The Fifth House by L. E. Bryce

Author:L. E. Bryce
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Phaze

Chapter Five

Water dripped from the table onto the floor, forming a pool that only Elantho seemed to notice. Only he made any real effort to mop up, but then was so overcome by emotion that he used the sodden cloth to muffle his own sobs instead.

Dyas stared at the body sprawled on the table, its limbs akimbo and lips turning blue. Worse, no one had closed the corpse's eyes. Omis stared sightlessly up at the rafters, while Dyas tried to make sense of the scene. Talevé simply did not drown. “How did this happen?"

"He took work on one of the fishing boats,” said Teval. “There was an accident with one of the nets. A rope snapped as they were bringing it over the side. He was caught up in it when it dropped back into the water and drowned before they could pull it up again."

"Why didn't he simply change? He had a hrill. They can hold their breath longer than a man can."

Dyas resisted the temptation to snap at the young priest to shut up, or at least do something more than sit uselessly in the corner. “Changing isn't as simple as you think."

Adarrel walked over to the table and, after a moment's hesitation, arranged Omis's limbs and closed his eyes. “Elwi,” he snapped at the priest, “make yourself useful and bring some dry cloths. He shouldn't have to lie here like this."

Dyas sensed his frustration, the shock and tightly-wound grief they all felt. Had the priest not scurried from the room, Adarrel's sharp tone suggested he would have physically dragged him to his feet and thrown him out. Dyas showed his approval by glaring first at the retreating Elwi then at Lamad and Teval. Elantho's inability to act was understandable, his small gestures pathetic in their uselessness, but neither of the other two had taken charge and Dyas found that unforgiveable.

Peering through the window he saw people gathering on the street. Some milled about confused, asking each other for news. Others clutched their neighbors and wept. Most turned their attention to an object Dyas recognized from the festival days earlier. A litter bearing the Lady's image paraded down the street, its four bearers moving at a crawl to allow worshippers to toss offerings of flowers and seashells onto the bed of the litter. “What are they doing?"

Enirwë's voice answered from across the room. “They see Omis's death as a sacrifice."

Dyas glowered at him, then at Elwi who hastened into the room bearing a chastened look and towels that Adarrel and Lamad immediately seized from him. “Wasn't drowning that effigy enough? Tell them to stop. It's obscene."

"I will do no such thing, Dyas."

"And how do you think we feel about it? Do you think we like being reminded that one day we're going to die, that one day the Lady will come and take us back to the sea?” Dyas gestured sharply to the door. “Go out there and tell them to stop or I will."

Enirwë took a step forward, but made no move toward the door other than to sharply motion Dyas away from it.

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