Sample Excerpt from Chapter 9: The Witch of the Water
They waited. The sea continued its relentless crashing against the rocks. There was no sign, no other movement. Carissa glanced at Jolner with nervous eyes. The black man merely shrugged in reply, indicating there was still time.
A tinkling sound interrupted their thoughts. Coming from the stone steps, they could hear what seemed like chimes hitting each other in a soft breeze. The tinkling became louder, and other sounds were added: footsteps and speech. Vergail was astounded, but she could understand the words!
“Fog, and sea, they call to me, yet other sounds I hear on this harsh breeze! Stones and rock, I see thee, yet also people come to greet me!”
The priestess glanced around, and could tell everyone had heard the words and understood them. Turning back to the stone steps, Vergail waited for the owner of the words to walk up them and come into view. Carissa bravely stood her ground at the top of the steps. She had been the only one to dismount.
Vergail had fully expected to see an old woman, wizened and hunched, coming up the steps, but the reality was a complete contrast to her image. Eliethiea appeared before them, her mouth curled in a mischievous smile. Her hair was black with purple streaks, long and flowing down her back, and looked washed and clean. The tips of her hair held silver metallic beads, and these chimed when she moved. Her skin was not white or black, but something in between, and gave her a distinct, exotic look. Her eyes, glinting with suppressed mirth, were a piercing brown, with purple make-up underneath them. Her lips were painted black. The witch’s body was agile, lithe and muscular: she looked very fit, rivalling Jolner’s body. She wore a dark purple vest that stretched down to her waist, and black leggings that seemed to be made from twine and seaweed. She was barefoot, her toenails painted black to match her lips. Her bare arms and shoulders were covered in tattoos, mainly black, curvy symbols, except for a blue piercing eye on one arm, and a red piercing eye on the other. In her right hand she clutched a thin, wooden spear with a metal tip, her fingernails also black.
Chapter 3: The Long Beach
