I looked out over the hazy sea, leaning on the ramparts of the gatehouse leading into Netherfane Fort. The overly hot sun high in the sky shining down upon everything below. Trying to find the exact moment the sea became the sky. Far down below was the perfectly becalmed sea, acting as a mirror for what was above. Despite the haze hiding the distant horizon, the bright midday sun beat down upon my bare neck, shoulders, and ears burning the already red skin.

Sweat coated my skin, sweat which should’ve been blown off by a cooling breeze. Instead, it just sat there, making my skin feel clammy and uncomfortable.

Maybe the only comfort I had was the dull grey stone. It ought to have warmed up with the sun, yet the seemless walkway lining the outside of the gatehouse, and the ramparts had not heated up. In fact, if anything, it was comfortably cool to the touch. My bare feet were comfortable, if you ignored the tops of my feet being sunburnt, along with my forearms.

Though my sunburn was slightly painful, and I could heal from that pain in moments within our divine realm, I stood watching out over the sea, looking for signs that someone, anyone, would be coming.

It was something I had been doing for the past week or so to distract myself from the constant arguments of Alis and Celameth. Up here, staring out into the endless expanse, my thoughts tended to dwell on what was likely happening within the Isles of Dunkeltal. At times I caught mere glimpses of what I believed was going on. Moments of pain, terror, fear, heartache, and occasionally love.

Sometimes I managed to get just a slightly clearer hint of what was going on. Not all the pain, terror, and fear was brought on by monsters or those tainted by the corrupted blessing. A few of those glimpses were caused by a person’s own selfish desire.

The first time I saw something like that I vomited when I realised just how evil humans could be. Preying off the fear of others despite the larger threat that was slowing condensing within the centre of the isles.

After that first time of seeing the potential of future horrors which lay there, I refused to look out that way. Though, in moments of weakness, I still looked, staring in horror as I saw that fallen blessing continue to corrupt itself, condensing even further into an even deeper darkness.

Yet despite that, I was leaning, waiting. If I had to wait much longer, I would give up on the cautious plan we were currently following and use Alis to jump directly to Hallvard.

Within me, where the knot once lay tied, was a thick thread leading to Celameth. I could tell from how it was moving that she was getting closer to me. One of the last times she had come up here to find me, she had come alone. I wish I could say we made love, but despite my desire for her to love me like a husband, all she felt was the rapturous feeling of worshipping me like a god. So the sex was somewhat feelingless. Both of us were simply going through the motions.

However, my nights with Alis were calmer and much more emotionally satisfying. Even if we only ended up sleeping in each other’s arms, rather than making love to each other. Still, I did the best I could for Celameth.

‘Husband,’ Celameth called in a too respectful manner. She stood there, straight-backed and head held high. Even now, hours after she had gotten ready, her glossy blond hair was still perfect. She was wearing a long-sleeved pale blue dress which barely brushed against the floor.

Not once had she called me Beloved, since she had visited our divine realm. It was a name I wished she called me, but I hesitated in getting her to call me that. All because I wanted to remember the depths of loving emotion she put into calling me that before Alis and myself left for Netherfane.

‘Yes?’

‘Lady Alis has requested you join her under the entrance platform.’

Again Celameth acted and spoke with a respectful tone which distanced herself from me. I nodded my head and waved her to go on. She graciously turned, the skirt swirling as she did so. Her regal manner putting barriers up between us once more.

Using the divine realm as a quick stopping point, not only to heal my slight sunburn but also to re-clothe myself in fresh clothes, I came out into the room hidden beneath the entrance platform.

Unlike the other rooms in the towers, this one was rectangular and full of straight lines. The room was also humongous, not in height, but in length as it spread the full six hundred meters between the front two towers. What made it appear larger was not only the fifty meter depth, but the fact the entire room had no pillars to give a hint at its size.

In fact, the entire room held a single large pool of water. The reflections of the waves danced along the seemless dull grey walls and ceilings. Only the side where Alis was standing and a strange buoyant ball, though half was hidden, the rest floating twice as tall as Alis, of a black material broke the immense pool of water. The top of the ball rubbed against the top of the celling.

So this pool of water would not be good for bringing in larger sailing ships. Unless the top was removed. Paranoid as I was, I wanted full control over who entered this place. Especially when it was hard to see just who would turn out to be villainous. Even if they were not corrupted.

After taking my fill of this strangely impressive room, with its dancing reflections, I looked at Alis. She was being patient, holding in her slender, yet muscular and calloused, freckled hand a smaller black ball about the size of a tennis ball.

‘Sorry, Klarric,’ Alis said, now that my attention was focused upon her. Even though she hadn’t started to call me anything other than my name, the way she spoke it held more meaning and depth than Celameth’s impersonal usage of husband. ‘I wasn’t sure of what to do about all of this. I’m guessing that this ball should do something with that ball.

‘As this was where the stream entered the island, and with this harbour here, I’m guessing that it is possible this harbour could reach the sea.’

‘I am not sure I want easy access to the core of our fort.’

She went to say something, then went silent.

With a haunted look, one I wished I would never had to have seen on her troubled brow, ‘I agree.’ She gently arced the small black ball over to me. ‘Still, we cannot keep waiting here, and I have a feeling this will be our chance to do some good in the isles.’

The ball landed gently in my hand. As it did I started to see the potential for the large black ball floating in the water.