The Suns Caress A Rayden Valkyrie Tale by Stephen Zimmer

Author:Stephen Zimmer
Format: epub

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When the first light of dawn crested the trees, Timiko’s warriors and the surviving villagers made their way back through the woods and down along the shoreline to where the fleet had been sheltered within the great cavern. Using the small boats left on the shore, several small crews headed into the cavern to bring the ships out.

Not long after, the vessels of Timiko’s fleet began emerging from their sanctuary. A few of them drew close to the shore, while the larger ships of the fleet had to remain a little farther out.

After wading through shallow waters and lending help to the children, elderly, and others among the villagers facing difficulties, Rayden, Timiko, and the pirates assisted the survivors aboard the larger ships. Timiko did her best to keep the villagers together, but a crew of adequate size needed to be kept on each of her larger ships, both to operate and defend them, and she had to disperse the survivors among three vessels.

Rayden cradled an infant in her arms as the mother climbed aboard Timiko’s main ship. Gazing upon the little, vulnerable life within her hands, Rayden saw the value of everything Timiko’s warriors had done in coming to the island and attacking Fujimara’s raiders.

When Rayden handed the baby up to the mother, the woman smiled and gave a bow to Rayden. She then clutched the infant to her chest and moved onward, to join her fellow villagers where they were gathering near the center of the ship.

Rayden climbed aboard a short time after. Mari-Chan stood before her, holding the cloth-wrapped object that Maso had given him, in a way that echoed the mother holding the infant.

Timiko’s ship would be carrying a precious, invaluable cargo, lives and a sacred object, across the waters.

“It is time to go back,” Mari-Chan stated.

“I have seen far enough of this place,” Rayden said, glancing back toward the shore. “Enough to put a few more scars on my memories.”

Once all had come aboard the ship, the crew set oars to the water and began propelling it from the sheltered bay while others set the masts and sails. Glistening in the morning light, the open sea lay beckoned from ahead.

Soon after, the shoreline and distant smoke from the burned village grew smaller as Timiko’s fleet headed into deeper waters. The sun climbing higher into the sky, a steady breeze soon filled the tall, rectangular sails of the ship. With the air currents favorable to sailing, Timiko gave the command to put oars away.

The ship rose and fell, gliding across the low waves. Not acclimating well to the undulating movements of the sea, a few of the villagers grew pale and became sick, heaving the contents of their bellies overboard. Rayden sympathized with them, remembering how queasy she had been when taking her first sea voyage long ago.

Rayden rested her hands on the railing close to the bow of the ship, watching the rolling waves pass by. A few of them shadowing the path of the vessels, gulls soared through the skies above.

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