A nudge from behind was followed by Shorty’s whisper, “Captain’s coming.”
James nodded, canceled the spell, and slipped the mirror into his pack. He then rose to his feet.
“Everything all right, Captain?”
“All is as to be expected.” He glanced to those before him, his expression unreadable. “There are six bunks below you can take turns at.”
Scar looked less than pleased. “Take turns?”
“Thank you, Captain,” Miko said before Scar exacerbated the situation. “I’m sorry if we’ve inconvenienced anyone.”
“You’ve paid your coins,” he said. “Six bunks is only your due.”
“Think there should be one for each of us…” mumbled Scar.
James cast him a stern look and the Pit Master kept quiet. When he returned his gaze to the captain, found the man to be staring intently at him.
After a moment, the captain asked, “Have we sailed together?”
“Don’t think so,” James replied cautiously. “I’m rarely down in this area.”
“Still,” the captain continued, “there’s something about you that strikes me as familiar.” A few more moments of contemplation, then he broke eye contact. “We eat twice a day. You’ll eat same as we.”
“Would expect nothing else.”
Captain Anyn nodded, paused a moment to briefly look at James one more time, then turned and headed for to his quarters.
“Nice fellow,” Shorty commented sarcastically.
“So long as he gets us there,” replied Jiron.
Later that evening, long after land had vanished into the horizon, Kip was losing at a game of Bones and Daggers.
“Come on, Kip,” Father Vickor chided. “Are you going to let a girl beat you?”
Jira had three long daggers to Kip’s solitary one and she was maneuvering him toward the kill. The conclusion was foregone.
The novice turned an aggravated gaze upon his superior, “Think you can do better?” he spat.
The priest shook his head and laughed. “Not in the slightest. She’d carve me up and feed me to the dogs for sure.”
“No shame in losing to a better man,” Shorty said, then added “or a better girl.”
Jira beamed, Kip shrunk in on himself and the others laughed.
Jiron laid a hand on the novice’s shoulder. “You play a good game, Kip. It’s just that she plays a better one.”
“It is in her blood,” Miko stated.
“My blood?” she asked, then turned to her uncle.
James smiled at her. “It just means you are your father’s daughter.”
“Oh,” she replied, though failing to glean understanding.
Pieces moved and as everyone but Kip had known, his long dagger soon fell to hers and the game was over.
Chapter Forty-One
The first day at sea passed uneventfully. Kip and Jira played Bones and Daggers, with the others taking their turns from time to time. Most held their own with Jira while her father won more than he lost. Kip tried his luck against Scar and lost three consecutive games while with Shorty he won two out of three.
Eddra drifted in and out of consciousness. At times she would seem coherent though she failed to respond to all attempts at conversation. Azhan managed to get a few sentences out of her after the midday meal.
“She wanted to know where Gahz had gone to,” he explained.
“Gahz?” James questioned. “Who’s that?”
His apprentice shrugged. “She did not elaborate, Master.”
Her eyes were closed and it was plain to see she had fallen asleep yet again.
“She is gaining strength,” Miko said. “Her wounds are healing as one would expect of someone her age. The swelling around her eye is half the size as when she first joined us. She may even be able to open it in a day or two.”
That night when they gathered at the forecastle, James brought out the mirror and they again watched their loved ones going about their evening business. These viewings were the high point of their day. He couldn’t wait to hold them in his arms.
“Master?”
He turned from a scene of Meliana, Kenny and Aleya walking through Kendrick’s flowers, to Azhan.
“Yes?”
“Could you show us how you do that?”
James paused for a moment as if giving the question due consideration. He looked from one apprentice to the other, then shook his head. “This is neither the time nor the place for such instruction.”
Azhan bobbed his head. “As you wish, Master.”
With any luck, such instruction would be postponed for a very long time. He could see the fire burning in Azhan’s eyes, the fire to learn and prove himself. But until he had an idea as to the kind of mage Azhan would become, James planned to keep much of his knowledge to himself; and as for that which was due to his learning from Earth, that he never planned to share. He gestured for his apprentices to accompany him over near the rail away from the others.
“What can you two do?”
“I am a strong mage of the Second Circle,” Azhan replied as if that said it all. Gesturing to his friend, he added, “Hikai was raised to the Second Circle less than a year ago.”
“That’s all well and good,” James said, “but that tells me little. What can you do? Where do your strengths lie?”
“Would you like us to show you?” Azhan asked.
James shook his head. “Not here. Just tell me.”
“All mages of the First Circle are trained in rudimentary combat skills. Both Hikai and myself can hold our own against non-mages.”
“Heard of the earthen berm you raised at Tapu.”
“Yes,” Azhan said, beaming. “Working with the earth has always come easy to me.”
James turned to Hikai. “And you? Anything you do exceptionally well?”
Looking afraid to even speak, Hikai shook his head. “No, Master.”
“I see…”
Seeing James being more or less disappointed, Azhan said, “He can bring down the lightning.”
“Oh? Just a single bolt or can you summon many at one time?”
“In one battle two months ago,” Hikai replied, “I brought down three in less than a heartbeat. Killed seven bandits.”
“Impressive.”
Hikai beamed.
“Our skills are meager compared to yours, Master,” Azhan said. “We were given just enough training to aid the patrols, and then we were sent off.” He glanced to Hikai who nodded agreement. “I’m sure under your tutelage, our skills will improve to where we can be worthy of you.”
“That remains to be seen.”
Azhan’s exuberance waned. “Yes, Master.”
“Captain!” hollered a sailor high up in the rigging. “Smoke off the port bow!”
Moving to the bow, Captain Anyn removed a spyglass and directed it toward the wisp of smoke rising off in the distance.
James immediately produced his mirror and an image of a ship aflame appeared.
“Helmsman,” the captain said, “make to intercept.”
“Aye, Captain,” the helmsman replied and the ship turned.
Everyone crowded around him as he zoomed the image outward.
“Any survivors?” Scar asked.
When signs of life failed to materialize in the broad view, he zoomed in closer and panned it from bow to stern.
The deck showed evidence of charring in multiple places. The mizzenmast had been shorn in twain four feet from the deck, its main body hung off the starboard side.
Bodies lay strewn across the deck; many held swords.
“There was a fight,” Jiron observed.
“No doubt,” agreed Scar.
James turned to Azhan. “Pirates?”
“I do not know, Master. It is certainly possible.”
“Or slavers,” offered Hikai. “I have heard tales.”
After scanning the burning ship a moment longer, James canceled the image, placed the mirror back in his pac
k then walked over to the captain.
Captain Anyn lowered the spyglass and turned at his approach.
“What’s happening, Captain?”
“Ship in distress,” he replied. “We’re going to see if we can lend aid.” He paused a moment and checked James’ face for signs of displeasure at having to be delayed. Not finding any, he returned his attention to the spyglass and the fast approaching ship.
A moment later he turned to the man high in the rigging and hollered, “Any survivors?”
“None that I can see, Captain.”
“Damn pirates,” he mumbled.
“This happens often?” Miko asked.
The captain shook his head. “No. Quite rare for these waters in fact. But it does happen.”
All the sails had been consumed by the fire. The bulk of the smoke emerged from the hold though several other places still smoldered.
“Doesn’t look like pirates,” the Captain announced as they drew near.
“What makes you say that?” Jiron asked.
He pointed toward four boxes secured with rope near the tiller housing. The top one was badly singed and broken open; rods of a dark metal lay spilled on the deck. “Pig iron. Pirates would have taken that. Very valuable.”
Putting the spyglass in his tunic, Captain Anyn turned to his crew and commenced shouting orders. Sails were furled and as they came abreast of the derelict, the anchor was released. Grappling hooks sailed across to take hold of the ship’s side and the two were pulled together.
The captain turned to James, “You and your people remain aboard while we check for survivors.”
“Aye, Captain.”
A score of sailors hopped the rails and proceeded to make a methodical search of the ship. Another dozen headed for the pig iron and worked to transfer the valuable iron to their ship along with other crates and barrels containing unknown items.
“Sami!”
Azhan’s holler and subsequent hop to the other ship took them by surprise.
“Come back here!” Tinok yelled as he sprinted after the young apprentice.
He stopped and knelt next to a lifeless young boy lying in a pool of blood. The boy had been stabbed several times.
James came to his apprentice just as Azhan reached out a hand and smoothed a swath of hair from the young boy’s face.
“Who was he?”
Looking up at his master with sadness in his eyes, he replied, “A friend from the School.”
“A mage?”
Azhan shook his head. “Not exactly.”
“Master,” Hikai said, “Sami was brought to the school while we were still of the First Circle. Not everyone has what it takes to be mages. He had some skill, but was unable to master more than the most rudimentary spells.”
He came to kneel next to Azhan. “He was deemed not a threat to himself or others and so was released a year ago.”
“I thought they killed the rejects,” Scar stated.
“Not always.”
The approach of Captain Anyn drew James’ attention. He turned toward him.
“Everyone’s dead.”
“Any idea who did this?” James asked.
He shook his head. “No,” then paused a moment. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“How do you mean?”
The captain motioned for him to follow and led him to the forecastle housing. He pointed to a large charred section that began three feet from the deck. “What do you make of this?”
James shrugged. “I’m not sure what you are asking.”
Then Scar said, “It’s circular.”
The captain nodded. “Exactly.” He glanced to James. “I don’t know of anything that would make a pattern like this. If alcohol or tar had been used to start it, there would have been char tracks all the way down the side to the deck.”
James stepped back and saw where the charred area was definitely circular. Perhaps not perfect, but close enough. “Odd.”
“Sail, ho!” came the cry from the lookout far above
“Where away?”
“Three degrees off the port bow.”
Several miles out, a ship was heading their way.
“Back to the ship,” the captain ordered as he raced to the rail. “Release the lines. Get underway.”
“Aye, Captain,” men replied as they scrambled to carry out his orders.
James hurried to the only calm area on the ship, the forecastle. There he pulled out his mirror and the others crowded around.
“Think he’s the one who burnt the other ship?” Scar asked.
“Perhaps,” Miko replied.
“Could be another like us coming to investigate,” offered Shorty.
Jira tugged on her father’s arm. “What’s going on?”
“We don’t know, Jira,” he replied. “Now hush.”
The mirror sprang to life and an aerial view of the oncoming ship came into focus. It was a three-masted frigate and packed with armed men. Most were dressed as regular seaman without rhyme or reason, but one man stood apart. Standing head and shoulders above the rest, he wore a white uniform with gold trim. On the left breast of his white jacket was embroidered a golden starburst.
“The Captain?”
James glanced to Kip and nodded. “Most likely.” Then to Azhan, he asked, “To which Warlord does he owe allegiance?”
“I believe Warlord Halim lays claim to these waters,” his apprentice replied. “But that is not his emblem. I have never before seen one depicting a golden starburst.”
A glance to Hikai received a shake of his head and shrug of shoulders.
“They don’t look peaceful,” observed Father Vickor.
“No,” James agreed, “they don’t.”
Canceling the image, he made his way back to Captain Anyn.
Shouting orders to alter course away from the oncoming ship, he glanced with annoyance at James’ approach.
“Who is that, Captain?”
“Damned if I know,” the captain replied. “And I’m not waiting for them to catch us to find out. Hop to it, lads. Full sails!” Then to James, “Keep your people out of the way.”
“Aye, Captain.”
Moving back to the forecastle, James went to the rail and looked back along the side of the ship to the one heading for them.
“It means to catch us,” Jiron said.
“Looks like it.”
Once again taking out his mirror, he brought the ship into focus.
Men were in rigid formation on the deck. Sails were full and fully extended by the wind. A glance to the sails of Captain Anyn showed them to not have caught the wind as fully. That, coupled with the fact that the other ship had more sails seemed to indicate that it catching them was a foregone conclusion.
“Azhan.”
“Yes, Master?”
Looking up at his apprentice, James asked, “Are you as good with wind as you are with earth?”
A grin came over the young apprentice. “Almost.”
“Then fill those sails and keep them filled.”
With poorly restrained jubilation, Azhan said, “Yes, Master!”
Hikai looked hopeful to be told to take part, but James shook his head. “Not now. Aid Azhan should he require it.”
“Yes, Master.”
Then James waved the two youngest to him. “Jira, Kip.”
As the two came to stand before him, he said, “Watch the sky for anything unusual.”
“Unusual?” Jira asked, confused.
Kip nodded. “I understand.” He took her by the hand and moved off a bit where he whispered to her. Her eyes widened as they turned and looked to the sky.
Azhan quietly spoke the words of the spell and timbers groaned as the wind increased tenfold and sails stretched to their utmost. A cheer went up from the crew as the ship leapt forward.
“What are you up to?”
James turned to Miko as he once again pulled out his mirror. “If we can keep our distance until dark, we stand a
better chance of losing them.” Concentrating, he brought the ship into view.
The other captain strode to the bow of his ship. That he shouted to his men was apparent; what was unknown. Not for the first time James wished this came with sound. He once tried to do far-viewing with sound but the magical draw to do so had been incredible so hadn’t pursued it. Now he wished he had.
At the bow was a raised section covered by a tarp. The captain shouted more orders and two sailors carefully removed the tarp. James gasped at what was revealed.
Atop a three foot tripod sat an object roughly oblong in shape. The end facing the ship’s bow was rounded and looked to have a foot and a half diameter. Its body tapered for four feet until reaching its six-inch wide, convex end. It wasn’t the fact that the object appeared to be made entirely of gold that had made him gasp, nor its artistically inlaid filigree and engravings; nor even the starburst on the larger of the two ends that was a match to the one upon the captain’s uniform. No, it was the fact that spaced evenly around the middle of the object were set three rings of four glowing crystals. Magic!
“What in the name of the gods is that?” Scar exclaimed.
Had it been metal with a hollow bore, James would have called it a small cannon.
“It’s magic,” he replied as he tapped the image where the crystals glowed. “Someone has learned to harness the power of crystals.” Then he glanced to Miko.
“Can you handle that?” Miko asked.
James shrugged. “I haven’t a clue what its purpose is or how its power will manifest.” He then thought back to the charred area on the derelict ship. Circular, burnt, no apparent agent used for combustion… A heat ray? “Possibly. But one thing is for certain,” he said as he turned his gaze toward the other ship, “we’ll never outrun them; not if they have a mage.”
“Azhan.”
“Yes, Master?”
“Kill the wind.”
“Going to let them catch us?” Jiron asked.
James nodded. “Yes I am.”
Sailors cursed as the wind died and sails stretched to their limits slackened. Captain Anyn hollered and his men hopped to it, adjusted rigging and sail length to take advantage of what wind remained.
The enemy ship gained quickly upon them.
Tides of Faith: Travail of The Dark Mage Book Two Page 52