#becalmed

Reflection beneath aurora.

Originally completed on 12th April 2023.

3:37 PM EDT July 8, 2024:

Another Green World - "Becalmed" From the album   A Tribute to the Music & Works of Brian Eno (1997)

Last song scrobbled from iTunes at Last.fm

There is nothing more annoying in this world than the will without the power. At any time, a vessel becalmed is considered a very sufficing reason for swearing by those who are on board of her.

“Valeera...we need to have a talk.”

Valeera froze with the jacket in her hands and stared down at it for a long time before she finally looked up. She didn’t bother asking how Sylvanas had snuck up on her where she’d been trying her best to mend it in her cot. Sylvanas did a lot of things that didn’t make much logical sense. She’d accepted it by now. “Yes, Captain.”

“That looks like a very nice jacket.” Sylvanas continued as she sat down slowly in the hammock next to Valeera and looked at her. There wasn’t any harshness in her tone or in her eyes. Valeera was glad for that. “But we don’t steal from ports we’re still anchored at. You understand that, right?”

“I didn’t s…” Valeera clenched her jaw as she realized it might be bad if Sylvanas knew. That she might be angry if she knew that, for the past two nights, Valeera had been slipping off the ship to see the nameless woman whose jacket she was holding. “I understand. It won’t happen again, Captain.”

Sylvanas looked into her eyes. It made Valeera’s spine tingle. It made the hairs on her arms raise up before Sylvanas reached for the jacket and took it from her gently. She knew, of course. She knew of Valeera’s late-night trips off the ship. She just didn’t know why.

She looked for the answer in the worn, barely recognizable piece of regalia in her hands. She inspected it carefully. She drew the side of her thumb over the phoenix emblazoned atop a tarnished, pitted gold button. Gold. Not brass.

Elven gold. Ah.