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Flying... Heidla smirked. "Do you actually know - oh, of course you don't, I have a sort of a flying mount? And I also have wings!"

She looked down at the little fluffy misunderstanding in her hip area. "Not that it actually helps me to fly.... I have never met the War clan, myself. I mean, I've read a lot about them, but all my knowledge turns to be so useless and distorted here. And I have never actually been in a real fight. My guardian fought for me. He's no more".

There was a bitter edge to her voice when she spoke so casually about the death of the only person that cared for her in her previous life. But she shrugged it off and continued with excessive haste: "But when you say the rivers and lakes, do you mean you live in the water? Like selkies?"

Selkies were probably the only other type of creatures Heidla met in her life - and the only one she admired for just being seal-like. The thing that perplexed her, was: "Body language? Then you must be great dancers! But how can you dance in the water? And do you sing as well? Oh, sing me a song, please?"

Heidla imagined a quiet and solemn dance, her new acquiantance waltzing in an epic way (aren't all old stories epic?) but then water spoilt it all. Really, water wouldn't let you do things.

Then it was all gone. By his sudden tenseness Heidla realized she said something wrong. She rushed to get in front of him and looked him straight into the eyes. "Did I ask something wrong? I am sorry, I didn't mean it! I don't know what it is like to turn or not to turn into a kelpie, I don't even know what a real kelpie is, so it's just.... You're great, and you were kind to me..."

"And my mount is no mount at all, but a seal, so you may say I am not a real horseman, too!"

Then she continued meekly: "I don't want to force you to talk about your home, I am really interested, of course, - our books were so...one-sided, and now I see that the world is different from what I thought it is. Even my dreams are different now, because I see more clearly".

She stopped suddenly. Was it for the first time that she realized there was something not exactly right in the way the Clans lived and thought? Could it be that they misinterpreted all the signs in their visions and trance experience. Could it be that they were all just mistaken for too long a time? Not ready to think about it, she quickly switched the subject: "See, I have never had friends. We - the priestesses - all lived together, but we were never close. Always the rivals. We never looked up to smile, never looked back to help. And I have always thought that's the only way it could be..."

"An exam to be allowed to remain?" Heidla wondered who could even invent such a trial. She also asked herself whether, be such a trial introduced in their clan, she would have been allowed to stay with her kin, and if she would have wanted to.

Has she ever wanted to protect someone? Has she ever cared enough to want to protect someone? She remember the years with other priestesses at the Temple and realized she never became close with anyone. Protection? If she were on a mission or if she was ordered to guide someone through the trance or if she had to escort someone in the temple, she did her best and made it safe and clean. Sometimes it included protection, but that she never put her heart into it.

"You people seem to be strong and proud", she finally added. "Thank you for sharing with me that much. If ever a word from the priestess of Death - who were considered to be strong and knowing - helps you in gaining favour with them, let them know I deem you strong and worthy". It was bitter, again. Why would a monster clan she never knew anything about care for her words? Then in the world where she grew up her word meant a lot. Her clansmen would do anything to earn a kind glance from a priestess.

"We don't", she answered his question. "We pray instead... I mean, as far as the movement is concerned, we dance and we sing, but there is no joy in that for us. It is not meant to make you happy, just a way of addressing Death - and it is never personal. And never easy, and I keep wondering if we're ever answered".

She shook her head. She could not help coming back to the idea of protection, though, as chimed with all her doubts about trust and care and the reason why her world was there no more. "It seems quite peaceful here. What are you afraid of? Why do your kin need strength and protection that much?"

Oh Jack, she cursed silently. As it wasn't peaceful enough on the Isle of Death.

Heidla was happy to see that dark and threatening darkness of the swamp really cleared out, and they were getting to a more familiar area. Yet she felt strangely moved and felt an unknown pang of warmth towards the kelpie that guided her through the unknown and possibly dangerous territory. Guided her. It was strange for a priestess who spends her life guiding others to see the roles reversed, and yet it was not an unpleasant feeling. Nor she felt humiliated as she would have expected herself to be.

"Thank you", she turned to Calder. "For finding me there, and for telling me your story. I feel better about your world now. And I will definitely come to the ball, and I will take you at your word and find you there to show me how you dance".

There were sparkles of mischief in her light blue eyes. "We're almost out, and we'll part soon. I guess, it is not our last meeting - but I also have something to share with you. Do you want to see my mount?"

Heidla shrugged her shoulders. "Well, I signed up for the blind escort service - the blind date, as you call it, but I guess that would be a disaster. I am not quite the social type, taken my upbringing and my social standing". She would hate to ruin the illusion, but on the isle of Death noone would really ever raise eyes to the priestess, leave alone talk to her or ask her for a dance. Besides, she was not that sure about the "date" thing. What are they supposed to do? Is it connected to some calendar rite? The cycle of rebirth?

"But come I would, and I would admire your mask, of course. Won't you be wearing green? I presume it would suit you". Then, a roguish smile appeared on her face.

She closed her eyes and concentrated on a white spot somewhere within her. She felt it growing and growing until it was big enough to overwhelm her, then to rush out of her, - and she let it loose. Here it was: her mount. Actually, it didn't look like a mound. it looked like a sparkling fluffy grey cloud in the form of a seal. "See? A mount, but not equine".

She laughed: "I guess I can give you a ride - so that you could experience the feeling. You wouldn't be able to mount a horse, would you?"

Heidla blushed and appeared annoyed. "Well, I never meant it that way.... I even didn't mean it as a matter of recognition, after all, that is just a part of me - as if I showed you my true form. Seeing one's mount - not a big deal in my world!"

She jumped on her seal and waved her hand. "Then it's up to you, kelpie-boil!" Her voice softened. She suddenly realized that it could be that for him, being of an equine race, riding was something different than convenience. "Though I do trust you - at least, you got me out of the bog!..."

"Sure!" Heidla came back to a pleasanter mood. After all, didn't that mean that he was impressed by her mount after all. "Jump on!" - and she stretched her hand out helping him to climb up.

The back of the seal was broad and soft, and it felt like riding on a flying carpet. "He's me and not me at the same time", she explained. "A tool and a friend. And I guess he doesn't mind you - well, you helped me out after all, so he's sort of paying you back and saying his thank you by allowing you to climb", she grinned widely just coming to the realization that it Calder's head it could have head different implications. "Well, you do not actually "ride" him, as a horse. It is more of a companionship - and same way for me, as if I were talking to my elder brother being my alter-ego. The bond is unshakeable. But I find it far more convenient than riding a horse", she gave him a teasing look. "And far more... comfortable".

"Well, probably seals are not the fastest creatures, unless water is involved, but then I am not ready for diving, are you? Or well, let's make it my thank you. Just give me whatever type of experience you want, and I'll ask him to go faster or slower. Or even go underwater", Heidla grinned. She was enjoying herself - as almost every time she was riding her mount. After all, it was so cute!

"His strong points are not speed nor power", she continued to explained. "But he's very stable, he wont go anywhere, - not that I had many opportuities to check his abilities, - and quite maneuvring", she looked and Calder and suggested benighly: "Oh, you can pat him, he wouldn't mind... "

Heidla made the seal move slower. "I see. You don't have much opportunity to get this feeling", she nodded. "It is easy to rule him - if I allow you that, of course", well, she could afford to play that out, no harm would be done if she showed this kelpie how magnanimous the horsemen could be. If they chose to be, that is.

"Pat his right side with your hand, and he will turn right. Pat his left side to make him turn left. Or just put your head on his forehead and he will move steadily. He's not a fan of speed, so unless you make him accelerate, or unless he feels the danger, he won't rush forward", the priestess explained and moved a bit, so that the boil could sit comfortably. "Don't worry, I'll be on my guard. And relax", she noticed how tense he was. "It is not that I want to make fun of you".