By J.C. Witman
A sailor’s tale from the Western Seas
It was a voyage that began with such vigor, now it would finish at the end of a rope. Roley had wondered what lay beyond the small town in which he grew up. It was that curiosity that led him to his predicament.
As he stared out into the empty blue ocean, Roley noted how the water was more calm and tranquil than it had ever been. He felt the warm salty air brush against his face. Mist from the sea splashed up as a small wave broke on the wooden hull of the ship. The sky was clear blue and under different circumstances, it would have been an otherwise perfect day. He closed his eyes for a moment. Pretending he was somewhere else. As his eyes opened and focused to the sunlight, he spotted a small lone cloud in the distance.
Roley watched it for a time. The cloud floated with the clear blue sky as its backdrop. At first, it appeared ordinary, but then he noticed something strange about the way it moved. It began to drift up and down. Then it rapidly approached the edge of the boat.
In seconds, it came to a stop right at the tip of the bow of the ship. The cloud’s shape then morphed into that of a woman. Puffy white hair and a flowing cloudy dress made from droplets of water adorn her elegant form. Her face was sharp and beautiful as she floated face to face with Roley.
“Hello,” she said. Her voice was high but distorted. She sounded as if she was drowning. However, she was curiously calm.
“Hello,” Roley replied. His mind raced with the possibilities of what the creature that stood in front of him was.
“Who are you?” she asked.
“My name is Roley,” he answered. “Are you a spirit?”
“A spirit?”
“Someone who has died.”
“No,” she said with a chuckle. “I am Maritza, the ruler of this domain.”
“What domain?” Roley said looking out at the vast blue sea. “There is nothing out here.”
“That is the arrogance of you humans,” Maritza said. “You think you can do whatever you want.”
Roley saw the whiteness of the clouds in her dress turn grey as she spoke and he was taken aback by the fierceness in her voice.
“Why…Why are you here?” he stuttered.
“I am here to take this ship down to the depths of my realm! You have trespassed and will meet the fate of those who cross into my borders without permission! My children, the wind and the waves, are ready and on their way!”
“As you can see by the chains on my wrists and around my feet, my fate is already sealed,” Roley said. “I am already waiting here for my death! Your words mean nothing to me.”
Maritza remained silent for a moment. She stared at Roley with her white eyes, which were impossible to read.
“Humans are so cruel,” she finally said. “I will show you mercy. The rest of the ship will go down, but you will live.”
Roley bowed his head. His thoughts turned to the other men on the ship. They were innocent. He was the one who stowed away. Driven by the need for adventure and to find treasure, he accepted the risk that came with sneaking aboard the king’s vessel.
“Take me,” he finally said.
“What?”
“Allow the ship to pass through your kingdom and take my life as payment.”
Maritza was still, only the sound of the waves breaking on the hall of the ship could be heard.
“You would be willing to give your life for these people?” Maritza said thoughtfully.
“I am.”
“Very well,” she replied.
Raising her arms, the calm sea behind her became rough and the sky darkened. The ship rocked violently as it was thrown and tossed around the ocean. Roley held on tightly to the chains. Stirred from their slumber, the rest of the ship’s crew ran frantically to their stations and the captain shouted orders. As a steady rain began to fall, a mist rose and engulfed the ship. Once it cleared, the storm was gone and so was Roley.
Tales From Orin Nodd 