Rune of the Apprentice (The Rune Chronicles)

by Jamison Stone

  Domadred called out to his crew, and six sailors swiftly swung down from the Diamond’s rigging and slammed both shoulder and sword into the attacking men. This sent the majority of their assailants sprawling out onto the dock. The sailors were tied to their lines by the waist, and on each rope’s meter-long tail was attached another man-sized noose. The sailors had numbered off, and upon landing, each tied his line to his appointed person of Domadred’s party.

  First came Kefta, then Fa’ell, Aleksi, Brayden, Domadred, and finally the massive Lionman. After the sailors had secured their lines, they each shouted out and the crew pulled the man and his accompanying party member up onto the moving ship as the Diamond continued to grind past the pier.

  The struck soldiers, however, were quick to recover. After only Kefta, Fa’ell, and Aleksi were drawn aboard, one of the High Council Honor Guard lashed out at Brayden, cutting his rope and killing the sailor who was to rescue him. Seeing this, Nara went over to save the boy, but Domadred called out.

  “No! Everyone get on board, that’s an order!” As the words came out of Domadred’s mouth, he cut his own rope and threw himself on top of his son’s attacker. The ship then pushed away from the flaming pier, and three men struggled to pull Nara up and away.

  Struggling under the force of the soldier, Brayden freed a small dagger from his belt. As Domadred did his best to wrestle the guard off his son, Brayden stabbed the knife into the man’s gut under a gap in his chest plate.

  Domadred flipped the dying man off Brayden and tied his own rope around his son as the Diamond pulled farther away from the dock.

  “Pull him in!” Domadred called out as he parried blades with another relentless wave of soldiers. “And helmsman, hold true!”

  “No!” Brayden screamed. But then his line was pulled taut, and with a violent snap he was wrenched off the dock, nearly hitting the flaming water as he was hoisted onto the Diamond. Twenty meters away and growing, the great ship then picked up speed as it soared away on the burning waters.

  Domadred, now alone on the dock with the High Council Honor Guard, fought off five soldiers at once. His blade flew furiously as he shouted back to his crew. “Now throw me the—”

  A line with a weight tied to its end hit the dock at his feet with a hollow thud.

  “—sounding line,” Domadred finished, looking back at his ship in astonishment. Kefta stood on the quarterdeck holding the line’s end, a wide grin on his face.

  Just then a blade swung across Domadred’s periphery and he lunged. The captain deftly rolled across the deck with the sounding line firmly grasped in his hands. After sheathing his sword and running at a full sprint down the pier toward his ship, Domadred wrapped the line around both of his wrists and called out as the High Council Honor Guard chased at his boot heels. “Wait till the Diamond clears the fire, and then pull me up!”

  With that, Domadred leapt off the end of the pier with a mighty dive and plunged, fists first, into the flaming waters below.

  CHAPTER XII

  Domadred awoke vomiting seawater. Strong hands propped him up and he wretched on the planks of his ship, surrounded by crew and friends alike.

  “Give him space,” Kefta yelled out, pushing back the sailors on the dim, lantern-lit deck. Opening his eyes, Domadred had just enough time to see Brayden lunge into his arms. Brayden was sobbing as he clung to his father’s soaking body. Mustering all the strength he could, Domadred raised shaky hands and held his son tight.

  “Thank the Guardians . . .” The murmurs of the crew echoed in Domadred’s ears as he looked about in the darkness. Domadred could see that the Diamond was just passing the harbor’s breakwater jetty and he was encircled on the ship’s quarterdeck. With Brayden still in his arms, the captain rubbed his swollen eyes. He saw Nara, Fa’ell, Aleksi, and his crew all standing with looks of relief upon their faces.

  Feeling the lull of the Diamond as the current coasted them out of Mindra’s port of Azain, Domadred heard an unfamiliar voice. “Blessed are the Guardians”—it was the same Northern accent as before—“may they forever protect us in our time of need . . .”

  In unison the crew completed the oath’s response: “We vow to forever be worthy of their grace and love.” The sailors then turned and eyed the fancily dressed man as he came forward.

  “Captain,” the sailing master said, stepping in front of the Northerner, “this man fought for us when we were boarded. If it were not for him . . .” The officer’s words trailed off.

  “Well then, you have my thanks,” Domadred replied as he stood upon shaky feet and smoothed out his dripping hair. “Although now is not—”

  “No need for thanks, Captain.” The Northerner gave an elegant bow. “I am only happy you are safe. That was an outstanding feat you just performed. I am nothing short of impressed. Truly.”

  “Yes, well, I—”

  “My name is Luka Norte and I am an ambassador from Simn, currently serving Vai’kel’s ruling council. I won’t bore you with the details now, but I wish to meet with you and personally deliver an urgent message. Seeing that our departure was so . . . hurried, I feel time truly is of the essence.”

  “Well . . . Luka,” Domadred said, coughing the last of the seawater from his lungs, “I’m sure you can understand there are things I must attend to as we set forth from the harbor. I look forward to speaking to you further and hearing your message at a more . . . appropriate time.”

  “Indeed, Captain,” Luka said, throwing his ornate green cape over his shoulder. “I shall then await you with great anticipation.” Luka then strode to the foredeck at the front of the ship, leaving the rest of the crew with Domadred on the quarterdeck at the Diamond’s stern.

  “Northern bastard,” Domadred said with his eyes locked on Luka’s back. “Lucky for him, he will fetch a good ransom.” Domadred then looked about his crew. “Rihat, report. How is our cargo?” There was no answer, and no one met the pirate’s eye. The captain continued in a low voice. “Where is the quartermaster?”

  “Captain,” Marlen, the ship’s doctor, said, swallowing hard, “the cargo is safe. But the quartermaster is . . . dead, sir.”

  Domadred scanned the crew, inhaling deeply. When he spoke, his voice was no more than a whisper. “Where is Narem?”

  “. . . The master gunner is also dead, sir.”

  Domadred put a shaky hand to his eyes. “Who else did we lose, Marlen?”

  “Five other seamen, sir.”

  “Damn the darkness!” The captain lowered his hand, clenching it into a fist. “At Zenith dawn we will have a proper service for the fallen. And then . . .” Domadred’s voice faltered. “We will vote in our new officers. Crew dismissed.”

  With Domadred’s final word, the seamen broke away to their stations. Left on the quarterdeck were the Diamond’s remaining officers, which included Kefta and a handful of other sea-worn men. Nara, Fa’ell, and Aleksi stood several paces behind them.

  Domadred took off his dripping vest as he addressed them all. “Men, we have some new guests. These three here”—Domadred gestured to Nara, Fa’ell, and Aleksi—“have earned passage as trusted friends and allies. And while the lady Fa’ell and our own mate Kefta have some important business which will be taken care of at Zenith dawn, our new friends are to be given their own quarters, free rein of the ship, and whatever supplies they need. As you can assume, we left Mindra’s Haven in a hurry and they will need provisions. That one, however,” Domadred said, gesturing to Luka, “will be a valuable war asset to the Resistance and will be held prisoner until we dock at Port Rai’th, in Vai’kel.”

  “Captain,” the ship’s boatswain said, “permission to speak, sir.”

  “Granted, Valen.”

  “Sir, Quartermaster Rihat had given Luka Norte permission to board before the riots broke out. Rihat had similar thoughts to your own but was awaiting your return to make the final decision. But, sir”—Valen’s voice grew soft—“Luka saved my life, sir, along with many others. He fought nobly t
o protect—”

  “Noted, Valen,” Domadred said sternly. “I saw much of the fight myself.” The captain shook his head as he continued. “I will decide his fate soon. Until then, I want a two-man guard on him at all times. Kefta, you are in charge of security until a new quartermaster is . . . nominated.”

  “. . . Understood, sir,” Kefta said, swallowing hard.

  Domadred then turned to Brayden. “Relieve the helmsman, Son, and take us out into the channel’s current.”

  “Yes, Captain,” Brayden said, taking the wheel.

  “Once we are out into the open current,” Domadred continued, “I want all officers to meet me in my cabin. Until then, I will be cleaning up. Dismissed.” The officers bowed and went about their duties as Domadred looked at Nara, Fa’ell, and Aleksi. “Please follow Doc Marlen; he will tend to whatever wounds you have and then show you to your quarters. I trust you will find your accommodations to your liking. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

  “Thank you, Captain,” Nara said, but Domadred had already turned and disappeared through the door to his cabin.

  “Please come with me,” Marlen said, looking over Nara’s wounds and Aleksi’s bandaged hand. “I will patch you up in the infirmary and then show you to your quarters. I trust you are tired from the day’s . . . festivities.”

  The three guests followed the ship’s doctor toward the stairs that led down to the main deck. As they walked, Aleksi noticed that Marlen was the only member of the crew who lacked the telltale blue eyes and long blond hair of a Westerner. Instead, he possessed black hair and the bright-green eyes of Northern descent.

  “Actually, if it’s alright,” Aleksi said, pausing on the deck, “you can tend to Nara’s injuries and then show him and Fa’ell to their rooms. My hand needs no further attention and I would like to watch us depart Adhira.”

  “As you wish,” Marlen said, looking slightly surprised.

  Marlen then went belowdecks and Nara gestured for Fa’ell to go first. As she passed, the Lionman placed a large hand on Aleksi’s shoulder and nodded with a knowing look of compassion. Aleksi looked down but returned the nod. The massive man then turned and, ducking his head, walked through the passage that led under the quarterdeck.

  Down the stairs, Aleksi could hear Marlen’s voice. “Lionman, I can’t count how many years it’s been since I have seen a Berzerker from Iksir so decorated with wounds yet still able—” But then the doctor’s voice was gone and all Aleksi could hear were the rush of the wind in the sails and the splash of waves against the Diamond’s bow.

  Aleksi looked up through the filled sails to Terra’s great dome of stars overhead. The moons had yet to rise, but the youth noticed that there was a bright amber light in the distance behind them—Mindra’s Haven was burning. Visions of the massacre from Mindra’s Square flashed through his mind and the nerves in his hand pulsed painfully. So many people had died—so many had been murdered. And while Aleksi had not drawn his blade in anger, he, too, had killed. The Masters’ Vow was to protect, yet who was he protecting when he had killed? Beck? Rudra? Himself? All Aleksi could see were the hollow eyes of the men he had slain. Their empty gazes looked at him accusatorily as the pain in his palm grew stronger. Aleksi shook his head and pushed the bloody images away.

  Turning away from the burning city, Aleksi walked forward on the dimly lit deck and let his eyes wander across the vessel. As he took in the shipboard activities, the crew eyed him harshly, and as one deckhand passed, Aleksi was forced to quickly sidestep so as to not be knocked over.

  “Watch your step, Green Eyes,” the man said gruffly. “I’d hate for you to fall overboard so far from your Northern shores.”

  “There would not be a blue-eyed tear shed for your loss,” another sailor responded with a laugh, “that’s for damn sure.”

  Aleksi clenched his bandaged fist but didn’t respond. He did, however, make sure to stay out of their way as he continued moving forward. Each sailor seemed to intimately know his place and position aboard the Diamond, and all moved in unison as the ship prepared to enter the mouth of the great channel. Topmen climbed into the rigging and out onto the spars. Deckhands stood at the booms and manned hawser lines. Officers stood at attention, observing everyone’s movements with critical eyes. It was a harmony of movement and motion choreographed on instinct alone.

  Trying to soothe his agitated mind, Aleksi let himself be lulled by the rhythmic flow of the ship. Below his boots the youth could actually feel the Diamond as she cut through the water. He felt her sails draw breath as her body swayed with the metrical pulsing of the sea. All about him there was a musical creaking of wood, canvas, and taut lines. A soft breeze blew across him, and despite its warmth Aleksi shivered. Coming to the edge of the ship, Aleksi turned away and looked out into the dark water flowing ahead. The tips of the waves softly glistened in the star shine for as far as his eye could see. Aleksi took a deep breath—he felt exhausted.

  Letting out a sigh, Aleksi leaned against the gunwale and reached into the pocket of his cloak. He fingered the letter from Master Rudra, that fateful message committed to memory from many long hours puzzling at its occult meaning. All he had to do was close his eyes to picture Rudra’s carefully scripted words. He felt himself mouthing his Master’s prophetic message like a mantra.

  Aleksi,

  I sense your Rune has finally begun to awaken. Others can feel it, too. Dark assassins have been sent to corrupt or kill you—to steal your Rune for their own or to prevent its power from entering this world. If they succeed, you will become the catalyst of the Guardians’ destruction, for it will be by your hand, or lack thereof, that Terra’s salvation will be plunged into darkness.

  To flee the grasping shadow, you must go to the city of ruin that the Guardians neglected. At the precipice of eternal ignorance, turn from the edge of darkness, for if at any time upon your journey you take a life in anger, you will fall willingly into the hands of those who hunt you. As the repercussions of your rage burn through your body, drink deeply from the light of Mindra—his power of compassion and healing is freely given if you can but open your heart to his eternal song.

  Next, find the ancestral place of healing which was once dedicated to the Northern light. As you search, give not into your temptation, but remember the Masters’ Vow. Once you arrive, let the wounded blindly run away from his fears. As you bear the token of your father while seated by a cold flame, a soon-to-be-resurrected leader will tell you to forsake your lineage. Save him from both flame and steel, for he will lead you to your safe passage before giving the children of Mindra a new hope against the looming shadow.

  As you search for your past, your house, and its fateful ruin, you will cross the sea on a ship of many facets. When torment returns, the myth of the moons and their holy birth will temporarily cleanse your wounds. As your mettle is tested, please remember: the truth is never as simple as a deceiver would lead you to believe. Contemplating your choices from the loft perched in light, do not unveil the truth of the noble, for the leader must seal the fate of his people untainted, lest he condemn us all to shadow. Finally, when you find Vai’kel’s last hope in dire need, give her your strength and trust in your heart, for it will be love that will save you both and awaken your true power.

  Most importantly, however, never forget that only I can teach you how to harness your Rune and protect yourself from its devastation. Until you have it mastered, you are a threat to both friend and foe alike. But fear not: your fissured heart will lead you to your answers, and then, finally, to me. I know that you have great faith but also great doubt—remember that both are needed, yet it will be great determination which will allow you to transcend to salvation.

  When you are well on the path, I will send word again. But remember to make all haste, my Apprentice, for shadows follow your every step. Never forget that if at any point on your journey you choose to fall prey to its alluring power, then its corruption will reign over Terra, eternal.

&n
bsp; ~Rudra

  How could he have known? Aleksi thought.

  Just then, Aleksi heard the deep swoosh of sails above as the Diamond turned into the channel’s strongest outgoing current. This flow of water moved profoundly fast and would carry the Diamond to the sea quickly despite the great distance traveled. As the ship came about with her jibs unfurled and ready to catch, the massive sails snapped with the solid sound of canvas and wind, then filled in the strong breeze as the Diamond surged forward on the swifter-than-natural artificial current.

  Suddenly, dual hallowed blue lights crested on the horizon before them as the twin moons began to rise. The Diamond moved in to meet them and entered into the slot of the channel where the racing combers crested and then broke into white water.

  Both moons had now risen high into the sky, and after changing into fresh clothes, Domadred had joined his son at the wheel. Together, father and son read the fast-moving currents as the ship was propelled along the channel toward the sea. Brayden was a wave-born seaman, and he kept the Diamond on a perfect line even as the extreme waters bucked and shuddered the ship stem to stern.

  Nearing the end of the channel, the boy conned the wheel perfectly as the ship’s keel caught in a churning crosscurrent two fathoms down. The Diamond then shot out into the open ocean. She pushed past the headland and entered into the great Eastern Sea, where the waters ran fast and clean.