The Sea speaks, they say in Accordo.
The Sea sings, they say in Altissia.
The Sea screams, they say in Galahd.
Don’t be ridiculous, mainlanders scoff, unlearned in the ways of the Sea are they, that’s just the waves.
The King and his men stole the Queen from Her bed
The islanders laugh at their ignorance and pity any of the poor fools that try to brave deeper waters. Such idiocy has no place on the Sea – for the Sea is not kind and She gives no quarter and takes no prisoners. So far from land, there is no safety net to fall back on, no lighthouse to guide you home. Ignorance on the Sea is Death and She will not spare you if you are unprepared when She comes to call.
You must listen, the islanders say, Open your ears and hear Her. Listen beyond the waves and the roar of the water, listen.
It’s just the wind, the mainlanders shrug, waving away the words as if that will make them less true, The sea is no more alive than the land.
And bound Her in Her bones
Titan sleeps and has for ages, even before it was so decreed. That does not mean the stones cannot hear you speak. That does not mean the land does not breathe.
You must listen, they repeat, Can’t you hear the Sea crying for Her Brother as the waves break upon the sand?
Nothing more than rushing water, is the dismissive reply, You islanders are too superstitious a lot. Next you’ll say the sea is haunted!
The Seas be ours and by the powers where we will we’ll roam
Not by men, the islanders respond.
The mainlanders laugh, Ghost stories and nonsense!
Yo ho, all hands Hoist the colors high
If you will not listen, then do not wander, the islanders caution coolly, She will not pity you when She drags you into Her depths.
Water does not scare us, the mainlanders say, If we were not meant to cross it, we would not have ships. There is no reason to fear.
There isn’t, the islanders agree, But you must show respect. You must listen.
There is nothing to listen to, the mainlanders disagree.
And the islanders shake their heads as they sail off into deeper waters. No one is surprised when they are not heard from again.
Have pity, the islanders tell their children when they ask about the strangers who sailed away, For the Sea will have none.
Heave ho, thieves and beggars
The Sea speaks, the islanders tell their children, She sings and She screams. You must listen.
And they do. The children stand on the shore, water rushing up to cover their legs, feet sinking into the sand. They listen. They listen and they hear, beneath the howling wind and the roar of the water, a voice rolling over the waves and crashing upon the shore, echoing, but never quiet managing to linger.
Never shall we die.
The Sea speaks.
Listen.














