With his final words, Altair lashed at him with his tongue. That he would rather much like it if he were to die with his last sensation being that of the ocean. Cygnus released the slave's hair without hesitation, standing back and holding his sword at his side. "So be it. You have more gall than most. Let that gall guide you to the waters where you will rest your sodden corpse," Cygnus retorted. Without further word the slave scampered to his feet, unhesitatingly climbing over the railing. Unexpectedly he rose to stand on the railing, poised like a dancer. The last of his Dusanian pride shone from him, as he turned to stare back at him and his crew, with the most scornful expression he had ever known in his life. Then the slave was gone, plunging into the depths of the ocean with an audible splash.<br/><br/>The barrel followed the slave overboard, as men rushed to the edge of the railing to watch the slave pitifully struggle against the waves. To the dismay of some he managed to reach the barrel rather than drown immediately. For a while all of the crew lingered as they spectated, pondering if the slave might let go of the barrel and be done with it. But the ship continued forward, gently rocked away from where the slave was, and after a time the slave was only a dot on the horizon, soon indiscernible by distance. Cygnus knew that the slave would be forgotten, and he would silence any slave or man that thought to speak of the Dusanian that was now lost to a watery grave.<br/><br/>---<br/><br/>Upon Weiss seas, the air could take on a rather chilling quality. A chill that could leech the life and lust out of a man if they were not careful. The merciless cold could easily slither into a man's soul and render him brittle ice. But under the benevolent sunlight that shone down from the skies, the chill was transformed into something that was reminiscent of a pleasantly cool summer breeze. Clear skies let the sunshine unabated and unhindered onto the decks of the ship<i>Blanche</i>, where it came to radiate upon a wise man, hair as gray as stormy cloud.<br/><br/>It was perfectly temperate on the decks of the<i>Blanche, </i>as Diens stared out to sea, observing the endless expanse of azure waters that pervaded his view. He rarely enjoyed the majesty of the sea, not when a ship was required to truly bask in its magnificence. It was a rarity of an occasion that they would find themselves on a ship - throughout his life he had only been on a ship a handful of times. On a ship the sky and sea met each other in a tender embrace, forming the horizon that divided his view into the pale blues of sky and deep blues of sea.<br/><br/><i>Still so pretty, </i>he thought.<i>The sea. Wife of the sky, possessing the beauty and rage of a god. One second you batter at the ship with all of your wrath, and the next you're as calm as a highborn lady in blue silks. Another second you swallow an entire ship in your maw, devouring men like a hungry fat man. Nothing can compare to seeing you on the decks of a ship, beauty, wrath, and gluttony all. </i>Behind him floorboards of the stairs that led to the cabins below decks creaked, and he turned his head to see who was ascending the steps.<br/><br/>A young man of short stature, lithe but strong. With a nest of chestnut hair on his scalp but not even the littlest of stubble upon his chin. Pale, rosy skin. Cerulean irises that rivaled even the rich hues of the sea. Snow Siennought, his lord and liege. "My lord, are you finished with whatever you were doing within your cabin?"<br/><br/>"I have. There was little to do, anyhow," Snow replied. "Now that I'm without worries for the time being, I'd like to spend that time with you." The boy gazed out to sea. "... It's very beautiful. The sea." He relaxed against the railing of the ship, letting out a faint sigh, followed by a slow inhale of the fresh air heavy with salt. "No wonder sailors sing about it so often. I do wish that Milchen was here to admire it, though."<br/><br/>"I as well. But I suppose that it wasn't to be. She was never good with ships - even the slightest shaking made her ill. One ship ride in her life was enough to ground her, however much she wishes to visit our sons," Diens commented. "Perhaps another time, if we are ever blessed with another time, she might come."<br/><br/>By then, his lord had gone silent. Staring into the distance with an unreadable expression. Had he said something that might've offended him? No, Snow was not quick to offense.<i>Or are those painful memories on your mind once again? </i>Diens took it as a sign that he should remain quiet, and he stood absently, observing the lord. Snow soon began squinting, leaning further against the rail. "My lord, what in the gods are you looking at?" Surely, the sea couldn't be so interesting so as to pique Snow's attention with such intensity.<br/><br/>The face of his lord morphed into an expression of what he could only describe as astonishment. "Stop the ship... stop the ship!" Snow yelled, scrambling over to where the captain of the Blanche was; at the ship's wheel, steering. "There's somebody in the water!"<br/><div class="bbCodeSpoiler">
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