For the second time in a stretch of weeks the Doomsayer's words rang out from the temple in Scyros. Though nearly a world away, his prophecy reached Vairii, the Wave Dancer by way of the currents.

The human augur recalled his words: "So it is said in the four hundred and seventy-ninth prophecy by the great prophet Apollonia, the angel of white hailing from the west shall be sacrificed on the altar of the east. The wretched rook will circle the north three times before feasting on the eyes of the blind to the delight of the south. Beware the mark of the half trident, for it holds both salvation and damnation."

Vairii's heart could not help but sink as she thought of the visions that had plagued her for nearly a year now. A child, standing in a puddle, with a foul woman sinking her nails into his shoulders. Whispering a promise of his father's return, she pointed towards a small fish to his left which he picked up. Urging him onwards, the child gleefully spun around in the opposite direction and crushed the animal in his fist. As the blood seeped through his fingers, the woman cackled with manic delight and the puddle surged around the child to swallow him whole. Surely these fell sights must be tied to the omen that Anaxmidion had shared.

She closed her eyes and listened to the tritons who worked busily around her, all of them ecstatic and full of life, each eager to earn glory in battle. Though the girl had only just escaped the reach of the Warlords of Kashar, she was already being forced back. Reaching out for reassurance, she squeezed the arm of Prince Zauevos who had helped her escape the slaver's island when blood had rained down from the heavens.

Had it been wise to tell the Phocians of the white hippocampus that was being held by the Kashari?

Stretching her mind out into the currents once more, she felt only death and heard only a deafening force beyond her understanding that bellowed with rage beneath the seas. Offering up a prayer to the tides, she clasped close the faith in her heart and allowed the doubt to wash away from her mind. One thing was certain to Vairii now, this was foretold, and there were no means within her grasp with which to escape it.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Summary: After escaping from Kashar, Prince Zauvous and Vairii, the Wave Dancer were intercepted by Phocian tritons. Hearing of the white hippocampus, they forced the two to lead them back to the island nation to retrieve the beast. The words of Anaxamidion, the Doomsayer heard across the lands were similar to the visions Vairii had received, both ill omens.

Penned by My hand on the 22nd of Mayan, in the year 774 AF.