Spellweaver

by Tamara Grantham

  “Ket said she saw the same thing.”

  “Yes,” he answered, “she mentioned it to me, although I am surprised she admitted it to you. Visions of drøgelse are considered a bad omen.”

  When did he speak to Ket?

  “When did you see it?” I asked.

  “Last night after the fire. I was making my way down the hall when I heard footsteps behind me. At first, I thought nothing of it, but when I turned to see who had followed me, there was no one there.

  “And then, after I’d retired to my bunk, I heard footsteps pacing outside the door. When I finally arose to curse at whoever kept walking back and forth outside the door, I found Bloodbane lying on the floor, although I could have sworn I’d placed it beneath my mattress.” He tapped the hilt of his sword, seeming lost in thought. “Then,” he said, “when I stepped into the hallway, the air grew unusually cold, and that’s when I saw the drøgelse. It stood at the end of the hall.”

  “What did it look like?”

  “The body was transparent, almost like smoke. It had a recognizable head and shoulders, and its face looked uncannily similar to my grandfather’s, although I know it could not have been him. I tried to follow it, but it disappeared before I reached the end of the hall.” Kull’s gaze grew intense. “I have never seen such a thing, but even now I feel as though it follows me. I am a skilled tracker, which means I also trained in learning when I am being tracked, and right now, I feel as though someone—or something—is following me.”

  “This isn’t good,” I said, feeling a cold chill creep up my back.

  “No,” Kull said, “but it may be nothing more than a simple misunderstanding. It was late, and I hadn’t rested in quite a while. Plus, I do not like being in these close quarters for so long. The stress of the voyage could cause such hallucinations, could it not?”

  “I think there’s more to it than stress. The elf princess told me there are powerful creatures on the outer isles. They caused the elven scribes to see things and eventually drove them to insanity. The closer we get to the isles, the easier it will be for their powers to reach us.”

  “What sort of creatures?”

  “I’m not sure what they are. Aliens? Ghosts? The Regaymor? Your guess is as good as mine. They dwell in the middle of a magical vortex, which makes them exponentially powerful.”

  He grew still. “What else did the princess say about these creatures?”

  “Not much, although I’m almost sure she wasn’t telling me everything.”

  He nodded. “I agree. She is not telling you everything.”

  “Kull, did she tell you what they were?”

  He cleared his throat. “She once hinted at the information. It was after you had left for the pixie kingdom to seek out the pure-magic tree. I found her in her library, and I stumbled upon some information that would be very damning to elven society if revealed. This is how I was able to bargain my way out of my marriage to her, but unfortunately, she swore me to secrecy in exchange for the annulment of our engagement. I can never reveal what I know. But,” he added, “if you were to come upon the information on your own, then I would have no power to stop you.”

  I considered his words. I’d often wondered how he had been able to get out of their engagement. Now I knew. But this left me with an even bigger question—who was on those islands?

  The princess’s maps listed some of the species living on the outer isles, but none of them would have been capable of constructing a labyrinth. Plus, the princess had led me to believe she knew nothing more about the dark creatures on Verutith. At least, that’s what she’d wanted me to think.

  Kull cleared his throat and turned his attention to the scarf under my arm. The normally soft fibers felt coarse where the hole had burned through it.

  “Where did you find your scarf?” he asked, changing the subject.

  I decided to go along with him, although, at some point, I would have to find a chance to have a more in-depth conversation with the princess. “I found my scarf in the galley,” I answered. “I have no clue how it got there.”

  “No one saw who left it there?”

  “Not to my knowledge. The cook swore he was the only person in the kitchen when he found it on the stove, right before it went up in flames. For all I know, he could have taken it.

  “It’s been transformed back to its original state, so I spellcasted it to determine what type of magic was used. Whoever reversed the spell used goblin magic, which means that our suspicions are correct—a goblin is on the boat with us. It also means that he’ll be looking for the real orb, which is why I have to get to the cargo hold.”

  “Let me come with you. I was headed there anyway, and I am in desperate need of something to do.”

  “Bored, huh?”

  “Extremely.”

  Despite the goblin infiltrator, the hauntings, and the island of doom that we swiftly approached, I decided to make the best of our situation, so I hooked my pinkie finger through his and attempted to smile. “I’m sure we’ll have plenty of beasts to kill once we reach the islands.”

  “I’m counting on it.”

  We found the stairwell and descended to the ship’s bottom. I wasn’t sure what we’d find once we reached the storage room, so I kept my Earth magic at the ready.

  A wave crashed into the ship. I fell, hard, and my side took the brunt of the impact. Kull landed beside me. Stars danced through my vision as I sat up, rubbing my bruised hip. Boards creaked as the ship slowly righted itself.

  “Looks as if we’ve raised anchor and begun our journey once again, although I’m not sure that is a wise decision. It sounds as if this squall is getting worse,” Kull said as he helped me stand up. “I hate this ocean.”

  “We knew what it would be like out here,” I said. “I just wish we’d been wrong.”

  Kull nodded. “There’s a reason no one travels these seas. Are you all right?”

  “A little sore. Nothing big. You?”

  He tapped the rabbit’s foot. “I’ve fared quite well. Lucky I had this.”

  “I’m pretty sure you would have done fine without it.”

  He shrugged. “Perhaps.”

  We made our way to the cargo hold. I was surprised to find the door open and a lamp lit inside. My heart rate quickened. Was someone inside? Had someone found the orb?

  We entered the room to find barrels rolling around the ground. A few boxes had burst open, leaving piles of grain scattered over the wooden floor planks. Firro and several other crewmen were sweeping the floor and restacking the crates.

  Firro looked up as we entered, and the scarred tissue around his eyes narrowed. “You’re not allowed in here, mates. Best get back to your bunks where it’s safe.”

  Go back? That wasn’t an option. Looked like I’d have to talk my way in. “I need to find something,” I said. “I’ve searched everywhere else. Please, it’s very important.”

  “Cargo hold is off limits,” Firro repeated. “No one’s allowed back here but crewmen.”

  I tried to think of another excuse to get inside, when Kull spoke up for me.

  “We’ve come to bargain,” Kull said and pulled a leather coin purse from his pocket. “I’ve seen the items the captain has to offer above deck. Seems you’ve got some more interesting items down here that might be worth my inspection.”

  Firro gave him a sidelong glance. “Where’d you hear that?”

  Kull nodded toward the crewmen.

  Firro eyed the coin purse. “Gold?” he asked.

  “Eighty pieces.”

  Eighty pieces? I did the math in my head. If I remembered correctly, one gold piece was equal to one hundred Earth dollars, which meant he was toting around eight thousand dollars in gold pieces. Guess it paid to be a prince.

  Firro stood a little taller as he inspected the coin purse. “Very well, you may come inside. I’ll instruct my men to lock the door behind you.”

  Firro barked a few orders at his men. As we entered the room, I turne
d to Kull.

  “Eighty pieces?”

  Kull gave me a knowing smile. “The word is out that these fellows may have some curious items to trade. I’m glad I brought my coin purse along.”

  “Yes, what a lucky coincidence. One might think you’d been planning for just such an opportunity.”

  “Nonsense. This was a genuine accident.”

  I wasn’t convinced. “Just don’t spend it all in one place,” I said.

  “I wasn’t planning on it.”

  Firro and the other crewmen set up a makeshift table and chairs out of boxes and barrels. I eyed the men as they removed a canvas tarp from a row of long crates.

  “What sort of items are they selling?” I asked.

  “Earth Kingdom junk. This should be worth our time.”

  “Where’d they find junk from Earth?”

  “No clue. But while I’m bartering, you might want to find your way to the other end of the room.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Firro waved for Kull to have a seat. The other crewmen gathered around the table as Firro lifted a lid off a box. Inside were rows of empty soda cans, Styrofoam cups, plastic silverware, stacks of CDs, and plastic grocery bags. Mounds and mounds of grocery bags.

  Would people actually pay money for that junk? If so, I was in the wrong business. But where did they get the stuff in the first place?

  Firro picked up a Styrofoam cup. “Very rare item from Earth Kingdom. It is made from a valuable material which is found nowhere in Faythander. The Earth Kingdom’s magicians have created it to be indestructible. It will not weather from wind or rain. When properly cared for, this item can last for a hundred lifetimes.”

  Kull pretended to be interested in the cup as I made my way to the far wall.

  I walked nonchalantly to the door where I’d hidden the orb. Stacks of crates kept me hidden from the crewmen, yet wouldn’t they notice at some point that I’d gone missing?

  A crash came from the table where Kull sat. I glanced through a gap in the stack and saw Kull standing over the small man.

  “Do you think me a fool?”

  Firro shrank back, causing his fellow crewmen surrounding the table to stand with clenched fists.

  “Ten pieces for a drinking cup?” Kull said. “Not on your life.”

  “But it is made of a very valuable—”

  “I don’t care what it’s made of. It’s worthless. Where do you keep the good stuff?”

  “I don’t know what you’re speaking about.”

  “Don’t toy with me. I’ve heard the rumors. Earth Kingdom potions and charms. Where are they?”

  “You must have misheard. This is all I have.”

  The two men continued arguing. I made sure the crewmen were absorbed in the argument before turning my attention back to the hidden cupboard.

  The two wooden panels looked no different from the last time I’d seen them, so I held my hand over the wood to check for any enchantments. Finding none, I stuck my fingernails between the planks and pried them off.

  A loud squeak filled the room as the planks peeled off. I held my breath. Had anyone heard?

  Shouts came from the other side of the hold as Kull grabbed Firro by his collar.

  Nope. They hadn’t heard a thing. Thank goodness for Kull and his short temper. Or, more accurately, his acting skills.

  Setting the wooden panels aside, I scanned the cupboard. Thankfully, it looked the same. Although I couldn’t see the orb, I sensed it with my magic, which gave me an immediate sense of relief.

  Blindly, I felt for the camouflaged orb. My hand brushed something that clinked as I touched it. When I looked into the cupboard, I spotted a glass bottle that I’d never noticed before, so I pulled it out to inspect it.

  The glass was in the shape of a dark blue jug with a wide spout at the top and a small handle on the side. A thin golden rope looped around the top portion. Inside, I found a greenish liquid—a potion. My stomach sickened as I stared at it. Potions in Faythander were never to be taken lightly, and one species had a monopoly on them.

  Goblins.

  I quickly replaced the bottle as my search for the orb became more desperate, cursing my decision to hide it in the same spot where the goblin had hid its loot. I was either incredibly stupid or unlucky.

  When I thought the orb was gone forever, right before I gave up my search and decided all was lost, my hand bumped the camouflaged glass. Grabbing the hidden object out of the cabinet, pale white light glowed between my hands as the orb came into view.

  I breathed a sigh of relief.

  Flower petals shimmered with a glowing luminosity inside the glass. Although it had only been a short time since I’d seen it last, I’d forgotten how beautiful the flower was, and how fragile.

  After opening my backpack, I carefully placed the orb inside. I’d have to keep it with me at all times. With a goblin aboard the boat, I couldn’t afford to have it out of my sight.

  I replaced the panels as I heard footsteps behind me. Turning, I found Firro and two crewmen approaching me.

  “What are you doing back here?” Firro asked.

  I scrambled for an excuse. “Hiding from the Wult. I know what his temper is like.”

  Firro gave me an evil glare before shoving past me and prying open a barrel. He removed a small, wooden box and then walked away with the crewmen at his heels. “You stay where I can see you,” Firro called over his shoulder as he marched back to the table where Kull sat.

  Following the three men back to the table, I found a seat on a crate. I kept my backpack on my lap as I watched Firro place the odd wooden box on the table.

  I couldn’t understand how they’d come upon all this Earth junk. Had someone traveled to Earth and brought it back? It was a remote possibility, but crossing worlds required more magic than most people possessed. Not to mention the side effects. It didn’t seem likely that someone would cross worlds just for a bit of junk. But how else would they have gotten it?

  Firro unlatched the lid and carefully opened the box to reveal an unopened soda can. The paint had faded, but the maroon letters DR PEPPER were still visible.

  Firro held up the can for inspection.

  “What is it?” Kull asked.

  Oh boy.

  Kull didn’t remember, but when we’d crossed worlds to Earth, he’d become a soda addict. Great. This was just what he needed.

  “It is a magical elixir from Earth Kingdom. Captain Tobin has come upon many rare items in his travels, but this elixir is the rarest of all.”

  “What will it do?”

  “This potion will cure any ailment.”

  “How do you know such a thing?”

  Firro pointed to the letters. “In Earth Kingdom, DR is a simplified abbreviation for doctor, which we know is another way to say healer. Thus, this potion is for healing.”

  I tried not to roll my eyes, although I supposed you could sell anything with the right story.

  “Where did your captain get this elixir?” I interrupted.

  Firro looked up at me. “His travels have taken him all over both our worlds. He has captained his own ship since the age of thirteen and thus has become an expert in geography. There isn’t a place in Faythander or Earth Kingdom that he’s never explored.”

  “Is that so?”

  “It is.”

  “But you haven’t answered my question—where did he get this?” I pointed to the soda.

  “It is impossible for one to say for sure.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Because his ways are mysterious indeed. He has explored many places in Earth Kingdom—the Amazon, the Louisiana Purchase, and the kingdom of Las Vegas—all the while searching out the rarest and most exotic items.”

  “All those places, huh? Has he ever said how he’s able to travel so far without a memory charm?”

  “As I’ve said, his ways are mysterious. We do not question our captain. You would be wise to follow the same advice.”

&nbs
p; Kull spoke up. “Then how can we be certain that these are from Earth Kingdom?”

  “I will answer your question with a question of my own. You have traveled many places in Faythander, have you not?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have you ever seen such an item in all your journeying?”

  Kull carefully inspected the can. “No. I do not believe I have, for it is made of a strange metal, and I have not seen its likeness. However, how can I trust that its contents are safe? How do I know this is not some goblin potion that you are trying to poison me with?”

  “I have no reason to harm you. If I were to poison you and you were to die, then that would be very bad for our captain’s business, would it not? I assure you, this is a genuine article from Earth Kingdom. It will do you no harm.”

  Kull turned to me. “Have you seen an item such as this in Earth Kingdom?”

  “Yes,” I answered with a sigh. “I’ve seen something like it a time or two.” Times two billion. “But I’d still like to know how it wound up here in Faythander.” I eyed Firro.

  He ignored me. “I will sell it to you for twenty pieces.”

  I stifled a gasp. Twenty pieces for one can of soda? Kull would be crazy to pay that much.

  “Twenty?” Kull asked.

  “It is a fair price.”

  “For twenty pieces, I would expect more than one elixir. What else do you have to offer?”

  “I assure you—this is my most valuable item. Perhaps a taste of this potion will convince you?”

  “I doubt it.”

  “Do not be so hasty. I am positive that you will not be displeased. In fact, if you will take one taste of this liquid, then I am sure you will agree that twenty pieces is a fair price.”

  “Is that so?”

  “It is.” Firro popped the tab, causing a quiet hiss to fill the air as he handed the can to the Wult.

  Taking the soda can, Kull stared at it with suspicion before taking a small sip. His face revealed no emotion as he placed it on the table.

  “Twenty pieces,” he said, his voice solemn. “We are agreed.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  The storm never relented, making even the most hardened deckhands green around the gills, myself included. I was beginning to see why no one traveled these waters, which was why I vowed it would be my last trip.