They said. “We’re saved!”
Lunae then realized the gravity of what Fulch’s announcement meant. These people had been leaderless and lost their identity after losing their home world. People kept touching Fulch, and Lunae could tell that all he wanted to do was run away. Linth was trying his best to lead them, but it became increasingly difficult. When they finally made it to the hut, Linth stood guard while the rest of them went inside. The hut was cozy and had three beds prepared. There was food laid out for them on a small table. Lunae noticed an altar filled with water. The Master noticed it to and went directly there and placed his hands in the water. Fulch sat on a chair and put his hands over his head. Lunae didn’t know what to do. She needed to talk to both of them, but now didn’t seem like the right time. So, she just stood there until she couldn’t anymore. She almost went to the Master, but he looked like he was in a trance, consequently she decided to talk to Fulch.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were a king?” She asked, sitting next to him. He looked up at her and smiled.
“Because I didn’t think it mattered…I had no idea when the water would bring me back. I have been in that temple with the Master since I was a young boy. The Master has been teaching me the ways of the water and my people, but I feel like he doesn’t fully understand them. I just knew that this is my time and I will have to leave the Master…and now you. The truth is, Lunae, I am not ready, and with their Lord, I don’t know if I’m fit to rule.” Fulch said. Lunae put her hand on his thigh and smiled back.
“I bet the Master has been teaching you how to rule as well…am I right?” Lunae asked, Fulch nodded.
“Well, you aren’t completely unprepared, you know the issues better than anyone, I’m guessing at least, because you’ve been with the Master, you’ve seen the meetings, and I’m sure the Master has been telling you,” Lunae said, hoping she was not babbling on. Fulch put his hand on hers.
“You’re very intuitive Lunae. You see the obvious even when it is cloudy. But you are right, the Master warned me that when it happens, the water ensures that I will be ready. I must trust in the water.” Fulch said. Just then, the Master came out of his trance.
“Lunae, come here and place your hands in the water,” The Master said. Lunae got up, but in her heart knew that this wasn’t good. She got up to the altar and noticed the sadness in the Master’s eyes. She tried to say something, but the Master directed her hands to the water. She did as she was told and put her hands in the water. Once inside, she saw the past events play back in time.
“You are ready,” The voice said as she saw herself kill the man in the hut. Then she saw Narutay, the purple man from the dinner.
“Find him,” the water said, and then released her. She looked over to the Master and said everything the water showed and said to her. The Master smiled at her, then excused himself.
“Wait, I want to talk to you,” Lunae said, but the Master wasn’t listening and lay down on the bed. She wasn’t going to take no for an answer, and she was about to yell at the Master until Fulch came over and shook his head. This seemed to calm the fire in Lunae, and she went back to the chairs. Fulch followed.
“I wish I had a drink,” Lunae said. Fulch laughed and agreed. They sat in silence for quite some time before Fulch couldn’t keep it in anymore.
“How did you kill that guy in the hut? And how did you create the wave?” Fulch asked, and Lunae realized he must have been as lost as she was about the whole situation.
“Truthfully, I don’t know; it was just like instinct…Can I ask you something? Do you think the water is leaving the Master?” Lunae asked, Fulch sighed, and shook his head.
“Yes, I believe the man is dying. I think he has been put under a lot of stress, and it’s finally catching up to him. Ever since I was a boy, the Master has been fighting off creatures from this planet or that planet, and always he told me that it takes a lot of skill to conjure up water blades, and you say you did it out of instinct?” This shocked Lunae, and she wasn’t sure what it all meant.
“When I put my hands in the water, it told me I was ready and that I have to find someone, I think he’s the leader of the purple people,” Lunae said. Fulch wasn’t so sure.
“That’s Narutay. We are on their planet, but by the looks of things, the war isn’t over. I think you should practice conjuring up a water blade,” Fulch said, half excitedly. Lunae looked at him in confusion and a little bit of anger.
“Right now? Shouldn’t I wait for the Master?” Lunae inquired, Fulch spoke in a whisper, and beckoned Lunae to come close.
“The Master is dying, go ask…I bet you will have to figure out a lot of stuff on your own…Better start now,” Fulch said, feeling bad for what he said but knowing it’s probably the truth. Lunae didn’t want to believe it, but she knew it was the truth, so she put her hands together and tried to conjure up a blade. Nothing happened at first, and Fulch could tell she was getting frustrated.
“Just breathe, tap into the water that runs through you. Feel the water that’s around you,” Fulch said. Lunae was curious how he knew so much, so she asked him. He replied with how he was a young boy with too many questions, and the Master had to give in at some point. This seemed to settle Lunae, and she decided to trust it. Finally, after some time, she was able to create a water blade. They both cheered, and with that, it fell to the ground. Fulch reminded her one step at a time, and they both sat there feeling accomplished. That is when Linth came in.
“Sorry for the interruption, but there is a celebration going on outside, and I brought you some grog,” This perked up Fulch and Lunae.
“Can we go outside and enjoy the celebrations?” Lunae asked, wanting to know more about these people. Fulch, too, wanted to join in on the fun; it had been so long since he was with his own kind.
“I think it’s too dangerous, I wouldn’t be able to protect you,” Linth said. This is when Fulch got up.
“Well, I can take care of myself and so can Lunae…I would like to be with my people,” Linth was clearly uneasy by this and wanted to protest. Fulch saw this and decided to try to calm his nerves.
“What’s your name, soldier?” Fulch asked, and this seemed to stiffen Linth.
“I am a warrior, not a soldier. I do the king’s bidding, not the Lord's,” Linth said, clearly hurt by the accusation.
“My apologies. What is your name, warrior?” Fulch said, trying to rectify. Linth stood up tall and spoke.
“My name is Linth, and I come from a long line of warriors who protected the king.” This made Fulch smile.
“Well, Linth, you will protect this king, but right now this king wants to be with his people,” Fulch said, not knowing how that would be taken. This seemed to make Linth smile.
“The people would love to have their king join them,” Linth said, passing the grog to Fulch. He took a swig and handed it back to Linth. This made him give a roar and drink some himself. They soon passed it to Lunae, who clapped and took a big gulp. They soon walked out of the hut and joined the festivities.