I came across this excellent picture on the net and recognised it as one of Boris Vallejo's. It immediately created such a vivid image in my mind that I had to write this story.

She stared out across the calm dark sea, conscious of her betrothed standing awkwardly by her side.

"You have to go now," she scolded gently, for the third time.   "He won't come whilst you're here."

"Good! I don't want you to go.   If this troubles him he can talk to me." He spoke boldly, raising his voice to the empty sea.

"Hush! Don't say such things! You know he's powerful and a promise is a promise." Her voice was tinged with fear - fear that he was going to make a scene after all.   She took hold of his shoulders and urged him to look at her.   "You nearly died from the fever and would have done so if he'd not stepped in.   I'm happy to pay my debt, truly I am.   It's fairly earned."

"I don't like it," he insisted.   "Alone on that island...   It's not proper! What does he really want from you anyway?"

She sighed with exasperation.   "We've been through this.   A high sorcerer needs...   women of purity...   to assist in certain spells.   I spoke to a village elder and there's nothing sinister about it." This last was a small lie but she felt it necessary to keep him calm.

He was not so easily calmed.   "The only reason he saved me was to put you in his debt.   You can be sure of that! I just don't like it."

"Perhaps he did.   It doesn't matter to me as long as you're alive."

He started to speak again but she placed a finger gently on his lips to silence him, then replaced it with her lips.   "Please, say no more," she eventually whispered.   "The sooner you go, the sooner I'll be back."

He looked more miserable then she'd ever seen him but he nodded silently.   He turned away but not before she glimpsed the tears forming in his eyes.   Her heart went out to him but she knew his pain was unavoidable.   For now she had to keep her strength for the day and night ahead.

He mounted his horse and turned to face her again, having briefly regained his composure.   "I'll be back this time tomorrow.   I pray for his sake that you are here."

"I'll be here," she assured but he did not hear her.   He was already off at a gallop, showering her unintentionally in a hail of dust and small stones.

She watched until he was out of sight and turned at last to the sea.   She hated to lie to him but what else could she do? She had made a promise that could not be broken.   If she did not go then he would simply come for her.   She had to see this through and put it behind her.   No price was too high for the life of her loved one; even this.

She sat down upon a rock at the sea's edge and waited, knowing that he would soon be here.   A strange mist, unheard of at this time of the year, started to form out to sea.   She watched it grow with a sense of foreboding.   It spread wider upon the horizon until she realised it would soon be upon her.   She suddenly felt chilled as the mist finally breached the border of sea and land, swirling all around her.   It made her feel even more alone and it took all her resolve not to turn and run.

She spent long minutes peering out into the mist, looking for any sign of his approach.   Finally she perceived a dark shape, growing closer and more distinct with each passing second.

A wave of panic swept over her but she fought it down, though not without difficulty.   She was unable, however, to shake from her mind the image of the one now coming for her.

In the height of her love's fever, the women of the village had informed her he would not last until morning.   Improper though it was, they had agreed to her wishes and left her alone to tend him in his last hours.   So it was that she alone heard the knock on the door.   Her betrothed had been delirious and neither heard nor saw the one who entered unbidden when she answered it.   The terms of the bargain had shocked her but she had not hesitated.   She would do anything to save him.   A deal was made and the stranger left.   Within five minutes the fever had broken and within an hour he was lucid, though still very weak.

The strange mist had come that night too, appearing shortly before he appeared.   She knew no one else had seen the visitor for such a sighting would have caused unthinkable havoc.

It was true he required a 'woman of purity' but his intentions were not as honourable as she had previously insisted.   Her greatest regret was that she must give up the thing that she had saved for her first true love.   The alternative was to lose her love and that she could not bear.

The small wooden vessel had drawn closer now and she could clearly see its occupant, standing firm in the centre, propelling the small craft forward with a single oar.   She blushed hotly at the sight of his nakedness but was unable to look away in spite of herself.   His solid, lean body flexed and strained as he worked the oar through the water.   The broad leathery wings and thick sinuous tail looked all the more sinister in the diffused light of day and yet the sight made her tremble strangely inside.

Her thoughts turned finally to the details of their agreement and the knowledge of what was ahead.   She had expected to be afraid but instead felt an odd sense of anticipation; almost excitement.   A shameful heat rose up within her and she tore her gaze away, though the image of him burned on in her mind, as if to taunt her.

Breathless and trembling, she rose and waited at the water's edge as the vessel steered close.

Copyright © 2000 Julian Renard. julian975@yahoo.com All rights reserved.