Rune of the Apprentice (The Rune Chronicles)

by Jamison Stone

  Moving above the boom, they came to the mainmast’s staysail. It was large and attached to both the mainmast and the foremast with a series of long lines. “The staysail is shaped like a rhombus,” Brayden shouted over the wind, “and therefore needs no boom. It’s used only when the winds are favorable.”

  Aleksi nodded and Brayden continued to climb.

  Suddenly, the Diamond hit another large wave, but this time it did not take Aleksi off guard. As the ship lurched, he held on and let his body flow with the motion. As the ratlines swayed, so did he. Even before the ship settled itself, he began climbing again and was almost able to keep pace with Brayden. Despite this, his heart pounded in his ears.

  When he saw Aleksi at his heels, Brayden’s eyebrows rose. “We are almost to the top; just wait until you see the view!”

  As they passed the main topsail and came to the mainmast’s tops, Brayden climbed up onto the small crow’s nest. The nest was little more than a small platform with a very low railing. Gripping the railing, Brayden sat and dangled his feet in between the rungs. There was just enough room for two people to sit, and as the wind blew about him, Aleksi hoisted himself up and took a seat next to Brayden.

  Firmly holding on to the railing, Aleksi finally let himself look out at the water. In an infinite circle around them was white-tipped sapphire. Other than the Diamond, the sinking Zenith behind them, and the rising Zenith before them, there was nothing but endless ocean for as far as the eye could see. From this height, Aleksi could truly begin to grasp the sheer majesty of Terra’s great ocean. It was beautiful and terrifying in scope and grandeur.

  Aleksi felt the ship rock back and forth as it cut through the water far below. He looked down. Below him was a multitude of sailors working the decks and climbing in the rigging. From up above, the whole process looked very far away. He also could clearly see, outlined in light and shadow, the top of each sail and its respective boom and spar. Glancing behind them, Aleksi saw a long widening line of the ship’s frothy wake stretching off into the distance. His breath came heavy in his throat—being in the crow’s nest was truly exhilarating.

  With the strong wind blowing his hair back, Aleksi looked at Brayden and smiled. The boy could not help himself and smiled back.

  CHAPTER XVIII

  Saying nothing, Aleksi and Brayden stayed up in the crow’s nest for a long while. At first, Aleksi just gazed out at the ocean, soaking in its vastness. But then he sensed the familiar feeling of the young woman. Once again, her call was soft and sweet—a whisper of the heart. Aleksi opened himself instantly and his chest drank her in. Holding on to the sturdy railing of the crow’s nest, he could feel her beckoning—almost pleading for him to listen. As the Zeniths shone down on him, the feeling of her grew in his chest until it permeated his whole body. He would not lose her this time. He knew he must go to her.

  Aleksi turned to Brayden and the boy nodded, saying, “Alright, let’s go back down.” Brayden deftly swung over the railing and hopped back on the shrouds. As the boy descended, Aleksi had to struggle to keep up.

  When Brayden reached the large boom’s crosstrees, he waited for Aleksi. Once Aleksi neared, Brayden removed two thick leather gloves from the back of his belt. After putting them on, the boy took hold of a line connected to the top of the mainsail’s boom.

  “And this,” Brayden shouted, jumping off the shrouds and sliding down the line, “is how I get down! Follow only if you dare!”

  The boy then slid down the line to the boom and let go in midair, flinging his youthful body into the bowed mainsail. When Brayden hit, the sail made a hollow slipping sound of canvas on cloth as the boy slid down its long curve toward the deck.

  Aleksi shook his head as he watched Brayden glide down the sail and finally jump and roll onto the main deck. Nope, Aleksi thought, as he slowly climbed down the shrouds.

  As he descended, he could hear the young woman’s whispers growing stronger. Her summons was powerful in his chest, her urgency clear. Climbing back down to the deck, Aleksi saw that Brayden was nowhere to be seen. The boy had left, no doubt, feeling his tour guide duties were completed. Aleksi returned to his cabin. He could no longer resist the young woman’s call.

  After walking down the guest hallway and entering his room, Aleksi locked the door. He then took off his boots and set his sword in the corner. Aleksi let his mind relax and opened his notebook to thumb through his countless renditions of the young woman.

  At first, he saw the numerous sketches of her eyes. Sadly, they all seemed to lack the full majesty of her presence. But then he came to the completed picture of her face and froze. Seeing it took Aleksi’s breath away. She was gorgeous. Her lips were full, smiling a secret smirk, and her skin was perfectly smooth, almost inviting him to touch the page. But her eyes—her eyes shone out at him, radiant and beautiful.

  Looking into her, he felt the young woman pull at his heart. With her image now fully formed in his mind, she felt more solid and real. She felt alive. Yes, he could now find her in the Dreamscape—he could go to her.

  Aleksi tried to remember what he had been taught about the Dreamscape. The first thing that came to mind was a vague lesson Rudra had once given.

  “The Dreamscape is a great field of dreams,” Rudra had told him. “But not all dreams are in the field of the Dreamscape.” Aleksi had been a very young boy, but like always, Rudra’s teaching had been obscure. “The Dreamscape should be thought of as one gigantic shared dream: the dream of Terra herself.”

  Aleksi remembered being very confused, and Rudra had laughed, saying, “It is a place both confusing and elegant, my student. And much like a woman, it is not a thing to be taken lightly. Instead, the Dreamscape should be respected and held in great reverence. For in this enigmatic land you will find profound splendor but also boundless danger. Luckily, these are things you need not worry about now. You have much to learn before you explore the etheric fields of the Dreamscape or the majestic mysteries of womanhood.”

  Aleksi pushed the memory aside and shook his head. There was so much that Master Rudra had not taught him, and it only made Rudra’s disappearance all the more painful. Aleksi opened his sketchbook and flipped through the pages one last time. He would have to find his own gateway into the land of dreams—hopefully the image of the young woman and her emotive summons were enough. Either way, Rudra could not help him now.

  After Aleksi lay down in his hammock, it did not take him long to drift off to sleep. He clutched his sketchbook in his arms, and as his breathing slowed, his grip on the leather-bound journal loosened.

  He held on to only one thing—the beautiful feeling of her.

  Much like when waking in the physical world, Aleksi transitioned into the domain of the Dreamscape slowly.

  Aleksi stood on a beach. Behind him the sound of the ocean was clear and sweet. As each wave softly rode in, the water scraped pebbles and small shells over the sand before dragging them back out to the sea. The tender rhythm of the surf was soothing, and the shells sounded like twinkling bells as they rolled over each other on the beach.

  As Aleksi regained focus, he saw the foothills of a monolithic Zenith Mountain. He was not sure how, but he intimately knew he was standing before the Zenith of the West. The massive peak towering above stung his eyes, and Aleksi had no choice but to shield his gaze from its magnificent rays. Looking around at the long grasses and sand before him, he saw that everything seemed bright—even the very air itself. It felt as if the Zenith’s light were somehow a tangible thing here in the Dreamscape.

  Aleksi paused and raised a hand to his forehead. His brow was furrowed, but why? He tried to remember. Had he been trying to find something? Yes, he had been searching for something important. But for what?

  He looked down at his hands. His right arm was covered in a thin, gauzelike bandage and the lines that etched his left palm looked somehow older. At his feet, the sand seemed to shimmer and shift around his boots and everything appeared hazy and languid. Aleksi then rea
lized he was dreaming.

  The youth’s gaze rose up his arms. They felt bigger—stronger. He flexed. Although the tendrils of his Rune were deeply embedded in his flesh, they no longer pained him. Additionally, the muscles of his biceps looked larger than he was used to. He even seemed taller here in the Dreamscape. Although he was not a grown man yet, he felt older than he had before. Aleksi was powerful, and it felt good.

  Suddenly, a stirring sensation arose in his chest. Filled with yearning, Aleksi felt his heart open. Its whisper was subtle and yet alluring, like the sweet aroma of spring. Almost intoxicating, it was a delicate fragrance of the heart and mind, possessing beauty, elusiveness, and splendor. It was her.

  Aleksi turned, and he saw her. The young woman’s brilliant-blue eyes shone out to him and her forehead radiated with light and power. She was under a large willow tree some distance away. Its long branches stood sentry where the beach’s sands met the grasses and trees of the mountain’s foothills.

  She was wearing a long, wispy white dress. The thin fabric shone lustrously in the shaded Zenith light, accentuating her exquisite form. Seeing her standing before him made his heart stir powerfully.

  Despite the distance, Aleksi intimately knew her face. From his long hours of drawing her, he recognized every facet of her beauty. But seeing her now, even if it was only in the Dreamscape, was like seeing a thing of abstract magnificence come to life.

  The young woman regarded him elegantly from under the tree’s long branches. She raised her hand to her forehead and its light slowly disappeared. In her gaze there was wisdom beyond her years and an aloofness that spoke of responsibility, duty, and authority. The willow’s canopy blanketed her in a patchwork of shadow and light, and her long blond hair swayed gently, framing her elegant face.

  Aleksi quickly went to her. As he approached, her blue eyes watched him warily. Coming to the end of the sands, Aleksi crossed several stride lengths of tall grass until he came just under the canopy of her large tree. The willow’s long leafy tendrils hung about them, creating a domed shelter from the bright light above. Aleksi raised his hand and touched the invisible barrier that separated them like it had so many times before. He firmly placed his Rune-laden palm, still bandaged, against the wall.

  The young woman’s lips moved, but again Aleksi could not hear what she said. Pressing against the unmoving barrier, he let out a great sigh. He could feel her on the other side and he ached to immerse himself in her radiance. She was so close, yet he could not touch her. Aleksi felt longing burn in his chest.

  The young woman slowly tilted her head to the side and looked at him strangely, as if conflicted. As the golden beauty of her hair spilled over her shoulder, Aleksi felt her reach out to him, again trying to communicate her message. He felt a warning—but of what? He shook his head and pushed against the wall. It did not budge.

  The young woman tried again and desperation shone in her eyes. Whatever she was trying to tell him, it was very important to her. He leaned his forehead against the barrier and a look of defeat spread across his face. She was right here before him, yet he could do nothing.

  The young woman drew a deep breath and then hesitantly walked forward. With each slow step she took, the feeling in Aleksi’s heart grew. He opened himself to her and breathed her in. He then felt something in her, something beyond just her message. He felt emotion stir within her, but it was conflicted and held tightly at bay.

  Aleksi reached out, but the young woman bit her lip and looked away. He felt her emotions grow. It was a fledgling feeling within the young woman’s heart, but it was masked by uncertainty and reservation. Aleksi pushed against the barrier and probed into her. Yes, there was something deeper there—she felt something for him.

  The young woman paused for a long moment, trepidation clearly showing on her face. Finally, she timidly raised her hand to the wall. Instead of meeting it, her hand reached through. And then, very slowly, almost reluctantly, her fingers gently touched his.

  The moment they touched, Aleksi’s heart surged with desire. Nothing else in the world could feel like this, so wonderful, so powerful—and yet so terrifying.

  Aleksi saw fear in her eyes, too. But the barrier then loosened, and she let her fingers slide between his. Aleksi reveled in her eyes. They shone brightly for him but were also filled with bashful uncertainty.

  Aleksi now was able to feel her warning—but he also felt that other emotion. It was held deep within her, and she was guarding it carefully. Aleksi searched for it, probing and feeling into her. Suddenly, he found it. It was hidden away in her heart. It felt soft as the newly formed petals of a blossom, as sweet as the dewy nectar from a honeysuckle—as innocent as a young woman’s new love.

  Abashed, the young woman looked away in self-consciousness, but her fingers closed around his as if by their own volition. Embarrassment flowed through her. Or was it guilt? No, more like disgrace—as if Aleksi had unveiled a private shame.

  Before Aleksi could probe deeper, however, storm clouds grew around the Zenith. Light began to once again shine from her forehead and the young woman’s eyes flashed high above in fright. A strong wind picked up and she quickly retracted her hand.

  Confused, Aleksi tried to reach through the barrier but he was suddenly forced back. He felt the feeling of her grow dim as the darkening sky obscured the light of the Zenith. Desperately, Aleksi tried to go back to her, but it was no use. A strong wind picked up and pushed him toward the water.

  The young woman now felt very distant. As the beach around them descended into shadow, she placed her hand against the barrier. In her eyes was a look of sadness, loss, and shame.

  He tried to call out to her, but it was too late. As full darkness came over him, Aleksi awoke.

  Aleksi lurched in his hammock. His room was dark, with only the moons outside his porthole giving any light. He felt stiff and must have been asleep for a very long time. Aleksi rolled from his hammock and straightened out his hair.

  What happened?

  Slowly, memory came back to him. The young woman had been right there before him, and they had actually touched! The remembrance of her skin sent a wonderful shiver up his spine. Her eyes, her heart, her love—it was all so beautiful.

  But why did I wake up? Why did she push me away?

  Aleksi looked around his shadowed cabin. The air felt stale and suffocating. He dressed quickly and secured his sword to his hip. Grabbing his sketchbook, Aleksi left his room. As he walked down the dark hallway, he could not shake the last emotions he had felt from her. Her heart had been filled with longing but tinged with something else.

  Aleksi paused in the hallway, trying to grasp the emotion. It was heavy like duty, but stained with humiliation. She had been filled with a shame, Aleksi realized. But why would she feel shame in her desire to be close to him? Was it not she who had beckoned him? And he had been so near to actually understanding her warning and supposed urgent message. Aleksi shook his head and continued walking. Just more questions left unanswered . . .

  Ascending the ladder up to the dark main deck, Aleksi breathed the night’s ocean air deeply. It was cool, moist, and refreshing. Overhead, the stars shone out in a great dome, making the moons look as if they were caught in a majestic canopy of diamonds. The ship felt different at night. There were still crewmen about manning lines and walking the deck, but their actions were slow and reserved, as if they moved in a mindful reverence.

  As Aleksi walked to the front of the ship, the crew eyed him carefully but no one said a word. All that could be heard were the quiet creaks of the rigging in the wind mixed with the soft splashes of waves. Clutching his notebook tightly, Aleksi came to the ship’s bow and looked out at the ocean beyond. Before him were peaceful darkness and glittering waves. Aleksi let out a great sigh and tried to allow the tension of his dream to leave him.

  Whatever happened, she must have had her reasons.

  Aleksi sat down against the chaser cannon and opened his sketchbook. By now, his eyes
had adjusted to the moonlight and he could clearly see the book’s pages. He longed to touch her again, even if only for another instant. After flipping to a blank page, Aleksi started drawing. He drew her full body now, for the image of her was clear in his mind. He drew her in an elegant dress with her lustrous hair blowing in the breeze. He reveled in her smooth curves and glittering eyes. The young woman’s radiant essence was palpable on the page.

  Suddenly, a voice broke the silence. “Are you drawing the Diamond or the sea?” Startled, Aleksi looked up and closed his notebook with a snap. It was Domadred, and the captain was standing near the bow with one hand on the gunwale’s railing.

  “Neither, sir.” Aleksi stood and gave a small bow.

  “Ahh, look.” Domadred pointed out to the ocean. “The wind and currents have been extraordinarily favorable—we are entering the luminescent sea.”

  Aleksi looked out ahead of the ship. As far as the youth could see, the whitecaps of the waves pulsed with tiny blue flickering lights. Amid the glowing waters there was also a clear sparkling path before the ship, signaling the edges of a swift-moving sea channel of currents. The flowing luminosity of the currents extended far below the water’s surface, like a powerful corridor of light.

  “I do so love the glow,” Domadred continued wistfully. “The first time I saw it, I was a very young boy. It was the first time my father allowed me to cross the sea on his ship. Although she was flying different flags, the Diamond was much the same as she is now. But to my young eyes, she seemed so very big.”

  “This was your father’s ship?” Aleksi asked.

  “Indeed. And when we came into the luminescent sea—the Western side, of course—I was held in rapture by the ocean’s lights. My father, being a man of dramatism, timed it so we sailed through the beginning of it during the day. That way, when the Zenith’s rays grew dim and night fell, we were well into the glowing waters as darkness descended over the ship. When full night came, my father brought me to the bow and the ocean exploded into a magical radiance before my very eyes. I will never forget that night.”