Now here’s a tale both sad and true ‘Bout a flaxen haired babe with eyes of silver-blue Charyia birthed from the heart of the storm Charyia, King Riamh’s first-born. A ship adrift on a restless sea Cosan Realta cried once in pain Then stood apart from the life she gave When she turned her face toward the Flame. Flaxen-haired and silver-eyed Her lungs full of life as her mother died The heavens turned to see the child And the whirlpool began to spin. Riamh gave his wife to the ocean deep Her mortal remains in Lady Mara’s keep While under the salty-moon’s shattered light He called for balance, come due from the night. The storm returned when the moon sunk low Hell’s own breath behind the blow From the maw of a cyclone that sundered and slew, The whirlpool turned as Fates own hand Spun the ship and shook her crew. Onward, toward that fateful sand And into the realm of certain doom. Flaxen haired and silver-eyed Her lungs full of life as her mother died The heavens turned to see the child And the whirlpool began to spin. The Never-Dead-Witch waits upon the lee Her magic aglow with goddess fire. ‘Life for the price of blood and bone? A boon I offer thee. One soul for all is my desire. The hand of your King, the Eternal Tree. Say it or begone for good, but Crann Og Riamh belongs to me.’ The captain stood upon his deck and held his daughter tight, ‘For seed, my crew, and my ship, I’ll marry you this night But Witch, this must thee know Love like trees takes time to grow.’ Flaxen-haired and silver-eyed Her lungs full of life as her mother died The heavens turned to see the child And the whirlpool began to spin. The witch clutched her chest when she espied the babe A dark heart softened, blossomed, gave. ‘The planets have aligned,’ she cried, ‘The silver-eyed daughter forbidden me With my Destiny has arrived. Chariya is most welcome on my shore. Now let us away, my Lord, my King The Shadow foretold in Gaiadon Lore Is upon our horizon, and we must prepare for war.’ Flaxen-haired and silver-eyed Her lungs full of life as her mother died The heavens turned to see the child And the whirlpool began to spin.