This is a sidestory snippet that I couldn't get out of my head.
***
The ocean was quiet and still.
Shan leant against the railing of the lookout post she'd commandeered on the tall mast of the Jin Su. It was near midnight, diamond-clear skies spackled with shining stars. The star-dragon stretches across the sky overhead, rarely seen in such glory. A gibbous Moon hung low in the sky to the east, and the sea reflected the celestial vault perfectly.
They'd entered a dead zone two days prior. In the waters outside, nothing stirred. The ambitious fishermen amongst the ships had failed to catch anything since, and the only disturbance in the water was that which the fleet produced.
To Shan, it seemed as though they sailed through the cosmos, an insignificant blemish on beauty that must repeat night after night. Reflections in reflections, a patterned symmetry that stretched back to the creation of the world.
Did the mighty Oa-nu encounter this before he rose the land from the deep? Is this what the duplicitous Un-ao sought to recreate when she sunk the fabled land of Tluoti below tides of cold, hard waters?
Shan considered. She was never one for theology, but the ancient myths of her people had held a special fascination for her since she was a girl.
In the near distance, the transport Susilo and cruiser Tsustui were visible as patchworks of soft light at the base of dark pillars of smoke that billowed up from their stacks. The perfection of the mirrored heavens was disturbed by their presence.
The cool, still air had little to do with her shiver, then. The Moon had always unsettled her, seeming at times the watchful eye of something other, cold and distant. She was thankful it seemed so distant this night. She greatly appreciated the fresh air and would hate to have to flee belowdecks, lest the nightmares come again.
She wasn't alone, of course. The Carcosans had assigned her an intimidating minder. A scarred woman stood in the corner, easily maintaining the ephemeral redoubt separating Shan from the Current that brought her power. She was a warden more than the guide the Captain had offered, but all the same, she'd rather have the woman around than be alone.
"Please don't look at me like that," Shan requested without turning, entirely reasonably. These warmongers had little sense of propriety to look at her so freely.
The armored woman shrugged, by the sound of slight movement behind Shan. "It's a nice view. Don't usually get a chance to take things in like this."
Shan rolled her eyes, trying to put the savage out of her mind. She had far more pressing things to worry about.
Her attempted poisoning of their Prince, for one. Shan had not expected him to be so genuinely earnest, nor Captain Heijo to be so compelling.
She had barely the time to heal him once the effects had onset before that fool Suraji arrived accusing her of treason. Her fortune was ill indeed to lack the strength to prove the veracity of her decisions.
A potential trade of information was very little excuse to allow the Jin Su to dock. As with every other Carcosan vessel now, it carried a sizeable contingent of marines, more than enough to cause substantial damage to the people of the port before they could be suppressed.
The exile was hasty, perhaps, but Shan could accept it. Like as not, she could return in a century or so, and she was young yet. In the meantime, she'd remain Heijo's guest until the man did something distasteful enough to prompt an escape.
She was still quite unpopular with the rest of the crew. She'd been cornered once, a few days into her captivity, and Shan had never since complained to have the woman present.
Footfalls echoed from below as a pair of people stepped up the ladder. The Captain emerged into view first, stepping into the lookout, followed by one of his aides.
He nodded to her before looking out at the view.
"Hello, Shan."
"Heijo."
"Beautiful night, isn't it?" He stepped over to stand next to her, leaning on the rail and looking out. The wind tossed his hair slightly and his eyes seemed genuinely eager to drink in the sight.
"It is. Do you have some use for me, Captain?"
It wasn't the first time she'd asked. She refused to be merely a passenger, and the more she worked, the more easily she'd find her escape routes, should they become necessary.
To her surprise, he nodded once, sharply. "What do you know about these waters?"
Shan pursed her lips, turning and looking out at to sea. "Nothing concrete. Vessels that venture here rarely return, and those that do speak of curses. Anyone else can tell you that much."
Out to the east, a patchy haze was rising from the water in lazy streams, blurring the horizon.
Heijo sighed after a long moment, tone low and disturbed. "One of my men caught something."
"Good for him," Shan said, confused, "That's the first in days."
"It's… Not right. I want you to look at it, maybe you've seen something like it before."
"Not right?" That piqued her curiosity, "Very well. After you, Captain."
He gave her a thankful nod, and she fell in behind him. After them, the aide and her minder followed. Down the mast, then out onto the main deck. Heijo led her aft, then down a deck onto a long balcony.
The smell hit her first, a sickly-sweet scent that clung to the sinuses and repulsed her. There was a thick quality to it, like the air of a sickroom. She covered her nose with a scented handkerchief, hoping for any relief.
Up ahead, grim figures congregated.
There, a group of dour-faced crewman gathered, dim lanterns casting soft shadows. They shuffled uneasily, surrounding something laying on the deck, something making soft squelching sounds.
A cold thrill shot down her spine at the visceral noise. The captain had been watching her, noticed the reaction.
"You felt it too?"
Swallowing, trying to dislodge a lump in her throat, Shan nodded.
The crewmen parted before the Captain, and Shan beheld a dark, glistening mass. It writhed on the deck, bleeding a thick black fluid onto the treated wood.
It took a long moment of observation before she could identify the source of the sounds. Powerful coils of smooth, dark flesh writhed and squelched around something soft and pale. A long sea-snake fused with a pallid torso, curled in on itself, black teeth carving through bloated flesh. It was covered in horrific sores and blisters. Where the black fluid congealed and hardened in strange ways, soft blue glimmers could be seen when she peered closer.
They looked like seashells, spiraling inwards. Some wept the dark ichor freely, forming a sticky web that connected the two entities.
Wherever the serpent bit and tore away, the flesh regrew in short order. Horrified, Shan watched as the snake casually pulled a putrescent kidney from the torso, swallowing it whole while a new organ began to bud in its place, glassy eyes reflecting the mirrored horizon behind them.
Stumbling back, her minder caught her. Shan was led over to the rail, where she emptied her stomach. She couldn't stop, not as long as the thing lived in her memory. "Kill it," she rasped as soon as she could. "Use fire, leave nothing behind."
"You heard her," Heijo boomed. Men stepped back as others came forward, taking stances. As one, they breathed in and exhaled, long tongues of flame scorching the infested creature.
They continued for minutes, burning part of the deck to ash before stopping.
Heijo stared at the spot, hands on his hips. Nodding, he pulled out his pipe and began packing it. He lit it, took a couple of puffs, blew out the smoke in a long sigh.
"No more fishing, not until we're through here." He stated with finality. "Shan, what else do you know about this?"
"Nothing," she replied honestly, "But that thing needed to be destroyed."
He nodded firmly, "That it did."
"Am I dismissed?" Shan asked quietly, "Captain."
He gave her a curious look, "You're not a prisoner, Shan. If that's what you desire, then you're dismissed."
Nodding gratefully, Shan fled, her minder a comforting weight at her heels. She moved until she found a quiet, dim space deep within the vessel. A warship for an imperialist power as it was, right now she was thankful for the armored hull between her and the world outside.
Sitting in a corner, she drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. Her minder hesitated before crouching next to her, a different kind of armor to protect her from the sight of those sightless, mirrored eyes.
"My name's Saigou," Her minder said gently.
Shan blinked. This whole time, she'd refused to ask for the other woman's name. It was easier to pretend she held some measure of control by intentional rudeness than to acknowledge the reality of her incarceration.
"…Shan."
Saigou settled on her heels, regarding Shan in the low light. "You've not seen anything like that before, have you?"
Shan shook her head, asserting, "Of course not. If I had, I would have told your captain."
"Okay." Saigou lifted a hand, then dropped it. She took a breath, held it, then released. "Do you want me to lift the veil? Let you feel the fire?"
Carcosan words for the barrier holding Life away from Shan's reach, she thought they were. She desperately wanted to say yes, but something held her back. Prudence, or caution, or the lingering terror the creature inspired, she couldn't tell.
"No. I don't need it." Shan lied.
The warden nodded slowly, lips downturned in a frown. "I don't believe you. It's been days, you must be feeling the craving."
"I said I don't need it," Shan repeated more forcefully. "Why do you care?"
Saigou's brown eyes turned cold, "I was charged with your safety and wellbeing. I take my duty seriously."
"Seriously enough to rebel from the Ochre Emperor?" Shan prodded.
Without hesitation, "Yes. What remains of my family is here," She tapped over her heart, "And on this ship. I'm loyal to the Captain, not the Emperor."
"Have you been to Leng?" Shan asked, "How many children have you killed?"
The guard's eyes narrowed, and the veil fell from around Shan.
Instinctively, she reached out, pausing at the last moment. She sensed a trap.
"If you hate us so much, do something about it. You have the power, don't you? You're stronger than I am." Saigou told her coldly, "Go ahead, find your justice for whoever you lost. I'm right here."
Shan thought about it, visions of rending her warden asunder and fleeing. She could take a lifeboat, try to make it back to the Isles…
Turning away, Shan felt a coward. "I'm no killer," She spat.
Silence lingered.
Saigou sighed, sitting next to Shan. "Neither am I. I'm Home Guard, not a warfighter."
Frowning, Shan thought about that. The Carcosan Home Guard was almost entirely distinct from their invasion forces, concerning themselves with the protection of the city and coastal towns around it. They coordinated typhoon relief, as well, and responded to ships flying flags of distress with great urgency.
As far as the Carcosan war machine was concerned, they were purely defensive. That didn't make it better, but at least it meant Saigou probably wasn't as bad as Shan had assumed.
"So you're not a monster," Shan said bitterly.
"Thanks, I guess." Saigou shrugged, "I suppose that's the best I'll get out of you."
Silence returned.
After long minutes, the warden stood. "Come on, let's get you back to your cabin. Even if you won't sleep tonight, it's better than hanging out in the darkness."
Reluctantly, Shan stood and allowed the scarred woman to shepherd her back to the cubby she'd been given. People were huddled throughout the narrow corridors, men and women and children strewn in small clusters with whatever possessions they brought with them. Shan was shocked to see a high noble, evidenced by the cracked lacquering of her nails, talking quietly with a man of clearly lower station.
She'd watched a man of similar station strike a servant for daring to meet his eyes, and it had been made quite clear to her that was the standard.
Up two decks and down another corridor, then they arrived. Shan's cabin was little more than a spare bunk, a narrow table, and a tiny stool bolted to the floor. It had all the decoration of a prison cell, and she gratefully sat on her bunk.
"You know," Saigou said from where she stood near the door, "The Captain gave you these quarters out of respect, right?"
Shan eyed the woman, then laid down and faced the wall. She heard Saigou sigh and settle on the stool.
"Get some sleep," her warden ordered.
Complying, Shan shut her eyes. Sleep came quickly.
In her dreams, she was home again. A good book on her lap, a glass of sour-sweet Totul in her hand. She looked up at a squelching noise coming from the next room. With the desire to investigate, she found herself standing in a doorway, watching as the creature from the deep stared at her. In the crossing reflections of its sightless eyes, she saw her own face, her own eyes replaced with empty mirrors, weeping a viscous black fluid.
Shan woke, screaming.
"Woah!" Saigou called from where she still sat, coming over to Shan. "It was just a nightmare, woman!"
"My eyes," Shan whimpered as soon as she could speak. Staring intently into Saigou's own, she was frozen in terror.
"They're a nice steel color," Saigou told her calmly. "There's nothing wrong with your eyes, Shan. Here," She reached over, taking Shan's hand and squeezing. "Look at me. You're alright."
Shan's breathing calmed slowly. "A nightmare. I was back home, and the thing was there, and then I had its eyes," She explained.
"I've got bad news for you, Shan. This is the Jin Su, and I'm pretty sure you aren't going home for a while."
In a twisted way, that seemed to help.
"How long was I asleep?"
"Long enough for me to get good and comfortable," Saigou told her with a sigh. "Do you want to try sleeping again? I'm going to stay right here, if you do."
Shan wanted to say no, but she could feel the weight in her bones calling her to sleep, telling her she wasn't done yet.
"No, but I need to." Laying back, Shan closed her eyes again forcefully.
"Well, sleep well." Saigou gave her hand a squeeze.
This time, Shan had no dreams while she slept. She awoke near midday by the ship's bell, Saigou having fallen asleep sitting on the edge of her cot. Shan found that her hand was still being held by the other woman, and she wasn't sure how to feel about that.
Despite the scars, the other woman seemed surprisingly young when resting. She couldn't have been much older than her mid-twenties.
Shan withdrew her hand, promptly waking the guardswoman.
"Huh? Oh, Shan. What time is it?"
"Ship's bell counted midday a moment ago." Shan told her.
"Oh, thanks. Any more nightmares?" Saigou seemed genuinely concerned, for a warmonger.
Shan shook her head, "None."
"Great!" Saigou stood, stretched. "We should wash up and get some food in us."
Shan agreed wholeheartedly, following the warden through the ship. A quick shower with a little bit of rationed soap later, and they headed to the fore galley. Lunch was a combination of hardtack and salt fish stew, and they took it out to the adjoining dining hall.
After lunch, the day passed quickly. The skies remained clear, and midafternoon rolled around by the time one of the ship's ensigns found them.
"Captain wants to see you, Ninvay." The man told her, puffing himself up.
"Shan," Saigou corrected. "Use her name, ensign."
He frowned at her warden, shrugging. "Shan, then. Makes no difference to me. Captain's orders," he shot back at Saigou.
"Doubt he ordered you to talk to her like that." She said idly, surprising Shan.
"It's alright," Shan said, intervening. "Please take us to him, ensign."
With a curt nod, the man led them to the bridge, waiting outside as they entered.
The bridge crew gave them quick glances as they performed their duties. The captain was standing on the walkway outside the bridge, peering through paired far-eyes. They could hear snatches of conversation as they passed through, an air of excitement buzzing around the crew.
Shan stepped outside, joining Heijo. "You asked for me, Captain?"
He turned, smiling warmly at her. "That I did, Shan. Look," He handed her the far-eyes, pointing fore and a little starboard.
She peered through the Carcosan device, noting a tiny blotch on the horizon.
"Land? We'll have to add it to the charts. There's not supposed to be anything out here."
"I've spoken to the other captains already, we're diverting to investigate. With luck, we'll be able to restock our fuel reserves and add to our food stocks." Heijo informed her, "I wanted to offer you a spot on the recon team."
Shan was intrigued, lowering the far-eyes. Among the Ninvay, those who discovered new lands and peoples were highly acclaimed. It might even be enough for her to be welcomed home with open arms. "That's very generous of you, Captain."
"I am not one of your people, but I find the terms of your exile to be outrageous. You've dealt with us fairly. I hope you'll find enough to document that the other Ninvay have no choice but to accept your return."
Looking away, Shan couldn't face those bright eyes of his. "You're a good man, Heijo. I'll go."
"Excellent. I knew I could count on you." He set a hand on her shoulder, squeezing once before withdrawing. "I appreciate this. We'll find a way to repay you for your services yet, Shan."
She nodded, finding herself unable to speak for a moment.
Heijo made no move to dismiss her, and she stood there for as the land on the horizon crept closer.
Heijo peered through the lensed device, every so often offering it back to her. They spoke for a long time about nothing at all, the little things that were safe for Shan to divulge, and she sensed the same from the Captain. Trust wasn't there yet, but it brought her closer to trusting, if only a little.
The sun was low on the horizon behind them when the fleet came close enough to see the verdant shoreline with unaided eyes. Heijo gave the order to anchor south of the shore for the evening, the rest of the fleet following suit.
Through the far-eyes, Shan studied the coast. A rocky promontory juts out into the water to the west, barely standing above the water at high tide before the land curved sharply north. To the east, a stony beach led into the sea with a gentle slope.
On the beach, she noted a rock formation. In the fading light, she thought she saw little glimmers on the stone. Peering more closely, she embraced the Current, the flowing Life improving her senses greatly.
With her sharpened vision, she struggled to understand what she was seeing. Her fingers grew numb, and her breathing grew rapid.
The rock was a beached whale, and… Something else. A beast, like nothing she'd ever seen before, standing nearly as tall as the whale's corpse. Two digitigrade legs supported a long body, one end buried in the carcass and the other narrowing to a long, whiplike tail. It had two short arms ending in taloned hands, and she watched it withdraw a chunk of dark flesh between long jaws with too many teeth. It swallowed like a bird, moving its head to force the meat down its gullet.
The beast and the whale both showed the same affliction as the thing they drew out of the water. Chitinous growths had burst from beneath the skin, spiraling shells glowing the discordant blue, weeping the black fluid. The beast's long feathers looked ragged and filthy, the oily substance dripping from it. She watched, horrified, as the chunk of flesh the beast had consumed fell from a great wound along its belly, splattering atop a quivering pile.
When the beast raised its head, Shan saw one of its eyes. Hollow, vacant, reflecting like a mirror as it consumed endlessly.
The pile and whale both were infested with crabs, ranging from miniscule to as large as Shan's hands, if not larger. They were less affected, shell ridges glowing in flickering patterns as they grazed the rotting meat-pile.
The whale's tail flopped weakly in the water. The portion of flesh torn away by the beast was reforming, the oily liquid pooling in ways it shouldn't, hardening and becoming flesh even as the beast consumes it.
Shan couldn't take it anymore. She turned, belly roiling.
The captain had retreated inside, leaving her alone with Saigou. She thrust the far-eyes into the guardswoman's hands, pointing violently at the things on the beach. She couldn't find the words to express her inner turmoil, Life fleeing from her as she strived.
Saigou looked, lowered the far-eyes, raised them again. "Well, that's much worse than what we saw last night." She lowered the device, "Let's tell the captain."
Shan nodded, following mutely as they retreated into the bridge. The captain was in the adjoining room, speaking with Bei.
"Captain," Saigou interrupted their conversation without hesitation, "You need to see this. There's more of those things on that island."
"Things?" Bei inquired as the Captain rose from where he sat.
Heijo gave Saigou and her nods of acknowledgement. "Show me."
They led him out, pointing out the beast and the whale. He took the far-eyes, studying the beach with a grim expression. He winced, passing them to the Prince, who had followed them.
"I'm not sure how dangerous that thing is." Heijo admits, "It looks like it's been there for a long, long time."
Shan found herself speaking, "These things might be the reason for the curse on these waters."
"A reasonable enough assumption," Heijo gave her a nod, "We know they burn, at the very least. We'll make sure the expedition has adequate firepower. Shan, you don't have to go."
Rather than the relief she expected, Shan felt disappointed. Shaking her head, "No, Captain. I'll go. I… I need to examine those creatures." Her words came as she formed her thoughts, "I doubt you have anyone else aboard as well-versed in the study of the natural world."
She was torn inside, stuck between the desire to stay and the allure of the unknown.
"Well then. I'll respect your decision." Heijo nodded to her. Addressing the Prince, "I no longer believe we should gather food. Fuel only."
"Agreed." Bei said instantly, staring at the beast through the far-eyes. "Looks a little like a bird with a tail." He notes.
"If you squint," The captain says in good humor. To Shan and her minder, "You're free to go. Get some food, if you can stomach it, and some rest."
Saigou steered Shan out with a firm hand on her shoulder, complying with the captain's orders. Once outside the bridge, she slowed and released Shan.
"Hey, you've gone pale." Her warden told her, "Alright, lets get down to the galley, yeah?"
Shan tried to eat, she really did. Every time she lifted the spoon, she saw the glistening corpse-flesh falling from the beast's belly. Her minder didn't seem to have any difficulty with her bowl, gently encouraging Shan whenever she noticed her hesitating.
She forced the food down anyway, hating it.
After the meal, they visited the ship's quartermaster. Shan was issued a notebook and the accompanying kit, consisting of a fountain pen, inkwell, and sandbag for drying. She was given a water-resistant satchel as well, the Carcosan innovation a necessity when charting the rainforested interior of Leng.
Once back in her quarters, Shan laid on her bunk, Saigou sitting next to her. The warden's continuous presence lifted Shan's mood, as much as she disliked the scarred woman.
Sleep was long in coming, visions of the beast's endless feast coming again and again in her thoughts.
A hand took hers. Finally, she drifted off, mind quiet and peaceful.
