Salt Storm: The Salted Series: Episodes #31-35 by Galvin, Aaron (read 50 shades of grey .TXT) 📕

Aye, even unto the Merrow king and his Blackfin too in search of truer allies to swim against the Other.

Garrett’s stomach twisted at the jeers and outcry from the other chieftains then, and it again being Ishmael to lead their outcry.

Allies, you say? Ishmael laughed. The Sancul arise with the power of the Abyss behind them and offer us to share in their bounty to come, yet you would have us sacrifice our fastest warriors to the whims and tortures of a spoiled, Merrow king, and his wretched, pet seawolf. All with a warning of the tides to come? He scoffed. I wronged you before, Open Shell. Even a child might pity a coward, for they too know what it is to fear. What you speak of now is treason.

Is it treason to speak one’s mind? Watawa asked.

If the words betray their people, aye, said Ishmael. But then it seems our high chieftain would allow you to continue speaking for an unwanted tribe already. Perhaps the Merrow side in all of those like you cries out to save your blow-holed brethren in the pearl city, no?

Watawa shook his head. I seek life for any and all that I might spare, Red Water, he replied, his lone eye gleaming. It may even be one day that I speak to save your life also.

Ishmael laughed. Keep your pity and your words if that day should come, Open Shell. I should rather welcome my death than remain here knowing it were your merciful words to spare me. He looked down his nose at Watawa a final time, then turned back to Cursion White Shadow. Well, high chieftain? It seems you have your answer from the traitor whelp that speaks for the Unwanted cowards. What do you say now? What wisdom has the shadow heard and now brings before us that he might illuminate for those of us too dull to understand and recognize truth from lies?

Cursion shook his head. Like the voices in our council, I am of two minds. No small part of me cries out to accept the Sancul offer and to join our forces with theirs in sweeping victory. Aye, if only to lessen the losses that our people should sustain in fighting the Merrow king and his Orcs if we were to swim alone. He glanced at Garrett once more, his gaze lingering. And yet when I see my son before me, I am reminded this choice is not one made for this night alone. He hesitated the longer he stared on Garrett and his offsetting skin colors. Aye, nor even for our people alone, but for all those who swim beneath the Salt and live above it also.

Ishmael gave a swish of his tail to swim before Cursion. You speak with wisdom, high chieftain, and yet your words carry the same treason as the Open Shell spoke also.

Cursion snorted. Then you ought to hear such words for the truth they hold, Red Water, rather than add your own selfish wants to twist them.

Selfish? Ishmael asked. Is it selfish to think on the needs of our people and their children?

Red Water has no children, said Cursion, his voice rising in a seeming dare for Ishmael to challenge him. Or, say rather, none he means to claim and nurture in his own image.

Ishmael sneered. Odd then that it should be my voice to speak reason unto this council. A partnering of ours with the Sancul legions seems to me a swifter end for the Orcs and Merrows. Aye, and less losses for all to manage with a victory assured for the combined strength and numbers of a Salt alliance.

And yet what victory is ever truly assured? Cursion parsed his words. There are stories even among our people of witnessing Selkie slaves who toppled entire Orc pods. To believe a victory assured before the battle is to find oneself drowning in the same Red Waters you are so named for, young one.

Ishmael rolled his eyes. Let us say ‘a victory nearly assured’ then, high chieftain. We better the odds of our survival with an alliance between us and the Sancul rather than we swim against them and the might of New Pearlaya also, no?

Aye, it might well be, said Cursion. It might also be the Sancul lure us with promises of treaty. In the stories my father told me as a boy, the Deep Dwellers were known to be the great deceivers of old and used our people as pawns in the War of the Ancients. By my understanding, had it not been for the Ancients to put down the Deep Dwellers, we should likely be swimming under Sancul tyranny. Without the Ancient might and magic of old here to save us now, who else then to stop the Sancul from ascending for good and all? Who, if not the Children that the wise ones left behind to rule this world in Their stead?

You name the Ancient Ones as wise, said Ishmael. And yet there has been naught but further fighting and war amongst our people with the Merrows and Orcs since the Ancients left the Salt unto us, their Children.

Cursion nodded. It seems to me more and more of late then that children must mature and wizen for the failures of those who came before them. He looked on Garrett and smiled. All that they might shape a better world than was left to them by their forefathers and mothers both.

Garrett swore a knowing gleam lived in Ishmael’s eyes as he swam around Cursion to better look on the council too. Again, our high chieftain teaches with wisdom beyond my years. And I am not so foolish as to not heed my elders. Ishmael shrugged. Say we were to listen to the Open Shell’s plan and send word to the blow-holes in New Pearlaya. Even if the Merrow king and the Blackfin’s Orcs were to ally with us, what should happen if we lose? Who to look after the children