Blackwater Islands our love is like water

it does not take long for the eldritch berry to take affect; and though the it is different than his initiation, the hazy forms of the commanders of the past line up like freezing apparitions, fitting into the spaces between the to-be-initiated; pale eyes of the dead watching the ritual. at his unclaimed side, one apparition lingers; wanlida.

his spirit.

for a moment, as his seaglass gaze darts 'round at the visions the eldritch berry had summoned to him; ingram struggles to concentrate.

but the blood and the words of trikova call him back; tethering him to the realm of the physical.

affection for her and pride blossom like a violent bruise beneath his chest.

she speaks to him, then, and he gives a firm nod. sha, he croons in trigedasleng, though perhaps his verbal acknowledgement had not been needed.

they leapt: at first, rasha ...and then the listener. trikova.

ingram's heart leaps in his chest; resisting every and all urge within him to follow her right over. he was her keeper ...the iron guardian — but he must trust that the unnamed god would protect her. he turns from the cliff and the keeper's attention is drawn by the shademan who takes his exit, fleeing.

that would be dealt with; later. the ritual had yet to reach its conclusion. morgana had her task, and ingram had his.