From alt.pub.dragons-inn Thu Mar 10 07:34:08 1994
Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:7097
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!hal.com!olivea!koriel!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!nntp.ucsb.edu!mustang.mst6.lanl.gov!nntp-server.caltech.edu!news.claremont.edu!kaiwan.com!wetware!spunky.RedBrick.COM!psinntp!psinntp!isc-newsserver!ritvax.isc.rit.edu!ABB6731
From: abb6731@ritvax.isc.rit.edu (Mr. Sinister)
Subject: [JOI-Segoi] Crossing the Sea
Message-ID: <1994Mar9.232226.22164@ultb.isc.rit.edu>
Sender: news@ultb.isc.rit.edu (USENET News System)
Nntp-Posting-Host: vaxa.isc.rit.edu
Reply-To: abb6731@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology
Date: Wed, 9 Mar 1994 23:22:26 GMT
Lines: 96

		[JOI - Segoi]  Across the water.

		by:

			Mr. Sinister...  -  Segoi,
			Jen Clifford     -  Laurenth.

		Synopsis:  Nearing the western shore the two travellers prepare
	to se out across the plains to the vale.

	The wind was cold and the day clear.  The sun rose early on the sea,
peeking up over the horizon.  Laurenth woke to the sound of water lapping
against wood.  She started not realizing she was on a boat and sat up quickly. 
The motion of this rocked the small craft slightly and got a small chuckle out
of Segoi who sat facing her at the tillar.

		"Did you sleep well, young one?" he asked

		"Only as well as one can in a small boat on rock hard boards!"
she retorted.

	At this he smiled again, though one could only glimpse it under his
hood.

	The day passed slowly as the little boat ranged across the wide sea. 
Segoi minded the tillar and watched the horizon.  Laurenth watched Segoi and
the sky hoping it would not rain while she lay unprotected in the open waters.

		"Are you hungry Luarenth?" asked Segoi as the sun rose to its
peak.  "There are dried rations behind you and water in the skins.  It should
last us for the week."

		"The Week!  Week!  You never said it would take us a week in
this little boat." Laurenth seemed to have suddenly realized her plight.  She
was stuck on this craft with a person she hardly knew for 7 days, in the open
sea, alone.  'I'm going to loose it this time for sure!' she thought to
herself.

	The next couple of days passed uneventfully, Segoi took time off to go
swimming giving Laurenth her much needed privacy.  The nights were warm, which
was unusual, the days long, which was not surprising, and the sea cold, which
was obvious.

		"Do I remember you playing a flute some time ago Segoi?"
questioned Laurenth on the thrid day.  "Would you teach it me.  I have little
skill in such things, but would like to learn."  She looked hopeful as it would
help pass the time, which seemed to grow like grass on a well watered lawn.

		"Yes.  I will teach it you," replied Segoi reaching into his
pack and drawing a bamboo flute from it, "Here. Blow across that."

	Laurenth tried a few times...a strange noise issued from the flute. 
Segoi smiled.
 
	After an hour of trying with Segoi prodding here and ther when Laurenth
had difficulties with the pipe, she began to get the hang of playing it.

		"There little one, you sound much better" commented Segoi.

		"Thank you!" she replied somewhat sarcastically.

	The rest of the day the wind blew straight from the east, pushing the
little boat across the crests of the waves.  The next day was much the same,
and as the sun bent down towards the western horizon a long strip of land could
be seen black against its fiery orange.

		"There," pointed Segoi, "The Western lands.  We must journey
far inland and into the mountains.  There should be a river to follow, that
will lead us to Aleric."

		"And how do you know all this?" questioned Laurenth.  She did
not feel comfortable with the large figure, he always seemed to know exactly
what he was doing and where to go.

	Segoi returned the question with a stare from under his hood, Laurenth
caught the glint of golden eyes fixed on her.  The did not move, yet she felt
that they carried no hatre, fear, anger, infact they did not carry any emotion. 
The just stared at her with a lost look.

		"Sleep while you can.  We will arrive early tomorrow, and by
mid-day I want to be well on our way."

		"Suit yourself," replied Laurenth, "It will feel good to have
hard ground under me again!"

	With that she curled up and tried to go to sleep.  Segoi watched her
for a while, then reaching inside his own cloak, pulled out his own pipe and
began to play softly.  The music drifted out over the waves, was caught up by
the wind and carried far away.  It floated gently across Laurenth's ears
soothing her mind, and lulling her to sleep.

	The next morning she awoke to find they had reached a bay, before them
streatched the shores of the great western continent.  She sat up and rubbed
her eyes.  They were on a beach, and Segoi was nowhere in sight.

__________