The Call of the Sea

Chapter One

The smell of something delicious cooking woke up Saranjigüür. She sat up and stretched, finding herself in a new but familiar and cozy place: it had simple earthen walls and wooden beams in the ceiling, and happy sunlight coming in through the windows. She was on a cot that had soft and comfy sheets. It was warm in the small house, and the heat was coming from a fireplace. The person tending to it seemed to notice that Saranjigüür was awake, and looked over at her.

"You're awake?" They asked, looking concerned but happy.

"I'm awake now," Saranjigüür said with a yawn. The person by the fireplace had a playful face with happy angles to it, with warm olive skin, and curly dark hair. Saranjigüür had never seen them before, but they looked familiar. "I think I know you from somewhere," She said.

"I was watchin' over you as you slept," The person explained. "I did my best to keep ya safe, and to make sure things were ready for when you woke up." They glanced back at the fireplace, where something was baking on a rack in it. "To be honest, I was still gettin' ready."

"It smells so good!" Saranjigüür said, taking in a deep breath. "And thank you for watching me. You... feel like a friend."

"And you do, too!" The other person said with a smile. "My name's Prudence."

"Mine is Saranjigüür," she said, now feeling even more confident in how familiar and friendly Prudence seemed. "It's good to meet you." Right as she said this, though, her stomach growled. "Oh. Um..."

"You just woke up, it wouldn't bother me that you'd need something to eat," said Prudence. They moved slightly so that Saranjigüür had a better view of the fireplace. Small and white round things were baking on a tray on the rack. "This is ayatalkh. It's a kind of travel bread that doesn't ever go bad, and it's pretty tasty, too. It's small, so it will cool and be ready to eat soon." Prudence pulled the tray out of the fireplace, gently shaking the ayatalkh loose and walking over to slide them onto a plate on a stool. Saranjigüür swung her legs over the side of the cot and stood out of bed, and went to stand next to Prudence. The ayatalkh were small flat circles, pale like coriander seed. Saranjigüür thought she could fit several in the palm of her hand. "I'm not sure how they make it over in Maròske, but I used the recipe the King's Son gave me."

"Maròske?" Saranjigüür asked, looking up at Prudence.

"It's a big and beautiful city way over to the West," Answered Prudence, "With lots of buildings and people. It's where the King's palace is."

"Maybe we could go there, and trade your ayatalkh for theirs."

"I'd love to," Prudence said with a laugh, "But there are other places you an' me need to go first."

"Both of us?" Asked Saranjigüür, curious. "But, I'm just a girl, and I don't have anything to ride."

"Here, let's step out for a moment while the ayatalkh finishes cooling." Saranjigüür nodded and followed them out. The sunlight was bright and warm, but not too hot, and they were at the edge of a large grassy field surrounded by trees. Looking down at herself, she saw her deel was clean and bright white, simple and comfortable and not too tight, and with a wide golden sash. "I just love plants and gardening," Prudence said, gesturing out at the field. "I helped the King when he planted Wyllenötte, the great tree, and I helped to garden in Maròske, too. It's pretty wonderful doing the King's work here in the forest, but, what I really wanted was to help keep watch over those who were sleeping."

"You helped me," Saranjigüür said.

"Yes, but I was surprised I got the chance to do it. Here," Prudence said, holding out their hand. Saranjigüür took it, and when she did so, the light faded to night and she found herself at the rail of a boat next to Prudence. "I was waiting to talk with the King's Minister about my work in the forest, and headed up to the deck to look out at the lake. I don't get to see moonlight often underneath so many trees." Indeed, Saranjigüür saw that she was on a vast lake, with the moonlight reflecting off of the calm water. She was astonished, having never seen anything like it. Then, behind them, someone called for Prudence: it was a man dressed in fine clothes, carrying a person in his arms. It was hard to make out their features in the dim light, but the man seemed familiar in the way Prudence had. "I'd been through the village near the dock before, so I was surprised when the King told me I had a new job." The scene on the boat faded, and Saranjigüür saw she was in the field again. "The King also spoke of a big journey he had in mind for you when you woke- there was someone else real important he wanted you to meet."