15 Spring 519 If it had not been right next door to the Gem, Crylon likely would not have gone to investigate. As it was, the bar of the inebriated fish next to the Gem seemed to be having some form of physical competition. That initially got Crylon's attention. Tournaments, feats of strength, proof of martial prowess, this was more akin to celebrations Crylon was used to. In Sultros it was much more common it seemed to in human cities. But then when you were as a race the child offspring of a God, one who had gifted his children with a perfected form and physical abilities down to the youngest child... Well then, it was much more reasonable to want to show that off. To show ones endurance, strength, and skill. So to was it apparently for humans, just not as often it seemed. But this season everyone seemed to be in such moods, and this was not the first such sign of vigor that he had seen in the city. As he drew near to the water crossing, he saw the strange sight of humans in the water. Willingly. Odd, to Crylon, since most did not seem to willingly go in there. He had seen bodies in the water there, outside of a boat, but most had been dead. There were also, he noted, boats with people in them. Sailors rowing, occasionally pulling a swimmer who went down out of the water. Or showing people which way to go. Back and forth. Swimming. Splashing. Stroking. In the water. An odd shiver went over Crylon, as he looked down at the water. Crylon did not understand why they would willingly go in. Isur were not by their nature swimmers, being mountain folk. He had been in Ravok, the city on the lake. But he had been able to focus on the “land” of sort there. The wooden boardwalks, the bridges, the boats, and had not dwell-ed on the fathoms of water below. He had traveled by boat. But then he had mostly stayed below deck. Had kept well clear of the edge of the water. The same as when he crossed the water here in the city. But purposely going in, diving into the water, going for a swim. Could he even swim? He had not tried that he could recall. And he was so heavy, he was not sure how good of a swimmer he would be. He supposed he would feel lighter in the water, as other people and boats and things did, but he just did not think it was very Isurian to go for a swim. To get in the water. He realized then what that shiver had been. Foreboding. The edge of fear. He could not swim, in multiple ways. He did not want to swim. And the water... The water... He did not like the water. And yet strangely, he felt drawn closer to it. Closer to the edge. Closer to those talking. Him in his simple clothes and boots. He had not carried much of anything else, since he was still within sight of The Gem. There was the water, its icy depth in front of him. And people swimming in it. Its dirty, Sunberthian depths. Fear. Foreboding. What was that, but a natural aversion to danger? Was it wrong then to have a touch of fear for water, when it was such a horrid thing in this setting? Surely any other would understand his not liking it? Surely? Or was he just telling himself that? WC: 591 |