Entiam

Chapter Two:
Dawning

Soft creaking. Gentle breeze. Slow rocking.

Wolfram’s sluggish lids slide open, taking in an encompassing expanse of sun warmed canvas mottled with lacey shadows that slowly danced to and fro across its surface in lazy repetition. Vaguely aware of gentle swaying, whispering air, and a soft bead he couldn’t bring himself to care that it was incongruous with his fuzzy memories; unfamiliar and foreign. Slowly he allowed his heavy lids to slide closed, surrendering himself to the peace and contentment that surrounded him. Warm and numbing, it forming an impenetrable barrier between him and the misery, gloom and depression that had become his constant companion, lulling him back into the dark mists of dreamless sleep.

Quiet whispering. Soft chatter.

Wolfram woke to full alertness, endeavoring to remain still and relaxed in feigned slumber as he allowed the last dregs of grey haze to clear from his mind. Again he heard quiet giggles and subdued whispers coming from beyond his canvas sanctuary and strained to make sense of the mutterings.

“Hey! I want to see! Let me see to.”

“No way. I was here first!”

“Is she awake? Let me see.”

“It’s a he you dummy, and I’d be able to tell you if you’d leave off the tugging.”

“Don’t call me a dummy!”

“Yah! Don’t call her a dummy. Now let us see too or I’ll tell Tie-Tay about the—”

“Don’t you dare tell Tie-Tay about that you tattletale or I’ll—”

“Tell me what?”

Wolfram froze as a long shadow moved along the canvas towards the bickering.

“Tie-Tay Coel won’t let us see!”

“Yea, and he called Kaja a dummy.”

“You’re a tattle.”

“You’re a meany and you’re bossy.”

“Jess, Coel, enough. I’m sure your bickering has woken our guest. Let’s not give him the impression that we are complete barbarians.” The voice was calm and soothing but Wolfram thought he could detect a light note of amusement. He surmised that it was a voice more often used for laughter and gentle cajoling than stern scolding or shouting.

“May we come in?”

Confusion. Apprehension. Wolfram paused a moment to weigh his options and decided it was futile to pretend to be still unconscious. Sitting with his legs crossed facing the entry he gave his consent, eyes fixed on the canvas flaps as they parted to reveal the motley group assembled outside. Three sets of eyes stared back sparkling with open curiosity.

“All right, let’s not crowd him. Show some manners!” a laughing voice gently chided.

Startled, Wolfram looked to the left noticing for the first time the extraordinarily tall woman standing to the side, smiling fondly at what he now realized to be three children. Given this new perspective she didn’t seam quite so tall yet it did nothing to diminish her fascinating appearance. Her hair was cut short with little wisps tickling her tan face, a startling contrast considering her hair was shockingly white. Scrutinizing her face, Wolfram was unable to find any of the tell-tail lines that belied age, her skin smooth and unmarked, tinted with a warm tan that bespoke a life lead in the warmth of the sun.

Perhaps more startling than her hair, her eyes—the right one the color of clear blue glass, the left the green of frozen sea water—sparkled back at him with humor and intelligence. Never before had Wolfram encountered someone with the mismatched eyes of the creature standing before him, calmly allowing him to study her.

His observations were abruptly interrupted in the form of a curly brown head thrust into his line of vision, impatient and demanding his attention.

“Can you talk or are you dumb?” demanded the skinny child before him.

“Coel, that was extraordinarily rude. Pleas apologies.”

“Sorry. Can you?”

Wolfram regarded the suspicious brown eyes locked with his own, dumbfounded, and nodded.

“Well?” demanded the waif.

“Perhaps you could introduce your selves to him Coel?” prompted the woman.

“Oh, yeah. Well I’m Coel, this is my sister Kaja, and that over there is Jess,” he motioned to two other children standing near. One an almost identical—if female—copy of himself, the other a skinny red-headed girl with large green eyes.

“Nice ‘ta meat ‘cha. What’s your name?” asked the red-head.

“Um, Wolfram von Bielefeld,” he answered, his voice hoarse.

“Wow!” exclaimed Coel. “That’s a big one! Almost as big as Tie-Tay’s, her full one that is. You must have had people who liked you a lot.”

“Of course he does!” exclaimed Jess. “He’s not from here so of coarse his people would want him.”

“What do you mean?” Wolfram felt bewildered at the strange course the conversation had taken.

“Perhaps we should continue this conversation later after we get some of the basics out of the way and some food in you.” Interrupted the woman whom Wolfram assumed was named Tie-Tay. “You are hungry are you not?” Wolfram opened his mouth to protest but blushed and ducked his head in instead as his stomach growled in protest.

“Well then, that’s settled. Come out on deck while we prepare supper and get some fresh air and sun light while it lasts. It will be dark in a couple hours,” Tie-Tay folded the canvas flap back securing it with a leather thong and motioned for Wolfram to follow.

Rising from his soft pallet Wolfram noticed for the first time that his clothes were not his usual blue uniform and blushed hotly with embarrassment at the implications. Tactfully his hostess took no notice, instead set about gathering her charges and issuing chores as efficiently as any military officer he’d ever met, if with a great deal more kindness and softly spoken words. Venturing out onto the deck he found it was of the nautical classification. Wolfram felt the queasy twinge of seasickness set in twisting his stomach as he took in his surroundings. The water craft it self was not a large one meant for the open seas but rather long and narrow, more suitable for the calm sluggish river it was presently moored in.

Confusion. Anxiety. Eyes growing wide, Wolfram began searching his surroundings for any identifiable landmark that would help him orient himself. He found none. Agitation mounting, Wolframs mind began to spin around in circles with all manner of possibilities to explain his current situation: kidnapped, or lost… left beh — a gentle had on his shoulder brought him back into focus and he found himself staring into those strange eyes that seemed to be at once full of great joy and profound sadness.

“Pleas, I know you are confused and disoriented and full of questions; and I will do my best to help you find your answers; but if you could just wait a few hours until the sun is set and the children are asleep I’d be grateful.” Her voice was clam and assuring, the hand on his shoulder warm and confident. This woman meant him no harm, of this Wolfram was positive. But still… “Come, let’s eat first.”

Turning to follow Wolfram paused. “How far are we from the harbor? Could you take me there?”

Confusion. “The harbor? Well we are many leagues away from one of the great rivers so…hm… two weeks travel at least, I think. What harbor is it that you are looking for?”

“I can’t remember what the port town was named, but the charts said it was in Windbreak Bay.”

“I do not know this harbor. In which Holding does it lie?”

“Holding? I don’t know what you mean. Windbreak Bay is on the southern end of Shinmoku on the Southern Sea.”

Sad understanding. “I’m afraid I cannot take you to this place.”

“What? Why not?!”

“Because this is not Shinmoku.”

Stunned. Suspicion “What do you mean ‘not Shinmoku’? How can you be sure?”

Tie-Tay sighed and looked at Wolfram, her eyes at once sad and earnest, “Because Wolfram, there are no seas in Entiam.”