by Kody Boye
“Sir?” Odin asked. “Where are you?”
Something cried out in the distance.
At first, the sound reminded him of a water bird, like those who made nests along the coasts of wooded lakes. After a moment, however, he realized the scream had not been made by a bird, but it definitely could not have been made by a person either.
A monster? he thought, shivering. In this current climate, it was any wonder what could be lurking about.
“Miko,” he said, choosing to use his knight master’s name in the hopes that the sound would draw his attention. “Please, come back inside. It’s cold out here.”
A figure standing at the front of the deck shifted, back facing him. He recognized the broad shoudlers and stepped forward, smiling and relieved beyond compare. “Why didn’t you answer me?” he frowned. “Why didn’t you—”
He stopped speaking.
A tremor vibrated his being.
The fog, which had risen to the point where it blocked almost everything from sight, shifted, revealing the large, sleek head of a creature Odin had only begun to dream of.
Lochna, a water dragon from depths of the ocean so deep it was said she rose only once in a thousand years, watched Miko with large silver eyes, intent on the slight, minute movements only a trained eye could see. About the size of a royal guard’s shield, the silver ovals that made up her eyes caught the moonlight and reflected it back at whomever had the honor of standing in her presence, only further sealing the forbidden pact two of the land’s most ancient creatures could have held.
You’ve called, Halfling, a sound androgynous but bearing feminine qualities said, her voice rolling over Odin’s brow and off the back of his head like pudding spilled but not yet cleaned up. Your cries are heard, even though they are not spoken.
“Thank you,” Miko said, bowing his head.
Tell me: what is it that troubles your kind soul?
“I… I’m afraid,” the Elf said, his voice low, but high enough so Odin could hear. “I’m afraid something bad is going to happen.”
Why is this?
“Because I feel it.” Miko lfited his head. “In my heart, in my mind… in my blood. I do not know what to do, and I feel it is my responsibility to shield my squire from whatever may lie in his future.”
My future? Odin frowned, shivering, not cold but not comfortable in the least. What is—
There is nothing you can do to alter the future, Lochna said, causing Odin’s thought to stab into his brain and inflict the most tremendous of pains in the center of his forehead. And, kind Elf—Halfling, whatever you choose to be—there is nothing I can do to alter it or ease your worries. I am no mage, no Seer, no prophet. All I can say, and all I can tell you, is that despite whatever lies in this young man’s future, it is his to face, not yours.
“I…” Miko stopped. He looked down at his hand, then sighed, a rumble of struggled breath breaking the silence of the otherwise-calm night. “Thank you, my friend. Please… do rest. I will never call you again.”
Before his eyes, Odin watched something he thought he would never see disappear through the fog and into the sea.
In the days following his discovery, Odin stayed in his room, preferring his own company than that of others. At first, no one said nor did anything, but it soon became apparent that something was bothering him. Several times, Icklard and Domnin came to check on him, always asking if something had happened or if he had something on his mind. Nova, too, asked, but Odin said nothing, other than that he was sick and wanted some time to himself.
At night he dreamed of water dragons and of Elves who asked them questions, while during the day he dwelled on thoughts harsh and unconsecrated, trying as hard as he could to force them from his mind, but to no avail. It eventually escalated to the point where he couldn’t think about anything but the conversation Lochna and his knight master had had, which only served to further drive his consciousness into the pit of agony.
You need to stop, he thought, taking a deep breath. This isn’t going to get you anywhere.
Uncurling himself from the mass of blankets he’d bundled up in, Odin crawled out of bed and made his way into the bathing room, where he looked at the circular, wooden tub they hadn’t used since they left Fisherman’s point. Then and there, he decided he would take a bath, then heat the water up for either Miko or Nova, whomever returned first.
Turning, he grabbed the bucket of water at his side and brought it near the far wall. There he set it under a pump, turned its rotating knob, and began to draw water from the sea through an ingenius and somewhat-impossible method that couldn’t have been committed without magic or some kind of pressurized system that Odin didn’t even want to begin to think about. The process, though tedius and requiring a constant rotation of the pump’s vaulve, did not take long to complete, given that he was able to cross the distance between the pump and the tub back and forth fairly quickly. Soon enough, he had a tub full of water before him.
“All right,” he muttered, kneeling beside the tub. “Here goes nothing.”
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and looked deep inside himself, locating the fountatin that fueled his magical being and that of everything else in their world. Once found, he began drawing energy from it, shivering at the warmth that traveled the length of his arm and toward the water. It bothered him for only a moment until the water started to sizzle. A dip of his finger proved he’d heated it enough for a substantial bath.
At least I’ll be clean, he thought, parting the folds of his jerkin.
Not that dirty water necessarily bothered him. He could bathe in it just fine, but he preferred to know what could be in the water around him before he stepped into it without any clothing. He’d heard of foolish men developing illness just because they hadn’t bothered to clean their water.
After double-checking to make sure the tub had indeed heated up, Odin stepped out of his trousers and into the bath. Inside, he sunk until only his upper lip remained above its surface and closed his eyes. He took slow, deep breaths, reveling in the water’s warmth and the way it seemed to drown out all but the simplest of things.
This feels so good, he thought.
“Hey.”
Odin jumped, inhaling water in the process.
Coughing, he looked up to find Nova standing in the threshold, both hands braced against the wall. “Sorry,” the older man smiled. “I was going to ask if I could get in with you.”
“I don’t care,” Odin managed, pounding his chest. Water ran out the corners of his mouth.
“If you’re modest, that’s fine—I can wait.”
“I’m not modest,” Odin laughed, coughing up more water. “It’s ok. Come in.”
He turned his head to allow Nova his privacy. A moment later, his friend settled into the water beside him.
“Thanks,” Nova sighed, splashing water on his face. “It feels good to have a warm bath.”
“I’m going to run another for Miko later,” Odin said, lifting a bar of soap at this side. “I don’t think he wants to bathe in our water.”
“I doubt he’d care,” Nova laughed. “Here—hand me that bar of soap.”
Odin slid it in Nova’s hand, then moved over so the man could better wash himself.
“Can we talk now that we’re along?” Nova asked, sliding the soap across his chest. “I’m worried about you.”
“I know. It’s ok. It’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“Heh,” the man laughed. “Yeah right. Knowing you, you’re keeping something you seen or heard to yourself and it’s eating you alive.”
Crimson lit Odin’s cheeks. Nova chuckled and gently splashed him. “So I was right,” he said, running wet fingers through the soapy curls of hair on his chest. “You know you can talk to me, bud.”
“I know.”
“So why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you?”
“All right.” Odin sighed, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. “A few nights ago,
” he said, giving Nova his full attention, “I saw Miko talking to a water dragon.”
“A water dragon?” Nova frowned. “You serious?”
“Uh huh.” Odin paused, crossing his arms over his chest. It seemed so cold despite the warm water that came to his nipples.
“I thought dragons were extinct?” the older man asked.
“Supposedly extinct,” Odin offered.
“Anyway, I guess that doesn’t really matter,” Nova sighed. “I can understand why that would bother you, Odin, but it’s not like Miko’s going to tell people he can talk to a dragon.”
“It’s not that, Nova.”
“What is it then?”
“He… uh… said that he…”
“It’s ok. Take your time.”
“He said that something bad was going to happen, and that he felt he had to protect me from it.”
Nova said nothing. He looked down at the water, almost as if something had caught his attention. For a brief moment, Odin entertained the fantasy of that same water dragon appearing from beneath the silky white soap water to greet them with its presence. That idea quickly passed though, as Nova sighed and brought Odin’s attention back to his face. “I don’t know what to tell you, Odin. On one hand, I’m kinda worried, because if Miko feels like something is wrong that can’t be good. On the other hand though, I don’t think you have anything to worry about, becaue it’s not like you can control what’s coming your way.”
“Maybe this is pointless,” Odin mumbled.
“What?”
“I said maybe this is pointless.”
“Yeah, but what’s pointless?”
“Being on this adventure, training to become a knight. This.” He flushed his hand at the air around them. “I don’t get the point if something bad’s going to happen to me.”
“Don’t say that,” Nova said, setting a hand on Odin’s arm. “Imagine what you’re going to be doing in a few years, Odin. You’re going to be a knight, riding around the country, helping those who need help and defending those who can’t defend themselves. What could be better than that?”
“If something’s going to happen to me, Nova, I won’t be able to help anyone.”
“Bullshit you can’t!”
Odin swallowed a lump in his throat. He looked into his friend’s eyes, unsure of what to say. “What?” he asked.
“You can do anything you want. Don’t hold yourself back just because someone’s saying they think something bad’s going to happen to you.”
“But Miko—”
“Miko nothing, Odin. I don’t care if he’s half-Elf, half-Drow, half whatever the fuck you can think of—he’s still here, he’s still physical. Just because he’s lived a lot longer than we have doesn’t mean he knows something we don’t.”
“What if he has the Sight or something though? Like you have?”
“So what? Just because someone has the Sight doesn’t mean everything they see is true.”
“But you… you found me.”
“That’s because it was right that time. Who knows what could have happened. I could’ve went all the way to find out you didn’t exist. Would that mean that just because I saw something and didn’t find it that I was somehow better than everyone else, somehow more useful? Because if it does, hell—sign me up. I’ll be the king’s royal seer.”
“That’s not funny Nova.”
“But do you see my point?”
“Yeah,” Odin sighed. “I do.”
“Come here bud,” Nova said, opening his arms.
With nothing else to do, Odin sighed and slid into his friend’s embrace.
“Everything’s going to be all right,” the older man whispered, patting Odin’s upper back. “Don’t worry. I promise.”
Somehow, Odin believed that, despite everything he felt.
Later that day, after Odin and Nova had bathed for what seemed like hours, Miko returned. Upon noticing the pair of them were freshly-washed and clean, he smiled, then strode across the room to sit at Odin’s side.
“You’re very handsome,” Miko said, touching Odin’s face. “As are you, Nova.”
“Thanks,” Nova grinned, reching up to smooth his beard. “I kinda already figured I was though, since I’m a married man and all.”
“I know.” Miko returned his eyes to Odin. “Is there still water?”
“I’ll go run more,” Odin said, standing. He smiled when Miko pursed his lips. “It’s all right, sir. I was planning on doing it anyway”
“All right,” the Elf shrugged, slipping his cloak off his shoulders. “If you want, that’s fine. Don’t feel as though you have to.”
“I know.”
Odin reached up and gripped the Elf’s smooth wrist. He traced the muscles up his knight master’s arm until his hand came to rest on his shoulder, at which point his eyes fell to the Elf’s smooth, handsome face. As always when in the presence of such a tremendous creature, he stared until he figured his action too impolite, then turned and made his way into the bathing chamber.
As he pumped fresh, if salty water into the tub, he found himself thinking about what he and Nova had discussed earlier. Although his friend was only a few years older than he was, Nova held gems of knowledge in his mind that he could only hope to achieve. He couldn’t imagine being on this journey without him. Had Nova not been there, he would’ve never had the courage to introduce himself to Icklard and Domnin, nor would he have had the strength to traverse the shaking halls of a storm-battered ship. And now, pumping new bathwater for a creature he could have only hoped to dream of, he realized he would have never gotten over the worry and fear of the future heading his way like a loaded crossbow shooting its bolt had it not been for Nova.
He’s helped me a lot, Odin thought, reaching up to scratch an itch on his cheek. I don’t know what I’d do without him.
“Is it ready?”
Odin blinked. Miko set a hand on hi shoulder, kneading the tightened muscle.
“Almost, sir,” Odin said, kneeling beside the water. “You can undress now.”
Miko slid his hands to the knot of his skirt while Odin held his hand over the water, warming its depths from top to bottom. He caught sight of Miko’s muscular legs, but quickly turned away, not wanting to stare like he’d done so long ago in Ornala.
“There’s nothing to be ashasmed of, Odin.”
“I know, sir. It’s just that… well, you already know what I think of you. You’re strong, smart… brave.”
“As are you, my friend.” Miko set a hand on Odin’s cheek, sliding a thumb along his jaw. Unnerved by the touch, Odin shivered and would have drawn away had he not the self restraint. “Is something wrong, Odin?”
“No, sir. Is… is the water warm enough?”
Miko stooped, sliding the tips of his nails inside. “Yes,” he nodded, stepping over and into the tub. “Thank you, Odin. I’ll call if I need anything.”
Odin nodded, accepted the grip his knight master offered, then left the room, trying his best to shake the iamge of a life-hardened warrior from his mind.
As traveling southwest would have predicted, the weather continued to worsen, often to the point where even the comfort of four walls all but diminished. Odin, who’d experienced this drastic change in temperature firsthand upon their initial maiden voyage, refused to go on the deck without reason now that the skin on his back, shoulders and arms was flaking.
“Dammit!” Odin cried as Nova rubbed sunburn balm on his back. “That fucking hurts!”
“Quite a mouth on you there,” Nova chuckled.
“Shut up.”
“I’m sorry, Odin, but don’t feel like you’re the only one who has it.”
“I know,” he sighed, biting his lower lip. It’d be raw by the time the day was over. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” The older man paused, squeezing more balm onto his hand. “Damn hot weather.”
“It makes you wonder where we’re actually going.”
“Sure as hell
does,” Nova agreed.
“I just wish everything didn’t have to be such a big secret.”
“So do I, but you heard Miko—‘you’ll appreciate it more if you want until we get there.’”
“Did you appreciate Neline?”
“No,” Nova mumbled. “I was cold and miserable both ways.”
Odin chuckled. Nova slapped the back of his head and dumped him out of the chair. “Hey!” Odin cried.
“Snooze you lose, bud.”
Smirking, Odin rose, brushed some dirt off his trousers, and walked to the bed, where he spread out across it on his stomach and tried his best not to move. “I hope this weather doesn’t last too long.”
“Even if it does, we’ll get used to it.”
“I guess.”
Nova settled down at the foot of the bed and squeezed Odin’s thigh. “Just relax and get some sleep. The sunburn will be gone soon enough.”
“I know. Thanks Nova.”
“Don’t mention it.” Nova rose and crossed the short distance to his bed, but turned and looked out the window before he could get there.
“Something wrong?” Odin asked.
“No,” Nova said, glancing back at him. “It’s just…”
“Just… what?” Odin frowned, sitting up when Nova stopped speaking.
“Nothing. Don’t worry about it.”