Diera
Diera sat atop the stony ground that was previously adorned in many monstrous boulders. The boulders, however, now found their resting place securely on the ground below. Diera laughed in delight. She sat staring out into the wide ocean before her. The waves tossed calmly against the shore. Two opposing vessels sat still atop the water. A slight wind blew through the air, making the towering sails from both ships sway as if it danced upon the sky. The sun shone down mercilessly onto the corsair-filled lands. If there were any remaining Elves, which were not trapped within the rock walls of the cave, they could not be seen by Diera at that moment. Even at this point, though, Diera would not have noticed them if they were, for she sat gazing into the sea.
Her thoughts filled with pleasure as she stared into the deep, blue world at the land’s edge. Oh, how she wished she could be out there again. She thought honestly to herself, Nothing is more peaceful, than to be out at sea, roaming wherever my ship may take me. Such a wondrous place it is out there...so exotic and untamed by mortal hands. I wish one day to see it all. Suddenly a most irksome brawl broke even her most serene thoughts. She turned to see Jynne standing beside Marreth near the edge. Jynne seemed to be arguing down at Jarlyn below, but even beyond them, another cry could be heard.
“It’s the Elves,” she said aloud. A few of the crewmembers stopped and listened intently to the screams coming from inside the cave.
“That's enough, the both of you!” Marreth said suddenly. Even Jynne now stood quietly listening to the commotion below.
Diera almost felt an urge to break out in laughter, but she smiled wickedly instead. “It won’t be long now,” she said, half to herself and half to anyone who was listening. “The Elves have no way out. What else can they do but find the Palantiri?”
Sounds could be heard below of not only screams for help, but also rustling, as if they were trying to push some of the boulders away from the opening. It’s impossible,Diera thought. It was hard enough pushing those stone down there. They’ll never be able to move them. She looked back out to sea. The Elven ship rocked smoothly as the waves beat against its curved frame. The Elves will be gone, and the seeing stones will be ours.
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