Architecture & Adversity

by Jeremy Dwyer

  “How precise is your recollection of the battle?” Tomiko asked.

  “I know the positions of the suns in the sky. I do remember that much,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.

  “If you can draw that out, Nina can trace it back to create a chart,” Tomiko said and he took a book from his jacket, opened it to a blank page and placed it on a table in the cabin. He then placed a pen in the book.

  Gabrielle Ramalaxis drew out the sun patterns on the blank page using the pen, marking which suns were blue, yellow or red.

  “Your memory is that precise?” Nina asked, doubtful.

  “Yes. I focus on details, pay close attention to my surroundings and take different possibilities into consideration. That’s how I was able to outmaneuver all my opponents,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.

  “Then I’ll go by what you drew,” Nina said. She then drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from her vial and was energized. She listened for the sounds of the stars, inquiring as to their prior positions, looking for the particular configuration drawn. She heard the strange sound again, and it was clearly in pain, though it caused her no pain. Instead, it caused a confusing haze in her navigational abilities.

  “It’s back,” Nina said, sounding annoyed.

  “That strange sound – like something’s in pain?” Tomiko asked.

  “Yes, that’s it. I can’t seem to shake it completely,” Nina said.

  “We still don’t know what it is. Can you navigate?” Tomiko asked.

  “Not accurately. It’s not like before, during the darkness – that actually hurt. It hurt a lot. This time, navigation is just going to be a little off – off by miles,” Nina said.

  “That’s not very reassuring, or very useful. Can you try to concentrate more…safely?” Tomiko asked.

  “Yes. Doesn’t mean it’s going to work, but I’ll try. Let’s not get our hopes up, shall we?” Nina said.

  “We have to try our very best,” Tomiko said.

  “Let’s not forget Stephan,” Tristan said.

  “I’ll get him,” Genevieve said and she left the ship, returning to the fountains in the City of Emeth.

  ~~~

  “I need some rest, then it’s back to work,” Stephan said after having studied chords for several hours.

  “So do I. For me, it’s back to vocal rest, then back to work,” Nerine said.

  “I could use the extra rest, but then I’d have to find another job, I guess,” Stephan said.

  Stephan and Nina walked out of the Twelfth Hall together. Once outside, they both saw a familiar face.

  “Countess Genevieve!” Nerine said, surprised.

  “Nerine! I’m glad to see you again. But I have no title. That part of my life is over…things have changed,” Genevieve said.

  “Are we ready to go? Did Tomiko find us work?” Stephan asked.

  “Yes, he did. In fact, so much work, and so difficult, that I think we could use extra help,” Genevieve said.

  “That means it pays a lot more if Tomiko actually wants to hire someone,” Stephan said.

  “Yes. Quite a bit more,” Genevieve said. She was intrigued by the opportunity, and was making an assumption. She was also concerned about the navigational difficulties Nina was having.

  “Are you offering me extra work?” Nerine asked.

  “Possibly. We’ve worked together before, and you helped us defend against the telepathic attacks at the wall in Baradaxa. Your voice is powerful and unique, so we might just be able to make good use of your musical abilities again,” Genevieve said.

  “I am supposed to be on vocal rest. Then, I have to teach students when that rest ends,” Nerine said.

  “I think this will be worth your while. You can certainly rest your voice until we need you,” Genevieve said.

  “Since you’ve treated me generously in the past, I’ll trust you,” Nerine said.

  Genevieve, Nerine and Stephan went to the docks.

  At the docks, as they were preparing to board the ship, they met with another man. He said: “I am Niels, Chronicler of two thousand nine hundred fifty-nine (2959) years. Under the authority of the Oath, I will join you on your journey.”

  Genevieve, Stephan and Nerine, followed by Niels, all boarded the Escapade.

  “The more the merrier! Not! This is a rough job. Why are you here?” Nina asked, looking at Nerine.

  “She said there was a good opportunity, and I’m curious to see for myself,” Nerine said.

  “We can only offer you a percentage, not a fee, so your payment depends on our success as a group. I hope you understand that,” Tomiko said.

  “I’ll take what I can get,” Nerine said.

  “In debt to somebody, are you? Why else take the risks we take, unless you need the money?” Nina asked.

  “Are you in debt, Nina?” Carter asked.

  “I’m a navigator by the stars. My whole life is in debt. This profession doesn’t get much respect or pay,” Nina said.

  “Singers don’t often fare much better. What is this good opportunity?” Nerine said.

  “The spoils from a battle fought long ago. She’s the admiral who went to war against pirates, calling spirits to chase them down,” Carter said.

  “The pirates stole so much, and we were hunting them down to recover the stolen wealth and return it to the owners – the villagers whose livelihoods depended upon keeping their earnings,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.

  “There’s likely an island where the pirates hid the stolen wealth. That would be the most sensible step to take, until they could safely spend it,” Yared said.

  “Tell us when the readings are clear enough that we can chart our course, Nina,” Tomiko said.

  “I’ve already got it charted – into the Zovvin Ocean. I just don’t know how good it is. Everything’s just a little bit hazy now, and a little bit off,” Nina said.

  “If you listen closely, as we approach, can you tell if we are veering off course, and estimate by how much?” Tomiko asked.

  “I can try. Things might get better. The guesswork part of navigation is a little less shaky when we get closer to a destination,” Nina said.

  “I never knew there was guessing involved,” Tristan said.

  “Life at sea under these stars isn’t ever certain. You should know that by now,” Nina said.

  “Let’s get sailing, then. You’ll work at making corrections as we get closer,” Tomiko said.

  Nina took the wheel of the Escapade and steered the ship northwest across the Trerada Ocean until reaching the Glivoran Trail land bridge. She converted the ship to airship formation, elevated it to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude and traveled over the land bridge, returning to sea level in the Kazofen Ocean. From there, she sailed the ship northwest until reaching the Road of Kovoxotu land bridge. Again, she converted the ship to airship mode, elevated it to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude, traveled over the land bridge and then returned the ship to sea level in the Zovvin Ocean.

  “We’re in the Zovvin Ocean. Here’s where it gets a little hazy,” Nina said.

  “We’re closer. It should be better. Why is it hazy now?” Tomiko asked.

  “Perhaps that’s why,” Genevieve said. She pointed to the air in the distance and everyone, including the Chronicler Niels, saw what she was referring to. A violet-colored dance of light – an aurora – was ahead of them, and it seemed to be moving to and fro.

  Niels recorded all of this into his book and tried to capture the aurora accurately. Its movements made this difficult, as its form continued to change.

  “I can’t navigate through that,” Nina said.

  “We’ll have to sail around it,” Tomiko said.

  Nina drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from her vial and was energized. She then concentrated and heard the sounds of the stars mixed with haze. She also heard the sound of a cry of pain.

  “I can’t navigate around it, either,” Nina said.

  “You won’t have to. It’
s coming this way,” Genevieve said.

  Minutes later, the violet aurora surrounded the Escapade and they were lost in its colorful haze.

  “How long will this last?” Tomiko asked.

  “Like I’m going to know that? This isn’t like the stars where I can just ask them. This is completely different,” Nina said.

  “In these waters, I’m more than a little concerned. Carter, we need to prepare to defend ourselves,” Tomiko said.

  Carter drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean from his vial and was energized. He reached out into the spirit world around him, looking for threats, and found plenty of them lurking, waiting to strike.

  “We’re going to need to defend ourselves, or move away from this area,” Carter said.

  “Move where? I can’t navigate for sure. Not in this,” Nina said. The violet aurora was a colorful fog that overwhelmed the eyes as much as it delighted them, and it rendered Nina’s sense of the stars nearly useless.

  “I’m sorry, Nerine. I hope you don’t regret coming along,” Genevieve said.

  “I do. I totally regret it. I thought this was a way to make more money and I truly, truly regret it. But that doesn’t do me any good. That’s what I tell my students after mistakes. Regret means you have to learn and adjust,” Nerine said.

  “Our lives are all about making adjustments. Adjusting crystals and sails,” Tristan said.

  “Adjusting strings and chords,” Stephan said.

  “Adjusting expectations. Mostly downward,” Nina said.

  “We need to adjust our position. Malicious spirits are moving in on us,” Carter said, with noticeable alarm in his voice.

  “Without a clear read of the suns, I can’t steer us anywhere and still know where we are. We’ll be lost at sea,” Nina said.

  Nerine knew what this meant and so she drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean in her vial. She was energized and began to sing:

  Through the greatest oceans, magic waters flow.

  Their supernatural powers magnify our every sense.

  The proper water lets us hear the stars, thus their paths we know,

  By which we navigate across this sea immense.

  This aurora makes our current course unclear,

  As we voyage to a forgotten land so far away.

  All our signs and guides to our destination disappear,

  While traveling under this brilliant, dancing light display.

  (Refrain)

  Have the many suns become untrue?

  By their shine can we no longer sail?

  Their glaring rays are clear to view,

  Yet we follow them to no avail.

  We have lived under the darkened skies of endless night,

  When the proper waters helped illuminate.

  Now the guiding stars of every color light,

  Have perplexing paths which no one can anticipate.

  Hidden mythic stories, lost in ages past,

  Telling tales of epic, mystic battles fought,

  May be found on shrouded islands upon oceans so vast,

  If within this glittering maze we are not forever caught.

  (Refrain)

  Clarity of direction is what we truly need,

  So that our ocean voyage lasts not for endless days.

  This carefully sung melody must now intercede,

  To break through the distraction of this radiant haze.

  The resounding of my vibrant voice,

  Blazes a clear new trail with its harmony.

  Each musical note sung by precise choice,

  Shall now guide our travel across this mystic sea.

  (Refrain)

  The aurora gave way – in a large area surrounding the ship – and Nina both saw and sensed it.

  “It’s clearing up! You did it!” Genevieve said.

  “I think we need to work together more often,” Tomiko said.

  “Even I’ve never heard – or seen the effects of – music quite like that. You truly have an amazing gift for using those song waters,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.

  “I can see the path now – and I can sense it,” Nina said. She began to steer the Escapade, and she knew where they were, and where they were going.

  Niels recorded the song lyrics in his book, and the visible effects of the aurora dispersing around the ship. He was impressed, and pleased, by the performance. He realized that there were many ways to navigate, but this musical approach was more than a little bit unusual. The aurora also interested him, because it was still present a short distance away.

  Nina continued making adjustments now that her senses were much clearer. She was able to inquire of the blue, yellow and red suns exactly when and where they had been in the configuration that Gabrielle Ramalaxis drew in the book. They soon arrived at the shore of an island. “This is it,” Nina said.

  “Before we drop anchor, I want to know if it is safe here,” Tomiko said.

  “Somewhat,” Carter said.

  “Is there something valuable here?” Tristan asked.

  “Likely, there is something very valuable here,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.

  “Yes. Look. The chests filled with coins!” Carter said, pointing to a place on the shore where dozens of open treasure chests could be seen. It was surrounded by a low wall of rocks, and could be easily missed if you weren’t looking in the proper direction.

  “And we just helped them find it,” Yared said in a voice of grave concern. The powers of the Elanatin Ocean waters still flowed through him and he telepathically sensed an approaching adversary.

  “Helped who?” Tomiko asked.

  “Look!” Yared said.

  ~~~

  Another ship soon appeared alongside the Escapade and a man named Kobus stood on its deck, all alone, holding a staff. At the tip of the staff was a lapis lazuli, ordinarily blue but now glowing with many colors.

  “Go forth!” the man on the other ship yelled and then tapped the staff on the deck of his ship.

  A swarm of evil spirits poured forth from the lapis lazuli and headed toward the Escapade.

  ~~~

  With the powers of the Zovvin Ocean waters still flowing through him, Carter was able to just barely deflect this spiritual attack.

  “He sent spirits! A swarm!” Carter yelled.

  However, one of the spirits took control of the Escapade’s wheel and began to steer the ship toward the island.

  “They’ve got control of the ship! They’re going to crash us!” Nina yelled.

  Carter redirected his energy toward the spirit who had control of the ship’s wheel and sent it away, while Nina struggled to right the course of the ship. She steered the Escapade away from the island, and the crew found themselves safe from assault, but poorer for the effort.

  “He controls the spirits! That may explain what happened,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.

  “We need to stay away from that island. It’s too well guarded,” Carter said.

  “I’d like to know how he controlled the spirits. Was it that staff?” Tristan asked.

  “What have I gotten myself into?” Nerine asked.

  “I’m not liking this, either,” Stephan said.

  “We can’t keep coming in second. There’s no prize for that,” Tomiko said.

  “Maybe we’re getting too old to run this race,” Nina said.

  ~~~

  Kobus drank anew of the waters of the Nabavodel Ocean from his vial and was energized. He had come looking for the islands where pirates stored the largest of treasures. They were not always easy to find in this ocean – it had so many islands, he didn’t know where to begin, and more than a few had traps and other dangers. Yet, whenever a ship headed toward a specific island, he would follow them, thinking they must know of something valuable there.

  Kobus was thirty-eight (38) years old and, though he built his life around strength and speed, he was inclined toward more careful planning. Strength and speed were his assets, rather than his guides. The staff with t
he lapis lazuli at the tip was another asset, since he could not call to spirits on his own.

  After the other ship was out of sight, Kobus called to the spirits he sent forth, saying: “Return!” He then twirled the staff and the spirits returned to it.

  Kobus then deferred to his strength and speed. First, he anchored his ship, the Iron Grip. Then, he went onto the island and began loading the treasure chests – thirty-seven (37) of them, filled with platinum, gold and silver coins – onto his ship.

  After this acquisition, Kobus raised the anchor and set sail, looking for his next prize.

  CHAPTER 7: Citadel of Knowledge and Pleasure

  Long flowing robes of many colors – purple, rose, amber, mint green and silver – adorned the tall, handsome masculine figure. He wore a platinum crown upon his head, and the diadem bore three (3) emeralds spaced equally around it. The hexagonal room itself – being sixty-five (65) feet long on each side – was a splendid and majestic chamber, with red satin pillows lying upon each of the fifty-five (55) purple velvet couches placed along five (5) of the six (6) walls. There were varied jewels embedded in the gold trim along the fifteen (15) foot high walls leading up to a marble ceiling. The remaining wall had large bronze doors with a silver relief carving depicting a serpent, a tree, many suns, a diamond, a woman and a mountain.

  Scattered over the wide marble floor were three hundred fifty-seven (357) red carpets oriented at various angles, covered in piles of red satin pillows. Upon every carpet and couch were young, beautiful men and women wearing only minimal clothing. All of them were fast asleep.

  The bronze doors opened suddenly, revealing another beautiful woman, who was dressed in many-colored robes and wearing a crown matching that of the tall man.