Testing the Waters

Sea water sprayed into the air as the ship cut through the choppy waters, leaving a fine mist hanging in the sunlight. The breeze was warm, but not uncomfortably so and the voyage would have been rather pleasant if not for the dangerous part of the sea in which the ship sailed.

On its deck, sailors peered nervously into the water around them, keeping a sharp lookout for danger as the vessel prowled through the waters of Vash'jir. The ship was destined for the island of Tol Barad where it would deliver much needed supplies to the Alliance encampment there, but it had been forced to take a detour to meet up with part of the Alliance fleet fighting for control of the watery region in order to unload several crates of weapons.

With the delivery complete, the sailors were hoping to make a quick run out of the dangerous waters and make landfall on Tol Barad by the end of the day. Hours had already passed with no mishap, and all aboard the vessel were hopeful that the rest of the trip would continue in the same fashion. Unfortunately, fate had other plans.

It started on the wind, a shimmering sound that was barely perceptible at first and then rose slowly above the creak of the wooden ship and flapping of the sails. Sailors on the deck looked at one another in confusion as the sound grew into a haunting melody that instantly drew the listener in. The song rose higher, wrapping around the sailors and floating through the wind, the enchanting beauty of the words causing even the most stouthearted to pause and tilt their head to listen.

Beside the ship, the water stirred and bubbled until slowly a figure rose from it, floating gently above the waves. She was an elf of exceptional beauty, her deep green hair dripping seawater and her mouth opened in song. She floated gently towards the ship, her bare feet touching down lightly on the deck as she sang on. The sailors looked at her in awe, utterly entranced with the beauty of the elf and the song she sang, the Siren's voice capturing their hearts and minds. They shuffled away from their tasks and the ship began to drift without guidance as her crew became enthralled by the beautiful song.

The elf's beautiful face broke into a smile as she watched the humans gaze at her in adoration, her song continuing to play over them. Ancient words of power hung around her, magic flowing outwards. The humans were helpless against it, and she would soon have the entire ship at her mercy.

Even as she thought this, a second voice joined hers in the song. The lyrics, known only to the most ancient of Highborne elves, were sung perfectly and in perfect harmony with the song she sang, the two female voices intertwined in a beautiful melody. The Siren frowned, slowly letting her voice die away as the second singer continued on, finishing the song, missing not a single note or word. From behind the ship's mainmast another elf stepped forward, her eyes closed as she completed the melody.

The Siren's eyes narrowed in anger and she glared at the newcomer, who had obviously been in the cabins below deck. For her part, Malandrae's eyes opened to take in the other elf, and then opened further in utter shock.

"Innesta Starsinger..." Malandrae whispered.

The other elf gasped and studied Malandrae for a moment before a cruel smile took over her face, "Malandrae Moonwhisper. I cannot believe you are actually here, alive in my presence. The Queen's luck favors me this day."

"W-what are you d-doing here Innesta? Why are you enthralling these sailors?" Malandrae said quietly.

Innesta laughed, her eyes roaming over the other with amusement. "Because they trespass on the Queen's territory Malandrae. They will be killed or used as slaves, as are all who violate her territory. Or have you forgotten who it is you serve?"

Malandrae shook her head in denial, "N-no. The Queen is gone. The empire is gone. You c-can't just...they're innocent men and women who have nothing to do with Her Court. You c-can't do this to them."

Innesta laughed again, her tone mocking, "Ah, so it has been true all this time. I always knew you were a traitor but it's good to hear it from your own lips. To think you denied the High Arcanist AND turned your back on your own House and family. You do know what She does to traitors, don't you? To filthy cowards who turn their back on Her will?"

Malandrae wilted under the stare of the other, her eyes downcast as she avoided looking at the elf on the ship's deck. She responded in a quiet voice, "I'm NOT a traitor. It was She who betrayed us. And I won't let you hurt these sailors."

Magic crackled in the air around Innesta as she grinned wickedly. "Oh really? Do you know what kind of reward I will receive if I drag you...or your corpse...back with me? I don't really think there is much you can do to stop me, Second Advisor. You were always inferior in every way. Time to show you that once and for all."

Malandrae barely had time to shout the words to a shielding spell before arcane bolts slammed into it. She stumbled backwards as magic flared and missiles were hurled at her by the other elf. She brought her hands up, and the missiles arced around her, slamming into the mast behind her and shattering the wood with a concussive blast that sent her staggering. She could see her shielding weakening as she stumbled, and she desperately hurled a bolt of arcane magic at Innesta. The ship listed for a moment as the broken mast plunged into the water, rigging and ropes snapping and landing all over the deck.

"Do you REALLY think you've got even half a chance?" Innesta gloated as she casually batted the magic out of the air. "You were always a terrible student, and never a match for me. Just surrender Malandrae and I'll see to it that you don't get killed before you have a chance to see your family, so they can spit their curses on you for the disgrace you brought to their House!"

Malandrae's eyes widened and she fell back against the splintered stump, unable to say anything as Innesta hurled more spelled into her shielding. The last missile struck a ward and Malandrae's defenses failed with a brilliant flare of purple and blue light. Innesta's laughter rang out over the sound of groaning timber as the ship righted itself.

"You didn't know? Of course your family is alive. The Queen protects her LOYAL followers and their Houses, didn't you know that little fool?" Innesta laughed. "Oh how your mother wept when she heard of your treachery. Her stupid little daughter, betraying the Queen herself. House Moonwhisper was lucky that every member was not put to death thanks to your actions. Your father publicly disowned you though after the disaster, and the Queen spared them. You are nothing but an idiot who could not even do the few tasks that her House required of her. It's a wonder the High Arcanist even touched you. He probably felt dirty afterwards, to have such stupidity near him."

Malandrae slumped against the wood behind her, her mouth working wordlessly and tears streaming down her face. There was no answer to the utter bile that Innesta was hurling at her, because in the end the elf was right; Malandrae had done exactly that, she'd betrayed her people and everything her House stood for when she chose to flee rather than join them in their continued depravity and magic abuse. There was no defense against the truth, but seeing Innesta and hearing the words only made Malandrae wish she had done it so much sooner, when she had a chance to have made a difference.

Innesta smiled, magic gathering in her hands as she looked at her defeated foe. "Poor little Malandrae. You have nothing to say, do you traitor? Don't worry, I'll make this quick, and your family will reward me for removing the stain you've placed on their name. I almost feel I should cast a spell so they can watch your final moments."

Open a spell. To communicate...

Mellery SunCog's voice drifted through Malandrae's mind, "Mine's got a case hard enough to crack a skull. It would make a good projectile."

Forgive me Miss Silveria, and thank you Miss Mellery.

Malandrae's hand shot down to her belt and back up. Her body arced forward as she hurled the object she had grabbed as hard as she could. A glimmering flash of pink flew through the air as Malandrae's buzzbox hurtled forward and connected squarely with Innesta's nose, shattering it and throwing the elf to the deck.

Innesta blinked back tears as a shadow fell over her, Malandrae's tear stained face looking down on her. She gasped, spitting out a broken tooth, "W-what is wrong with you. You HIT me. W-what have these barbarians been teaching you."

Malandrae scowled as she bent down, her face inches from the other elf's, "How to do the right thing."

Her hand snatched a necklace from around Innesta's throat and she held it above her head. Magical energy arced through her palm, little bits of lightning visible as the enchanted necklace was taken. A beautiful song floated across the wind again before it faded. When the song ended Malandrae threw the necklace into the air and hurled a magic missile after it, destroying it utterly.

Innesta's form shimmered, and the illusion she had placed upon herself shattered. Instead of a wounded but beautiful elf lying on the deck, the scaly form of a Naga was now seen. The sailors around the ship who had stood entranced blinked and began shaking their heads, seeing what they had been enthralled with clearly for the first time. Angry shouts began to rise up, and crossbows and spears were picked up as they shook themselves free of the remaining magic.

Innesta sprang upwards, hissing at those closest to her. "Thissss is not over Malandrae. I won't forget your treachery. Your Housssse will know of it soon enough. You and everything you love will die fool." She flipped herself backwards, landing in the water and quickly disappearing beneath the waves.

Malandrae watched the spot where the other had sunk as the water cleared, whispering softly, "It already has..."

She slowly turned and looked behind her to see the the sailors taring at her in awe. They knew she had broken the Siren's spell on them. Slowly they moved towards her, several of them offering her their thanks before moving off to begin clearing the damaged mast.

As they worked to repair the ship, their eyes kept going back to the elf who now stood at the bow of the ship, looking into the water. On the air, the song she had sung hung again over them, without the magic this time but still as beautiful as it had been before, the sorrow in her tone haunting them for the rest of the day.

When they arrived at Tol Barad, they found Malandrae's cabin empty. She had used a portal to take herself somewhere far away where she could be alone for a time. She wasn't yet ready to face what lay beneath Vash'jir, not until she could come to terms with the way Innesta's words had made her feel.