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The Story:
His horse swayed from side to side, weary under the burden of him and his armor. The force of each step rippled up his slumped over body, ending with a bob of his hanging head.
Days of riding had led to no water and barely any food for them. His horse would die of dehydration soon, and he would follow. Both of them would be fated to rot unceremoniously in the wilderness.
He lifted his eyelids from a dream of returning to his kingdom, the city streets filled with his loving people and their triumphal applause. The effort to sit up straight was immense, but when he had achieved the posture, he saw a stone structure ahead of them. He began to have daydreams of water.
Giving Shia a light tap, they picked up speed toward the structure. Her muffled steps in the dirt turned to clopping on stone as they rounded the wall.
The structure had no ceiling. Someone had constructed it to work with the land and the air in some way. In the middle there was a long stone trough recessed into the floor, where ankle deep, clear blue water flowed. It seemed to emerge from the ground at one end and disappear into darkness at the other.
At first sight of the water, he slid off his horse and collapsed by the sparkling stream. Scooping it into his hands, he brought it to his mouth and devoured every drop from his palms.
He smiled and chuckled at his find. When he looked back at Shia, she was just staring at him.
“Come now. I know you’re thirsty.”
He scooped more into his hands and brought it to her, but she hopped backwards to get away. The sound of rushing water grew louder behind him, and he reluctantly turned around.
The stream had formed a woman made of water.
“King Gildan, thank you.”
He studied her before responding. She was mesmerizing but frightening.
“For what?” He asked, not knowing if he wanted to know the answer.
“For agreeing to free me.”
“I agreed to nothing!”
She looked at him as though his words hurt her.
“The water is a binding contract, Gildan. If you fail to free me, you will die.”