by Shawn Sodman
Laura clears her throat. “I don't know, Josh, my voice is starting to fade. I’ve been reading all day.”
Lyra says, “Why don't we take a small break so Laura can rest her voice?”
“Okay,” says Josh. “I have to go to the bathroom, anyway.”
Josh runs from the room and Lyra says, “Laura, I'll be right back with something for you to drink. It should help your voice.”
“Thanks,” replies Laura.
In the tropical waters off the coast of Bermuda, aboard their company's ship, Yentroc and Kelik are looking at a computer monitor in the lab where the coral-covered artifact and gold coins have been studied.
Kelik, looking at the results of an X-ray, says, “I think it’s safe to say that what Kel'ana brought up from the wreck is a book.”
Yentroc says, “Now the question is, what kind of book is it?”
“Well, it has a magical aura,” says Kelik. “Most likely it is a spell book of some sort.”
“We almost have the coral cleaned off. We’ll find out soon enough,” says Yentroc.
“Too bad Evelena isn't here,” replies Kelik as he walks over to the coral-encrusted book. “She could have removed it all in seconds.”
“Yeah, well, she is rather difficult to get a hold of,” says Yentroc.
Gelana enters the room and says, “Someone from the Department of Marine & Ports Services just boarded us.”
Yentroc looks past Gelana at a tall thin man with brown hair. She smiles and says, “Good evening, Mr. Winters. Isn't it a little late for an inspection?”
The man, in his thirties, replies, “Courtney, you make it sound as if I’m out to get you or something. I promise, I’m not here for a formal inspection. I was just in the area, and thought I would drop by and see if you’d found anything yet.” His looks at the table with the coral and his eyes widen. “It looks like you’ve found something, indeed.”
Yentroc says to Kelik, “Kyle, this is Mr. Winters.”
“Please, call me Eric,” he says as he shakes Kelik's hand.
“Nice to meet you,” Kelik says.
Eric turns his attention back to the table and asks, “What do you think you have here?”
Kelik says, “We’re not sure if it’s anything special.”
“Oh, it certainly is,” Eric says as he examines the coral. He looks back at Yentroc and asks, “May I hold it? I promise to be careful.”
“Of course,” Yentroc says with a nod.
Eric gently picks up the coral and says, “It’s too light to be just coral. I think you have a book here, perhaps a captain's log.” Eric places the encrusted object back on the table. He spots the gold coins. “You found gold, too? Have you been able to identify them yet?”
Yentroc looks at Kelik before saying, “No, we haven't been able to figure out where they’re from.”
Eric puts on a glove before picking up one of the coins. He looks at it closely. “It has a coat of arms with a raven in the center. Are you sure you haven't seen anything like that before?”
“No,” Kelik replies.
Eric smiles and places the coin back on the table with the others. He runs his hand over the gold and says, “I’m sure you will figure it out.” He takes off the glove. “It’s quite a discovery you have here. I'll be back tomorrow to see what you find inside the coral.”
“I look forward to your next visit,” Yentroc says as she walks Eric to the door.
Eric looks at Kelik. “It was nice meeting you.”
“Likewise,” says Kelik.
Eric leaves as Gelana watches him closely. As he steps over the railing and begins to climb down the ladder to a small powerboat, Gelana says to Yentroc, “I have a bad feeling about him. Does he come here often?”
“Yes,” Yentroc replies. “He checks in a couple times a week. He always asks peculiar questions. Sometimes I get the feeling he knows the answers, but asks to see if I know.”
Kelik asks, “Do you think Sheila will be able to get enough of the coral cleared off the book so we can look inside before Kel'ana and I have to leave?”
“I think so,” replies Yentroc. “She said she wanted to work until it was done. So as soon as she’s done eating dinner, she’ll probably resume the cleaning.”
“Good,” says Kelik. “It's getting late and I know the kids will be coming home from the library soon.”
“You could always open the gate to send Kel'ana back,” says Gelana. “You don't have to return with her.”
“I know,” replies Kelik. “But I’m sure she’ll want to see what’s inside the book as well.”
Yentroc says, “We have about an hour before the library closes. I'll see if I can't speed up the process.”
Back at the library, Laura is drinking a warm concoction from a coffee mug. She swallows and says, “Thanks, Aunt Nica. My throat feels better already. What is this?”
Lyra takes the empty mug from her. “It's a mixture of honey and herbs.”
Josh asks excitedly, “Can you read now? We are almost to where the orcneas attack.”
“All right,” says Laura. “Just calm down.” She picks up the book and looks through the pages, trying to find the spot where she left off.
Lyra says, “I'll be back later to let you know when it’s time to go.”
As Lyra leaves the room Laura says, “It looks like not much happened on the last day before the attack. It skips right to the evening.”
“Good,” says Josh. “I don't like all the love stories.”
Laura laughs, “Well, I think you’re going to have to endure one more romantic part before the battle. Chance has a date for dinner with Ariella.”
“Ugh,” groans Josh. “Can we just skip that part?”
“No,” says Laura. “Ariella is my favorite character. I want to know what happens.”
Chapter 57
Eve of Battle
Aboard the Red Dawn, Ariella is on the quarterdeck with Torgus. With the sails furled, they sit and wait with the elven fleet for the impending attack. The sun is beginning to set in the west and the skies above the capital city are once again adorned with the brilliant shades of red and yellow. Ariella watches the horizon and smiles when she spots the silhouette of Chance, in his eagle form, approaching. The deck of the ship is nearly empty as many of the crew are eating below in the galley.
Chance lands on the quarterdeck and transforms before making his way to Ariella. “Good evening, Ariella,” he says. Then, looking at the gray bearded dwarf, he adds with a nod, “Torgus.”
Torgus replies, “Good evening, lad. It is good to see you again.”
“It is good to see you, too, old friend,” says Chance.
Ariella takes Chance by the arm and says, “Come on. We'll watch the sunset from the poop deck, and then I hope you’re hungry, because I made enough food for a small army.”
“I am sure it will be wonderful,” says Chance as Ariella leads him up the stairs to the highest part of the ship aside from the crow’s nest.
Ariella sits on a blanket that has been laid out. “For a moment I wasn't sure if you were coming.”
“Why is that?” he asks as he sits facing her.
“Considering all that’s happened these last few days, and everything that Fidelma told you about Sven and myself, I just thought you might still be upset with me.”
“Oh, that,” says Chance. “I must admit I was surprised that you were the one he spent the night with right before his wedding the next day. I am sorry I left without discussing it, but I just didn't know what to say at the time.”
“It's all right,” she says as she takes his hand. “I understand. I’m just glad you’re here now. Do you remember when you said that when you look at me you see a whole new woman that you’ve never met?”
“Yes,” he nods.
“Why don't we meet again for the first time?” Ariella says excitedly. “I'll start. Hello, what’s your name?”
Chance smiles. “My name is Chance Na'Moon. What is yours?”<
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“My name is Ariella,” she says.
“That is a beautiful name,” Chance replies. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Oh, Chance,” she gasps. “You remembered.”
Chance replies, “I could never forget the first time we met.”
“Neither could I,” she says.
Chance, once again pretending to be meeting her for the first time, asks, “So, tell me about yourself, Ariella.”
Ariella laughs. “All right. I am the daughter of Red Beard, the former captain of this very ship that I was raised on. A year ago, I thought my father was killed in an attempted mutiny when he was thrown overboard. Those loyal to my father stopped the mutiny, and I became the captain. It turns out that my father survived as well. He’s back now, but he has allowed me to remain in charge while he’s having a new ship made for himself. He plans to help until the war is over. So, tell me a bit about yourself.”
“I am a royal knight and adviser to King Arioch,” says Chance. “I live in the palace with my two daughters and son. My wife was killed years ago by an orcnea raiding party.”
What was supposed to be a fun game of getting to know each other again now has become a bit more somber. Ariella says, “Chance, I truly am sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you,” he replies. “She will always have a place in my heart.” Wanting to change the mood to something more positive, he adds, “Before my wife, there was someone else who was very special to me.”
“Oh?” Ariella asks with a smile. “Please, tell me more.”
“We were young,” he answers. “She was the daughter of a privateer. He didn't really approve of us. We did a good job of keeping our relationship hidden from him, but one night, he found us together as we were about to kiss. She went off to bed, and after that night I never saw her again.”
Ariella says, “Her father must have decided to keep you two apart.”
“Yes,” he answers. “He did, but we didn't find that out until years later. We wrote to each other, never knowing that her father kept us from receiving each other’s letters.”
Ariella frowns. “This isn't as much fun as I thought it would be.”
Chance, continuing to speak as if they were strangers, says, “You know, no matter how much time has gone by, she too, will always have a place in my heart.” Ariella smiles as he looks at her and asks, “So, tell me, is there anyone special in your life?”
“There was once,” she replies. “I too was young. He was a handsome elf with blue eyes. But my father didn't approve. It ended much like your first love. We wrote to each other, but didn't get the letters. The last time I saw him, he was taking his vows with his wife. I swore I would never love again.”
Chance nods and comments, “Surely, after all that time, you must have fallen in love with someone else.”
“Love never came easy for me,” says Ariella. “My father saw to that. I never got to know anyone well enough to fall in love. Sure, there were some men that caught my eye, but if they happened to be a member of my father's crew, they were quickly left at the nearest port. My father never let me go ashore alone, so I couldn't even meet someone there. Eventually I began to sneak off the ship at night when we were docked. I got myself into some trouble, and my father was none too happy about it. When I turned twenty-two, I told him that I was no longer going to live aboard the Red Dawn like some prisoner. He reluctantly agreed to let me go out on my own when we were docked. I started to spend my nights in the company of men. While I did have a good time, I never did find a man I could say that I loved. At least not like my first.”
Chance asks her, “What do you like to do for fun?”
Ariella looks out at the horizon. “I enjoy watching the sun set, then after it's completely gone, I enjoy looking up at the stars. When we are far out to sea, and the skies are clear, it's like we’re sailing among them. I also enjoy writing in my journal, and standing in the driving rain of thunderstorms.” She looks back at Chance and asks, “And just what is it that a knight of Sheathelm likes to do with his spare time?”
Chance replies, “I used to enjoy flying, though lately, I have had my fill of it. I like to sit in the King’s Shield Inn, and listen to those who play music on the stage. I also enjoy shaping fire.”
“Show me,” says Ariella.
Chance casts a spell and creates a ball of flame in his left hand. He concentrates and shapes the fire into a rose bud. He moves the fingers of his right hand and the bud begins to move as if it were being pulled by strings. It then blossoms into an orange and red flower. Chance lifts his hand and holds the fiery image up so it appears to take the place of the setting sun on the horizon.
“That’s beautiful,” Ariella gasps.
“I know something even more beautiful,” says Chance. He then makes the fire take the shape of Ariella.
“Oh, Chance,” she says as she gazes at the flaming image of herself. “Do you remember what you said next?”
Chance dissipates the spell and the fire fades. “I made an eagle out of the flames and I said that someday I would learn to fly. Then I would soar to the sky, and then no ocean or sea—“
“—shall keep you from me,” finishes Ariella. “You promised to come for me.”
“I know,” says Chance sadly.
Ariella says, “As much as I'd like to hear those words again, I don't want you to make any promises that you can't keep. My heart couldn't bear it again.”
Chance takes both her hands in his and says, “It’s different now. Your father is no longer keeping the Red Dawn away from Sheathelm. Unless you leave without telling me where you’re going, you won't lose me again, I promise. I can't lose you again.”
Ariella asks, “What about the woman you kissed in the mountains, the red-headed elf?”
“Kristieana?” asks Chance. “What about her?”
“Can you look me in the eyes and tell me that you’re not in love with her?” she asks. Chance sighs and looks down at the blanket. “I knew it,” says Ariella as she pulls her hands away. “For once I wish you were good at lying. I wish you could look me in the eyes and tell me what I want to hear, even if it's not the truth.”
“Sometimes I wish I could, too,” replies Chance. “But then how would you ever trust me? At least when I tell you I love you, you know I mean it.”
“I suppose that's true,” she relents.
Chance lifts her chin and continues, “And when I tell you this: even though she has a place in my heart, my heart belongs to you. She is no threat to us or what we share, and if she were, you would know it.”
Ariella smiles and asks, “So, your heart belongs to me?”
“Yes,” he answers. “Please try not to break it.”
“I won't,” say says as she moves over and leans against him. Chance puts his arm around her and they watch the sun finish setting.
In the castle, King Arioch is having dinner in the main hall with a large gathering of guests, including Lord Damion of Northwind, A'ranah, Isen, Kianna, and Ya'leigh. Prince River is also there, along with Baeldeth.
The captain of the drake riders, Belron, enters and says, “Your Majesty, the orcneas are on the move.”
Arioch replies, “I expected as much. They plan to attack at dawn, just as they said.”
Belron says, “From what we could see, only a few hundred of them are coming. The rest are staying behind.”
A'ranah says, “No doubt they plan to open a magic gate so that the others can come through fully rested.”
Arioch sighs. “That means we’re not going to be able to stay back behind the walls of Sheathelm. We’re going to have to engage them in the fields to disrupt those gates.”
A'ranah says, “We may be able to use this to our advantage. If the orcneas are only coming through a few gates, our archers and casters can take them down as they come through.”
Damian asks, “But what if there are too many gates?”
“That’s not likely,” says A'ranah. “It takes a lot of
magic to create a gate, but it’s easier to maintain them. I would be surprised if they had more than a half dozen.”
Isen says, “If there are only a few hundred, we could wipe them out before they even open the gates.”
“If we do that,” says Arioch, “then we will only be delaying the main attack. If we allow them to open two gates, we should be able to decimate them as they come through. If they try to open more, then we will take out the shamans. The problem is not knowing when and where they plan to open them. We'll want to be there when they do, but we also don’t want to break our word and attack them before dawn.”
“If I may make a suggestion,” says Belron, “Watchtower Hill may be the ideal place for the orcneas to attack from. It is within view of Sheathelm, so it will be dawn by the time they arrive, but far enough away from the city that the orcneas would normally be safe to open their gates and not come under fire. If they know the land, that might be where they’re heading. If we wait on the south side of the hill, we could surprise them.”
Arioch nods. “And if they don’t go there, we would be poised to strike them in any direction nearby.”
A'ranah says, “Let's just hope they don't bring in their reinforcements before dawn or before we are ready to strike.”
“If they open a gate within firing range of our archers before dawn,” says Arioch, “they will not live to see the light of day.”
In the Amazon encampment, the young Sisters of the Silver Moon are lying awake in their beds. Yentroc says, “Ja'noa, do you have anything to help us sleep?”
Ja'noa replies, “Not if you want be alert when you wake.”
“I know we’re all nervous about tomorrow,” says Evelena. “But we must remember, we are not alone like we were in the north. Most of the sisterhood is here with us, and the armies of Sheathelm, as well.”
Gelana adds, “Not to mention Chance Na'Moon.”
“True,” says Yentroc. “But we’re not facing a small band of orcneas tomorrow.”
“I know,” says Evelena. “But we also have the drake riders and the goblin air ships. If we control the sky, we can control the ground. The walls of Sheathelm are strong, and we will be safe behind them.”