The heat of the sun turned cold upon Roland’s skin as he listened to Rikyn’s account of Kisamoa. At times it seemed as if they would never be allowed a moment of respite, a breath of quiet. First plagues and floods and discord between herds, what other biblical misfortunes would they encounter, and where were the Gods that were meant to protect them?

If Rikyn had planned on telling them more, it was cut off by the gradual advance of a haunting song, a melody carried on the salty breeze that floated towards them from across sparkling waters. It beckoned, tempted, and Roland’s gaze followed the curve of the ocean in its direction. A dark shape was perched upon the rocks at the water’s edge, gentle waves sweeping the shimmering curve of its unusual tail. Roland had seen a similar creature many years ago, on the very same shores, but it was evident this was not the same being. The hair that cascaded in inky curls down to its knees held nothing of the silver sheen he had seen on the selkie, and its skin was dark and vibrant, shimmering with an array of colours that bore no resemblance to the pale being he had once met. However, this one was no less peculiar. Roland glanced back at his party to see what they made of it. The gilded stallion that stood before him was nodding in its direction with a devilish grin on his lips, evident that he was unperturbed by the sight of such an unusual thing. Before the rest of them could move, the young Lord vanished into thin air before their eyes, and Roland did not need to see his movements to know mischief was the only thought on Rikyn’s mind. Following suit, the spotted mare darted in towards the unsuspecting creature, her raven companion whirling around the shoulders of the aquatic being.

The Phantom trailed after them with an inward sigh, unsure whether to intervene with their childish play, or let them have their fun. Before any of them could make much headway in their game, there was a sudden, blinding flash of light that erupted from somewhere along the shore. For a moment all Roland could do was stumble back, blinking to clear the vibrant, flashing spots from his vision. There was darkness for a moment, pain ringing in his skull, and as his eyes readjusted to the early morning light he noticed dark shapes cutting their way through the water, fins slicing the surface like brandished blades. Roland glanced towards the horned mare wading through the deeper water, at the painted pegasus endeavoring to steal the creature’s possessions, and broke into a run towards the ocean’s edge. “Get out of the water!”