Freedom.
Raam Miras lay with his hands clasped behind his head in his bed chamber and smiled. Valora’s naked form draped across his chest, sleeping peacefully underneath the silken sheets. The gentle rise and fall of her body as she breathed caused her golden hair to tickle his neck. The exotic perfume was almost enchanting, and knowing Valora an actual enchantment was a real possibility. Raam felt at peace for the first time since his release from the stone prison. The agony of the burning pain and the madness of the months of torture were beginning to leave the forefront of his mind. He would never be the same man he was before the experience, but his scars would mend. He was relieved to be released from the Fey curse that had permeated his body and mind. Even thinking the word ‘Fey’ caused his anger to rise again. He would have his revenge upon the Tempest. He would burn her in a fire so blinding white hot that the fat would rend from her body like a hog on a spit. She would burn and suffer. She would pay. Then he was struck by the thoughts of his vision during his imprisonment. The great yellow eye and the voice... He was echoing the words the voice had spoken about the Fey with the same seething malice. The thought caused him to shudder and Valora stirred momentarily before resuming her deep slumber.
Balian, his loyal friend and brother had safeguarded the kingdom well in his absence. The words Valora shared with him in confidence regarding her role in the wedding debacle caused him much pain and consternation. Yet this was not the time to dredge up the past. He must right the course of the kingdom and its leadership and hope that the sins of the past remained buried and forgotten. To cause such strife by revealing secrets would do no good. He hoped and prayed that if they ever did come to light that Balian would understand.
By all reports the new companions had proven themselves in battle against the lich. Old friends such as Kaladar had proven their loyalty and value beyond any doubt and new allies such as Tzim, Irigok and Telen had established their place within the kingdom. Now that his revised leadership team was in place he could concentrate on mitigating the unrest caused by the recent events in and out of the boundaries of Miras. Then expansion… Miras had created yet another unconventional ally in the Centaurs, but the lands and mines of the former lands of Varnhold were unclaimed and ready for the red dragon banner to claim them...Varn...Raam thought of the name and remembered Arianna.
He sighed. What had he been thinking? Was it the Fey madness that had caused him to pursue her? The girl had a warm heart but she was not the right companion for him. She did not understand his true character, good and bad like the woman with whom he now shared his bed. The marriage to Arianna could never be, Raam had chosen his Queen. Valora would sit at his side.
Where was Arianna and how would he ever break the news to the poor girl after all she had suffered through?
*******************
The cold water of the river was becoming more noticeable as the sun began to sink below the line of the horizon. In spots during their travel the shores of the river had grown so narrow that she didn’t believe her ship, The Silver Swan, would be able to navigate the shallow waters. In the last hour they had entered a stretch of the river which was very wide and deep. They were making great progress in the journey to Absalom. If a cure was to be found anywhere for her betrothed, locked in his prison of stone, she would find it in the heart of Golarian. Absalom would have her answer and Raam would be freed.
The breeze which had been ever present had stopped and she noticed the water had grown very still, unnaturally still. She had a moment of unexplained fear as the darkness set in. The watchman in the nest above shouted out that there was a disturbance to the west. Arianna Varn quickly turned and saw the water bubbling and splashing violently about 200 feet to the west of her ship. A great black spot in the water was quickly approaching. She braced herself against the railing and drew her sword out of instinct. The ship rocked suddenly to aft. It began to list in the water. Timbers creaked and splintered. Men and cargo shifted and tumbled violently against the deck. An old sailor to her left shouted out,
“IT’S A KRAKEN!!!”
Long tentacled arms shot over the railings from all directions and the entire ship lurched violently. Screams from everywhere and the violent splashing of the water were disorienting. Arianna slashed out at one tentacle arm after another with her sword. Men were being pulled from the deck and smashed against the ship before being pulled into the inky water. She felt something grip her ankle. Another grasped her wrist. She fought violently but the arms were too strong. Arianna Varn was lifted high into the air over the water. She screamed as a great mouth emerged from the water underneath her. Then suddenly she was falling. In a moment she was gone.
**********************
Raam sighed again and closed his eyes. He decided he would deal with the situation with Arianna when she returned and not spend another moment troubling himself over it. He had more pressing issues at hand. Valora woke at the sound of Raam’s sigh and uncomfortable shifting and looked up at him in the way only she could and licked her lips.
“It’s good to be back” Raam thought to himself.
