The Quest, or perhaps The Task Set Before Her Part 18

Seassa looked down at the piece of paper she'd been working on for the past few days. Finding the right threatening words and proven to be difficult, but she believed that she'd finally achieved the tone she intended. Now to send it. Seassa folded the letter and placed it in the carrier tube. She whistled and a majestic raven with deep scars flew through the cabin window and alighted on the cracked desk. Croaking softly, Seassa¹ described to the raven the ship he was to deliver the message to. The raven nodded and took wing out through the open door scaring the crew members for this raven was no ordinary raven.

He came from the Deeps of Throg, bred and fed by an unnatural hand. He had a wingspan of six feet and had an extra talon on each foot. Very few could stand it's piercing gaze.

Soaring through the air, the raven turned its focus west. He caught a swift wind and soon had the object of his master's desire in his sights.

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Once all hope of finding his sister was gone, Peleg turned his attention to Jeddi and his story. Feeling oddly safe with the pirate, Jeddi spilled out his entire life story, leaving no detail unmentioned. As he caught up to the present day, he felt rather foolish for telling Peleg everything. And yet, there was also a sense of peace surrounding his soul.

Peleg sat back in his chair, stroking his long white beard. Using his stump of a hand, he gestured towards the door. It took Jeddi a moment to realize that Peleg wanted him to leave. After standing up, Jeddi inclined his head in a nod of thanks and exited the room.

Though there was barely any wind and the ship drifted slowly, no one seemed to have any concern, but thoughts and fears plagued Jeddi's mind.

Where was Frieda now?

Was she still alive?

If so, was she safe?

And Andy. Jeddi didn't have to think twice about forgiving his best friend. Forgiveness was a door he'd learned to always keep open. He wished to speak to Andy but didn't know where he would be. It would take days to search through each room.

With a sigh of resignation, Jeddi headed to the stern to watch the rising sun. Perhaps the wonders of the Maker’s creation could still his restless heart. Before he arrived at the stern, he saw that he wasn't alone. A man already stood there leaning forward with his elbows on the railing, his back to Jeddi.

"Beautiful sunrise, ain't it," the man said having heard the footfalls behind him. Jeddi immediately knew that this was Andy. He walked up and stood next to him.

"Aye," Jeddi said. "It is."

Silence hung about the young men as the sun lit up the eastern sky. Never before had Andy felt the Maker's presence as great as he did now. The darkness may have won a week ago but as the horizon glistened with another day's light, Andy could feel that light tug at his heart again. This time he didn't resist. He let himself be pulled into a heavenly embrace.

Though Jeddi couldn't see what Andy was going through, he could see the effects. Andy's face had transformed. Tears fell down his cheeks and peace flooded his eyes. Jeddi reached out and laid his hand on Andy's shoulder. Andy looked up and saw love and mercy in Jeddi's tear-filled eyes. He saw Jeddi's mouth move and form two words.

You're. Forgiven.

Andy could feel every muscle in his body give way. His pride melted away. His anger and hate disappeared. He crumbled to the ground with his head in his hands sobbing. Jeddi sat down beside him and held Andy as the pain of the past washed away down to the ocean floor in the Maker's wave of grace.

Had either of them lifted their heads, they would have seen a large black bird descend into Peleg's cabin.

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¹ Seassa is one of the few people left in Aerwiar who is able to communicate with the ravens.

@Darth Pip Defender of Emus @Leeli Iggyfeather @Oskar (William The Wanderer) @Johannes the Warden (Mordecai) @Janna The Heart @Luke the Professional Human @Azog the Tail-Free Ape since you guys seem to really enjoy my story, I thought it'd be easier to tag you in it so none of you miss it.