the beta left the rocky edges of his home early that morn, for he sought the changing ermine-pelts, the coats worn by the thin beasts, caught in the transition betwixt summerfall and winterkiss. yet his steps led him in faint apathy toward the burn of brine, and he blinked as the salt air stung his nostrils, his eyes.

yet he did not step too close to the borders; taltos did not truly wish to be seen. he was merely curious about the rites of the wolves here; surely they were witches in their own right, and had not the earthen servant bound himself tightly to the plateau, he might have been tempted to offer himself upon the altar of their matriarchal hatred.

eldritch light filtered down as lasher heeded her call without compunction, stepping from behind an aged red bole. seawitch, he lilted in a gently teasing fashion, reminiscent of their last encounter. though now the woman wore a veil of renewed confidence across her elfin features, taltos approached her with an intimacy that bespoke his confidence in their dissemblance from the normalcy of the world roundabout — she was a creator of spells, and he a servant to such.

the bloom of her beam was mirrored upon his own lips, yet it did not wither as had her buoyant simper. the witch's bearing had changed, and the scent of the sea was full upon her — lasher interpreted the woman's stance to mean that the nereides had undergone a change in their ranks.

i bring congratulations, he intoned, making a gently teasing leg of it before his eyes brightened and he fixed them buttonlike upon her own. i came only out of curiosity, as before, the servant lilted in rejoinder to her unspoken inquiry.

i used to serve witches, the man revealed, a longing tone to his otherwise carefree voice — 'twas bittersweet thoughts of suzanne and deborah that had brought him to the high priestess' shores this day. it was a role for which i was well-fitted. perhaps i came here to yearn for it again.

all at once, the gaiety fled his frame, and his own features fell into a saddened disarray. he had trekked here to tease her, not to pine for what was beyond the brine-flecked darkness of her coat.

yes, he rejoined, moving closer to the woman but for a step. i will worship at the altars from afar. he did not mean it as a joke — his spirituality had been sorely neglected as of late. and children; soon the spawn of himself and blue willow would be earthside, and he needed not to lust so pathetically after that which could not be.

would you begrudge me this? taltos asked in a hummed monotone, eyes settling upon the woman named for the highest of priests who had once condemned a holy man unto death; perhaps she too would crucify his heart upon her edict that he not return.