by Jane Glatt
“Quite a lot, thanks to Chal,” Kara replied. “It’s made up of dozens of islands, covering a very large area. Each island has a local Small Council who then form a Large Council that makes decisions on trade and settles disputes over fishing rights, among other things.”
“Yes,” Javan said. “But not every island is inhabited.” He paused. “One day I sailed past one of those uninhabited islands. And it was covered in mage mist. It took me a moment to realize what I was seeing; the mist was such a pale blue that it seemed little more than a fog, or a reflection of the sky or water. I reported it to the Large Council and then didn’t give it any further thought.”
“The Large Council decided to have Chal investigate,” Sif said. “That’s when he was called home. Reo had been released from Warrior Guild so Chal was available.”
“He came to say goodbye,” Kara said. “Almost a month ago.”
“Yes. He spent some time at home before meeting with the Large Council,” Sif said. “I was on the ship that dropped him off on the island. He has not been seen since.”
“How long has he been missing?” Reo asked.
“Just over a week,” Sif replied. “We waited two days for a signal from him; then we landed on the island. We didn’t dare go very far, considering that none of us could see what we were stepping into.”
“This island is on my regular trade route,” Javan said. “I was sailing past when Sif’s ship flagged us down. The two of us went to the Large Council to report Chal’s disappearance while the other ship stayed at the island in case he returned to where he landed.”
“The council gave us permission to act as we see fit,” Sif said. He looked over at Javan. “We both agreed that you, Kara, are the best hope of finding Chal.”
“What provisions did Chal have with him?” Reo asked, and Kara stared at him, her worry increasing.
What if Chal was already out of water and food? What if they were already too late to find and help him? Too late to save him?
“We need to leave tomorrow at first light,” Kara said.
“Chal had a month’s supply of food,” Sif replied. “And records show that the island has many water sources—streams and springs—that he would have access to.”
“So, he has maybe two weeks of food left,” Reo said. “Kara is right; we need to leave as soon as possible. Santos,” Reo turned to the Mage, “what are your thoughts?”
“You and Kara must go,” Santos said. “Kara can take care of any magic or Mages you may encounter. I need to stay and make sure that Old Rillidi is protected.”
“You think Mage Guild might be responsible for this?” Kara asked.
“We can’t rule it out,” Santos replied. “It doesn’t sound like a tactic Rorik would come up with, but I don’t know Arabella Fonti well enough to say that she couldn’t have planned this.”
“I wouldn’t put anything past my mother,” Kara said. Her mother wanted her dead—she was certain Arabella would be willing to hurt her friends in order to cause her grief. Or lure her and Santos away from Old Rillidi and then attack it and destroy everything her daughter cared about.
IT WAS SUNNY—a good start to the day, Kara thought as she packed a few things into a bag. In her kitchen, she tucked the few perishables that she had into a basket. She’d leave these in the kitchen of the estate house. No doubt Pilo could find a use for them. Both she and Pilo had gone hungry enough times that letting food spoil was unthinkable.
She paused at the open door, looking over her cosy cabin one last time before pulling the door shut. It would be here when she returned; Santos would see to that.
The kitchen was busy. Sidra, Mole, Osten, and Giona were chattering around mouthfuls of porridge. Vook hovered over the stove, stirring a pot. The two Seyoyans stood in a corner, looking bemused.
“Are you sure you can spare this, Pilo?” Reo, carrying three loaves of bread, stepped out of the storeroom, followed by Pilo.
“Yes,” Pilo said. “This bunch will just have to do without until I can make more. And there’s a basket of apples and some carrots. How long will you be gone?”
“A few weeks I think,” Reo said. “Javan said that although the ship is fully stocked, fresh bread as well as apples and carrots will be appreciated by the crew. Sorry to be depleting your stores.”
“I’m adding to them,” Kara said. She put her basket on the counter. “Besides, Pilo can always buy bread if she needs to.”
“I hate doing that,” Pilo said. “But I can. And I know it helps the town.”
“Should we be buying bread?” Reo asked.
“It won’t be ready until later today,” Kara replied. “And we want to leave as soon as possible, don’t we?”
“Yes,” Sif said. “The earlier the better. Mage Guild tends to spend less time inspecting ships that leave early. We think it might be because a specific Mage is on duty at that time of day, but we prefer to take advantage of it, whatever the reason.”
“I forgot about their inspections,” Kara said. “Hey!” She caught Osten’s arm as he was about to dash past her. “I’m leaving for a few weeks, so you be good.” Osten stared at her before he nodded and raced out the kitchen door.
“I’ll watch him, Kara.” Giona paused beside her. “Gyda’s luck to you.”
“Thank you,” she replied, but Giona had already left the kitchen.
“Here.” Vook set a bowl of porridge down in front of her and handed her a spoon. “Travel safe and come back soon.”
“That’s the idea,” she agreed. She let Reo and Pilo handle the rest of the provisioning while she ate.
Sif and Javan took the bags from Pilo. “We’ll be at the pier,” Javan said. He led Sif through the door to the back garden.
Kara peered out the window. A ship was moored in the bay, midway between the manor house and Warrior Guild Island.
“Do you see any signs that Mage Guild has noticed it?” Reo asked, coming to stand beside her.
“I don’t see any mage mist,” Kara replied. She ate one last spoonful of porridge. “Not at the moment, anyway.”
KARA WATCHED FOR mage mist from the prow of the small boat. The bay was rough and waves slapped against the boat, sending salty spray into the air as the Seyoyans rowed them towards the ship. But by the time she stepped onto the deck of the ship she’d seen no sign of mage mist: no sign that Mage Guild was suspicious of the ship. Because Warrior Guild hired Seyoyans, they did have legitimate business with them that even Mage Guild couldn’t challenge, so perhaps they hadn’t bothered to investigate.
She joined Javan, who stood on deck beside an older Seyoyan man whose wide-brimmed hat shaded his eyes.
“Kara Fonti,” Javan said. “This is Captain Bogan Arends, captain of the Mizar. He’ll be taking us to Seyoya.”
“Captain,” Kara said. “I believe Reo and I have been on your ship before.” She’d been half-drowned when she’d boarded it the last time, but she thought she recognized the carved railings.
“You have.” The captain took her hand and bowed over it, his white braids sweeping almost to the deck. When he straightened, she saw what looked like slivers of shells twisted into his braids. “It is again my pleasure to transport you and Reo Medina.” He nodded to Reo, who had just joined them. “Unfortunately, you both must hide below decks until we are well away from Rillidi.”
“This way,” Javan said. “At the moment, I fear I cannot even offer accommodations equal to what you had your last time aboard. Ever since we helped you escape from Mage Guild Island, Seyoyan ships have often been searched when we leave Rillidi. We have a small secret compartment that will hide you in case we are boarded for inspection.” He showed the way to narrow stairs that led below. Kara followed him, Reo close behind her.
Once down the stairs, Javan crossed a hold filled with barrels and crates. The smell of old fish scented the air.
“Do you expect to be boarded?” Kara asked.
“Merchant Guild does not inspect every ship leaving these waters
,” Javan said. “But it’s frequent enough that we must be prepared.”
“And Mage Guild?” Reo asked. “Do they inspect?”
“Often,” Javan agreed. “But they do it magically.” He stopped in front of a blank wall. “You must hide yourselves from that.” He reached up and activated a latch of some kind, and a portion of the wall lifted out and up. “I hope it’s not too uncomfortable for you,” he said, stepping back from the wall.
Kara peered inside. Two hammocks were strung up side by side with very little space between them. The ceiling in the windowless room was far too low to allow Kara to stand, and the light that streamed in from the opening she stood in front of was the only illumination. But the air smelled of the sea, so she didn’t think it was a tightly sealed room.
“The hammocks are quite comfortable,” Javan said. “But they are more to make sure that nothing—even in rough weather—hits the walls and makes a sound that can be heard by inspectors.”
“We’re not the first people you’ve transported this way?” Reo asked.
“You know how Seyoyans like to steal,” Javas said with a grin. “Anything and everything. Now, please get in. Captain Arends will not get under way until I tell him you’re stowed away.”
Kara crawled to one of the hammocks. It took her a few tries, but eventually, she hauled herself into the one on the left. Reo bumped into her a few times as he climbed into the other one.
“I’ll come fetch you as soon as it’s safe,” Javan said. The light disappeared as he closed the wall opening, leaving Kara and Reo in pitch dark.
Kara tried to relax. She closed her eyes then opened them. She needed to be awake and aware in case Mages sent spells to inspect the ship.
Faint shouts drifted to her from the deck above, and after a few moments, she felt the ship move. Her hammock started to swing as the ship dipped and rose as it crossed waves. The wood creaked, and she heard waves crashing against the hull.
“Hold on,” Reo whispered.
She reached out and found his hand, and he gripped hers, pulling the hammocks closer. Together, they steadied a little, and Kara took a deep breath. Her stomach felt a little unsettled, but now that the side to side motion had decreased, she could better deal with the rise and fall of the ship as it plowed through waves.
“Close your eyes if you feel nauseated,” Reo said.
“I can’t,” she replied. “I need to watch for mage mist.”
Reo didn’t answer, but simply squeezed her hand. Kara tried not to read too much into that simple gesture but she did squeeze back.
The ship rolled to one side, and Kara’s hammock—with her in it—swung, wedging her against Reo.
“We must be rounding past Rillidi Port,” Reo whispered in her ear. “Merchant Guild Island is next, so we’ll know soon if they’re going to stop us and inspect the ship.”
The ship slowed but didn’t stop. It rolled onto its other side, and now Kara was slightly under Reo. She suppressed a giggle, but he must have felt it anyway, because he laughed.
She was about to say something in response when she noticed a light seeping in through the hull near her head. She gripped Reo’s hand.
“Mage mist,” she whispered into his ear.
So pale a yellow that it almost looked white, tendrils of mage mist oozed between the wooden planks. Without a thought, she pulled Reo closer; he reached an arm around her, pulling her head onto his shoulder.
Should she destroy the spell or would the Mage who’d sent it know their spell was gone and sound the alarm? Better to have it ignore them. She concentrated on keeping the spell away from them, and the mist twisted and flowed past them.
Kara lifted her head off Reo’s chest and watched as the thick rope of mage mist stretched and thinned as it travelled away from them, through the wall and into the hold.
With a sigh, she dropped her head back onto Reo.
“It’s gone,” she said.
They didn’t move for the half hour they waited in silence. Kara was aware of Reo’s steady heartbeat under her head and his arm around her shoulder, keeping her pressed against him.
Even when she was sure the threat was over, she didn’t move—didn’t want to move—away from his warmth.
A grating sound made her lift her head, and she rolled back into her own hammock just as the light from the opening hit her.
“We are clear of both Merchant and Mage Guilds,” Javan said. “Did any spells come this way?”
“Yes,” Kara replied. “I kept it away from us.” She tried to get out of the hammock and would have fallen if Reo hadn’t grabbed her. He helped her onto the floor, and she backed out of the small compartment.
She stood up, brushing dust from her trousers, ignoring the coolness of the air after being pressed against Reo’s warmth.
“Can we go on deck?” Kara asked. “I would like some fresh air.”
“Yes, of course. Tregella and Rillidi are behind us, and there is nothing but sea ahead.” Javan closed the door to the compartment. “Come, this way. I will show you to your cabins, and then we can go on deck.”
Kara was aware of Reo’s silence as they both followed Javan through the ship. They exited the hold and walked along a hallway and then up a short set of stairs.
“This is your cabin, Kara.” Javan opened a door to a cabin not much larger than the compartment they’d hidden in, although she was able to stand up in it. A narrow bunk was suspended from ropes and a small wash basin was attached to one wall. Her bag sat on the bunk. A similar cabin across the hall was for Reo.
The tour included the galley, where the food was prepared and served, along with the dining area, and the head, before Javan took them on deck.
Kara breathed in the sea air and closed her eyes, enjoying the wind in her hair.
“You can just make out Rillidi if you look behind us,” Reo said.
Kara turned to see a dark splotch along the horizon: Mage Guild Island. She shaded her eyes as she watched the land recede.
Her plan—her mother’s plan—had been for her to board a ship and find a home somewhere else. She could still do it, if she wanted to. She had people she cared about like family—and a brother—but they would be fine without her. In fact, they might be safer without her, if her mother and Rorik were told that she was truly gone. She turned to find Reo watching her.
“Have you been on a ship before?” she asked. “Sailing away somewhere, not just being rescued.”
“Yes. That’s how I met Chal.” He sighed and looked back towards Rillidi. “It was about four years ago. Warrior Guild gave me time and resources to see if I could find and convince a Seyoyan to come and work with me.”
“I thought Seyoyans hired Warriors?”
Reo grinned and she smiled in response. She hadn’t seen him look so carefree in a long time.
“That’s what Warrior Guild tells everyone,” he said. “So other guilds don’t try to hire them.”
Kara shook her head. “Chal kept a lot of secrets from me. But he was always kind.”
“Even when I wasn’t,” Reo said and sighed. “He helped you in the Old Rillidi market when I would have left you to fend for yourself.” He turned and looked at her. “Sometimes I think it would have been for the best if I had made him walk away from you. You would have been a few items of clothing poorer, but safer. Your mother would never have known that you were alive.”
“She would have found me eventually,” Kara said. “Besides, good things happened because Chal helped me; because you found me and we struck our bargain.” She shrugged. “My brother Osten was saved from a horrible life. Valerio Valendi is dead. My mother is Mage Guild Secundus, but I don’t believe she’s as evil—as destructive—as he was. And don’t forget that Santos has regained his sanity and has vowed to protect everyone on Old Rillidi from all of the guilds, especially Mage Guild.” And I met you, she thought.
“I suppose,” he said. “I have a lot to regret—”
“Don’t,” Kara said. “We’v
e had this argument before. I bear some of the responsibility for what happened. But no matter how difficult things were, we made it through them—together—and good things happened because of that.” She took a deep breath and met his eyes. “Life on Old Rillidi is better because of that. We are better because of that. We’re also better when we work together.” Unable to hold his gaze any longer, she turned and fled to the safety of her cabin.
She lay on her bunk and closed her eyes, determined not to cry—again—but a few tears tracked down her cheek.
Why couldn’t Reo see the good that had happened—the good that they had helped make happen? Instead, he continued to concentrate on mistakes he’d made, as though he was the only person who had ever made an error in judgement. As though his actions were the only reasons for the danger they’d found themselves in. She’d forgiven her own mistakes weeks ago, just as she’d forgiven him his. So why couldn’t he forgive himself?
Maybe she should stay in Seyoya, just for a while. She’d miss Santos and Osten and Pilo and the rest of them. She’d miss her magical little cabin, too. But she wouldn’t have to know that Reo was within reach but that he was unreachable by her.
Chapter Three
THE EXIT WAS right . . . here. He reached out to where he thought the passageway would be—where it should be—but his hand found nothing but rough rock walls.
A light glowed up ahead. Was the way out there?
“Hello?” he called. “Is anyone here?” Wherever here was. He shuffled towards the light, yawning. Had he just woken up? What time of day was it?
A man lay on the dirt of the cave floor, squinting up at him.
“Hello,” he said to him. The man’s skin was dark, and he had white hair that gleamed in the light.
He looked more closely at the light. It wasn’t a flame—it was a globe of light.
“Is that light magic?” he asked the dark man.
“Yes.” The man’s voice was resigned as he sat up and leaned against the cave wall. “You made it for me a few days ago.”
“I did? I can do magic?” He stared at his arm; his skin was pale while his companion’s was dark. “Did I make you dark? Or did I make me light?”