While he sat on the aft of the ship, beneath an overhang to get out of the blazing sun many came closer to thank him. One of the recently freed soldiers took it upon himself to stand guard and not allow anyone to get close. The rather large man didn’t say a word, not even to say thanks, bit he did come in handy. None came close enough for Cage or Daku to get defensive with him standing guard.
Like last time, food returned spirits back to being lively. A full stomach is a good thing. When it seemed that everyone knew not to come close and said their peace, several minutes passed and none approached. Daku said “Human, go eat your fill and rest. If you wish to stand guard you may do so afterward.” The man with a belted sword nodded and stepped away, dismissed. Alone, Daku said “Contact Megdline and tell her we are safe. I doubt she doesn’t already know, but it will be courteous.”
“How do I do that? I’ve tried experimenting on how Megdline’s husband contacted us from Twilight, inside a cave I doubt anyone has ever took shelter in. Everything I’ve tried drain’s me. The distance factor is a major problem. The further something is the more it takes to maintain a spell.” Cage admitted. “I can throw my voice like I did back in Kote to frighten off a few fools, but my limit to do that isn’t very far.”
Daku crossed his paws and looked evenly into Cage’s eyes as they sat side by side. “Although I cannot do it doesn’t mean I haven’t heard teachings of magical ways. There are certain magics that have a loophole in them. For some, distance can be manipulated, like how a mage can Jump from place to place instantly. These magics, as I’ve hard, requires a constant amount of mana. It uses greater amounts, but whether it is ten feet or ten miles, the magic required is exactly the same.
“To speak as the one you called Grandpa did is a simple and demanding task. Doing it requires the sight mirror and the understanding that you want to speak to whom you are looking at. The only drawback to this spell is sometimes when other’s want to listen, they can. And to listen you must alter your spell to pick up sound. Try.” Daku waited.
Cage tried calling up an image of Megdline, but got only whiteness and remembered the spell encompassed those nearest to himself. Brook and Sean also were white. Then he switched to Moril who came into view clearly as she sat in a wide circle with Lanna and Zatal, but a large space indicated that others were also sitting. The draw from his body wasn’t so bad and he altered the spell to pick up sound. At first there was silence then there came a conversational voice of Zatal “And then what happened?” There was another pause and then came a laugh from the three warriors. Not only was sight stripped, but sound as well. It was good, Cage admitted. None were able to hear any private conversations. The laughing slowly relaxed and he focused his desire to speak to them. He understood that the spell would need to be transmitted from one spot to where his sight mirror is placed to show everyone.
Copious amounts of mana infused the spell and a two inch black sphere appeared in the mirror’s central point. But what really made him know it worked was the startled expressions on the three warriors’ face. Realizing he didn’t have long to maintain such a spell for more than a minute he said “Hey guys, it’s me. Is Brooke and Granny there?” Their three eyes shifted in the same direction.
There was a brief pause and it appeared to make the three wince, probably Brooke was screaming. Zatal eventually said “Megdline says that they are. ‘What is your situation?’ She asks.”
“The ship is stationary and there weren’t any casualties. We’ll wait for everyone here. No sense in sailing north when we’d only need to turn around. How far away do you think you are?”
A slight pause preceded the warrior’s reply. “Megdline believes five or six hours. It is good to hear your voice, Chief. We all saw the ship get taken, but not by you… we see all has gone well. Good hunt, Chief… she says to rest and not use whatever magic this is unless there is an emergency. Others can overhear and you’ll not be aware. Megdline and the rest of us are glad to hear your voice though… the priestess also says you need to rest and loves you.” He smiled to the black sphere.
Seconds later the burden grew too heavy to maintain and spots appeared. The spell ended and it was Daku who eased Cage against his soft side. “That was wonderfully done and has eased worry. Rest, I will take care of any problems.” Before Cage could reply, his head dropped and fell fast asleep.
A dozen minutes passed before the soldier returned and stood guard where he had before. He still didn’t say anything.
Chapter 15
“They come.” Cage heard Daku announce and opened his resting eyes without the weariness that comes from deep sleep. He woke an hour ago and was told close to six had passed while he slept. Darkness began to slowly creep in and not long after Daku had spoken a woman up in the crow’s nest called out “Ships spotted! To the north!”
Daku and Cage stood. It was the Familiar who said to the man who quietly still guarded them “Get the men who work this floating tree. Make them get it moving.”
The man nodded, gripped his temporary sword and walked off to retrieve the sailors. Only a dozen sailors were escorted out under armed guard. The men worked with less stress after realizing their situation was no longer in their control. Sails were unfurled and quickly snapped full with a good northern breeze.
Cage watched as the fleet closed in on their position and scowled. “Daku, one of the ships are missing.”
The griffin jerked his head around and glared as he counted only six floating trees. His beak opened to state “The small one is gone, the one with a single tall branch to catch the wind.” Cage knew he meant a mast. “Get on, we will go find out what transpired.”
“Sir Cage.” The silent soldier finally spoke to hold his place as the mage and odd Familiar turned in his direction. They looked to hear what he had to say and he took their silence as permission to continue. “May I request to be by your side? I am a high ranking lieutenant in the Emrocan military. My family name is Telim and we are of the noble class in Emroc. If we somehow survive long enough to be spotted by our navy it will go smoother if I were there to explain the situation and get all these people to safety.”
It didn’t take a genius to realize the benefits, if it were true. “How do I know what you say is accurate?”
With the straightforwardness of a soldier the man replied “You do not. The military will understand my family crest that is passed to only the head heir of it.” He showed an intricate brand burned into the inside of his left forearm. “Will you permit me, Sir?”
Cage extended his hand towards the man’s blade and spelled it. “Do not try to remove that sword. If you do you will be consumed in flames. Leave it sheathed until I command you to do otherwise. If you come, that will be the price to stand near me.”
“Understood, Sir.” The man held his hands together behind his back and stood ready.
“Go tell the soldiers and the tribal people to remember my words. Make sure that this thing gets moving and falls in behind the fleet.” The man saluted and rushed to complete the task. Cage watched how the other nine supposed soldiers looked up to the man as their ruling commander and obeyed his word without question. He returned a minute later. “Alright, Lieutenant, lift your arms over your head, and hold your forearms tightly.” As Cage said this, Daku jumped off the boat and flew while growing a bit more to more easily carry two passengers. Cage locked his arms together, over his head. “Stand beside me and hold on.” The soldier mirrored Cage and stood a half foot shorter.
Daku turned and picked up speed. Coming in fast, front hands prepared, Daku’s fingers easily wrapped around the two connected arms of each man and jerked them clean off the aft. There was some uncomfortable pain from the instant speed and lift after a standstill. The soldier’s eyes bugged out from the unsettling sensation. Daku’s rough hand held on easily while flying two grown men towards the approaching vessels.
In just under four minutes the griffin slowed to judge the landing on the open front deck. He reared back at just
the right time and touched his back paws first, let go of the two and landed expertly on all four. The soldier stumbled and tripped while Cage casually moved, like he was used to doing such a landing though it was the first time.
Brooke welcomed her man back with a smile while Daku shrunk a bit to not take up much space. “You are looking better.” She commented because his pale color was less obvious in the dimming light.
He returned a smile while looking at a few new faces. “What happened while I was away? Did we lose a ship in a hit-and-run attack?”
Megdline approached to say. “No, but we didn’t have much choice. That small merchant ship was starting to fall apart. It started leaking and slowing us down. I decided to scuttle it, but a family of eleven tribal peoples talked me out of it. Apparently some of their children and a sister were sold a day before we got to them. They want to go save them and wanted me to tell you that they are grateful for you saving them and know we won’t be coming back to get them if they are captured again. They took the boat and would sail for as long as it would hold together before setting it on fire.”
“I guess I can understand wanting to go get those important to you back.” He glanced to all the faces he had done to help. “It was their choice to do what they wanted. I just hope they succeed in finding the ones they lost.” Cage looked back at the lieutenant still struggling to compose himself. “Go get some actual rest, Lieutenant. Do not challenge these people and you’ll find friends here.”
“Not to worry, Sir Cage. I’m not foolish enough to tempt fate against these peoples. Some of the children frighten me as well. I will return later.” He unconsciously grabbed to rest a hand on his sword and recieved a warning shock from it to remember it had been enchanted against unauthorized use. He nodded and left to see what accommodations were available.
The cargo boat that had been recently freed, slowly started to move and fell in behind the fleet without issue as the last glow of the sun dimmed into darkness. Food was brought out and Cage ate all that remained of his apples and some ginger roots a person located. While he ate, he and Daku went over and retold all that occurred in the capture of the boat. The story put a smile on many faces.
For five days they sailed without great incident. In the early morning of the third day after the rescue, Megdline found Meeka and the other platinum slaves had reached Eeroan and were being led to the heart of the city to be imprisoned. The city was close to twice the size of Bepop and designed in what looked like a spider’s web. It grew from the center out with six roads leading to a large castle that prevented others from looking past its walls. Eleven roads circled the city, growing longer the further out from the heart it was created. Two large buildings continuously belched out thick black smoke and showed where they smelted the raw ore from the nearby island of Iron Mine. There were hundreds and hundreds of slaves working themselves to death, some collapsed and were beaten till they got up. One didn’t and was thrown into the furnace as added fuel. Megdline changed the image before the young children understood. Several mages roamed, one even killed a slave who accidently sneezed too close to the staff wielding woman. There was a large outer wall surrounding the large city. The city, Megdline informed Cage, was geometrically designed for powerful spells to defend the city or trap any who use the roads once spells are activated. She did not know all the spells such a formidable city had at its disposal, but these were likely to be used. If so many slaves could be contained and not be able to revolt must mean great magic was at work. She couldn’t tell much about its history, but not once in two thousand years has it been attacked and defeated.
The second day, after the freeing of the other boat, was mostly wet and rainy. The strong winds though gave great speed. Also, the small boat with the people who left had made their way to shore and the boat lay sunk at the bottom of the ocean. The one enemy trailing ship stayed well away from the seven fleeing boats, but it now had company and the pair kept distance. Such a tactic meant that they were not only following, but pushing into a trap. Neither were warships, but each one carried a mage to defend it should one of the freed boats turn around.
Ambush being a highly likely probability, Cage and Megdline took turns watching them at all times. The other times were spent giving all their mana to their gems. They weren’t bothered often since they got irritable from working all the time and being tired. Their viewing time became about the same, meaning Cage’s inner strength was nearly as powerful as his teacher’s. They also got the most food to keep up their strength from the taxing work.
The other problem is they hadn’t seen any other ships on such a well traveled route. It appeared the empire had cut traffic north by ship.
Daku soared the sky to provide food for the ravenous humans and to watch for any dangers to them. Frill even helped to hunt a few times. He usually found deer or boar for food, since they were easily available on the land they followed. He and Cage also had a second fun fight, but didn’t draw much blood this time. They did it for fun, not to dominate and find a victor. Plus, it lasted longer and lessened the boredom.
Sean spent more time with children his own age and learned what to expect as a child of tribal people. He found it difficult to walk around naked all the time and felt so self conscious. He didn’t mind that others did so, but he had been raised in a community that didn’t allow such behavior. Eventually he decided to go shirtless like his dad. Sometimes he would spend time learning how to use his knife by his father or Zatal, who he found to be funny from time to time. His mother and her tribal sisters gladly spoke to him on what he should know before reaching their people. He felt both expectant and fearful. There were many rules he had to abide by and he went scarlet on the topic of how he had to hurt a girl to win mating rights, but wouldn’t be allowed to challenge till he gained his manhood by rite of passage. He asked why he had to hurt women and asked if they were ever hurt. Lanna gladly showed off the scars her mate inflicted and said her man got many more, but eventually won. Sean wanted to be strong, but he struggled with wanting to harm others. The only harm he had ever done is lighten someone’s purse. Being a thief is to be sneaky, not obvious and confrontational.
Only one sailor was killed when he tried to use a child hostage on the ship with the Bamana chief. He wasn’t shown mercy and found out how terrifying a skilled warrior of the plains is. The child wasn’t harmed and got the final strike that took his life. The little girl put the other sailors off balance, not willing to ever make a confrontation with these dangerous people or kids again. They found out that these slaves were untamable snakes with lethal venom.
Cage lounged in the afternoon while maintaining the spell that watched the mages on the boats following. Both were in their cabins resting. One has a falcon perched in a windowsill and the other had a curled up python asleep in a chair. As he watched, Brooke scooted closer and brushed her full breasts against his back and leaned his shoulders on them. He still concentrated on the task, but she made it complicated and knew it full well. Her raw sexuality, even resting, is hard to defy. She combed her fingers through his hair and enjoyed his manly scent and the faint smell of warm sunshine coming from him.
“We will reach Dragon’s Port by late tomorrow.” Megdline said as she walked over and sat down next to the two. Frill leapt in her lap and began to purr contently so she began to stroke his soft fur.
“If we pass we’ll be only a day or two before entering Emroc controlled territory.” Brooke said as a guess and didn’t get refuted.
“Ready at first light.” Came a cryptic voice none of them heard before. Their eyes turned to the images where they watched the mages. The left image of the split screen Cage figured how to manipulate floated a silvery orb that had spoke. It vanished as soon as they looked and reappeared at the second mage’s bedside to repeat “Ready at first light.” The words roused the two and the second man said “About time this farce came to an end.”
Cage jumped to his feet with the others and ceased watching after three tense mi
nutes when nothing else resulted. It was the first line of communication they had intercepted and it informed Cage on just how communications could be overheard and knew from this point on he had to be much more careful with his words. Even one slip like this could be destructive to plans. The dual images in the singular sight mirror vanished as he said “This isn’t good.”
“Understandably so.” Megdline replied. “It seems they have set up a trap for us, but not enough to learn what it is.” Her grey eyes went to the sky. “Cage, use your mind-link with Daku and inform him on what we’ve heard. Have him scout to the south, around Dragon’s Port since that is an Empire stronghold.”
“Alright, but how do I do that without summoning him?” He asked.
The sorceress looked upon him. “That thread you felt is what connects the two of you. Use it to think with him, but do not pull on it like you do with your magic and gems. Let it guide you, not you pull at it. And if you accidently summon him he can stop it or Frill will make you lose focus again.” She smirked.
He sighed, remembering the last time and rubbed his chest because of the memory. He sat down and took up a meditative arrangement, crossed legs, straight back and relaxing his body by controlling and slowing his breathing. The binding chant was easy to find. The very weak thread was difficult, but he did sense it and allowed it to guide him. Slowly he felt another presence, the same powerful one he had felt before. One with seemingly no limits or end. He thought “Daku, are you there?”
A moment later came powerful thoughts, but unlike last time these were conversational and soothing. “I am. For you to talk to me this way must be important while I’m hunting for the other humans.”
“It is, My Friend. We believe that our friends” Cage thought sarcastically and it sounded like he would if the words passed his lips. “have prepared a trap that will be sprung first thing in the morning. The likeliest probability would be if Dragon’s Port, a human city to the south, has something planned. We heard it while keeping an eye on those following. Can you go check out the area?”
Familiar's Ancient Throne (Book 2 of the Death Incarnate Saga) Page 49