Elanraigh: The Vow

“Black sails!” Lady Fideiya exclaimed.
“Aye,” affirmed Nan, her eyes widening as she observed Lady Fideiya’s expression, “She said the forest sang to her and she saw black sails on the horizon.”
Lady Fideiya pondered her gaze unfocused. It could merely have been that the chambermaids had frightened the girl with old tales of Memteth raiders. She sorted through possibilities. Could Thera have simply been dreaming the forest sang? Or could the child have the old gift, truly be in communion with the Elanraigh elementals, and be hearing at such a young age? Fideiya herself had only a vague sense of the forest-mind.
No, thought Fideiya, surely not the old gift. Yet, Thera dreamed and the forest sang. Black sails! Could that vileness, the Memteth—monsters of legend and fireside tales—truly be advancing on Allenholme, and no warning.