He stands on the shore line, testing his leg in the waves. It has healed a little, and Illusive can move about without much hinderance, although exerting himself would make the leg ache as of the wound was freshly new. He had spent the last week in the Bay, cooped up with only his anger to occupy him. His anger at Duke, although obviously sated since his victory, his anger at the lagoon attack that had come barely a few days after. It was an anger and an itch that Illusive could not shake off, even the arrival of the intriguing Tali’Zorah couldn’t stop it from biting away at the back of his mind.

And so when he finds himself moving forward into the surf he doesn’t stop himself, and even when he grows tired after swimming he does not turn back. He knows where he is going, although he isn’t sure what prompts him to be there. He longs for the heat, for something other than the cold of his Bay. He doesn’t head for the crossing like most would, he swims to Salem instead and more specifically, the Dune’s.

Atheron would be able to look after the ladies whilst Illusive was gone, Rozalija and Tali’Zorah would be safe with him (if the two of them were still in the Bay, and had not decided to wander).

The last time he had been here he had been curious about Sato’s herd, mostly because it seemed that the flashy, leggy lead stallion had never been around to look after them. Now it seemed he had gone entirely, and Illusive scratches away the border line with his hoof. The warmth evaporates the water on his skin, leaving him sticky and hot, but it is a welcome change from the biting cold he is used to. His leg aches, and Illusive knows that he won’t be able to swim back anytime soon.

He might as well explore, and perhaps see if any of Sato’s attractive ladies were still here.

the illusive man
king of the bay