A Sea of Cinders

by Adam Bishop

  “Nevertheless, you have more talent than most. The river Rhys told us about is just over those slopes up ahead. Whaddya say we follow it till dusk? Then we can try out some of that fishing gear you picked up in town.”

  “I couldn’t think of a better way to end the day,” William said. Once again, he and Eira bolted ahead of Baldric toward the river.

  ***

  The river winded through the Hidden Plains like a giant glass serpent. Few words were spoken for the next little while. Instead, the calming flow of the river hummed its nature song into the autumn wind alongside them.

  William couldn’t take his eyes off the water. Aside from the night they spent in Tullin’s Bay, this was the closest he’d felt to the ocean since he had washed ashore in Havelmir. He never thought he could miss something so simple, but now he did. He then considered how easy it was to take things for granted, which in turn reminded him of something his father used to tell him: “Sometimes the smallest things have the biggest impact, so enjoy every day as if it were your last.” He had always understood to a varying degree the meaning of those words. But now he was able to fully grasp the totality of his father’s wisdom.

  “It’s impressive, eh?” Baldric asked. He’d noticed William staring into the river a while back and had decided to see how long his friend would be lost in such a trance. However, boredom had eventually gotten the best of him. “It’s the biggest of all the rivers in Cellagor.”

  “I never knew rivers grew so large. If my father’s ship was a bit smaller it could sail right through here.”

  “Ha! That would be the day,” Baldric snickered. “Though I doubt any sailor would be brave enough to do so.”

  “You’re right about that,” he said with a high-browed nod. “Most are too scared to sail anywhere near the southern shorelines. There are countless tales of entire crews found dead, pelted with hundreds of arrows. There’s a saying us sea folk have: it rains ice in the north and arrows in the south. Everywhere else is just a free bath.”

  Baldric let out a short laugh. “That’s clever. I like it.”

  “How did this river get its name?” William asked. “The Nine Tail, huh. Looks more like one tail to me.”

  “This river flows all the way to the Lake Pools of Tar just south of Havelmir. At the same time, it reaches the dense forests of Leof Ealdwin. It may run into the Viridian Veil as one, but its body splits into nine different parts on the way out, hence the Nine Tail river. The Elves are said to use this river to travel between Kingdoms. They believe Ariadin carved it out of the earth so they could travel between forests without burdening any horse or other mount.”

  As always, William found Baldric’s answer wildly intriguing. There was a time when he took everything Baldric said with a grain of salt. But after visiting the Golden Breast, William knew his friend’s words held far more truth than he would have ever expected—so long as they had some historical relevance. “An impressive feat no doubt. But what do you mean by other mount?” William asked.

  “Did you think horses were the only animal used for travel?” Baldric asked with a taunting smile.

  “No, there are oxen and bulls. I just always assumed they were used more as draft animals. Although I did meet a merchant as a child who told me about a hump-backed animal they ride in the Far East, but I always thought he was poking fun at me.”

  Baldric shook his head. “There’s so much you don’t know. I mean, I guess I could name all the different mounts I’ve read about, but that would take far too long and pose far too many questions. Plus, I can’t wait to see the look on your face if we ever get the chance to visit Khoskesh. For starters, I guess Elven stag would be a fitting example. They’re much larger than the ones you would find in say, Havelmir or White Wood. I’ve even heard tales of Elves who’ve managed to saddle the Log Moose found in the Veil.”

  “What’s the difference between a Log Moose and a regular moose?”

  “Pretty much the same difference as stag and an Elven stag. Although if what I’ve read is true, their horns grow big enough for a single archer to ride on either side of the beast.”

  “You mean three Elves riding one moose!?” William asked in disbelief.

  “Precisely,” Baldric replied casually. “One Elf would ride the animal like we are riding our horses right now, only an archer would be comfortably perched atop each of its giant horns. It’s pretty clever, really. The horns act as a full body shield for the archers. Imagine that showing up when the cavalry is called forward. I wouldn’t want to be on the opposing side.”

  William tried to picture such a formidable force as it charged toward a brigade of helpless spearmen. The thought both intimidated and entertained his imagination.

  “As much as I—” The bend in the river up ahead caught William’s eye and redirected his train of thought. “That there’s a perfect spot to fish.” He pointed to the curved edge of land hanging over the Nine Tail. “You see that spot up ahead where the water undercuts the riverbank?”

  “I thought you had only fished at sea?” Baldric questioned. “How is it you have such a keen eye for fishing spots on land?”

  A thin smile decorated William’s face. “I may have spent most of my life at sea, but we would often take a rowboat downstream when we were docked. Rivers hold many fish the ocean does not. It’s no fun eating the same meals day after day.”

  “You see, Will? You let me talk too much. I never knew you fished inland. Where have you fished then? What areas do you know?”

  William took a second before answering. Until now it had never really occurred to him that he rarely took note of any ports they stopped at. The sea was his home, and that’s all that mattered. “I honestly can’t think of any names,” he said. “I just always enjoyed fishing the rivers more than the sea. Most of the fishing we did out there was with large nets. There’s not much skill in that. Just knowing the right spots was all it took. William ‘The River Raider’ they used to call me. I would always catch the most fish when we were anchored. I always found it exciting, and everyone was happy when I came back with the day’s catch.”

  “Sounds to me like you had more skill than most of the crew,” Baldric said.

  “I suppose you could say that,” William replied.

  The undercut spot was even nicer than William had anticipated. A good foot and a half of the riverbank hung out over the water’s edge, creating a calm pool where fish could seek refuge. Although the sun had yet to set, this spot was far too promising to leave behind on account of the time of day. Dusk wasn’t far off anyhow. William was sure to waste a good bit of time rummaging through his new lures, as if he were a high-born child sifting through overstocked toys.

  “So, why here?” Baldric asked. “What differentiates this spot from others?”

  William pointed to the overhang of land casting a shadow across the river. “You see how the land lips out over the water here and makes a cave-like shape where the river bends?”

  “Aye, I see it.”

  “Fish tend to pool in spots like this, which means there’s a better chance of catching bigger fish. At least that’s always been the case for me.”

  Baldric took note of his friend’s indisputable knowledge. “A nifty trick for anyone who likes to eat. I’ll be sure to remember that, Will. Unless we catch nothing, that is. However, I doubt that’ll be the case—especially considering you have more than onion for bait this time around.”

  William dismounted his horse and wasted no time removing the satchel with his newly purchased lures. He’d picked out each one with care, and he planned on looking through all of them now just as carefully as he did the day he bought them.

  He had never had so many options before. It was always just a hook and bobber or the one jig his father had given him on his ninth birthday. He had always done well despite his lack of gear, but today was different. He now had the luxury of selection. Not only was he going to be fishing, but he was going to be learning—observing which lures worked and
which ones fell short of giving him that small advantage he needed.

  Baldric laughed as he admired William sifting through his new collection of lures. “I believe I looked the same way the first time I visited a brothel,” he said with a smirk. “I’m not here to judge though. Whatever floats your boat, sailor.”

  William shot back a squinting glare. “Say what you will. I enjoy fishing, always have. I enjoy women more—though to be fair, the fish don’t nag.”

  Baldric let out a hardy laugh. “Well said, my friend. However, I recommend you keep such opinions to yourself next time you’re in the company of a lady … or else you and your lure may just end up spending the night alone.”

  “Thanks for the advice,” William said with an eye roll. “I guess I’ll have to come up with a new conversation starter. Here,” he said handing Baldric a fishing rod. “It’s all ready to go. I fixed a spinner to the line for you. They’re easy to use. Just let some line loose and toss it in the river. It’ll do the rest of the work for you.”

  Baldric brought the lure up to his face for inspection. “This is meant to catch fish? It looks broken. What’s this piece hanging off of it?”

  “It’s not broken,” William replied. “That’s the blade. It spins through the water and sends off vibrations to attract fish. You’re not the only one who’s picked up a thing or two from reading books.”

  “A fisherman who can read! And here I thought I was the one with the outlandish tales.”

  ***

  Dusk fell upon them, and it wasn’t until the sun had become a thin orange sliver that William caught their first fish.

  “Ha! A slow start, but a meal well worth the wait,” William said. He pulled the fish onto shore. “It feels like a good three or four pounds, this one.”

  Baldric sat sour-faced and unimpressed. His patience had run thin a while back. Now he was more focused on trying to stay awake then he was on anything else. “About time,” he said yawning. “I was about to recommend going back to the onion.”

  William snickered. “You’ll catch something. Don’t doubt yourself. Although it would help if you kept at least one eye open. If we were using live bait, you’d probably have fed the entire river by now.”

  Baldric took his lack of success fishing much harder than the average man would. He was used to being talented in all of his ventures. Ever since he was a young boy, he felt the need to prove himself. And although he wouldn’t admit it, he enjoyed being acknowledged or complimented, no matter how small the praise.

  “I’ll be right back,” he said to Will, who sat attentively at the river’s edge.

  He returned moments later with a bow in one hand and his rod in the other. He cut the lure from his fishing line and knotted the empty line around the end of an arrow. Before William took notice of what was going on, Baldric shot the arrow into the river and pierced a good-sized trout. He then picked up the rod and reeled in the fish. “The moon is particularly bright tonight. I thought I’d make use of it,” he said with smug satisfaction. “You know, I think this one might be bigger than the one you caught. The lure I used is called an arrow. I have many others if you’d like to give it a try.”

  William shook his head. And although he tried containing it, he couldn’t help but break a smile. “You’re a special kind of person, aren’t you?”

  “No need for compliments, Will. We’re already good friends. I know you think highly of me.”

  William decided silence was the best option. He reeled in his slackline and set out to gather some firewood for dinner. Although the freshly caught fish were delicious, their freshwater meal couldn’t compare to the cottage pie Gladys had made them the night before. They spoke briefly about their time spent in the Golden Breast and shared a few laughs before bed. As William was trying to fall asleep, it occurred to him that one of the many gifts presented to them by the residents of the Golden Breast was a box filled with different herbs and spices. This bothered him a little—as it would have been perfect for their dinner—but instead he just saw it as another reason to go fishing … not that he ever needed one.

  ***

  Aderyn nuzzled Baldric awake early the next morning. It startled him at first, but he quickly realized it was just his horse anxious for another day of riding. A warm feeling overcame him as he got to his feet. Baldric had never laid claim to his own horse. He had never owned much of anything, aside from his books and the clothes on his back. So, this unfamiliar feeling came as a pleasant surprise to him.

  “We’ll head out soon, girl,” Baldric said stroking Aderyn’s muzzle. “How’s the River Raider this morning?” he nearly shouted.

  William sprung awake with dry, wide eyes. “Huh? What?” his voice was groggy, still lost in a dream.

  “Sorry to wake you, my friend, but the day has already started without us. Our destination has never been closer. We should be able to reach the Veil before the day grows dim if we make haste.”

  William could tell his friend couldn’t wait to reach the Elven wood. It’s all he had talked about for the past month, and though William was now looking forward to it himself, he couldn’t imagine how his friend from the Maidens Pearl must have felt. “I wouldn’t keep you on a day like today,” Will replied. “Let’s get going.”

  They rode across the Hidden Plains with the freedom and carelessness of soaring birds. There were very few places in Cellagor as beautiful and pure as these sweeping meadows. Rolling hills appeared in the distance after what seemed like a timeless ride across a vibrant ocean of untouched nature. They did their best to keep the Nine Tail River in their sights—to keep them on course—but it was hard not getting lost in the welcoming flatlands. They would deal with the rolling hills ahead of them in due time. The Valley of Larin dwindled in the distance far behind them—its stone shoulders grew smaller with every passing second. Just as Baldric was about to point out what he thought looked like treetops resting in the distance, the Viridian Veil stole the air from his lungs. They slowed their horses to a dragging halt and peered down at the great Elven wood below them. The Veil hovered over the land of Larin like an enormous quilt of ocean-coloured leaves.

  “We’re here,” Baldric said, partially lost in disbelief. “I never thought I’d see it in person.” He looked over at William with one of those smiles that only came around a handful of times in one’s life. “Thank you, my friend. I truly cherish your loyalty and the bravery you demonstrated by accompanying me all this way. I asked you to do something most people would never do. You put your trust in me, and for that, I am eternally grateful. You are a true friend, Will, one I consider family.”

  William found himself caught off guard by the sincerity of Baldric’s words. “I may have lost everyone I knew a few months back, but since then I have found a brother. He might be out of his mind, but nonetheless I’m still alive thanks to you. Let’s hope this Elven forest treats us better than the last.”

  The Viridian Veil grew in size as they drew closer. An endless painting of trees towered in front of them, like a maze of wooden pillars stretching out towards the sky. They both stopped within a foot of the tree line and peered into the ancient wood. This reminded them of how they had felt when they stood in front of Rhan. However, this time William’s heart wasn’t heavy with fear. The thought of burning alive was several worlds away.

  “Here we are then,” Baldric said. “At our journey’s end. May we enter in peace.”

  “May we enter in peace,” William nodded.

  The Elven wood seemed to grow again upon entering. Neither of them had ever seen trees of such size. The towering Bluewoods stood over one hundred feet tall, making the surrounding wildlife feel insignificant in comparison. They weren’t the only trees in the Viridian Veil, but they were undoubtedly in the majority. An eerie silence filled the forest—but not just any silence. It was a patient, controlled silence that held the weight of many eyes. Even though both William and Baldric couldn’t see or hear a single Elf, they knew they were being watched.

/>   “I hope we don’t get lost,” Baldric said, lowering his voice. “The sheer size is daunting compared to Rhan.”

  Before William had a chance to reply, a barrage of arrows pierced the ground surrounding them. It was like a miniature fence with feathered posts had been erected in a heartbeat. William’s horse reared, but he managed to hold his balance.

  “Dismount your horses and draw no weapons. Our arrows will remain nocked if you stay calm,” an echo rang out from within the forest.

  Seconds later, countless archers silently appeared from every direction. Most of them lingered in the treetops, but a surprising amount appeared from behind nearly every tree surrounding them. Not only was this flank impressive—it was unescapable. It didn’t matter if they were an army of two or two hundred. No sword, armour, or shield would be able to protect them from the inevitable death encircling them. There was an arrow pointed from every angle, and the speed at which more could be fired was unrivalled.

  “We mean no harm,” Baldric said as he slowly dismounted his horse. “Our being here is no accident. We have traveled a long way to speak with Lord Thinduill.”

  One of the Elves standing in front of them pulled back his hood and took a step towards them. “How do you know that name?” he asked. “And what makes you think you can enter these woods without invitation?”

  Baldric was speechless at first. He was finally in the presence of an Elf—something he had dreamed about since childhood. “We have come with information regarding those who attacked Rhan. We are allies to the Elves, I assure you. We just have yet to meet.”

  “Allies?” The Elf said. “And why should I believe you? How do I know you aren’t enemy spies?”

  Baldric removed Lord Brannor’s sword from his saddle and unwrapped the Elven blade. “We were both prisoners of war. I brought this sword as a sign of respect. As a gift of peace. It belongs under the Bleeding Willows.”

  The Elf took the sword and looked it over. “This is Lord Brannor’s sword,” he said in disbelief. “How is it you know so much about the Elves? Most humans loath our kind.”