Read Online Always Forever by Mark Chadbourn - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mark Chadbourn
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alone, and we, in turn, have more enjoyable
things to occupy us." Brightening, he made a theatrical sweep with his hand.
"But I am forgetting myself? You are an honoured guest, Brother of Dragons.
Welcome to Wave Sweeper."
Church followed his gesture, expecting to see only the Tuatha De Danann
standing around the deck, but there were many who were obviously not of the
Golden Ones, their forms strange and disturbing. Cormorel saw Church's confusion play out on his face. "Wave Sweeper has always accepted many travellers.
The journey to the Western Isles is one of significance to many races, not just
the Golden Ones."
"A pilgrimage?"
Cormorel didn't appear to understand the term. Church was also concerned
that the god was talking about the ship as if it were alive. He looked more
closely at the wooden deck and the unnervingly detailed fittings flourishing on
every part of the structure.
Cormorel noticed Ruth for the first time. "Sister of Dragons, I greet you."
But then his eyes fell on Callow and a tremor ran across his face. "What is this?
Night Walker corruption, here on Wave Sweeper?" His gaze flickered accusingly to Church.
"He's a danger to others. We can't afford to leave him behind."
Cormorel weighed this, then reluctantly nodded. He motioned to two gods
with the youthful, plastic, emotionless faces of male models. Callow shied away
from them until they were herding him in the direction of an open oak door that
led beneath deck.
"What are you going to do with him?" Church asked.
"We cannot allow something so tainted by the Night Walkers to move freely
about Wave Sweeper. He will be constrained for the remainder of the journey."
"You won't hurt him?"
"He is beneath our notice." Cormorel turned, the matter already forgotten.
"Come, let me show you the wonder that is Wave Sweeper before we set sail."
He led them from the gangplank across the deck, gritty with salt and damp
from the spray. The crew and passengers watched them impassively for a
moment before returning to their business, as strange and unnerving a group as
Church could have expected. He felt overwhelmed at the presence of so many of
the Tuatha De Danann in one place. The whole array were represented, from those like Cormorel, who appeared barely indistinguishable from humans, to
what were little more than blazes of unfocused light he could barely bring himself to examine. Although he could tell Ruth was also disturbed, she maintained
an air of confidence that kept Church at ease.
Cormorel was enjoying the attention the other Tuatha De Danann lavished
on him. Exhibiting his pets, Church thought sourly.
"Firstly, we must introduce you to the Master of this ship." Cormorel
directed them to a raised area bearing a wooden steering wheel with ivory and
gold handles. Next to it stood a god whose presence took Church's breath away
once the shifting perception had settled into a stable form. He stood more than
seven feet tall, his long hair and beard a wild mane of silver and brown. His
naked torso was heavily muscled and burnished. Gold jewellery wound around
his arms from wrist to bicep, but beyond that all he wore was a broad belt and
a brown leather kilt. Even from a distance Church could see his eyes were a
piercing blue grey like the sea before a storm. With no sign of emotion, the god
watched Cormorel, Church and Ruth approach, standing as still as a statue.
For once, Cormorel appeared humbled. "Here is the Master of Wave
Sweeper, known to you in the ages of the tribes as Manannan Mac Lir, also
known as Manawydan, son of Llyr, Barinthus, ferryman to the Fortunate Island,
Lord of the Stars, Treader of the Waves, Nodons, Son of the Sea, known as Neptune by the journeyman, Lord of Emain Abhlach, the Island of Apple Trees,
known also as the King Leir."
Church felt little respect for the Tuatha De Danann's willful disregard for
humanity, but he feared their power and he knew, although he hated it, that they
were
things to occupy us." Brightening, he made a theatrical sweep with his hand.
"But I am forgetting myself? You are an honoured guest, Brother of Dragons.
Welcome to Wave Sweeper."
Church followed his gesture, expecting to see only the Tuatha De Danann
standing around the deck, but there were many who were obviously not of the
Golden Ones, their forms strange and disturbing. Cormorel saw Church's confusion play out on his face. "Wave Sweeper has always accepted many travellers.
The journey to the Western Isles is one of significance to many races, not just
the Golden Ones."
"A pilgrimage?"
Cormorel didn't appear to understand the term. Church was also concerned
that the god was talking about the ship as if it were alive. He looked more
closely at the wooden deck and the unnervingly detailed fittings flourishing on
every part of the structure.
Cormorel noticed Ruth for the first time. "Sister of Dragons, I greet you."
But then his eyes fell on Callow and a tremor ran across his face. "What is this?
Night Walker corruption, here on Wave Sweeper?" His gaze flickered accusingly to Church.
"He's a danger to others. We can't afford to leave him behind."
Cormorel weighed this, then reluctantly nodded. He motioned to two gods
with the youthful, plastic, emotionless faces of male models. Callow shied away
from them until they were herding him in the direction of an open oak door that
led beneath deck.
"What are you going to do with him?" Church asked.
"We cannot allow something so tainted by the Night Walkers to move freely
about Wave Sweeper. He will be constrained for the remainder of the journey."
"You won't hurt him?"
"He is beneath our notice." Cormorel turned, the matter already forgotten.
"Come, let me show you the wonder that is Wave Sweeper before we set sail."
He led them from the gangplank across the deck, gritty with salt and damp
from the spray. The crew and passengers watched them impassively for a
moment before returning to their business, as strange and unnerving a group as
Church could have expected. He felt overwhelmed at the presence of so many of
the Tuatha De Danann in one place. The whole array were represented, from those like Cormorel, who appeared barely indistinguishable from humans, to
what were little more than blazes of unfocused light he could barely bring himself to examine. Although he could tell Ruth was also disturbed, she maintained
an air of confidence that kept Church at ease.
Cormorel was enjoying the attention the other Tuatha De Danann lavished
on him. Exhibiting his pets, Church thought sourly.
"Firstly, we must introduce you to the Master of this ship." Cormorel
directed them to a raised area bearing a wooden steering wheel with ivory and
gold handles. Next to it stood a god whose presence took Church's breath away
once the shifting perception had settled into a stable form. He stood more than
seven feet tall, his long hair and beard a wild mane of silver and brown. His
naked torso was heavily muscled and burnished. Gold jewellery wound around
his arms from wrist to bicep, but beyond that all he wore was a broad belt and
a brown leather kilt. Even from a distance Church could see his eyes were a
piercing blue grey like the sea before a storm. With no sign of emotion, the god
watched Cormorel, Church and Ruth approach, standing as still as a statue.
For once, Cormorel appeared humbled. "Here is the Master of Wave
Sweeper, known to you in the ages of the tribes as Manannan Mac Lir, also
known as Manawydan, son of Llyr, Barinthus, ferryman to the Fortunate Island,
Lord of the Stars, Treader of the Waves, Nodons, Son of the Sea, known as Neptune by the journeyman, Lord of Emain Abhlach, the Island of Apple Trees,
known also as the King Leir."
Church felt little respect for the Tuatha De Danann's willful disregard for
humanity, but he feared their power and he knew, although he hated it, that they
were
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