It took a moment for him to realize that Nina was staring in awe and Rose had a look of rapture on her face that was troubling. He followed their eyes to the shore behind him where Avreel was running toward them faster than he had ever seen anyone run. In the distance stood a creature that was so eerily awe-inspiring that he ended up staring as they did. The death eater was large enough to consume an entire kurenai soldier in a single bite comfortably. Its maw was long and narrow and at the end of the snout was a white-faded nose that contrasted with the deep purple hue of its fur. The eyes attached to the other end of the muzzle were milky white like those of a corpse. Perched on its head were two long ears and a huge mane. The rest of its body was sinewy and sickly but covered with the same dark and almost black fur down to its long thin tail. What scared him the most about this massive beast were the two rows of teeth in both its bottom and top jaw. The darkness deep inside of its gullet could be seen when it roared and strained against the weak barrier Avreel had erected.
"Prepare for a crash course in sailing! Cut the mooring lines and raise the boarding ladder!" Avreel shouted to them. They were all as shocked to behold the powerful creature as she had been. Pulling from years of berating guardsmen and other subordinates for staring at her in the same dumbfounded manner she took in a deep mist-filled breath and shouted at the top of her lungs. "Now!"
Satisfied by their stumbling and scrambling she rushed to the helm of the ship with Rose forcefully in tow. The naarabian woman was enthralled by the creature and she looked revitalized. "Rose snap out of it! I need you to pilot the ship my command of magic is not strong enough and only someone connected to the arcane can steer the ship properly."
"There's no need to be afraid and no need to run." Rose said calmly as she smiled at Avreel. "My power will grow to heights you cannot envision once we merge."
"Rose your power is already staggering beyond all imagination. You don't want to merge with this thing; it will consume everything you are." Avreel slapped her across the face and forced her to grab the wheel. "You have to connect with the elemental that died to power this ship. Its essence is still filtering through the planks."
"No I will not do it!" Rose backed away from her and snarled.
Avreel feared the worst as Rose began to raise her arms and shape magic. There was no defense against the powerful woman; all of her stored spell energy had been poured into the barrier. Even if it had not been all used she knew she was no match for Rose. Just as the naarabi woman completed her shaping she crumpled to the floor in a heap with a stern-faced Nina standing behind her. "By the watching eyes thank you Nina."
"You'd do the same for me." Nina said quickly and looked out at the beast, it was approaching fast. "It's broken free; we have to get out of here. My command of magic is nowhere near hers but I am tied to both arcane and spiritual magic."
"Then it will have to do." Avreel said with a nod just as she felt the ship lurch to the side under a monstrous weight. The creature had leaped the last great distance between the mid dock and the ship. Avreel's eyes widened as it opened his maw and drove down right into the section of the deck Liostro had been occupying just seconds before. "No!"
Chapter 13: Three if by Sea
Avreel and Nina looked on in shocked silence as the creature began retracting its head. Both of them sighed in audible relief when it yowled in pain and jerked backward revealing Liostro and his bloodied blade.
Nina was the first to speak. “We can’t kill this thing without Rose and if we wake her back up she’ll be in its thrall again. Nina you have to get us out of here.”
Avreel ignored her protests and questions and started off toward Liostro, hoping the elf girl was as smart as she seemed. She drew her mace and rushed to give him a hand with attempting to stave off the beast until they could get under way. “I don’t know why this thing is awake but we need to get it away from Rose quickly!”
“You don’t think I know that twinkle-hooves?” Liostro called out angrily as he swept his blade in front of him trying to keep the monster at bay. “I think all I did was piss it off.”
“Sound reasoning.” She said in reply as she approached the creature’s rear flank. “Maybe if we push it off the side of the ship we can get away.”
“As good a plan as any.” Liostro lifted his heavy sword and huffed out a long breath. He watched the creature warily as it eyed him and snarled menacingly. “All that running didn’t do anything for my sword arm.”
“We’re all tired so stop complaining and cut the damn thing.” Avreel jabbed at him verbally as he began circling. She did the same. Her surprise was genuine when the Death Eater’s body morphed almost instantaneously and the thing’s head was suddenly facing her. Without any preparation it lunged at her by launching itself into the air. She dodged the snapping teeth by diving down to the ground and rolling out of its way.
Its momentum did not slow so she continued rolling as Liostro closed in on it. When her back hit something solid she brought her mace up before her just in time to have it wrenched from her hands by the creature’s teeth.
Liostro drove his blade down hard but he was unsurprised when the swing hit the planks of the ship instead of his mark. His opponent was agile. Using the flat of the blade he slapped at the wolf’s snapping jaws and was satisfied with a solid hit and a growl when it jumped out of his long reach. As Avreel recovered her footing Liostro stood in front of her so the creature couldn’t get to her as easily. Something behind those seemingly dead eyes had intelligence; he knew he wasn’t dealing with your average dumb monster. He also knew he didn’t have enough in him to finish off an opponent of this magnitude, not without help. Once Avreel had recovered her feet and her wits not to mention her weapon he lunged at the creature in a reckless charge which it side-stepped easily but he hoped that it wouldn’t guess at his true goal. Liostro could see Nina struggling with the ship attempting to figure out how to make it run and Avreel had retreated a few steps. He was honestly glad that she had, it was hard protecting someone else and fighting at the same time.
The two of them traded blows for a moment but nothing serious. Each was trying to get a better feel for his quarry. Every time he pressed the attack he got a little closer to knowing the tactics of the creature. The problem was that it was learning his moves as well. Gathering up his wits about him he continued circling with it. He was slowly edging his way toward the lowest point of the railing but he was attempting to make it seem like he was waiting for the creature to make a move first. The painfully slow process felt as if it was dragging on for a lifetime. Each time he would parry or dodge a bite or swipe of claws he felt himself getting weaker. He just hoped that Nina would figure out the ship in time for him to execute his plan.
Avreel had taken to watching them from a cautious distance. Her weapon wouldn’t be of much help against this foe anyway. Liostro spared a quick glance at her. “I don’t suppose you have anything left magic-wise?”
“Nothing that would hurt that thing.” She called back to him with a shrug.
Liostro snorted in frustration. “Useless elf! Tell me what you do have.”
“I could probably manage to conjure up some lights or heal a minor hurt. I may have enough to draw poison from a wound but I doubt it cares about such things.” Avreel called out to him and looked around the deck for something of use.
“Go help Nina then! You are of no use to me!” Liostro stabbed forward with his blade and struck nothing but empty air then drew it back and fended off a clumsy bite with the hilt of the sword just in time. “Get us moving!”
Just as he felt his efforts were going to pay off the creature switched its heading by morphing again and broke into a run directly toward Avreel. Liostro cursed loudly and took up pursuit only to realize the feint for what it was. The creature suddenly drove its body face first into the ground and kicked off, reversing its heading instantly and bearing him down to the deck under its weight. He could smell its oily-slick fur and feel its hot fetid breath against hi
s face. He quickly grabbed its jowls and pushed against the incoming maw so it couldn’t bite him. He felt the teeth knick the skin of his cheek so he pressed into his maw harder, pushing it further away from him. The creature morphed again and latched onto his leg, bounding out of his reach it bit down hard and yanked its head back, tearing a large chunk from his flesh in the process.
The pain of the bite was enough to force a cloud of darkness into his peripheral vision but he held on to his consciousness as best he could and lashed out at the beast’s head with his leg striking a solid blow in its eye with his heavy boot. It instantly yelped and let go of him then backed out of his reach and sprung again for his throat. Liostro rolled to the side and dropped a punch to its face, striking solidly as he attempted to gain his footing again. Painfully he stood up and faced it. His sword was resting against the railing, too far for him to reach but just close enough for him to try. As he jumped forward he slipped on his own blood and fell face first onto the deck.
His hand brushed up against something hard. He grabbed onto it and lashed out behind him just in time to catch the creature in the face with a bundle of rope. He was sure it didn’t hurt the creature but he let it go and watched it splay out into a tangled meshwork that gave him enough time to crawl toward his sword and grasp it tight. When he turned around to face the beast he found it once again rushing toward the quarterdeck where Avreel and Nina stood arguing about something. “Nina heads up!”
He watched the small blonde elf look up at him then gasp. It didn’t take long for the two of ready themselves and stand in front of Rose who was still unconscious at the aft of the ship. Liostro stood despite the protest from his injured leg and started toward them quickly. He took to using his sword as a crutch he hobbled his way up the stairs to help the two of them. When he crested the stairs he noticed that Avreel had already been knocked down to the deck and Nina was facing the creature alone with her two short blades in hand.
“A moment’s peace, that’s all I ask!” Liostro cried out again as he ran forward with his blade held high. The creature morphed itself just in time to dodge the brunt of his blow but he struck it solidly in the left right flank and pressed into the attack as hard as he could. His blade dipped and curved, he swiped it out in front of himself several times and got only minor hits compared to the burning bite that was clawing at his leg. He could feel his strength failing as he strained with the heavy weapon. The creature noticed it as well and began attacking him with renewed fury, driving home several times with nips and bites to his legs and arms. Oddly enough it seems to be slowing as well.
He watched it alternate between dodging his swings and Nina’s and finally came up with a countermeasure that would surely confuse the beast. “Nina, get this thing going. Avreel I want you to conjure lights right in front of its eyes as soon as the ship moves.”
Nina broke off from the fight and tried following Avreel’s instructions once more. The ship suddenly lurched forward and Liostro dropped to one knee, grasping at his wound while holding his sword tight in the other hand. It sprang forward just as he had hoped. “Now!”
A burst of bright lights blinded the creature for a split second while Liostro brought his blade up to bear and skewered the creature right through its gut. The heavy beast brought him back down but he was able to lash his feet out and push the creature off even as it began to slide down his blade. The sickening slurping sound that it emitted when it flew from the long sword and flipped over the side made Liostro’s stomach lurch just as much as the bad smell that issued forth from its body. Just as it disappeared over the deck Liostro watched its fur lose all color and go pure white. He was just as confused as the others when he heard no splash in the water.
Though it was against his best judgment he peered over the rail and found nothing. His vision began to swim as he turned back around to check on Rose. Liostro’s body gave out on him and his sword clattered to the deck; there was nothing he could do as he fell forward and saw nothing but darkness.
~~~~
A cool breeze swept across his face and though it was a strange sensation he found it pleasing to his skin. He groaned a little and opened his eyes slowly. It felt as if he had been at the drink way too much the night before but seeing as the air around them was shrouded in dusk he figured it was still the night in question. Liostro remembered what had happened and sat up quickly only to regret the action. A pair of feminine hands guided him back down to the deck.
Rose smiled down at him and put her hands on his shoulders, allowing him to rest his head on her lap once more. “It seems we will have no end to the times where you save my life oh strong hero of mine.”
“I would give everything, even my life to keep you safe.” He replied in all seriousness as he took her hand in his and kissed the tips of her fingers. “You are the light in my dark soul.”
“You’ve a lot more light in you than that my dark champion.” She jested as she traced the line of his jaw with her fingertips. His skin was still a little ashen from the loss of blood but he seemed to be recovering quite nicely. Rose had not even needed to focus herself to heal him; she was carrying an overabundance of power. She had noted to herself and the other girls that it was more than she could usually hold without pain. Focusing her attention back on him she leaned forward and kissed his lips just a little then pulled back. “Stay down and rest, I’ve healed most of the damage and purged the poison from your body but it still needs time to recover.”
“Poison?” He echoed in a slightly strained voice.
“The creature’s bite was tainted with some sort of magic or disease, I know not which. But you quickly succumbed to it once the heat of battle had worn off. If Avreel and Nina hadn’t gotten me up to tend you I’m certain you wouldn’t have survived an hour.” Rose replied then put a finger across his lips. “Hush now and gather your strength. I will be here when you wake.”
“Any further inquiries can wait until you’ve gotten better. You’ve been out for the better part of the day and night.” Rose brushed a few stray strands of hair out of his face and watched him close his eyes. For the longest time she just sat there content to watch him sleep. The rise and fall of his chest in steady motions quelled her fears that she had not purged all of the taint from his blood. He seemed to have quite a hearty system though; she figured it was due to his training and discipline.
As she sat there at the bow of the ship listening to the water break and splash around she thought back to her time in servitude. The Pasha had requested she memorize songs and dances and perform them for his guests. There was one she favored and though she did not know the meaning or the tongue it was in she found it beautiful. Her voice rose up above the din of the sea and spray as clear and captivating as it had been the first night she had performed the song.
Le wanwa e tyelima elen
Le kalina alka tiri
Mi e huine I haara
Ana veela dos yonta
Dos carin amin lar an
I mere ana hara dos
I mere ana miqula dos
Sa il tyar kalina quell
Sitting off to the side while Nina did the steering Avreel had been listening to them and watching even after Liostro had drifted back to sleep. Rose surprised her with the song, her voice was pretty. It seemed the young naarabian had a talent for almost everything. Envy was a wasted emotion where she came from so she just sat and enjoyed it to the end. Once Rose was done she smiled. “Very beautiful, I didn’t know you spoke high elven.”
“Is that what it is?” Rose replied with a slight smile on her lips. “I just have it memorized from a long time ago. I don’t actually know the meaning of the words.”
“Truly?” Avreel replied to her in the regular elven tongue. “It is an ancient, near dead version of the elven language. Would you like to know?”
“Please.” Rose said and turned her attention to Avreel.
“Forgive me but my singing voice is lacking so I will just recite the lines as they were.” Avreel sh
ared a moment with her as they both had a laugh. “You were the last star; Your light shines so bright; In the darkness I wait; To see you again; You made me wait so long; I wish to hold you; I wish to kiss you; Don't let your light fade.”
“Thank you, I shall have to remember that.” She turned her attention back to Liostro who was still slumbering, albeit a little more peacefully. “What made you leave your home and side with me Avreel? I mean, I know your god gave you the decree but that was your home. You could have freed me and stayed.”
“To be honest with you my dear that place has not been my home for some time.” Avreel sighed and leaned against the railing, thinking back as far as she could remember. “From the earliest time I can recall I was a slave to my name. More so to my siblings, each of them wanted something different. My sisters wanted power over the house and my brothers wanted that and more. One of them even wanted my body.”
“That’s terrible.”
“It is, but the worst part is our society and how it functions. The most powerful houses rule the city on a council. The matron and patron of each house hold a seat and they govern the lesser houses and people from an untouchable height. They care not for the plight of others or even the greater good of the city; it is all about power and wealth.” Avreel looked out ahead of them for a moment before continuing. “I’m surprised the city and my people have survived this long considering the way they act toward one another. The only time I’ve seen any of them work together is to take out a larger foe or during times of duress for all. Otherwise it’s blood versus blood daily. I grew tired of the politics and games long ago and I am more than glad to have it all behind me. Regardless, some part of me longs to believe that not all of my kin are bad.”
“At least you have that. I’m convinced that I’m the only living naarabi on the face of this world.” Rose replied dejectedly.
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