The Song and the Serpent

“Land ahead!"

The shout sounded from above where the lookout stood atop the single mast of the ship. Adan felt a thrill of anticipation as he left his resting place and walked to the prow. His gaze was met by a dark shape on the horizon ahead of them. He thought he caught a glimmer of green crowning the island as the sun reflected off the grass lining the rocky hillsides.

“Not getting excited are we?” came a voice from behind him.

Adan glanced back at Kian with reproach in his eyes. “Maybe a little…”

“Finally, the truth comes out. You do want to see her again.”

“Of course I want to see her again, you dolt,” said Adan, looking back at the island. “But I’m also afraid to see her again.”

“Ah yes. That’s the difficulty with these kinds of situations. Hoping for one outcome while fearing another. Take it from me, my friend, you shouldn’t dwell on what you don’t know.”

“Take it from you. You obviously have exhaustive experience in ‘these kinds of situations,’ don’t you?”

“Of course.”

Adan tilted his head to the side. “Remind me again, how many relationships have you been in? A grand total of– one, right?”

Kian stepped forward and stood next to his friend. “One is all you need, if you need an excuse to give unwanted advice to your friends.”

“Well, thank you for that advice. ‘I shouldn’t dwell on what I don’t know.’ I never could have figured that one out on my own.” Adan shook his head.

Kian put a condescending hand on Adan’s shoulder. “You’re welcome.”

They stood for a moment as the ship carved its way through the waves.

“Any suggestions on how to go about not dwelling on things?” Adan asked.

Kian furrowed his eyebrows. “Well that’s the rub, isn’t it? I admit I haven’t figured that one out yet.”

“Terrific. Thanks.”

“Just trying to be helpful.”

“Exactly. Please go be helpful somewhere else.”

“As you wish,” said Kian, turning to leave. “I’ll go where my advice is wanted.”

“I’ll see you in the desert then,” Adan said over his shoulder.

He heard a chuckle as Kian walked back to the rear of the ship.

As they approached the island, Adan began to see a bay and a small village situated within a valley. Thatched roofs and pillars of smoke became visible on the southern coast of the Island and Adan assumed he was looking at Suncrag, the largest village on the island. It had to be Suncrag because out of the three villages on the island, Suncrag was the only one on the southern shore.

If that’s the largest village on the island, Adan thought, then the other villages might be made up of nothing but two or three houses.

Adan tried to imagine this little island village staving off attacks from northern raiders, but the idea seemed almost laughable. He suspected the only reason Enys Island was still inhabited by Estan people must be because they had almost nothing to offer a ship of greedy marauders.

They drew nearer to the Island. Adan spotted a single pier running out over the beach, the only place to make port on the island. Captain Ryland had obviously instructed the helmsmen, Rocco, to make for the little structure. The second in command shouted instructions to the oarsmen while keeping a firm grip on the rudder, and with a skill displaying his expertise with the ship, he guided them gently into the bay and beside the pier. Adan hoped the rocking of their ship wouldn’t crush the pathetic formation of logs, but the pier held, despite its frailty.

“I’ll see to the unloading here,” Captain Ryland said, as they prepared to disembark. “In the meantime you can visit the town and alert them to our presence.”

“Brilliant,” Kian said, grinning at Adan. “We’re very eager to see the Island. Aren’t we, Adan?”

Adan chose not to dignify his question with a response. He leapt over the edge of the ship and clambered down onto the pier.

As soon as Adan’s feet touched the worn wood, it seemed to quake beneath him. His legs wobbled and he grabbed a post next to him for balance. His first thought was that the ship had, in fact, dislodged the pier and he was about to be tipped into the sea. Then he realized that the pier was still quite sturdy. His legs, however, were another matter.

Kian looked at Adan as he stepped onto the dock with ease. His face held mock concern.

"What's the matter?" Kian asked, looking over. "Earthquake?"

Adan growled. "Not a word from you."

Kian laughed and strode off without a trace of wobble in his step. Adjusting from the rolling and pitching of a ship was easy for him. He was accustomed to it. He had spent far more time sailing than Adan had.

Adan slowly walked along the pier, keeping a hand on the posts nearby to steady himself. He knew his sea-legs would wear off eventually, and he would be able to transition between land and sea, but he was keenly aware of how ridiculous he looked. He ignored the chuckles from the crewmen behind him.

“What do you say we try to find the market?” asked Kian.

“If they have a market,” said Adan, trying his best to remain upright.

Kian smirked at him.

“Not a word!” said Adan.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“It’s not funny.”

“We’ll have to agree to disagree on that point.”

“Oh, never mind. Let’s just find the market.”

Their leather boots clopped noisily on the cobblestone street as they headed toward what they thought was the center of the village. Adan’s steps were uneven as his sea legs began to wear off, but the more he walked, the more comfortable he became.

Adan was struck by the silence of the place. After living his entire life in the city of Farel, and becoming accustomed to the sounds of ringing hammers, barking dogs, and barking people, the peaceful silence of a quiet seaside village was almost unnerving.

"I don't think anyone knows we're here," said Adan.

Kian looked around. “Hm. It is quiet. I hope everything is alright."

Adan put a hand on his sword hilt as they walked. “You don’t think it has anything to do with the rumors we’ve heard, do you?”

“I hope not.”

“Hush!” Adan held up a hand.

“What is it?” said Kian, glancing at him.

“I hear something.” Adan pointed ahead of them, where the road led around the side of a hut. He could hear odd noises from around the bend. He drew his sword and stepped ahead of Kian.

Kian sighed. “Really, Adan? Is that necessary?”

“Hush!” Adan crept forward around the side of the stone wall, his sword raised, every sense alert. As he drew nearer, the sounds became more clear. Adan thought he heard someone handling something wet. He could make out the sound of liquid dropping to the stone.

Gathering his courage, he dashed around the curve and came face to face with an elderly woman, hanging a wet cloth on a string. Adan stopped dead in his tracks. Thankfully, the large cloth sat between the two of them and the lady hadn’t seen Adan yet. He stood up straight and sheathed his sword.

He took a step backwards, hoping to go unnoticed by the woman, but the sound of his sword clicking into its scabbard was too loud. The woman whipped the cloth off the line, revealing Adan, and jumped in surprise.

“Oh! Bless me, but you startled me, young sir. I didn’t know you were there."

“I’m terribly sorry,” said Adan. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Didn’t you?” said Kian, walking around the corner. “You could’ve fooled me.”

Adan kicked his shin. “We’re from Farel and wanted to see if we could locate the market here.”

The lady’s eyes widened. “All the way from Farel? That’s quite a journey. What brings you to our little island then?”

“Trading goods and news,” said Kian. “And it was on our way. I’m Kian, son of Lord Hathian, and this is my bodyguard, Adan.”

“Indeed! We don’t get many visitors here. Just the regular traders after wool and mutton. If you want to know a thing or two about sheep, this is the best place in Esta to ask. We have enough sheep to cover every hillside in the lowlands of Allgor, and we’ve been raising and breeding and shearing and slaughtering and trading them for decades here.”

“I’m sure you have,” said Kian. “I believe our captain may be interested in what you have for sale on that front, and he’s brought goods from Farel in exchange. Where could we find the market?”

“Well that’s delightful. Can I offer you something before you go? We don’t get many visitors here and it’s no trouble.”

“Kind of you to ask, but we really must be getting on, unfortunately.”

“What a pity, but I suppose it can’t be helped. Where was it you wanted to go again?”

Kian glanced over at Adan with a look of confusion. “To the market.”

“That’s right, the market. It’s straight up this road another quarter mile or so. They’ll be happy to see you up there. We don’t get many visitors here… Or did I already say that?”

The woman’s face clouded and she glanced down, as though deep in thought. Adan and Kian waited for her to continue but she remained silent until they began to feel uncomfortable.

“Auntie, leave the young men alone,” said a young, female voice nearby. “I’m sure they have more important things to do than share all the latest gossip from Farel.”

I know that voice, Adan thought.

Adan turned and saw a young woman standing in the doorway to the hut they stood next to. Her blond hair fell past her shoulders, and she wore a white and brown frock. Adan recognized her high cheek-bones, her thin nose, and her green eyes.

Layla.

Their eyes met, and she squinted at him.

“Very well,” the elderly lady seemed to snap out of her trance. “This is my niece.”

Kian turned and bowed. “Pleased to make your acquaintance. I’m Kian, and this is…”

“...Adan?” the young woman said. “Is it really you?”

“Yes,” Adan replied. “Layla?”

“Yes.”

Adan tried to mimic Kian’s bow, but his attempt was interrupted by one last betrayal of his unsteady legs. He tumbled sideways and sprawled on the cobblestone instead.

With a curse muttered under his breath, he jumped back to his feet, and ignored Kian’s failed attempt to stifle a laugh.

“Excuse me,” Adan said. “It’s these infernal sea legs.”

“Adan!” Layla leapt forward and wrapped her arms around him in a hug.

Adan froze in astonishment for a moment before returning her hug. “You remember me?”

“Of course I do. How could I forget?” she said, pulling away from him.

Kian held his hands out. “But do you remember me?”

“Oh yes, you too,” Layla said, embracing Kian with a laugh. “How good it is to see you both.”

“Layla, fetch your uncle and he can escort them to the market,” Layla’s aunt broke in.

The smile on Layla’s face vanished and she turned back to her aunt. “Auntie, Uncle Mallan is gone. He’s been gone for two years.”

A confused look crossed the aunt’s face.

“Of course . . .” she muttered. “I uh-- I knew that.”

Realization dawned on Adan, and he saw the same understanding in Kian’s face.

“How about I take them to the market?” Layla suggested.

The old woman nodded and went back to hanging linens on the clothesline. The confused look stayed on her face as she continued her work.

Layla put her hand on her aunt's shoulder for a moment before turning.

“Follow me,” she said before starting up the road.

Adan and Kian fell in step behind her. They said nothing for several moments. Once they had passed out of earshot, Layla spoke.

“She’s been like that since my uncle died. It wasn’t very often at first, but she’s forgetting more and more as time goes on. I wasn’t worried until she started going from house to house asking if anyone had seen my uncle. Most of the time she’s present and thinking clearly, but a couple times a day, she forgets something big. Usually it’s whether or not my uncle is dead. She’s also forgotten other big events, like the flood last fall and things like that.

“My uncle was the chandler, and thankfully we helped him enough that we were able to pick up the trade. If he had done something more difficult and strenuous, we might have had to rely on the village for support.”

“I’m so sorry,” Adan said.

Layla looked back at him. “No, don’t be. I’m sorry. I don’t know why I told you all that.”

“It’s alright,” said Adan. “You look well, considering . . .”

A small smile touched Layla’s face. “Well, glad to hear that I’m still keeping up appearances."

"I suppose we've both had to make do.”

"You seem to be doing very well for yourself," said Layla.

“He won’t tell you himself, but he’s my bodyguard now,” Kian added. “And one of the finest swordsmen in Farel.”

Layla looked at Adan with surprise.

“I’ve been given all the training a page would receive," said Adan. “I learned everything I could to become his bodyguard."

"And he did it just so that he could make me look bad."

"It's not my fault you're a great lazy lump.”

Layla laughed. "Some things never change, I suppose."

Adan glanced at her. "I suppose not."

Maybe it was just the warmth of the day coloring her cheeks, but Adan wondered if he saw Layla blush as she looked away.