Songs of the Sea

Chapter 3-2

When he arrived, Home Cove buzzed with the news of the day. Sartin headed for his mother’s place on the beach, but had to pass Wickizer, Bray, and Belzer first.

“Well, well, well, look who’s returned!” Wickizer said loud enough for everyone to hear as Sartin approached the beach. The pod became silent except some baby cousins playing on the fringe. Everyone else watched Wickizer and Sartin.

“Nice to see you safe and sound, too,” Sartin said.

“It’s so late. We thought you might have made the Sacrifice?” Wickizer goaded.

“I—”

“The least you could have done was not interfere so Wickizer could have made the Sacrifice,” Belzer said. Her dark hair glowed in the setting sun’s golden haze, her eyes burning with rage.

Barakat, another of Sartin’s aunts, swam up to the group. “The pod is safe and Sartin is hurt. Let’s let him rest.”

Sartin gave her a look of thanks. “A storm is coming. We should sleep in the cave tonight.” Belzer acknowledged the warning, still glaring her disapproval of the afternoon’s events.

Sartin collapsed on his back when he reached his mother’s spot on the beach. Thousands of generations of Sea People had beaten the sand into a soft powder. It was spongy enough for the infants, yet abrasive enough to clean the older children and adults’ tails. Ballard, his mother, greeted him with a sympathetic look.

“At least we have Barakat to stick up for you,” Ballard said. She spoke in their unique dialect that only they, as mother and child, understood. His mother looked worried and fidgeted with some food.

“I’m sorry it took so long to get back,” Sartin said.

“When Wickizer told everyone what happened, I knew you would return. Did you pack the wound?”

Sartin lifted his left arm so she could see his bandage. “Yes.” He rolled his eyes as she examined his work.

“Did you swallow some leaves before you made the poultice?”

Sartin didn’t answer.

This should be a mate fussing over me, not my mother.

“You’ve done well, it should heal fine,” she announced. She pushed some shrimp and scallops toward him on a leaf. “Eat up.”

Sartin ignored the food and pulled himself upright, leaning on his spear. He stared out at the open ocean, the last of the evening sun warming his back.

“Eat up, you must be hungry,” she said again.

“I’m not.”

“Then eat up for the journey. You’ll need double the energy with the Decoy wound.”

“Why is it that no matter what I do, it’s never good enough?”

She drew in a big sigh. “An Alewar’s life is not easy. I never told you it would be.”

“I’m not an Alewar yet. I don’t have a mate or a pod.”

“You will be after this Winter. I can feel it.”

Sartin sulked while he ate. The food soothed his stomach, but did nothing for his soul. After eating, Sartin went to the children. He adored the children and carried the responsibility with keeping them safe as heavy as their parents.

“Tell us a story Uncle Sartin!” Breck splashed. She had red hair just like her mother, Sartin’s cousin, Baham.

“Did you eat all your dinner?” Sartin asked, grinning mischievously.

“They ate everything they were given, Sartin,” Baham said. “Do you mind? I need to go for a swim.”

“If they ate all their dinner, then yes, it is time for a story,” Sartin said. He always played with the children after the evening meal to give the adults a chance to rest.

“Yes!” Beltram chimed in. He looked just like his father, Wickizer.

“How about I tell you a story tonight?”

Wickizer’s menacing voice startled Sartin and the children. Bertig, Thornton’s son, sat across Sartin’s lap as Wickizer began the story.