Page 67 of Potions & Pints
Tan had told the others and they had quickly agreed. No one wanted to be in the depths of the underwater parts of the castle or halfway to Galmin Ait when their gills stopped working. With everything being so unstable it was the only way.
“It won’t hurt much,” the Librarian said.
Tan was unsure if that was a joke or not.
The Librarian cast a spell on the whole circle then walked around to each pair.
Tan felt a sharp pinch when his gills were rebonded to him. It wasn’t too bad.
The Librarian stepped up to the first human and placed one hand on his shoulder, the other on the elf partner. As the Librarian mouthed the spell — another protection the man was taking, no incantations were said out loud anymore, lest some child try to repeat them — the human cried out.
“Did it hurt, Vir?” Luevie asked when it was over as she handed him back his lyre.
“Not at all.”
“Tan? Did it hurt you?”
“I felt a pinch,” Tan said honestly. “Not bad.”
“It looked like it hurt,” she said, looking back at the circle.
Every single human had cried out and half of them had fallen to their knees. Now they sat on the sand, obviously uncertain of what to do next. The plan was for each elf who had partnered with them at the ceremony to escort them back to the castle where Pili had a huge feast being prepared.
“Getting gills is a little hard,” Tan said. “Buthavinggills is worth it.”
Luevie looked dubious. She hugged Vir and ran off to find her mother.
Pili, Tan, Vir and the others swam ahead. The feast was not only to celebrate the ceremony, it was also their last night before they set out for Sunfall.
“They are adjusting okay,” Pili said, sitting down next to Tan between courses.
The meal was in the great hall and some of the men were taking turns seeing how far they could dive down. Tan agreed.
“I wanted the last night to be special,” Pili said.
“It’s great.”
“But?”
Tan didn’t see any point in lying.
“I’m worried.”
“About Sunfall? I wasn’t going to tell you, but I’m bringing…well, maybe better if you don’t know. But I’m sure I’ll be able to keep you out of prison. Every elf and man has his price, you know.”
“Thanks,” Tan said, genuinely touched.
“Feel better?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” Pili said and patted Tan’s knee. “Have some fun. Tomorrow, we sail.”
Tan listened and made the most of the rest of the night. But he didn’t sleep. He’d worry about Sunfall, and what might be waiting for him, when they got there. The voyage was worrisome enough.
They were on the ship at sunrise. The whole town turned out to see them off, but only the Librarian, his assistant and Dania were allowed on the dock. Dania could not hold back her tears.
“It is so unjust that we lost each other for so long and now you are being taken away from me again,” she said as she hugged Tan.
