while tulanda was forcefully plunged into the sacred river and held in place by the veiled makers , splashing and flailing and even whining disgracefully , it felt as though they were all holding their breath , waiting for the man with the long hair and beard and the striking robes sky-white and glowing like the indestructible milkwood of the everbridge , existing since the dawn of time and not built by hand to pronounce the foolish mates crime ; but no matter how they hushed their minds to harken , the sage remained silent , which was somehow even more intimidating .