Salt Storm: The Salted Series: Episodes #31-35 Galvin, Aaron (classic fiction txt) 📖

he understood you would not listen, Kanaloa chided him. Perhaps you did not ask the proper questions he desired to answer.

Nyx used one of her tentacles to reach out and graze the arm of Erebus to quiet him. Then, she looked to Kanaloa. What did Hypnos say, Father?

Truly, now, as all the times before, he said nothing, said Kanaloa. It was that which he showed me that spoke of his desire – a bed of ebony-make, and a pair of ancient doors amid the likewise darkness.

Doors? Erebus asked.

Aye, said Kanaloa. One of glistening, coral ivory, the other liken to a truss brimmed with reef and sea-grass that fluttered in the currents.

Nyx stirred. What lay beyond the doors, Father? Did you open them?

No, for the sight beyond and choice of which to enter was not offered unto me, said Kanaloa, his focus drifting toward Kellen.

Me? He asked.

Aye, favored one, said Kanaloa. I saw the choice lain before you whilst Hypnos lay upon his bed of ebony-make, tended to by his lady wife, the Mother of Masks.

Mother of Masks, indeed, Erebus spat the moniker. What good should come of us taking Hypnos back to that wretch and his former home? She had no use for Hypnos after his maiming. Why should she look to tend him now?

Time heals many wounds, my son, said Kanaloa.

Does it heal abandonment? Erebus asked. For that be all that I saw my son’s precious wife and their children do for him. Or two of the Oneiroi Three, rather. Morpheus at least had some sense about him to come and visit his father whenever he managed to sneak away before the others took him back.

Peace, husband, please, said Nyx.

Erebus scoffed. Aye, I should think to keep such peace by remaining here with our son, he said to Nyx. Perhaps you ought to allow Hypnos and I to stay here whilst you take this supposed other one with you. He glared at Kellen. What say you to these ill plans, Creature? Was the destruction of this despicable hall of villainy not all that you saw in your supposed visions? Not enough murder and death for you here? Hmm? No, you see still more for us and our people. He clutched Hypnos closer, his voice softening. Or perhaps you’re coming among us was for a deeper purpose . . . to destroy us from within and set us to civil war again, perhaps?

Kellen’s experiences with his own father ashore reminded him it was better to keep silent when anger took an elder. Though he had often given himself over to his resentment rather than reason ashore, he needed only look to the unmatched strength of Erebus adorning the surrounding cliffside to reconsider such impulses of childish aggression.

Again, Nyx came to his aid. Husband, she said softly to Erebus. You wrong him to speak so now.

Do I? Erebus challenged her. I think we had all finally come to know some greater peace since the last war, after Moros were vanquished. I find the old ways of in-fighting and doubt oddly returned now with the emergence of this . . . Creature . . . that you and the others would have me believe is our dead son resurrected.

Kanaloa chuckled. Even still you slander him so? After all you have seen, Erebus . . . how is it you fail to recognize that the one who swims before you is indeed your son, Moros, returned to us?

That creature is not my son, Erebus thundered, using one of his tentacles to point at Kellen’s chest. With the others, he raised Hypnos for all to look upon. Here is the only son I have left. I will not see him brought to further harm for whatever shared plans the rest of you hold so dear.

It is not our plans alone, my son, Kanaloa whispered. Hypnos would have this destiny also . . .

Speak not to me of destiny, old one, Erebus spat. Nor of my son’s supposed wants.

Kanaloa swam closer. Let Hypnos show you himself, then. Reach out, Erebus, said the eldest of the Sancul, curling the tip of one of his tentacles around another belonging to Erebus then bringing it toward Hypnos’s temple. Aye, reach out . . . Kanaloa whispered. Let you ask your fallen son what he would have of us now. Ask him to show you the way to his healing . . . or say rather, what may be his final request.

Final request? Erebus hesitated, his tentacle pulling away from the face of Hypnos. No . . . He slithered free of the elder’s grasp. I will not be lured by your taunts and tricks, Kanaloa. You think I do not know that by doing so you should show me whatever desires I would wish to have? I know your wares, wizard.

Nyx swam forward, taking up her father’s claim over Erebus. And mine, husband? She asked, using her own lighter grip to touch upon him. Do you think I should play such tricks upon you too?

Doubt clouded the face of Erebus. In truth, wife, I fear the answer there also. Now, more than ever before.

Ask him, she whispered, bringing Erebus’s tentacle toward their sickly son. Ask our Hypnos what he would have us do for him now . . . and let you ask your questions without doubt to cloud your sight and mind. She took her own tentacle away, leaving the choice to Erebus as to move forward or no with the decision. Aye, husband, she whispered, even as she drifted away from him and swam closer to Kellen instead. Let you ask our Hypnos with the same love and care that you have watched over him with since we brought him into this world. If it is truly a final request that he wishes of us, let you ask our dear Hypnos what he would have of us before he journeys Beyond.

Kellen’s skin tingled as Nyx swept behind him and placed her cold fingers upon his shoulders