"He probably would have lived another day or two, but we were about to leave the water and would not have been here to help him."
"What do you mean leave the water?" Sara asked.
"I will show you when we go back up on deck."
Sara felt something tugging on her pant leg and jumped when she realized that her clothing was now dry.
Capri motioned toward her clothes. "As I had mentioned, these garments will help protect you from the elements."
"Amazing," Sebastian said, feeling the dry cloth of Sara's sleeve. He stuck his hand in the water and watched as the water trickled out of the material. Within seconds the sleeve was dry.
The whale clicked from below the floorboards. Capri turned his attention toward the small opening. "Burber told me he was overtaken and attacked by the Kylo. I fear the Kylo know our destination and will attack." He sniffed. "Stay close to me. Danger hangs in the air."
Sara and Sebastian stepped a bit closer to one another. As if in response to Capri's warning, rain began to tap the deck boards above them. They followed Capri topside. The rain soon mixed with hail, which closed around them.
"The time has come to leave this leg of our journey," Capri said. "Sara, take the wheel and hold it steady."
Sara did as she'd been instructed while Capri walked over to tighten a sail. Through the rain, Capri looked as if he were chanting. He sat down cross-legged and lowered his head. After a short time, he slowly rose and made his way back to the wheel. "Hold on to each other," he said. "It's starting."
"What's starting?" Sebastian asked.
A moment later, the ship lurched to the port side and then righted itself. Over the next few minutes, the rise and fall of the ship on the waves slowly ceased. The bow rose one final time and moments later the stern followed. They were still moving, but now hovered above the waves. Sebastian rushed to the side to peer over while Sara moved toward the center of the ship.
"We're flying!" Sebastian shouted. "How's this possible?"
"Sebastian, get away from the side!" Sara yelled, gripping one of the ropes until her knuckles turned white.
"We are still sailing," Capri answered, "only another way."
After Sebastian stopped jumping up and down with excitement, Sara crept next to him by the rail, looking over the edge of the ship. "We shouldn't stand so close," she insisted grabbing his arm.
Sebastian took one last glance over the side and escorted her back to the center of the ship.
It took almost half an hour, but the ship eventually rose up above the rainstorm and into the clear night sky. A light breeze kept the sails full and the ship moving. It rose and fell as if it were still on water, but the only waves it rode now were the air currents above the clouds. A short while later, Capri tied off the wheel and proceeded to stack a few logs in the space under the mainsail. He stuffed dried grass into the small pile and touched it with the crystal on the end of his staff. The logs burst into flames.
Sara ran over to Capri, shouting, "What are you doing? Isn't that going to burn the ship?"
"Nay, child. Telestar is a living ship. Her bones are stronger than you can imagine. As long as there is life running through her veins, natural fire can do her no harm. We must reach the far north ere the Kylo, and I must reflect on the safest way to approach our destination. You may both watch for a short while, but you need rest to help prepare for the remainder of the journey."
As the minutes passed, the red-orange fire pulsed like a living heart. Capri sat cross-legged only a few feet from the blaze. Sebastian and Sara climbed down the ladder and into the main cabin. They checked the open door and made sure Burber was okay. The whale moved sluggishly back and forth in the small flooded holding compartment. He made clicking noises, which turned to somber whistles when he saw the two children. Sebastian reached down to pet the whale's large forehead, but Sara stayed away from the opening.
A short while later, they climbed back up the ladder and stopped at the top step. Capri stood in front of ten-foot-high flames, bare-chested holding his staff up in the air. He then sat down and crossed his legs. The staff lay across his lap, and the crystal now glowed bright orange, matching the flames of the fire.
****
As Capri had promised, the fire affected neither the ship's sails nor the wooden deck. Sebastian stood a small distance from the blaze but was not harmed by the heat. It had a deep, penetrating warmth, like a hot bath after sledding in the cold all day. The only spot on his body that still felt cool was the back of his neck.
Sebastian looked over and saw that Sara had started to nod off. He lightly nudged her and motioned for her to follow him downstairs. "C'mon, we should get some rest."
Sebastian walked into his small bedroom and watched the dim crystals embedded in the ceiling fade out as others sparked to life. He wondered how far they had come and where they were going. "Sara, do you think we'll wake up tomorrow and find out this was all just a dream?"
"I wish." She yawned. "I'd do anything to wake up at home, but part of me wants to follow Capri."
"I know what you mean."
"I hope we don't come across those Kylo creatures any more." She paused. "I think we should sleep with our doors open so we can see each other, in case they show up again."
Sebastian knew that it wouldn't make a difference if the Kylo showed up again, but he replied, "Good idea."
Chapter Seven
Call to Arms
Sara woke up late the next morning, before Sebastian. She put on her cloak and went to check on Burber. The whale looked healthier. He popped his head out of the water and chirped as if to say hello. She was convinced the whale was trying to curl up the corners of his mouth in an attempt at a smile.
She smiled herself and stepped closer to the opening in the floor. "Well, hello to you too. I guess this whole adventure wasn't a dream after all."
"I wish it were, my child," came a voice from behind her. Sara turned to see Capri walking down the stairway from the deck. "I trust you slept well?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Where is Sebastian?"
Sebastian entered the main room in time to yawn an answer. "I'm right here." He attached his cloak and went over to peer down at Burber. "Capri, your whale looks better today."
"Burber is not my whale, Sebastian. One cannot own another living being."
"Yeah, but what about Sara's kitten?" Sebastian said. "She owns that pet."
"Do not confuse being a steward with ownership," Capri responded.
Sara nudged Sebastian. "What do you say to that, Mr. Smarty Pants?"
"Nuts," was all Sebastian could muster.
"Come, we must eat if we are to complete the long journey, which lies ahead of us. We all need strength, including Burber."
Capri walked over to one of the wooden barrels and removed what looked to be a cross between dried grass and bread. He poured fresh water from the clay pitcher into smooth, earth-colored ceramic goblets with pictures of mermaids, unicorns, and dragons etched along the outside. All three sat around the opening of the trap door so they could share their breakfast with Burber. Capri tossed some of the bread-like substance into Burber's mouth. The whale swallowed it and nodded thanks before swimming away under the floorboards. Sebastian passed Sara a candy bar from his backpack and opened one for himself.
Capri handed out the water, but stopped when he saw the candy. "What is that you eat?"
"It's called a candy bar," Sara replied. "It's got chocolate and peanut butter in it. Here, try some?" She broke off a piece and handed it to him.
Capri nibbled on the dark chocolate and raised his brow in confusion. "Only a little of this is natural and is therefore tasteless for someone like me." He took another small bite and a pained look crossed his face. He handed both kids a piece of the bread. "Here, try this."
"What is it?"
"In my language we call it kistle."
Sara took a bite of the food and passed the rest on to Sebastian. "Not bad. It tastes salty. I w
onder what kistle would translate into."
"I think you would call it kelp," Capri responded.
Sebastian started to spit it out when he heard this, but an elbow from Sara reminded him that it would be rude. The tasteless bread started to dissolve in her mouth with a flavor similar to onion soup. Sebastian nodded his approval, but passed the remainder back to Sara. A moment later, warmth and energy ran through his veins. He felt as if he could throw a baseball better than anyone on the playground.
The elf smiled before removing himself from the circle to resume his watch on deck. For the rest of the day, Sara and Sebastian swapped lookout duties in the crow's nest above the mainsail. The small bucket had a rope ladder going up to it, which the children climbed carefully. It was not the short fall to the deck that concerned Sara so much as the possibility of bouncing off the deck and falling the hundreds of feet down into the frigid ocean. From the crow's nest, a person could see any incoming attack for miles.
****
Sara took the first watch, while Capri stayed at the helm and motioned for Sebastian to come over to the wheel. "I need you to go below deck and gather up torches to replace the burnt-out ones along the rails. They are located in the armory in the bow, beyond your rooms."
Sebastian went below and found the door to the small storage room. It was about the size of his bedroom, but was shaped like a "V" due to its location at the ship's nose. Wooden barrels, torches, and maps lay stacked neatly about the floor. Above him, a half-dozen oars and weapons of every sort — spears, bows, shields, and swords — were tied up in the rafters.
A flash of light came in from an open overhead hatch and reflected off something shiny in the pile above. Sebastian tried to climb up a small shelf to look at it. At that moment the ship lurched to the starboard, knocking him off his balance. He grabbed onto an oar in an attempt to catch himself, but instead pulled the pile apart. He fell to the floor as weapons, tools, and oars came crashing down about him from the rafters.
He slowly took his hands away from his eyes and found two of the swords stuck in the floorboards on either side of his head. In frustration, he kicked at a small metal cleat on the floor. He yelled as a sharp pain ran up his leg. After a closer look he realized the cleat was bolted to the floor.
When the throbbing subsided, he dropped his head in his hands. The whole adventure was nothing like the stories Miss Storm read in class. Good guys in those tales always won by their strength and wits. Those same heroes, he realized, never caused their own problems and never dragged their friends into them like he had with Sara.
After a few deep breaths, he got up and waded through the pile of debris until he found what had caught his eye. It was a small disk about the size of a dinner plate, made of a shiny black substance with two rope straps on one side. The object was smooth, like a stone found in a creek bed, but it was also as light as a piece of foam board. It appeared to be a miniature version of a shield.
Sebastian slipped the rope straps over his left arm. The small disk started to hum and glow with a murky color. The ropes were snug on his arm but did not hurt. Sebastian tried to slide the disk off, but it was caught in the folds of his cloak. No matter how hard he tried, the disk wouldn't come off his arm.
He quickly ran back to the ladder and rushed topside. Sara always reminded him about his curiosity and how frequently it got him in trouble. He hoped this time it wouldn't be serious. "Capri, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have messed with your stuff," he said, running toward the elf and waving his arm. "But I did, and now this thing is stuck on my arm. Help!"
Capri tied off the wheel of the ship and walked over to Sebastian. "Well, let us see what my young friend has gotten himself into." He tugged at the straps of the shield and whispered something under his breath. The straps loosened, and the disk slid off onto the deck of the ship with a light thud.
"What is that thing?" Sebastian asked, rubbing his arm.
"'Tis an elven shield of light," Capri said. "It draws its power from the sun. Later this evening I was going to take you and Sara downstairs to see what item would choose you, but it seems you beat me to the gift-giving."
"What do you mean?"
"This weapon chose you," the elf said.
"Huh?"
"When you went into the armory, you removed this from the pile of weapons because it looked different and stuck out in your mind, correct?" Sebastian nodded, and Capri continued. "We call it being chosen, but it is your personality, intellect, and heart that choose it for you."
"I still don't understand," Sebastian said.
"A weapon says a lot about the person using it. In our tribe, we generally master one weapon. Why some gravitate toward a bow while others choose a sword, no one knows. Your weapon of choice is interesting. 'Tis not a weapon but a defensive tool. Place the shield back on your arm."
Sebastian hesitated but did as he was instructed. The rope straps tightened on his left forearm again, and Sebastian's heart raced. The small disk pulsed with a blue-black color, and Sebastian seemed to instinctively know what to do now. He flicked his wrist, and the small disk grew into a larger, round shield about three feet in diameter. He felt like a medieval knight. For a brief moment, he wanted to take on all the Kylo if they attacked. With another flick of his wrist, the shield contracted back down into a plate size disk again, and the straps loosened.
"Now, please go bring Sara down here."
Sebastian put the disk into an inner pocket in his cloak and went up to get Sara from her watch in the crow's nest.
****
They followed Capri down into the armory. After they were inside, Capri shut the door and touched a crystal embedded in the wall, which gave a soft glow to the room. "Sebastian, you may take out your shield now."
Sebastian did and moved his wrist to enlarge the shield for Sara to see. The black shield hummed to life. Sara jumped back, but at the calm look on Sebastian's face, she stepped forward and lightly touched the shield. It sent a splinter of warmth up her finger.
"Sara, the time has come for you to find a device," the elf said.
"What do you mean?" Sara asked.
"What is it you see here?" Capri asked.
Sara looked at Sebastian with his shield and then turned to the pile of weapons on the floor. Capri held his staff up to cast additional light into the room. Sara lifted a couple of heavy swords out of the way and began to dig through the pile. She felt something calling to her — not so much in a voice but in a rhythmic song, a light whistling noise. She finished moving through the spears and unstrung bows before standing back up.
"Do you two hear something?" she asked. Sebastian shook his head while Capri stood with a curious gaze.
Sara walked around the small room, looking for the source of the noise. She turned to face a shelf, and the sound turned into thumping in her head. She was drawn to a folded white cloth that lay on the shelf. The beating stopped the moment she picked up the object with both hands. She unwrapped layer upon layer of white linen until she found the source of her attraction. An ashen white boomerang lay in the neatly folded in the cloth. Like Sebastian's shield, it was also made of a smooth stone-like material, but unlike the onyx shield, the boomerang glowed with a colorless radiance.
"You humans are interesting," Capri said. "You chose an unlikely and impractical device. Unlike a sword, this tool can rarely deliver a deathblow. You must be both athletic and agile to wield this. Quite interesting."
Sebastian looked at his shield and then to Sara's boomerang. He knew there was a reason he was given a defensive tool rather than a weapon. His skill was such that he would probably hurt Sara or Capri if he had a real weapon like the boomerang.
As if in response to Sebastian's insecurities, Capri said, "These tools are the right choice for each of you and, like the two of you, the boomerang and shield complement each other." Capri turned to Sara. "Have you thrown one of these before?"
"A few times at camp."
"She's being modest," Sebastian cut in. "She w
on every archery, kayaking, and outdoors event she entered at camp last summer. She was the only one who could throw a boomerang correctly and have it come back and catch it."
"Good," Capri said. "Familiarize yourself with these tools and keep them close at hand."
****
The next morning, the three companions sat around the opening to Burber's pen and ate Capri's kelp bread. Sebastian was getting accustomed to the strange taste, which seemed to change depending on the time of day they ate. It was now sweet, like a rich, smooth dessert. He could tell by the sound and pitch of Burber's clicks and whistles that his strength was returning. After breakfast, Capri motioned for the children to follow him topside.
On the deck of the ship, the air was cool but not frigid. It seemed that the wind, like the water in Burber's pen, became milder once it reached the ship. The elven cloaks also provided a surprising amount of warmth despite their thin material.
For a moment the stern, far-off look Sebastian had grown accustomed to seeing on Capri's face lifted, and he smiled. He pointed to the port side of the ship.
They ran to the side to see the view. A hundred feet below them, white-capped waves crashed upon enormous glaciers. The clear water revealed the ice formations cascading hundreds of feet down into the ocean depths. A group of seals waddled down the side of a small iceberg. A moment later, the animals dove into the water and out of sight under the ice.
After about an hour, the gaps in the ice slowly diminished. More ice than ocean stretched beneath them. Around mid-day, the air chilled, and the sun fell behind dark clouds. Sebastian wondered if a storm was gathering and how Telestar would hold up against snow and rain while flying through the air.
Sara pointed toward one particular cloud. "Sebastian, look at that!"
"It's following us," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck.
Capri tied off the wheel and walked to the bow of the ship to join Sebastian and Sara, staring at the dark cloud. "This is no storm!" Capri shouted as he ran back to the wheel. The shadowy mass was, in fact, coming directly at them. The outlines of countless writhing shapes came into focus within the cloud.
The Grotto Under the Tree Page 5