Winter, Day 42 512AV
All was peaceful that night on the ship. Adilliana sat with her back up against the smoothly vanished wood of the mast, her long leg stretched out in front of her as she gazed skyward. She watched as dark Clouds slowly gathered on the horizon, blocking the stars one by one. Tilting her head to the left she concentrated trying to pick up the sound of thunder or a flash of lightning.
Winter storms were not uncommon on the Northern Suvan Sea and they could creep up on you if you weren’t careful. To Adilliana the still night air held the stink of brewing storms but the only sound to be heard was the occasional nocturnal animal and deep breathing of the crew as they slept.
A normal person wouldn't have noticed this. A normal person would be asleep and even if they were awake they wouldn't have been unable to distinguish the shadows caused by the clouds forming in the sky from the general shadow of the night. However Adilliana was not normal, she was cursed.
The belief that she was a cursed creature had hovered of Adilliana’s head since before was born. Isolated by this knowledge she spent most of her days watching the members of the pod and how easily they interacted with a painful longing. From the sidelines life had shown her most mothers were joyful even proud when they learnt they were going to have a baby. Hers had been mortified.
She never had been told why. What she had been told was that from that day the only coherent words her Mother had utter were high pitched shrieks of “It’s cursed.” Some members of the pod where even of the view that it was her conception that had driven her mother insane. When her mother had died giving birth to her to most of the pod believed the curse to be true and had been ready to throw her back to Laviku. If Lia Pearl had not stepped in she would have been tossed into the sea.
It was said that the pods matriarch had taken her infant self in her arms and had seen Laviku presence there in her eyes. That made her a Svefra, one of Laviku chosen. So despite the majority belief thanks to the Lia Adilliana kept her life and was formally accepted as family. This didn't clear her from the suspicions of the pod. Many kept a distance from her even as a child, she was just too many differences to be overlooked.
Throughout her life Adilliana displayed traits that did not belong to a Svefra. She glided effortlessly over the deck not making a sound, as if she had wings. If this was bad enough her hearing was spectacular, she could hear a conversation on a casino from wherever she sat. Both aspects made her the stuff of younger Svefra nightmares but It was her preferred to live a nocturnal lifestyle that caused the division between herself and the older pod members. Adilliana found it practical, her vision was best in the gloom of night and whilst could still see in daylight the brilliant gaze often gave her head aches.
As a result one of the favourite pass time for a bored pod member was teasing and making trouble for Adilliana. Children would borrow items from older pod member and store them with Adilliana, leading to fights. Older Svefra would ignore her while telling rude stories that seemed to always have a character she could identify with. These along with drunken fights and verbal insults were also part of Adilliana days.
Adilliana train of thought ran away from her as the sky blurred. Blinking her blue eyes she felt droplets run down her cheeks. Raising a slender hand to her cheek Adilliana wiped the salty tears away roughly. The weight of her difference hung on her heavily but she never would let anyone see this. Ever as she thought it she heard footsteps and she sprang to her taking a defensive stance. She froze as familiar voice reached her ears.
“What is the Matter child?” Adilliana Smiled warmly at the arrival of the Lia of her pod and was about to answer when the Lia added as an afterthought “The truth please for once Adilliana.”
Shock at the candid words the girl simple stared as the Lia settled to sit cross legged on the deck. Bowing her head she swept forward hiding the girls face from sight. Adilliana had always believed that she wore an impervious mask, no one was meant to see behind it. She laughed when item mysterious found their way into her backpack. She listen to the ‘made up ‘stories along with everyone else. She simple shrug of most verbal insult and so long as she won the fights, she seemed happy. But the Lia Pearl was implying that she knew that these where just acts. Somehow she seen behind Adilliana mask somehow had.
It had only been a moment but Adilliana had let her guard down and hence the first tears she had shed in years where spilt. Now it was all coming back to haunt her. Years’ worth social isolation and ridicule were all demanding to be expressed. Finally she sank to her kneels, hitting the hard wood of the deck with a thud. Wrapping her arms around her waist as she silently cried. Gently she was pulled into the embrace of Lia pearl it last but a moment as Adilliana pulled herself back together.
Taking a deep breath she tucks her curls back behind her ears. A small hand ducked into a pocket pulling out a scarf. She hesitate a moment wondering if she should wipe her nose with it but decided against it as with practiced movements turned it into a makeshift headband fastening her hair. The question that had prompt the emotional outbreak was she fresh in her mind. Looking at the women she was now sitting across from Adilliana posed the question that had been at the centre of her personality
“What makes me so different from everyone else Lia?” she ask in a steady tone. Her face was blank, carefully devoid of any emotion. It was nothing like the crooked smile she usually put on, but Adilliana still didn’t like the idea that the Lia had seen her moment of weakness, as it was she really didn’t want to have this conversation, looking into her past usually only brought her pain.
Reaching being her back the Lia wrap her hands around a bundle sat it in front of her. When the Lia said nothing Adilliana us turn to the object. It was an old backpack. It had obviously once been well cared for. The lack of stains showed the fabric had been carefully water proofed. There was a slight patch work look to it, Adilliana realised it was dues to the number of time it had been repaired. All the colour had faded with time but it was obvious that it had once been precious to someone. Adilliana look up from the bag as the Lia spoke
“What do you know about you father?” The Matriarch inquired to which Adilliana simple shrugged. Without the marks of Cheva it was often hard to tell which male seed and give life to a child. As the silence continues Adilliana sighs and assumes that the Lia want a verbal response.
“Nothing Lia Pearl, I suppose I simple assumed he was from another pod.” she stated thoughtfully. When she thought about no one had mentioned her father, or even a man her mother been friends with. The Lia had start to rummage in the bag, she stop a she pull out a hard bound book Which she placed in Adilliana hands.
“That is you Mother’s Journal, I was going to wait until your 15th birthday but I think you will get more use out of it now.” Adilliana hands clenched around the book, her blue eye fixed hatefully on it. She was about to ask why she would even want the blasted thing when the Lia continued.
”It would have been best for you to read her story but I can see you impatient.” Adilliana scoffed, but out of respect listened to her elder as she filled in gaps in her history she hadn't realised were there. Her mother had been separated from the pod when Adilliana had been conceived making her what the Lia called a mixed blood. Her look she got from her mother a Svefran. Her enhanced hearing and night vision she got from her father a non-Svefran. Suddenly a lot of things in her life seemed to make sense including the belief she was cursed.
she would have loved to ask more but the Lia had stood hurrying over to the railing. The pods Pardisa and the Lia Tavan was jumping alongside the boat
“Adilliana wake the others, a storm coming.” Nodding Adilliana got to her feet and quickly crossed over to the living quarters. After placing the journal with her own belonging Adilliana ran between to row of Hammocks shaking people awake. Question would have to wait, right now they were in danger.
