Hard Mettle

by John Hook

  Kate returned Saripha’s intensity, her fingers tented over her mouth, leaving just her clear hazel eyes reflecting back. She was still a long time, but Saripha said nothing and made no gesture of impatience. Finally, Kate returned her hands to her side.

  “I will take you as far as I can. It will require training your group to act as my crew for the voyage—mostly managing the sails. We’ll carry a small boat on the boat deck near the stern. If I can’t go further, you’ll have the choice of taking the small boat and trying your luck navigating the reefs. I don’t recommend it, but there’s a limit on the peril I will subject my ship to.”

  Saripha whole face relaxed and a kind of quiet joy overcame her features.

  “Thank you! For however far you can get us, thank you!”

  There was a lot we had to do before our voyage, which probably only surprised me. I didn’t know a great deal about sailing. I just thought you got in a boat and took off. Kate explained that any boat going out for an extended voyage offshore had to be properly prepared, even in normal waters in our world. The waters here were far from normal. I wasn’t crazy about the sounds of that, but she didn’t elaborate.

  The first thing we had to do was get the gate pulled open. We needed the help of the other fishermen there. Izzy and I went with Kate to talk to them.

  We found two standing and talking a couple of slips away. One was barrel-chested and had the look of someone who was used to getting his way. He had black hair blown wild by the wind and a black beard. His cheeks were ruddy and his nose looked like it had been broken once or twice. The other was sallower, lean and gaunt, with cheeks sucked in and gray wispy hair.

  “What do you want?” The black haired man scowled. He didn’t look at Kate.

  “We were hoping you fine gentlemen would use your boats to drag the gate open on our ship.” I nodded towards our slip.

  The thin gray man snorted derisively. The larger man smiled. It was a mean smile.

  “We’d need the Harbor Master’s permission to do that.”

  “I believe that is who is making the request.”

  Neither man even looked at Kate. The larger man balled up his fists, although he left them at his sides.

  “I don’t see the Harbor Master here.”

  His expression was a dare. We both knew he knew what had happened in the Kraken. He may even have known about Zara and the fact that she seemed to be gone, or at least we hadn’t seen her. He was betting there was no one to enforce Kate’s nomination. He wanted to pick a fight. Fighting wasn’t my forte. Trickery to avoid a fight was more my speed. I was scrambling for the best way to handle this, but we were interrupted by Kate.

  “Beloch!” Kate shouted. I presumed that was the big guy’s name because now his eyes went right to Kate as her very large blade appeared at his throat. She pressed it into his throat, raising a small welt of blood.

  “Beloch, I have two Shades on my side that made me Harbor Master and I will bring them down on you if I have to. But I have a better deal for you.”

  Beloch was clearly unaccustomed to having a knife at his throat and for the first time was not quite sure of himself. “What are you talking about? What deal?”

  Kate held his gaze. Despite being thin, she gave off a gravity of presence. I could see how she would command a ship.

  “Open that gate, and as soon as I have my ship and crew in order, we will pull anchor and never come back. You can choose whomever you want for Harbor Master. I won’t be back.”

  “You’ll leave?”

  “I never wanted to be here in the first place.”

  Even with the knife at his throat, Beloch sneered. “I’d like that.”

  Kate withdrew her knife. “Good. Then we’ll both get something we want. Seems a fine basis for a deal.” Kate turned up her lips on one side.

  Beloch seemed resentful and I half expected him to throw away the deal just on pride. Without enthusiasm, he said, “We have a deal.”

  Beloch turned to the other man and said, “Get your boat, Shay.”

  “Yeah, good riddance,” Shay spat out as if he had come up with the plan.

  The rest of the preparations went smoothly. No one else on the docks bothered us. In fact, most ignored us. Kate gave us all a whirlwind introduction to the operations of the boat. We learned about letting out and taking in the sails and the differences depending on if the wind was blowing or not. We learned about watches, which we would all be involved in, both on different decks and up in the crow’s nest, and what to watch out for. Then we made an elaborate inspection of the ship, making sure all seams were tight, checking the anchor and anchor rope to make sure the rope wasn’t too frayed. In general, Kate was trying to make sure that we wouldn’t have any accidents when we were far out in the ocean. We had four rain barrels, two of which were full. Even though we didn’t need to drink, it was good to have fresh water to swish around your mouth every so often. She also obtained a couple of barrels of dried and cured fish because she did actually like to eat real food now and then. I was even less excited about dry fish than I was about fresh fish and was glad I didn’t need to eat.

  It was dark when we were finished preparing everything. It was decided we would take rooms at the Kraken and leave at first light. Kate remained on the boat to rest in the captain’s quarters. We asked if she needed anyone to stay on the boat with her, but she seemed to think no one was going to bother her. Izzy and Anika went to grab their bows and arrows where they had stashed them outside of town. We often ditched our weapons when entering a new town so as not to appear hostile. They got some curious looks when they brought them to the Kraken. They took them upstairs and then we all gathered in the pub.

  We all ordered a grog they had managed to brew. We didn’t ask what they fermented to make it. It was sweet when it first touched your tongue abut then turned bitter. Still, it sent a warmth down your throat and made one a little light headed. Saripha and Kyo both ordered fish and Izzy and Anika had a bowl of bisque each, which all made the barkeep happy.

  I could see Saripha was looking a bit down. Maybe she was just tired. She saw me looking at her and tried to perk up. It wasn’t very convincing.

  “It shows, huh?”

  “It feels like we’ve been doing this forever. It must drive you crazy.”

  “What if we don’t find Adaxa?”

  “Then we go back to Antanaria.”

  “And do what?”

  Blaise answered before I could even come up with one. “Something. Something we didn’t try last time.”

  Saripha’s features softened appreciatively. “That is the Quentin way, isn’t it?” She shook her head. “I’m sure things will look better in the morning.”

  “Anyone seen Zara?” Kyo asked.

  “Not since she stormed out of the Kraken.” I shrugged.

  “I still think we were better off knowing what she was up to,” Saripha added.

  “I’m sure she’ll show up in her own time.”

  “And in her own way.” Izzy laughed.

  We finished up making mostly small talk and then made our way upstairs. We had four rooms. Saripha was in one, Izzy and Anika in another, Blaise and Kyo in a third and I had the room on the end. I was looking forward not to sleep but to just drifting in the dark for a while. Maybe meditating to get back my energy.

  It started out that way. It didn’t end up that way.

  14.

  I lay on the bed with my eyes closed, drifting in the darkness. The bed was crudely woven out of grasses, stuffed with something softer, but it still wasn't all that comfortable. Without much conscious effort—I really didn't have to think about it—I hovered my body just slightly above the surface of the bed, which made it like I was floating on a cushion of air.

  I turned my thoughts inward and let my energy flow, what I called the blue power. Once I had regarded it as an alien entity sharing my body with me, but have since realized it is something fully integrated with me, attuned to my DNA. It is me. When I fully har
monize myself with that energy, I am truly in tune with myself, like being in rhythm with your heartbeat.

  It had taken many long sessions with Saripha and Azar to learn the nature of what this energy gave me. I was still learning, of course. At the heart of everything it could do was the fact than I could attune myself to any set of harmonics, from a macro scale to molecular to even subatomic levels. Of course, I had not tested either of those extremes. I'm not sure how I would, but both Saripha and Azar were convinced that the range was nearly boundless. My power, according to Azar, was referred to by the ancients as “Sky.” It was an “elemental” designation, like metal or fire, but “sky” really meant “spirit.” It was the element out of which all other elements had been formed, and it could absorb them all. Saripha had referred to my power as a kind of storytelling. I think she used that metaphor because it would appeal to me as a writer. What she seemed to think was that I could change things in the world by changing their stories, but I still wasn't sure how that worked.

  I was getting better at using it, but this was all still mumbo jumbo with me. Unfortunately, I'm a bit of a pragmatist and I still get a little uncomfortable with mumbo jumbo. I understand that, at least in this world, there is something like magic, which has to do with tuning yourself to nature in ways small and large. I've seen it work here and Saripha, whom I respect beyond words, has demonstrated it. But it makes me uncomfortable nonetheless because I no longer feel like I have solid ground under my feet.

  As I continued to drift I emptied my mind. I let my energy flow. I had wanted to try something but didn't know if it would work. I projected my energy out farther and farther. I pictured it as birds flying out and returning each time with nothing and then flying out again. I thought maybe the visualization had come from a Norse myth I always liked where Odin sends out two ravens, thought and memory, to come back each day and tell him what they had observed in the world. I was looking for something specific and I knew I had found it when one of the birds returned with small scraps of metal slag in its mouth.

  Suddenly, I could see the inside of the Mountain, although it was more like a dream than actually being there. The scene was plunged in darkness except for sparks coming off the sword. In those strobing moments, as fleeting as they were, I could see that progress was continuing. The sword would be completed soon. My only hope was that it would wait until Guido was freed. The question was, could I stop Rox—the Black Angel—from using the sword to bring about a true Armageddon? The end of not just the world, but the multiverse.

  “Quentin.”

  I turned in the darkness. Rox stood there. It was really Rox, the exotic beauty, the black hair. Except, there was a blindfold across her eyes. Behind her in the darkness, difficult to see, was the Dark Angel.

  “Is that really you, Rox?”

  “Yes. I can sense you nearby.”

  I looked at the Black Angel.

  “You weren't the one who took her from me.”

  “No. I saved her from them. I need her just a bit longer.”

  “Who are you?”

  “The one who survived. Unlike them, I can live in your world.”

  “You saved Adaxa.”

  “I gave her something.”

  “Why do you need Rox?”

  “She is my connection to your world. She will not be harmed.”

  “But we'll all be harmed if you use the sword.”

  “It is the price that must be paid. Stopping the Angels is the only thing that matters. Now go.”

  It was like someone cut the lines on a long distance phone call. I was back in my body. My eyes remained shut as I regulated my heart rate and breathing and retuned myself to the inner harmonics of my energy. At least I knew I could keep track of the sword at a distance even if I didn't really know how it worked. Unfortunately, the Black Angel could sense me when I did it.

  As I drifted in the darkness and tried to reconnect to my harmonics, I first noticed a state of arousal followed by a burst of energy at the base of my spine. Then I felt a hand brush against my stomach and down to my groin. As my eyes opened, a hand went around my throat and squeezed. I could feel my breath being closed off, but also a slight burning pain. Strangely, the arousal seemed to increase.

  My eyes focused and Zara was standing over me, naked, a strange look on her face. It was an odd mix of hunger and authority. Without speaking a word, she was making demands and slung her leg over me. There was a thin layer of flame that looked more like electricity on her skin. She was illuminated in blue as my own arousal brought up my glowing tattoos.

  “Zara!” I managed, but it was hard with my throat getting closed off.

  “Don't speak.” I didn't know whispering throatily was possible, but she did. Her eyes told me it was a command. She planted her mouth hard against mine, invading my mouth with her tongue.

  My body wanted probably the same thing she wanted, but I was angry. I broke her grip on my throat and pushed her off of me. She landed awkwardly against a table by the wall. The expression on her face was a mixture of anger and confusion.

  “I want to fuck. I thought you liked fucking.”

  “How about asking?”

  “I have to be in control. Complete control.”

  “I'm sure you do. Role playing is one thing, but I'm not someone who can satisfy the need you have.”

  “You owe me.”

  “What? For not saving you? No, I don't. Hell, I got killed trying to save you. Life—and death—isn't fair. Deal with it, or at least find someone who is willing to be your sex slave. I'm not.”

  “But you want me.” She pointed to my awkward, particularly in this situation, erection.

  “Sure, who wouldn’t? I just don't want to pay your price.”

  I thought she might become angry, but she actually seemed to calm down and become reflective.

  “I suppose not.” She paused. “I don't think I should stay with your group. I can't work to the needs of others. We'll end up in conflict.”

  “Probably. Where will you go?”

  “The Yarwalli dwell in Chadikar. I’ll go there and we’ll form our own plans for attacking the Angels.”

  “Spend some time with your people in Zaraboro. You should have some human company.”

  She turned back and looked at me. Then she turned and left out the door. I was a little worried that Chadikar was where the other talismans were, but I couldn't fix everything.

  “Zara's gone?” Izzy seemed surprised, but then he hadn't seen nearly as much of Zara as I had, no pun intended. I was helping him and Anika roll up arrow bundles so they could be stashed around the deck. Izzy had on a tee shirt that had a Jolly Roger flag that said “Rockvale's Raiders” on it. Anika was looking androgynous in canvas pants tucked into leather boots with a long-sleeved tee colored dark maroon.

  “What does Saripha think?” Anika asked.

  I shrugged. “I think we both agree that whether she's with us or not, we have to worry.”

  We finished packing up the arrows and set them around the deck. The bundles were tied loosely so they could be easily opened and the arrows pulled. We had inspected the harpoon on the bow. The firing mechanism was a large, very stiff spring made of bone held together by something very stiff but flexible. It was made from a tree sap, Izzy had been told when he asked.

  Kate and Blaise let down the sails. They filled with air and then we felt the boat ease forward. Blaise took up his position on the bow while Kyo, with the samurai sword on her back, leaned on the harpoon. Both were watching. Some of the fishermen glowered at us as we left. They were probably happy enough to be rid of Kate, but I think they might have considered the big sailboat as booty and resented us leaving with it.

  I was surprised by two aspects of the water as we headed out. First, it was very clean and clear. That shouldn't have surprised me since there is no major industry in Hell, but I'd been around New York City most of my life and I didn't have much experience with clean water. I just expected ocean water to be soupy
and murky. The other thing was that, despite being so clean, it wasn't very blue. It was a gray green, but very clear on the surface. As the water became deeper it became darker. Maybe a different kind of algae or other organisms in the water. I didn't know, but it seemed somehow appropriate for oceans in Hell.

  As the ship cut through the water, I could see schools of fish just below.

  “We finally did it.” Izzy chuckled.

  “Did what?”

  “Became pirates.”

  “I don't know. We've kind of been pirates all along.”

  “I don't think you can be pirates without the ocean.”

  “I don't think you can be a pirate without a parrot and we don't have one of those.”

  “I think parrots are optional. Ships on the ocean are not.”

  “So we have to talk funny now?”

  “You mean like 'Arrr, thar be demons’?” Anika surprised us by changing her voice to a deep, gravelly, but very theatrical voice.

  “It might annoy Kate if we all did that.” Izzy smiled.

  “I'll probably manage to do that anyway.”

  “Probably.”

  The three of us stared over the rail for a while.

  “Why do you think none of us are getting seasick?” I asked.

  “Maybe same reason we don't get hungry or all that tired. Just differences in the biology of these glamour bodies.” Izzy shrugged.

  “Comes in handy.”

  The next three days passed frustratingly slowly for both myself and Saripha. She spent most of her time in the cabin with Kate studying charts and marking up where we went. Sometimes she would do training meditations with me, though I thought it was mostly to keep her mind off things. Anytime we spotted a ship in the distance we would turn away if it didn't take us too far off course. Occasionally Kate would recognize the ship and we would pull alongside so she could find out if they knew anything about the island. They didn't so we just pressed on.

  At one point we hit a spell of no wind. The water in all directions was like glass. We waited several hours, but nothing changed. Saripha finally performed a weather spell. She had hesitated. She wasn't sure what attention using such a spell might attract, but she couldn't stand the wait. The wind filled our sails and we were off again.