Eternal Sins

•Chapter Sixteen•

An immortal design, salty feathered string scraping at gaping wounds. Filling the void of darkness with needles and scratches, closure at it's deepest price.

Eva stood with the sea breeze at her back. Around here were other noble women, other handmaidens, other warriors.

Queen Samaea had organized a woman's tour for the ones visiting, while the men went off scouting in search of the last of their expected visitors. There were a few kingdoms sluggish behind the rest for the peace council, Edgair being one of them. That fact was a huge red flag to Ben, considering they both came from the same post. The trip had certainly been innitiated by him. Although, his voluntary departure from Eva in her state was not easy.

He made Cedris swear on his second life to make sure nothing else came of the sickness, no progression, no hair out of place in his absence. Cedris appeared insulted, as usual, when Ben questioned his sentiment when it came to her. But Edana answered for the both of them, assuring her King that Eva would be looked after well.

When the notion of a tour came along, to Edana's pure delight, she convinced Eva to join. "When will you get the opportunity to see these holy seas again?" And Eva agreed that it was an intriguing idea to please her.

Here, on this glaringly bright beach, her hair darkened quickly. At home, the heat was warm, deep and auburn. But here it was a blanching, scolding of color. The sand was stark white, pebbles of milk and selenite reflecting sparks of rainbow on passing ankles.

The sky was a constant greenish blue, the water sparkling clear, lapping foamy against the sizzling pebbles. The humidity was edible, breath feeling like clumps of bubbles in the nose. Skin dripping, hair fizzling, Eva let her head fall back to enjoy the strong breeze that gave way through her dress.

"It's so hard to even see," Cordelia complains at Eva's side, hands encircling her eyes to give shade. She was from a darker, rainier area and it made sense to Eva how she would struggle in this light.

In a way, it reminded Eva of the windows on her family's farm, the waving asymmetrical glass that echoed rainbow arches in every room.

Lifting her head to her friend, Eva laughs lightly, "it's hard for me, too. It's no wonder the locals here have nearly white irises for eyes."

"I hadn't even noticed," Cordelia answers, eyeing around the group to get a glimpse at the Queen.

They had stopped for a short moment, making their way to the highlight of the tour. Edana had gone to retrieve water for the three of them, mothering as usual.

By the time the water was in hand, they were moving again. Samaea was giving the tour herself, the pride in her land very clear. She herself was born here, she was not an outside marriage, so she knew everything there was to tell.

"Now this, is the star of our tourism. It's a protected center by our covens as there is no other sight akin to it in the kingdom. I believe the closest thing we have are the ice water falls up north and even then.. well, you'll see." Samaea speaks up to the squinting crowd, motioning with excitement.

Her voice was commanding but gentle, quite like Ben's mother, and once again Eva was thinking of home.

It had been a long time since she had seen or spoken to Laeca. After the death of Solanyn, the slaughter of Eva's camp, she disappeared and made it clear she did not want to be found. Ben did not push, he was just relieved. A part of Eva had resented Laeca for what she had done, the position she had placed Eva in, and for that she let Ben take the reigns on it.

Coming around a bend on the sand, the cliff racing beside them turned concave, towering high, deep and staggered. Samaea pauses at the mouth of it, a small streak of water sitting still against rainbow pebbles. "This is The Gildas." The Servant of The Gods.