Swamped

"I suppose I wish I knew Nual's plans for me," you sigh wistfully.

The priest chuckles, then catches himself.

"I am sorry. I hear such sentiments often. But in truth, the gods do not make plans for we mortals. Nual's primary focus is keeping the ocean flowing, so I doubt he would have a plan for you specifically, Mr. Long." He smirks a little. "Unless, perhaps, he thought you necessary to that goal. I suppose it is not for me to say he doesn't."

Then, suddenly, the priest's face takes on a strange, blank expression.

Return.

Somehow, he doesn't say it with his mouth and it sounds like rushing water.

"I was hoping to, but I don't know how. Other than the long way, but I'm really not sure I'll make it another forty or so years."

Dream, is all he replies. He's not nearly so talkative as the last time you were around him. Maybe he doesn't want future knowledge for some reason.

But you did have a dream of future events - or you will have one, you suppose. So perhaps he's telling you to expect another one. You hope that's it, because judging by the confused expression on the priest's face, Nual seems to have left.

"Pardon me," he says. "I hope I was not insensitive."

"No, it's all right. Suppose at my age, if there's something I was meant to do, I really ought to have figured it out by now."

He smiles.

"I believe that Nual will smile on you, whatever path you choose from here. And I am sure you will have many years yet to walk it. May the waters of the sea lift your vessel on your journey forward."

With that, he walks out. And now you know what you're supposed to do next - sleep.

It feels late all of a sudden, so you probably could do that. But you're having a hard time persuading yourself not to finish the book first.