The Broken Circle

At Sea

It was a moonless night. The clouds were a dark rumbling mist over waves that rose and fell in great swells. The storm was raw, as if nature had peeked at destiny and now railed against it. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled but time moved ever forward. Great misty saltwater hills crashed against the hull of a lone fishing boat. The black waters churned beneath the vessel that refused to sink, fighting bravely toward land. On board, the sailors scrambled to toss water from the deck and guide the boat through the maelstrom. Shouts were snatched apart by the roaring wind and crashing waves. The captain bellowed instructions to his men, only the second cool head in the midst of panic. Just when he established control, the waters rolled beneath them and another wave smashed into the boat. The ocean claimed several crewmen off the deck and the captain had to hold tight to the rigging keep from being carried away. Around him men shakily rose to their feet and the captain found his attention drawn to his passenger. He regarded the man at the stern, drenched but standing steady. Talul, in turn, was regarding the rain. It fell at a steady pace,  unbothered by the fury of the waves or the menace of the clouds. Oh to be like the rain. There was no room for peace in his own heart.

A flash of lightning lit the island even as a surge of water tossed them towards it. The captain, a squat man named Barlow, approached him with a lantern swinging in his right hand.  "WE CANT GET ANY CLOSER WITH THE SEAS LIKE THIS" , he shouted to be heard over the storm and gestured towards the rocky outcrop of the island shore. He was right. If they tried to drop anchor the waters would smash the boat against the rocks like a child with a toy.

Talul nodded, "You can, but you're not gonna dock. Get me close enough to swim the distance"

The roar of the waves was loud in Barlow's ears as he leaned in,"HUH, DID YOU SAY SWIM?!"

Talul met his eye, "You heard right, once I jump off just keep sailing. I'm sure you'll find calmer seas"

The lantern light glowed orange between them as the captain quietly regarded his passenger, then turned to shout orders to his disoriented crew. Talul watched the approaching island from the stern, and his inner storm grew in ferocity. He forced his mind away from the island and focused his attention back on the rain. It was a little wilder now. For his part, the captain had not been taken aback by Talul's decision. Over the journey, Barlow had struck him as a man who had sailed widely over many years. Maybe he had glimpsed at the powers beneath the world. Those above made cruel, flashy showings of power, but it would not be surprising if Barlow had perhaps witnessed a sapling springing from beneath.

He turned to find the captain's weathered face watching him, searching as if looking for an answer. No time to talk though, he would be jumping soon. He climbed onto the ledge of the main deck, balancing as the boat rocked in the storm. The sailors turned to watch him, but he was looking out at the raving waters between the boat and land. He almost laughed at the madness of it all. This storm was nothing, compared to the one within him. The black fury of his twisted and chained power. Oh, I'm ready now. The bloodlust quickened his pulse.

"WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO OVER THERE?!", He heard the captain's call from behind him.  Talul made sure his black-pointed spear was strapped tight to his back. He turned to Barlow with a grin, "I'm going to break the Circle!", then leapt into the water.

Several sailors rushed to the foredeck to get a better look. Barlow knew their lanterns would fail to pierce the murk. There was something decidedly mad about that man. Such that Barlow had not at all been surprised by his decision to swim or his blasphemous declaration. Over the journey, his passenger had seemed altogether too calm. His presence too weighted. The sailors chattered in awe, and he had to bark at them to get back to work. Barlow watched the rocky island shrink as they sailed away. He ordered his first mate to take charge and retired to his cabin. There, he poured himself a glass of whiskey and mulled over Talul's parting words. A feeling slowly flickered in his heart . A thrill found in dreams where anything is possible. It felt like hope.