Alone - Episode 9: Battle of King's Harbor

by Hugo C. Bygott

  I turned to Captain Risen who was fading fast. I tried again to heal him, but it wasn’t working.

  He opened his jacket and removed the compass. He pushed it toward me and into my open hand. “Take,” he said. “Return to Magnus.” He took a deep breath. “If you can.”

  “I cannot take this,” I replied. “You will return it yourself.”

  He coughed, almost choking on his blood. “Too late for me. I feel the corruption in my body. The arrow has done its work.”

  I squeezed his hand, feeling the encroaching coldness of his body. Our ship was now far away into the distance, the storm continuing to push us further out into the middle of the ocean, and these few Sea Kings who were alive were not enough to keep the ship on track and return to the fight. The dark sky erupted with lightning, and rain continued to pour down.

  Siana placed her hand on my shoulder. “Matriarch, you must rest. The battle is far away, and the winds are taking us to who knows where.”

  Captain Risen touched the compass one last time. “Sea Kings to war…return to Magnus, my brother, if you—”

  With those last words, Captain Risen left this world. The Sea Kings were silent, their hands over their chests. They straightened their backs and saluted. “Captain Risen, the sea welcomes you.”

  His cold hand was still holding mine. I didn’t know him long, but my heart ached all the same. With the raging storm and the damaged ship, I thought we would sink soon enough. I closed Captain Risen’s eyes and placed his arms over his chest.

  “Farewell, Captain. Farewell,” said Barnabas, sincerer than he had ever been before. He then remained quiet as did the rest of the crew.

  The compass then hummed in my hand.

  “Mother of this World,” exclaimed Tomon.

  The darkened clouds above us parted. There was no more lightning nor rain as the compass hummed with a strange sensation on my palm. The humming stopped, and everything around the ship was calm. The storm had vanished, and there was only a serene silence after the chaotic battle. The Sea Kings stared at me as I closed my palm over the compass. “Now we know why the Reptala wanted the compass. This is no ordinary heirloom,” I said.

  Siana looked at me with awe. “The power to control the weather is a weapon that would aid any army. Matriarch, you are a gift from God.”

  “A talking, magical book, and a compass to control the weather, I thought I was leaving my home to find out your origin, but I did not think it would lead me to this,” said Mega.

  Tomon’s face was bright under the light of the day. “Mother of this World, you have unknown power.” He bowed and went on one knee as did the others. Even the Sea Kings followed, all bending on one knee. But my heart ached as I could not save Captain Risen who now joined his ancestors in the sea.

  ****

  It seemed forever since the battle. We had been pushed so far out that even the Sea Kings had no idea where they were. We seemed to be in an uncharted ocean. We had been traveling for several days straight with no sight of any land. The Salutem was in a bad condition, and food was running out. The worst part was that we did not know whether the Sea Kings or the Volentium Empire had won and if the islands of Sacrantos still stood.

  Everyone was growing tired, and I did my best to heal who I could, but even when I healed them, I could not heal the loss in their hearts for their beloved captain who they had buried out at sea. The image of how they saluted their captain as he entered the sea was still vivid in my mind. Even when we had no idea where we were going, it was their top priority to send their captain off.

  The compass was in my dress pocket. The wonder that it had provided when controlling the weather was still unbelievable. And the fact that the Sea Kings had no idea it had such power was even more startling. The Ancient Ones made the compass for a reason just like they created Barnabas. Whoever that sorcerer was, or whoever he worked for, the Volentium Empire was after both artifacts and possibly others.

  “Land sighted,” shouted a Sea King.

  Tomon and Siana rushed to the bow of the ship. All my companions disliked being on the water for so long. We were all hungry. No one thought food would be a necessity when going out to fight a sudden battle.

  “On the horizon,” said another Sea King.

  Mega and Blue Eyes were sitting down by the center of the ship, resting under the clear sky. “But what land is the question,” said Mega.

  Blue Eyes purred and rubbed its head against Mega’s arm.

  I joined Siana and Tomon at the bow, with Barnabas in my hand.

  “At last, land, land, land. Captain Barnabas has saved the day once more. The magic I bring has brought us to this new world.”

  I looked over the ocean. A coastal line appeared with mountains and a vivid green shoreline.

  “Mother of this World, I don’t know where we are, but it is not Evandaria. We are miles and miles from where we need to be, further than before. How will we ever reach Balimoor?” asked Tomon.

  “Don’t worry so much, furry one. Captain Barnabas will lead us there. I’m a great scout, as you know,” replied the book.

  “I have faith,” I replied. “We will return somehow. We still have this ship and the remaining Sea Kings. Faith will get us there.”

  Tomon looked across the sea.

  Siana whispered under her breath. “Faith...”

  With the breeze on my face and the light on my skin, I had faith and confidence that we would find a way to Balimoor. Whatever this new world was, there was always a way. I believed that, and I still do. I will find out who I am and why I was frozen. Whatever the Volentium Empire is, if I can, I will help the Evandarians against them. This new land we were about to arrive on was just another part of our journey, but with faith and my companions, I knew that one day we would reach the library of Balimoor.

  Appendix (Updated Weekly)

  Gaia – Origin unknown. Woman frozen in ice and last human on this world.

  Forlon – A race of people distantly related to the Ancient Ones. Small fur-like creatures with an affinity for bones and vines. Protected Gaia for thousands of years before she awakened.

  Eizo – The village and home of the Forlon.

  The Ancient Ones – An ancient race whose presence has all been removed from this world save for some of the cities and creations that they left behind.

  Koa – A vicious beast with four legs and two long, winding heads. Their claws are as sharp as a sword, but the fangs of the koa are lethal, the poison killing even the hardiest of creatures.

  Tomon – Keeper of the temple. The first Forlon to meet Gaia and continues to believe she is a Goddess.

  Chieftain Zular – The leader of the Forlon.

  Drokc – A four-legged, large, and vicious beast with two horns and two tusks. Its skin is thick like leather, and its tail has the strength to topple the largest of trees.

  Teratuk – An old, strange, and fur-like creature with a protruding belly and whiskers. He is the keeper of the forest and is named after his people. He also loves offering his guests Teratuk tea!

  Evandaria – The land mass which Gaia finds herself on.

  Evandarians – The race of people who occupy most of the cities and areas on Evandaria. If not part of a school, they have brown hair.

  Geoling – A race of stone people with an affinity for fighting.

  Stone Peak – The home of the Geolings.

  Mega – A Geoling and friend of Teratuk.

  Balimoor – An ancient city built by the Ancient Ones. Now occupied by the Evandarians and holds a library which may hold information regarding Gaia and her origin.

  Alpha – The given title for the leader of the Geolings.

  Blue Eyes – The name Gaia gave to the drokc who had saved her and Tomon from the koa attack.

  Jackgore – A worm-like creature of great length. With blood-red eyes and teeth that can crush almost anything, the Jackgore is a legendary creature that is feared by all.

  Udar – The Geoling guide who escorted
Gaia and Tomon to Alpha.

  River Spiriti – The name of a river that starts from the coast of Asos, running through the land of Evandaria, and ending at the mouth of Provac.

  Sivan – An Evandarian merchant who Gaia meets on the road toward the city of Balimoor. It is later discovered that he is a sorcerer from the School of Rokar, serving an unknown figure.

  The Great Unifier – A Forlon prophecy. The one who will unite the races and bring back the Ancient Ones.

  Forgotten Spirits – Created by the Ancient Ones to be the guardians of the river to offer safe passage and good fortune.

  The Ancient Enemy – The race of beings who fought and defeated the Ancient Ones.

  School of Orkan – One of the several Evandarian schools of thought. They worship the God Orkan. Noted for their red hair and love of battle.

  School of Makara – One of the several Evandarian schools of thought. They worship the God Makara. Noted for their blonde hair and ability to heal.

  School of Dimitri – One of the several Evandarian schools of thought. They worship the God Dimitri. Noted for their black hair and love for wealth and trading.

  School of Totlearis – One of the several Evandarian schools of thought. They worship the God Totlearis. Noted for their white hair and love for thinking.

  School of Heemina – One of the several Evandarian schools of thought. They worship the God Heemina. Noted for their blue hair and love for building and technology.

  School of Rokar – One of the several Evandarian schools of thought. They worship the God Rokar. Noted for their purple hair and ability with magic.

  School of Shandar – One of the several Evandarian schools of thought. They worship the God Shandar. Noted for their green hair and affinity with nature.

  Lord Danvar – One of the lords of the School of Orkan. This year’s Lord of the Joust – the lord who hosts the jousting tournament that year.

  Lord Brevius – One of the lords of the School of Orkan. Father of Siana.

  Lord Klandor – One of the lords of the School of Orkan.

  Lord Tambaleen – One of the lords of the School of Orkan.

  First Knight – The second in command and greatest knight of each lord of the School of Orkan.

  Emperor Xano – The ruler of Evandaria, elected from one of the seven high leaders by a majority vote. The Emperor rules until death, and then another vote is required for the next. Formerly the High Magiosa of the School of Rokar.

  Orkania – The home city of the Evandarians belonging to the School of Orkan.

  High King – The leader of the School of Orkan.

  High Priestess – The leader of the School of Makara.

  High Magiosa – The leader of the School of Rokar.

  High Creator – The leader of the School of Heemina.

  High Trader – The leader of the School of Dimitri.

  High Thinker – The leader of the School of Totlearis.

  High Druidess – The leader of the School of Shandar.

  Siana – The knight with no banner and daughter of Lord Brevius.

  Knight Foster – One of the knights from House Klandor, who helped lure Tomon away.

  Knight Mandaley – One of the knights from House Klandor, who helped lure Tomon away.

  Sightstealer – A terrifying two-legged monster which takes the sight of anyone who looks upon it. Its body is wide and circular with a pinkish tint. It has four hands with fingers like tentacles, but the eyes of the sightstealer is where its power lies – three eyes of pure white all attached into one big socket on its round head.

  Barnabas – The talking book found in the library of Sivan’s tomb of gold.

  Red Flame – The nickname Barnabas gives to Siana.

  Sea Kings – A race of seafarers who protect the coastal towns in exchange for gold. Spend more time at sea than on land. Cousins to the Evandarians.

  Sacrantos – The set of islands home to the Sea Kings

  The Narrow Valley – A group of mountains on either side with a cobbled path in between which leads to Trageo.

  Trageo – One of several coastal towns where the Sea Kings visit.

  Shade Assassin – Created from dark magic with the sole purpose of hunting and killing its ordered target. Made from the remains of an already dead being and forged into mists that can appear in random locations. They are fast, agile, and immune to ordinary weapons. Only magic can defeat them. They are faceless and without emotion; their only task is to kill.

  The Crowned Koa – Trageo’s local tavern. Two koa wrapping their heads over one another.

  Maklos – A region in the eastern part of Evandaria.

  Raff – One of the fat Evandarians who attempted to drink with Gaia in the Crowned Koa.

  Captain Risen – Brother to the Sea King and Captain of the Astrolax.

  Astrolax – Captain Risen’s ship. The second biggest in the Sea Kings’ fleet.

  Magnus Svartskägg – King of the Sea Kings. Known for his great black beard.

  Seaolia – The capital of Sacrantos.

  Salutem – The sister ship of the Astrolax, the biggest ship in the Sea Kings’ fleet.

  Reptala – A race of beings known for their scaly skin, long tails, and claw-like hands.

  Volentium Empire – The invaders of Sacrantos. Who they are is yet unknown.

  The Journey Continues

  Words from the Author

  I want to say a big thank you for reading this short story. I hope you look forward to the next episode in this epic series following the journey of Gaia. A new episode is released every week. Future updates, other works, and information can also be found at my website.

  If you have any feedback or ideas you would like to share with me, I would be happy to hear of them. The easiest way to get in touch with me is through my email address: hugocbygott@hotmail.com, or through my twitter account: @HCBygott.

  If you enjoyed the story, it would also mean a great deal to me if you could leave a review. Reviews help the series grow and allow it to reach more readers. Also, if you have time, please check out my other work, The Ascended books – a science fiction/fantasy adventure. https://www.amazon.com/Children-War-Ascended-Book-1-ebook/dp/B017P8EOU6

  Once more, I would like to say thank you for choosing and reading my story.

  Hugo C. Bygott

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Hugo C. Bygott grew up in Cambridge, England. His love for reading came when he picked up his first fantasy epic, ‘Magician’ by Raymond E. Feist, followed by Robert Jordan’s ‘Wheel of Time’ series. He has traveled the world and for the last few years lived in Tokyo, Japan.