by Bill Mays
Instead of heading to the lighthouse, Ado turned himself invisible again and followed at a safe distance. He wanted first to see which ship they were headed to. As they dragged Tark awkwardly across the docks, the odd group received many stares and several glares of anger. Word had spread through the people quickly that the fanatics had been killed in the streets. The description of those responsible had also spread.
“Get yer eyes back to yer own business!” The dwarf grunted aloud.
Several ships were readying to pull out of the docks, intent on finding calmer waters. Everyone feared the wrath that would fall on the port town. Word of Talwen was just beginning to reach their ears. If the magic city could not withstand the reivers’ attacks, then Seaside was surely lost.
“Where are we going?” The slim lady in red asked as she struggled to be of help. She really was not too useful in the lifting or carrying departments.
“To the Siren, just ahead and on the left, thank the gods,” the Dwarf replied with another grunt. He was ready to drop the warrior. Tark was heavy.
“The Siren,” Ado whispered.
He flew ahead and located the ship with the figure of a lady molded on its front. It was in fact, the Siren. The name was carved in the wood below the female figure. With their final destination located, he darted back to the not so distant lighthouse. He flew in through the top floor and spiraled down the stairs to reach Herrin and the others as fast as he could. Belrrus was seated in a chair with Nivit at his side. The two were in quiet conversation while the old sage slept.
“We have trouble!” Ado squeaked aloud as he faded into view and landed panting. “Big trouble!”
The priest jumped to his feet and Nivit sprang into the air. Even Herrin awoke and struggled to sit upright. The gremlin’s sudden shouts startled them all.
“What is it, Mr. Ado?” Nivit asked nervously.
“Yes, spit it out already!” Belrrus added. The old man did not like the sound of this.
“Tark? Where’s Tark?” Herrin groaned nervously as she realized the big man was not present.
“I’ll make this quick,” the gremlin squeaked. The excited mage began rambling off everything on one long breath of air. “The fanatics were in the fancy carriage. That fake priest, Malark, led them here. They showed up in town and tried to capture Tark. We fought them with the help of the strange pair from the tavern, the dwarf and the tall woman. We beat them. The town is going crazy over the whole ordeal and everyone thinks the reivers are going to show up for revenge. The odd pair took Tark, who ended up paralyzed from the waist down by that fake priest’s magic, to their ship called the Siren.” The gremlin took a deep breath and looked around to make sure everyone kept up.
“Is Tark alright?” The sage asked.
“Besides being a little bruised up, bloody, and unable to walk, he seemed well,” Ado replied sarcastically.
“This is terrible!” Belrrus exclaimed. “What will become of Seaside?”
“We have to help Mr. Tark. What should we do, Herrin?” Nivit asked. Her eyes were wide with fear.
“Oh dear,” the sage mumbled. “That poor, poor boy, you two go and keep an eye on him. Make sure they don’t hurt him, and at all costs make sure they don’t get that gem! Who knows what will happen if they get their hands on the artifact?”
Nivit was out of the window and headed to the docks in a flash. Ado was a little more hesitant. “The tall woman is some sort of strange mage, and the dwarf is good with a blade,” Ado squeaked. “I’m not sure there is a lot we can do if they aren’t friendly.”
Herrin met Ado’s fearful statement with a motherly gaze. “I understand that tremlins don’t deal with danger well, but that artifact could be devastating to all of Pangias if it fell into the wrong hands.” Herrin stated seriously. “You and Nivit have accomplished much in our short time together. You rescued us all from that crazy priest’s clutches before. Don’t sell yourself short, Ado the Magnificent. I believe in you, and that is your best friend in the world you’re talking about, if I’m not mistaken. Isn’t his life worth the risk?” The old woman looked at Ado sincerely.
The words struck the gremlin like a heavy club. As much as it annoyed him to admit it, Tark was his best friend. How did that happen? “Stupid, danger prone ogre,” he mumbled as he launched himself out of the window and after the fairy.
Herrin gazed out of the portal as her little companions faded from view. Worry etched into her tired features. Belrrus stood at her side. The priest reached down and took her hand in his own. He held his seashell holy symbol in his other hand.
“May Learianna watch over them,” he whispered. “Don’t worry, my dear; I have faith that they will be alright. Fate has guided you all this far, I doubt she’ll drop you just yet. As you’ve said before, the boy has an important quest to complete,” the old priest smiled. “And, Learianna must think it a worthy quest to have guided you to my doorstep.”
Herrin held his warm hand tightly and sank back onto her pillows. “I hope you’re right, for all our sakes,” she whispered sadly.
* * * * * * * * * *
As soon as they reached the plank leading to the Siren’s main deck, a group of scurvy-looking men rushed to help the trio get Tark safely aboard.
“Get the warrior and the lady to a holding chamber. The man may need some medical attention. I’m heading to see the captain,” the dwarf called out.
The redheaded woman nodded then headed in a different direction. “We must prepare to sail. Seaside is no longer safe,” she announced to the crew.
The bound lady was led along at the hands of one man. Several of the scrawny crewmen struggled to drag Tark along the deck until someone called out for them to halt.
“I will transport the warrior,” the deep voice hissed. A very muscular lizard man dressed in a light blue sailing tunic stalked forward and wrapped a brawny arm around Tark’s waist.
The other men backed off instantly and the lady gasped at the sight of the creature. Only the lone man guiding her remained and followed the lizard man at a distance. He did not want to step on the large reptilian’s tail.
“Who are you people? What are you going to do with me?” Tark growled. He had not had pleasant experiences with lizard men in the past.
“We are the crew of the Siren. What happensss to you dependsss on what the captain decidesss.”
“And me?” The lady in red asked meekly. “I’m not with him, you know? My family is very influential and wealthy. They would be quite pleased to see me returned safely.”
“Same goesss for you, woman,” the reptilian man hissed dismissively.
They went below deck and into an area with tight hallways and small rooms. Both Tark and the lady in red were shoved into one of those small rooms. The gladiator was dumped on the sole cot while the lady took a seat on a small stool. The door was shut and locked from the outside as their guides left.
“Wait!” Tark shouted. “I want to speak with your captain, now!”
There came no response to his demands. Tark struggled to stand, but no matter how hard he tried, his legs would not respond. They were like two slabs of lead.
“Damn mages!” He swore again in frustration.
The woman appeared cautious and very nervous. She seemed hesitant to ask but finally spoke up. “You’re bleeding, is there anything I can do?”
Tark waved her concerns away. “I’ve been worse,” he mumbled.
“You were impressive back in the town,” the lady offered softly. “I’ve never seen anyone fight like you before.” Tark did not reply. He was trying to think of a plan to get out of his current predicament. “I’m Kreasha, Kreasha Newmons.” She dipped her head with a forced smile. Her dark eyes never left the big man. “You might have heard of my family. We are quite prominent in the finer circles of Villinsk.”
“Nope,” Tark grunted as he used his trident to test the solidity of the walls and door.
She collected herself from the rude response. She had been raise
d in the finest schools and courts in the land. She was a child of nobility and not accustomed to being treated in such a casual manner, especially by pirates and now a common mercenary.
“What did those people want with you, the Order of Four?” She asked genuinely curious. “I mean to say, I understand the whole sacrificial part, but why were they so adamant about you in particular?”
“I guess they weren’t too happy when I got away the first time.”
“And these pirates, why do they want you, too? You seem to be a very important man yourself.”
“I’m nobody special,” Tark sighed. “I just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time -- often.”
“Really?” The lady looked doubtful. “I believe in fate and purpose, not so much in chance. I think there is much more to you than meets the eyes, warrior.”
“Tark, call me Tark,” he replied, “and I rely on myself not fate or whatever else might be pulling the strings.” He hated that term “fate.” Until recently, he did not even believe in such nonsense.
“Tark it is then,” she smiled. “If my hands weren’t tied, I might be able to get us out of here. I studied at one of the finest magic schools in Talwen, before it fell to those fanatics,” she sighed.
“Another mage then?” Tark groaned.
He knew mages were a special breed, a select few with the gift for the arcane arts. He had thought them very rare. He had met only a couple during his entire life; but as of late, his days seemed to be surrounded by a lot of magic-using maniacs. Tark’s low opinion of mages was not getting any better. He twirled his trident around and slashed the ropes from the lady’s wrists in one fluid motion, using the sharp tip of the center tine. The lightning fast gesture startled the lady and nearly sent her tumbling backwards to the floor from her stool.
“There, show me what you can do, Lady Kreasha.”
Kreasha stood and flexed her wrists. “First I need to unlock the door.” She fished a small notebook from a hidden pouch on her dress and examined it briefly. She mumbled a few words and a sharp clicking sound filled their ears. She turned the latch and the door swung open. “That was simple enough. To be perfectly honest I’m not that skilled in the art. My father thought it would be a worthy pursuit, but I’m a dabbler at best.” She started to leave the room and then looked back at the gladiator. “What about you? How will you escape? I can’t exactly carry you out of here. The effects of that spell could keep you paralyzed for hours.”
“We’ll just have to figure something out then, won’t we?” Tark grinned.
* * * * * * * * * *
Nivit reached the ship first. It was easy to spot the pretty carved lady with the name Siren scrawled across the front of the sleek vessel. The fairy shifted into a small gull and landed on one of the many ropes strung across the ship above the main deck. She searched for any sign of Tark, but he was nowhere to be seen. The small crew was busy in preparations for what looked like something important. There was one familiar face directing the men in their duties. It was the tall, red-haired woman.
“This doesn’t look good,” a voice squeaked out of thin air next to the disguised fairy. “They must have him below decks. I don’t see that big oaf anywhere,” Ado sighed.
“I’m no expert on sailing, but I think they are setting out to sea,” Nivit whispered as she shifted back to her normal form. “What do we do, Mr. Ado?”
“You go back and warn Herrin. She needs to study up on those old writings so we know where to go when we get Tark back. I’m afraid we may be taking a little trip. Hurry up, I don’t know how long it takes to launch one of these things, but those men seem to be moving fast.”
The fairy’s big eyes were watery again. It was obvious she was afraid of what was to come. Nivit darted back to the lighthouse in a panic.
“What am I doing?” Ado grumbled as he looked for some way to slow the crew’s progress down. “Tremlins don’t sail the open seas. That oaf owes me big for this one!” He quickly began unraveling a nearby rope.
* * * * * * * * * *
Tark dragged himself along the tight hallway with the strength of his arms alone. He tried using his weapon as a cane and leaning on the lady, but she was not strong enough to support him. They only succeeded in both falling to the hallway floor. She even tried to drag him along, but he was just far too heavy for the delicate lady. Kreasha now walked behind him. It was slow going, but Tark was not one to just give up and accept defeat. He could feel the gem pressed against his chest beneath his jerkin. Its pulsing was a rhythm that kept him moving. Finally, after much effort, he reached the door leading back up to the main deck of the ship. Kreasha opened the door and Tark began the struggle of dragging himself up the steep stairway.
“We need to move faster,” the lady whined impatiently. “They’re going to catch us.”
“If you have a better idea, I’m listening,” Tark growled back.
The door leading to the deck swung open before the gladiator reached it. There stood the dwarf and the large lizard man.
“He’s a determined one, and quite a fighter,” the bearded dwarf chuckled.
The lizard man hissed and started to move for Tark, but a gloved hand shot out and halted him. “It’s alright, Sslath; I’ll take over from here.”
A woman dressed in fitted leathers and soft boots that rose to her mid-thigh stepped in front of the muscular reptilian. Her ash-brown hair was thick, wavy, and blowing wildly about her face in the Sorohl’s constant breeze. A curved cutlass with a detailed pommel and hand guard hung plain to see at her hip.
“But captain,” the lizard man began to protest. The much smaller woman whipped her head around to glare up at the big reptile. “As you wish,” he conceded. He stepped away and dropped his gaze to the floor. The captain held a distinct air of danger about her.
“Who’s the girl?” The pirate woman asked with an annoyed smirk.
“She’s a noble woman. She claims to have been captured by the order,” the dwarf replied quickly. “I brought her along because I thought she might be worth something.”
The captain held the dwarf under her steely gaze. “You know how I feel about dealing with guests, Sarry,” she sighed. “You might be right, though. She is all sparkly. Get her to another holding room. I want to speak with the warrior in private.”
“Yes captain.” The dwarf leapt over Tark and landed deftly on the floor behind him at the base of the stairway. “Ye will be coming with me, my lady,” the stout man grinned as he took Kreasha by the arm and led her away. The lady seemed to consider her options briefly before quietly accepting the dwarf’s lead.
Tark reached for his trident. It was strapped to his back. The tight space in the stairwell did not allow for much maneuverability.
“That won’t be necessary, handsome. I don’t bite, unless you want me to,” the pirate captain grinned with a half-smile half-smirk.
“Why are you people holding me here?” Tark growled in an attempt to sound threatening.
“From what I’ve been told, my people saved your hide from a bunch of soul suckers. Have I been misinformed?” The woman leaned against the doorframe with one hand on her hip. In fact, it was the truth and Tark hesitated, unsure how to respond. “That’s what I thought. How about you start showing a little more gratitude, handsome?” The big man leaned against the wall of the stairwell and sighed. “Good,” the woman grinned. “Now you can come in, Sslath.” She gestured for the lizard man to come forward. “Don’t worry about him, warrior. His appearance is worse than his persona. Sslath is a good sailor and a valued crewmember. He’s going to help you back to your room, where we can talk in private. I think we have much to discuss, you and I.”
The muscular lizard man easily equaled Tark in size. Sslath lifted Tark from the stairs with a grunt and carried him back to the room from which he had just come. The lady was nowhere to be seen. Evidently, she had been taken elsewhere.
“Shove off as soon as we’re ready!” The captain shouted back to the m
ain deck before she joined the two en route to the small holding room. The woman walked with supreme confidence. The swagger in her stride let everyone know that she was very sure of herself. “You can go now, and send for Panni. This man looks like he might bleed to death before I finish with my questions. We wouldn’t want that, now would we?” She flashed Tark another half-smirk.
The lizard man accepted his instructions without question, though it was obvious he was uncomfortable leaving his captain alone with the unknown warrior. As he departed, he shut the door tightly.
“Alone at last,” the woman sighed as she took a seat on the cot next to Tark.
She began undoing his worn leather pants and removing his traveling boots. Tark reached for his trident, and she gently took it from his hands and leaned it against the far wall. The woman then resumed with undressing him. Tark moved to stop her, but she slapped his hands away.
“I’ve seen it all, handsome,” she smiled mischievously. “Besides, Panni will need to get a good look at those legs as well as all the other wounds.” Tark looked unsure. “Calm down, Panni’s the Siren’s healer. He knows what he’s doing. He’s patched us all up more times than I can count.”
“Who are you?” Tark asked.
“Why, I’m none other than Kottia, Captain of the Siren. She’s the best ship on the sea, with the best crew around, if I do say so myself. You don’t look like a sailor so I doubt you’ve heard of us.”
She pulled off his boot and jumped to her feet. The cutlass leapt from her hip to her hand in a flash. Its point was pressed against Tark’s throat and all pretense of friendliness was gone from her face. That air of danger returned twofold.
“Who are you? Explain everything quickly, my patience is fading fast!” The woman was dead serious.
Tark was confused by her sudden change in demeanor. “I’m called Tark. I’m a wandering warrior, nothing more.”