by R C Gray
Throwing his shield to the ground, Braig picked up a heavy rock and hurled at the remaining guard. The stone bounced off the man’s arm as he lifted it to protect his face, but that was all time Braig needed. Covering the short distance between them, he knocked the sword from the man’s hand with a downward swing and drove his blade through his chest, severing the arteries in his heart. The man was dead before he hit the ground.
Breathing hard, Braig sheathed his sword and sprinted over to Ferhani, picking up his shield as he ran. The burning scent of cedar and pine filled the air as the smoke filled the clearing, stagnant in the grasp of the small, still grove.
“Are you alright? Can ya walk?” Braig said, coughing as he tried to wave away some of the smoke.
“I can make it. We have to move before we’re burned alive.”
Grabbing Ferhani by the hand, Braig pulled her low, leading her out of the forest towards the city streets. Moving farther away from the flames, the darkness hid them from the view of the guards as they began to spread out, searching the woodline and trying to avoid any falling debris from the burning trees.
“It’s just ahead, I can see the wagon.”
Climbing into the back of the cart, Braig pulled aside a thick canvas sheet and tossed their weapons in the corner. “Give me your hand.”
Reaching down, he gripped Ferhani’s forearms as he lifted, hurrying to get her to safety. Catching his heel on the side of his shield, he stumbled backwards into the cart, bringing Ferhani up and over the back before landing on his chest. Yanking the canvas sheet over them, he could feel the heat of her body against him as he banged his hand on the seat, giving the signal for the wagon to move.
The cart rambled down the cobblestones, bouncing hard as they made their way to the rendezvous point to take the next wagon to the docks. Ferhani’s chest heaved as she stared down at Braig, not bothering to roll off of him. Her mouth hung slightly open as she leaned in closer. “That was close,” she said, letting her body press harder into his. “I’m starting to wonder if you and yours are worth all the trouble.”
Braig swallowed hard, his mouth slightly open, no words escaping.
“But I should hope you are. After all this, if I can’t count on you take care of my ship, I’ll have to kill you myself.” Leaning her face closer, she let her lips hover over Braig’s face, her warm breath blowing over his cheek. “But before then,” she said, sniffing as she moved closer, “you should really wash your beard.”
Braig’s heart beat faster as she smiled down at him, her body bouncing on his as the wagon moved through the city, weaving between the streets, carrying them away from the destruction behind them.
A Parting of Ways
The wagon slowed to a halt in front of a long alley, giving them just enough time to climb off before it pulled away, leading any guards that might be following down a false trail. Moving quickly down the dark lane, Braig and Ferhani could see the cart waiting in the dim light of the street just ahead. A stained canvas tarp covered the back of the wagon, shifting slightly as the others moved beneath it.
Tapping on the side of the wagon, Braig helped Ferhani up onto the bench and climbed up after her, taking the reins in his hands. “Everyone back there?”
“We’re all here,” Faine said, peeking his head out from under the cloth.
Putting his hand on Faine’s face, Braig pushed his head down and tucked the tarp back in place. “Good. Let’s get moving.”
Giving a quick whip to the reins, the horses trotted down the cobblestone road towards the docks, being kept at a steady pace to avoid drawing attention. The grinding of the wheels against the hard stone echoed off the buildings, making Braig’s shoulders tighten as he watched the darkened windows of the shops as he passed. “I don’t like being the only people on the road. By the stone! The roar of the wheels’ll give us away if anyone’s close enough to hear ‘em.”
“This way,” Ferhani said, pointing down a narrow side-street. “Not much farther.”
Handing the reins to Ferhani, Braig scanned the streets, keeping watch for any guards that might be heading their way. Turning down the broad lane that led straight to the dock, he heard the sound of hooves battering the streets in the distance, running hard as they followed the rumbling decoy carts away.
“We need to get the ship. It’s not safe out here. And what about Gilly and Jutnar?”
Ferhani glanced over her shoulder as she gave the reins a quick snap, urging the horses to move faster. “They’ll be fine. By now, they’ve jumped off the wagons and let the horses run. They’re most likely back at the warehouse having a drink.”
Taking a deep breath, Braig let his shoulders relax as he looked out over the harbor. Ships lined the docks, bobbing and swaying with the waves as they crashed gently over the shore. Beyond them was a vast expanse of nothingness that stretched out to the horizon, the water and the sky indistinguishable from the other. Aside from the glow of the moons rippling over the waves, everything looked empty and calm with nothing in the distance but darkness. He wasn’t sure why he was comforted by this, but it made him feel more at ease than he had in months.
“Are we almost there?” Renna said. “It smells like piss back here.”
“You try sleeping on that mattress and see how it makes you smell,” Faine said, lifting the tarp flap once more.
“Be quiet,” Ferhani said, reining the wagon to a stop. “We’re here. When we pull the tarp back, hurry up and board the ship and head below decks.”
“Aye, captain,” Faine said, pulling the canvas back over his face.
Shaking her head, Ferhani climbed off the wagon and lowered the back gate. “Here we go,” she said, lifting the back of the tarp.
Skara scampered down the back of the wagon and scurried underneath, watching for anything coming down the street as Renna and Faine helped Aenwyn out of the cart, her throat scratched and bruised where the commander’s hand had held her. Pushing them along, Ferhani pointed them towards the ship as she led the wagon farther down the road and tied up the horses.
The lanterns on the deck of the ship lit the base of the two large masts and the crumpled burgundy sails that had been lowered while docked. Although she couldn’t make out all the details, Renna could see that the ship was long and narrow, but large enough to store plenty of cargo and a good amount of crew.
“You can admire the ship when she’s out at sea,” Ferhani said as she strode across the narrow gangplank and opened a hatch leading below decks. “Down the ladder, and I’ll show you to your room.”
“Did you say room?” Faine said, taking a step down the ladder.
“Just get down the ladder,” Braig said as he started climbing down, forcing Faine to move or be pushed.
Ferhani shut the hatch as she squeezed by the group and led them down the tight hallway. “We have several rooms off the main hallway. The galley is in the back left, the privy in the back right. You’ll find a bucket and soap for washing in there and a barrel of fresh water. Be easy on the water and soap because it has to last until the next port. And if you think being under the tarp with Faine smelling like piss is bad, you don’t want to be on a ship where the whole crew—yourselves included—smell that way. Now,” she said, opening the door near the washroom, “this is where you’ll be staying.”
“And how are we all going to fit in here?” Faine said as he stuck his head inside the door. “There are five of us.”
“That’s about right. It’s not much different for the crew. There’s a bunk bed in the back, a bedroll underneath, and a hammock in the corner.”
“It’ll do just fine,” Braig said. “Now I think it’s time we all get some sleep. When do we set sail?”
“You’ll leave a bit after sunup when all the gear is loaded. I’ll be back down in the morning before you go to fill you in on the details and introduce you to the crew. Stay out of sight if you go up on deck. We should be fine here, but there are no guarantees. And if you hear anything out of the ordinary, the
re’s a hatch through that crate near the bed. Open the top, lift the hatch and crawl in. It’ll be tight for all of you, but it should keep you hidden. Now get some rest,” Ferhani said as she turned and stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind her.
Jumping up on the top bunk, Faine took off his shirt, smelled it, and tossed it to the floor. “At least this mattress is better than the last one.”
“What about you, Skara, hammock, or bedroll?” Braig said.
“I’ll take the bedroll.” Untying the leather cord, he unrolled it under the bottom bunk and crawled inside, hiding his head from the lanterns burning on the wall.
“Well, that leaves the bed for you,” Renna said as she looked over at Aenwyn.
“Can I talk to you up on the deck?”
Renna nodded her head and opened the door. Climbing up the ladder, the two moved to the bow of the ship, staying hidden in the shadows.
“I can’t come with you,” Aenwyn said, leaning against the railing as she gazed out over the dark waters.
Pressing her back against the rail, Renna looked over at Aenwyn and crossed her arms. “I just thought you wouldn’t want to stay here.”
“I’m not. But I have something I need to take care of before I go. And I’ve been thinking about what you said about going to the wastes. The shadow stone could just be a story, but it makes sense that something could have been created by the cult. And if it is real, I don’t think that’s the only one. There are old fables about powerful magic or stones from centuries ago.”
“So, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying that if it’s real, there’s a good chance it’d be somewhere like the ruins—that place is full of death. But I’m also saying that even if it’s not, there’s a good chance you may not make it out. It’s still a dangerous place.”
Looking down at her hands, Renna picked at her nails, letting out a sigh. “You think I don’t know that? Something’s out there, and someone’s looking for us because we helped Braig, and they were using him to find it. And whatever it is, it’s powerful. It’s the kind of thing bards write stories about.”
“And that’s fine, you can go there and search. I’m not going to try to stop you. I’m just telling you to be careful. I know the kinds of things that are supposed to be out there. Just stay low and quiet, keep your weapons out, and don’t be afraid to use your magic if you have to. I saw the burning man out there on the field. I saw what you can do.”
Renna turned her eyes down, staring at her fingers as she picked as her nails. “And that doesn’t scare you, watching me bring a corpse back with dark magic?”
“It doesn’t. I’ve seen things, done things. I didn’t get these scars from doin’ nothin’. We are who we are.”
Turning towards Aenwyn, Renna reached out and pushed a strand of her red hair behind her ear, lightly tracing down the scar on Aenwyn’s face. “Thank you for everything. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”
Aenwyn shrugged. “Look, I don’t know how long you’ll be out there, but I’ll be leaving here in less than a week, and I’d like to see you again. I’ll be heading to Ferridacci, which is on the south side of the mountains just east of the wastes. Keep going until you come to the river and find a place to cross, then follow the mountain range south. That should get you there. I plan on staying at The Evyresada Inn—it means The Riverside Inn. When you make it out, you should head there. I may have some more information about the stones for you. But be careful of who you talk to there. Some people don’t like anyone a bit different. After all, Aerith isn’t known for having the best history with anyone with orcish blood.”
“And if I don’t make it there?” Renna said, moving in closer to Aenwyn.
“Then it will truly be a sad day,” she said, taking Renna’s hands. “Take care of yourself, Renna Onthera. I’ll be waiting for you by the riverside.” Leaning forward, Aenwyn pressed her lips lightly to Renna’s before turning and running across the gangplank and into the night.
Rubbing her hand over her eyes, she wiped away several tears as she walked across the deck and down the hatch, sagging wearily into her bed and thinking about all the things she’d lost along the way here, but all things still out there for her to find.
A loud knock sounded on the door the next morning, and with it, the call that breakfast was ready in the galley. Climbing out from under the bed, Skara picked up Faine’s dirty shirt and tossed it up on the top bunk, landing over Faine’s mouth. “Get dressed. It’s time for something better than rancid broth and stale bread.”
Faine coughed and sputtered as he threw the shirt back onto the floor. “C’mon! You know where that shirt’s been. Why would you do that?” he said, picking pieces of hair off his tongue as he jumped down to the floor. “I don’t even know where this hair came from.”
Shaking Renna’s shoulder, Faine stretched out his foot and pushed Braig, sending him rocking back and forth in his hammock.
“Do that again, elf, and I’ll toss you overboard,” Braig said, trying to steady himself before climbing down onto a box out of the hammock.
“Just testing your sea legs. The water was pretty calm last night. Just wait till we get away from the shore,” Faine said, looking around the room. “Does anyone know where she put our bags? I don’t really want to go to breakfast topless, you know?”
“Why not?” Braig said. “With no shirt and pretty blonde hair like yours, you might just get a bit extra.”
“You know what, you might be right. Off to breakfast, then. You coming, Renna?”
Rolling out of the bunk, Renna stretched and trudged to the door.
“Everything alright?”
“It’s fine. I’m just ready to eat and get moving.”
Following Renna to the galley, bowls had been set out on the table next to a large pot of fish and leek soup. Several loaves of dark bread and a knife sat at the end of the table.
“Looks like I didn’t need to flaunt myself after all to get a bit extra,” Faine said, dishing out some soup into his bowl.
Hearing footsteps outside the door, Ferhani peeked around the corner before stepping into the galley. “Good, you’re up,” she said, looking over at Faine, eyebrows raised. “Trying something different for breakfast?”
Faine glanced down and shrugged as he took a bite of his bread. “I couldn’t find my bag, so...”
“That’s right. I’ll have them brought down. Finish your breakfast, get changed, and meet me on deck in about ten minutes. I’ll introduce you to the captain and crew.”
“Where’s everyone else?” Skara said.
“They’ve already eaten and are on deck making preparations. Ten minutes,” Ferhani said as she walked away, leaving them alone to eat.
Finishing their meal, they heard several loud bumps in the hallway near the ladder. Sitting in a large pile were stacks of bags and weapons, spilling out onto the ground.
“At least they were gentle with it,” Faine said.
Picking up their gear, they tossed it into their room as Faine hastily put on a shirt and followed them up the ladder into the salty morning air.
Up on the main deck, the eight-person crew hustled from stern to bow as they loaded supplies and prepared the burgundy sails to be raised. Stepping up on a crate near the captain, Ferhani shouted over the crew, drawing their attention.
“Everyone listen up. As I’m sure you’ve heard, the ship has four more aboard for half the trip. They’ll be traveling with you to Solis and then taken to their drop point in Aerith. And although they are passengers aboard the ship, they have graciously volunteered to provide an extra set of hands should any disagreement arise while at port or out at sea. I think you’ll find them more than capable of handling themselves in any given situation, and I expect you to treat them with the courtesy they deserve. Is that clear?”
The crew nodded, muttering to themselves as they went back to preparing the ship to sail south. Jumping down from the crate, Ferhani walked with a tall woman
in their direction. The captain’s light brown hair hung in a long braid over her beige shirt. Her sleeves were rolled up past her elbows, and tattoos of what looked like maps covered her arms. Her loose brown pants were tucked neatly into her black boots, each with several chains of jewelry wrapped around them that jingled as she walked beside Ferhani.
“Captain Lorsan, these are the boarders I told you about.”
The captain, standing nearly a foot taller than Faine and Renna, moved closer to the group, looking them up and down. “How many of you have been on a ship before?”
“I have,” Faine said, stepping forward.
“Well then, you know all about how bad it can be for someone’s maiden voyage. I trust that you’ll keep an eye on your friends while we’re out.”
Nodding his head, Faine rubbed his hands through his hair, pulling it back and tying it with a leather cord. “I will. It’s been a while since I’ve been at sea, but I remember enough to make myself useful.”
“Good,” Lorsan said, eyeing the elf. “I’ll make sure to remember that.”
“And just how bad does it get out there?” Braig said.
“I’m not gonna lie to you, the water near the coast of Solis can be a bit rough. The sea is fairly calm on the way if we don’t hit storms, but it can still make you green. And as Ferhani said, you’re guests on my ship. But if you get sick, do it overboard or in a bucket. Otherwise, one of your friends will be mopping it up. But we can deal with that when it happens. Mostly, I expect you help when asked and do as you’re told if we get caught in a bad situation; be it the weather or otherwise. And in return, I’ll do my best to make sure you make it to Aerith in one piece.”
Vaguely hearing Lorsan’s words, Braig stared over at Ferhani as she smoothed down her deep blue tunic and adjusted her green and purple bodice. Her long black hair blew softly in the wind, and light specks of sea spray dotted her olive skin. The tattoo near her brow was an arcane symbol he didn’t recognize, but it stood out boldly next to her eyes, drawing attention to their beautiful deep brown hue.