by Dave Skinner
“Are you saying this is impossible?” the king asked.
“No. I am saying that you cannot just open a portal and start sending our people through. We will have to make sure that Manda is on land and in an appropriate place.”
“The link to the necklace does not allow me to discern those things,” Neventay admitted. “I will have to create a new spell to send across the link. Perhaps something that will allow me to see through her eyes and display it on a glass.” The wizard’s voice grew fainter towards the end of his statement, and a thoughtful look came over his countenance as he began planning the spell.
“Or you could send a single person through to her,” Mearisdeana added.
Adamtay felt his pulse begin to race. He understood what she was suggesting and who she was going to recommend as the person to send. “I will go,” he almost shouted.
“No, Adamtay, it should not be you. I am the one to go, and you know why,” Mearisdeana stated quietly.
Adamtay surged to his feet. “No, I will not take the chance of losing you again. I will go.”
“No, my Love, Manda knows me. We are friends. She will listen to me, and I can make her understand our need. You are needed here to lead the fighting. Anyway, you cannot swim.”
“Neither can you.”
“But I believe I can stay on the top of the water. Nailmoe explained how Tyrese taught him to do it. I can do the same.”
“You think.”
“And you know that what I am saying is correct. It has to be me,” Mearisdeana said with finality.
“She is right, Adamtay,” his father stated. “You are needed here as leader of the army and to show the people that we are standing fast. I need you at my side.”
“Then I will send Nailmoe with her. His arm is almost healed, but he is not ready for combat yet. It will give him something to occupy his time.”
“It is settled then,” King Terrintay concluded. “Mearisdeana and Nailmoe will be sent. How soon can we do this?”
“As soon as they are ready,” Neventay answered.
“At first light then,” Mearisdeana said. “Now please, excuse us, we have to locate Nailmoe.” She stood, held out her hand to Adamtay and they exited the room.
Chapter 21
Micka was upset. Three days out from Waysley and not one sailor had approached her or even spoken to her. She knew she was attractive. She had been told that often. Men usually went out of their way to engage with her, but not on this trip. They were all smitten with the young Traveller, Lee. Micka could understand why: she was vivacious, spirited, and she moved like a cloud. Beside her Micka felt awkward and clumsy.
She had heard the sailors refer to her as The Dancer. She could not help but overhear their talk about her, she was all they discussed. Supposedly she had danced at a number of inns in Waysley for a month or so. They spoke of her performance with faces like moon-struck boys; some even drooled as they spoke. Micka was sick of it and she was doing something about it.
A simple little magic. Nothing that would hurt the girl, well, any hurt it caused would heal, eventually. It was merely done to even the playing field. Micka had worked it out last night. Now she waited for the opportunity. She knew it would come. The Traveller was always the first to spring into the rigging when orders were issued. One would think she had hands for feet she was so sure-footed. Another thing the sailors talked about. Well, Micka would bring her down with a weakening spell making her unable to hold anything, let alone climb, for days after the spell was unleashed.
Micka found a comfortable position on the forward deck. A number of crates were secured on both sides of the raised deck. She chose a sunny spot with a crate behind her back and her legs hanging over the edge of the drop to the lower deck. From her position she could see the lower central deck and the raised aft deck where the spoked wheel used by the helmsman was located. Her spell was ready. A simple flick of her hand would send it sailing towards her target. She waited. The sailors worked below her. She leaned back. The sun was warm. After some time her eyes closed.
“Why do you hold magic in your hand?”
Micka’s eyes popped open. She had not heard anyone approach, but the voice was close. A sailor sat on the deck beside her. She had noticed him before and had thought him to be a second cabin boy because of his diminished size, but now she realized he was not a youth at all. His features were that of a young man, but his eyes were those of an ancient.
“What?” she blurted.
“Why do you hold magic in your hand? I will not allow you to use it. You should let it disperse.”
Taken by surprise, her response was only to gape at him while she struggled for something to say. Who was this person that he could recognize a spell ready to be released, and what did he think he could do to stop her? His sleeveless, sun-bleached shirt and frayed trouser legs suggested a sailor of experience. He was baked brown by the sun, and there was a vitality about him that spoke to her. What was it she felt? Then she thought she knew. A glance at his bare feet supported her suspicion. His toes were webbed. He was a Kobolt, one of the little-people, and not one to mess with. She let her spell dissipate.
“I was just practicing my ability to hold a spell at the ready,” she said. “I would never use my magic maliciously.”
“Not even when jealousy has gripped you?”
“What? No… never. Who would I be jealous of?”
“Of course, how silly of me. A beautiful young woman like you has no need to be jealous of another, but please be careful when you practice. It is my duty to keep the ship safe.” He smiled at her as he stood. “Sorry if I disturbed you.” He walked out of her sight on noiseless feet.
When Micka looked back at the ship’s lower deck she realized that the Traveller girl was walking towards her. Micka expected her to stop to attend to a chore, but no task swayed her from her path. Micka’s anger at the girl’s graceful movements turned to apprehension. Had the sailor said something to her? Did she know about the spell? With a grace that made Micka almost groan, the Traveller took a few quick steps and sprang up to the railing in front of Micka’s position.
“Hello. Do you mind if we speak?” she asked.
“If we must,” Micka answered. The girl caught her tone, looked puzzled, and then shrugged it off, gracefully.
“Kobolts are dangerous. You should be cautious in your dealings with Garak, and do not put this ship in danger. They are quite protective of their homes.”
“I know those things, thank you. I do not need your instruction.”
“Then I will take my leave. I am sorry to have disturbed you.”
The Traveller turned to leave. The movement looked so smooth and effortless that Micka blurted, “How can you move like that?”
The Traveller turned back with a smile in her eyes. “I am a trained dancer.”
“I know I have heard all the men talk about you. You must be very good.”
“I am, but it takes hard work to keep my muscles loose, especially after working all day doing shipboard chores. I practice each night here on this deck. You should join me. I would appreciate some female company, and life aboard ship is very restrictive. We all need to move and stretch.”
“I am too awkward to dance. I trip often.”
“Nonsense, I have seen you walk. You have a natural grace, and I can teach you some exercises that will help your balance. You could bring your companion also. The fresh air and a little exercise would do him good.”
Micka considered the offer before she spoke. “Why are you making this offer? Travellers barter their services; they do not give them freely. What do we have that interests you?”
“Companionship.”
***
“And information,” Andoo said later when she told him about the conversation.
“She is a dancer, what need would she have for information? Do you think she is a story teller also?”
“No. She is a Traveller.”
“What does that have to do with an
ything?”
“Everything, Travellers are information brokers.”
“Information brokers?”
“Yes, it is their primary purpose, but keep that under your cloak, it is a secret few are aware of. Now, let us go for food, and later we will take our new friend up on her offer.”
The entrance to the mess hall was the first door in the hallway that led to their cabins. A few sailors were eating, including the captain. After they had filled their plates she motioned them over to join her.
“Do you have anything to do with this fine weather, Wizard?”
“Me, no,” Andoo answered. “I believe the Mother is where your thanks should be directed. Do we know each other, Barb?”
“Not really. I fought at Waysley. I was one of the merchants that followed the Red Witch into the harbour. I saw you there after the battle.”
“Do you know where the Red Witch is now? I am trying to locate her captain and one who sails with her, a Traveller.”
“Manda of Gore captains the Red Witch, but I cannot answer your query. She sails, but I can tell you that there was no Traveller on the Witch as of many moons ago.”
“What of the one called Ran? I thought he was with her.”
“Was, but no longer.”
“Would you know where he is?”
“No, but I can tell you this, he is not on a ship. No South Lake captain would allow him passage after the pain he caused Manda. That I can guarantee.”
Chapter 22
Mearisdeana held Adamtay as they waited for KaAn’s sun to rise. Nailmoe lounged in a chair off to the side of Neventay’s workroom. His eyes were closed, but Mearisdeana doubted he slept.
Her night with Adamtay had been like sweetness in a bottle. They had made love as if they were newlywed again, only this time there was no rush. Adamtay had held her on the cusp of satisfaction, playing her like an instrument until she begged for release. Then they had held each other, as they did now, silently.
“We are almost ready,” the court wizard announced.
Mearisdeana gave Adamtay a final kiss and stepped away. Nailmoe rose to stand beside her. Neventay finished inserting one of the crystals and an orb into a soft black sack before handing it and a glass vial to Mearisdeana. “Blood, sunlight, and the words, remember.”
“I will.”
“Then you should take your places.”
A triangular design outlined in red was waiting on the floor. They stepped carefully over the lines and took their places. The wizard placed a drop of blood from a vial on the crystals set at each corner of the triangle, and then stepped to the rope that controlled the heavy drape that hid the morning sunlight.
“May luck ride your shoulders,” he said as he pulled the rope. Sunlight streamed through the high window. As it struck the crystals, Mearisdeana felt an intense cold; she was drawn through blackness towards a circle of light. In moments she floated into sunlight again. Above her was a sky of blue containing a few billowing clouds. Below her stretched the undulating blue green of the water, and a small ship with a crimson sail.
She remembered the floating sensation from before, but this time she would end up in water. Her old fear of the lake surged back. Why had she suggested this? What was she thinking? The ship was too far away, she was going to drown. She started to flail her arms about. She had to stop her fall. Suddenly, a hand clamped on her arm.
“Relax, Mearisdeana, if you want to live,” Nailmoe spoke strongly from beside her. She saw his smile, felt his assurance. Her anxiety eased, and she was able to take a deep breath.
“Nightskin,” Nailmoe called, and she saw his dayskin start to disappear. She followed his example.
As they floated lower, Nailmoe raised a horn to his lips and sent a multi-note blast out over the water. The ship was still moving away, but they were low enough now to make out a few sailors labouring on deck and a solitary redheaded figure standing at the wheel. Nailmoe blew his horn twice more before Mearisdeana felt her feet sink into the water.
“Deep breath and lay back,” she heard Nailmoe shout.
She managed a breath before she sank below the surface. As the water closed over her face, panic rose within her. She was sinking. Nailmoe’s body was beside her and then above her as she sank lower. She felt her arm extend as his body stayed above her. Unable to close her eyes, frozen in fear, she saw Nailmoe’s arms and legs moving slowly while she was flailing hers again. She was pulling them down. She was going to kill them both. Suddenly there was something beside her in the water, another hand grasp her arm and she felt her descent stop. She was being pulled up to the surface. Her head broke above the water.
“Stop flailing,” a stern voice ordered. “Relax, Mearisdeana, I have you. Breathe and flutter your hands. Good, now tell your friend that you are both safe. A boat will be here soon.”
Mearisdeana looked at the smiling face of her friend and tried to relax. Manda continued to talk in an easy way, as if floating on water were the most natural thing you could do.
“That was a very good idea using the horn. We would have missed you completely without it, but what are you doing back here? I thought I would never see you again, and I missed you so much. It is wonderful to look on you again. Have you noticed my hair? It had grown back quite a bit, but I cut it after you left. Many women did. You set the style, you did. It was…”
Mearisdeana felt herself relax as she listened to Manda talk. They were safe. They had made it.
Chapter 23
When the knock sounded at the cabin door, Kat was staring at a bundle of herbs, and she realized she had no idea how long she had been standing there. This was happening more often these days. The house was silent with Lee gone. There was no laughter, no voices to interrupt her solitude. Yesterday she had stood and stared at sassafras root for an unknown amount of time before finally making the tea, but her loneliness had not been lifted at all by the brew. The knock came again.
“Coming,” she called.
“Good morning, Kat,” Waycan greeted her when she opened the door. “Are you well?”
“Fine, and you?” It was their old game, always polite, always proper, and never speaking from the heart. Even after her husband, Ang, was lost to them, Waycan stayed within the lines drawn by his brotherhood with Ang, never crossing the boundary set by their friendship, despite his feeling for Kat.
“I am going travelling.”
Kat’s heart skipped a beat. Waycan had once been a Traveller of renown, but after the events of Ang’s death he had stopped, taken the position of teacher and shaman for the village, and had never left Tawshe land again. No one blamed him for Ang’s death, especially not Kat, but it had changed Waycan. Now he was travelling again?
“Come in,” she motioned him towards the large empty table set before the hearth. “I have ginger tea steeping.”
He entered and took his customary seat. She poured two cups of tea and joined him.
“A bird arrived a few days ago calling me to a council meeting,” he began. “Something is happening or about to happen that we feel needs investigation. Are you familiar with T’Nav? He travels as a tinker with his family.”
“Yes, I know them.”
“They were approached in Waysley by the wizard Andoo Toran. He was on his way to a wizard’s council meeting, but he wanted a warning delivered to us. Nav sent word by carrier bird, so the complete story is unknown. I am to make my way to Marshtown in hopes of meeting with Andoo after he leaves Delta. I leave tomorrow morning.”
Kat waited while Waycan sipped his tea. She expecting him to continue speaking, but he disappointed her, keeping his eyes on his teacup as if searching for meaning within. Waycan’s usual liquid tongue seemed reluctant to spill the rest of the story, and she was certain there was more he wanted to say.
“What was the warning?” she asked to prompt him along.
“The Destroyer is coming.”
“What does that mean?”
“That is what I am to discover, but we bel
ieve it is something disastrous. I know Andoo Toran. He does not spread idle stories. The council agrees and is taking steps. The skies will be dark with birds in the next while.” He paused again and then continued. “There is something else, Kat. Andoo asked that Bray be contacted and sent to meet with him. Somehow he is involved in this. Lee was sent to watch over Toran, and then to look for Bray.” Waycan lifted his eyes to her face.
Finally, he has told me the troubling part. She looked at his face and read the concern written there. Waycan is worried. There is more here than the words describe, and my children are involved.
“How will you travel, Waycan?”
“A fast march across the peninsula, by boat down the coast to the delta of the Lazy River, and then across to Marshtown.”
“Tell Char to set another place tomorrow morning. I will be there before the sun crests the tree tops. We will leave after we have eaten.”
“What do you mean by ‘we will leave’?”
“You know what it means. I am going with you. They... and you are all I have left. Now, get out of here, I have to pack.
***
Three days of fast travel—most of it spent running, and Kat felt as if she would die. It had been years since she had trained for this type of life, and her body could feel it. She suspected that Waycan was purposely stopping early and starting late to make it easier on her, but her body could not appreciate the kindness.
“Should we run again?” she asked.
“No need,” Waycan told her. “I can smell the lake. We are almost at the shore. We can stop for the night and set off in the boat tomorrow. We are making good time, Kat.”
“Not as good as you would make alone.”
He gave her his famous smile. “There is a hot spring where we will camp tonight. You can soak in it. It will help.”
“That will be welcomed.”
A short time later she smelt the freshening of the air that signified the lake was close, and then they entered a well-used campsite beside a steaming pool. Kat could hardly keep her eyes off the pool while they setup camp. Then they prepared a meal and cleaned up.