by Marcy Lynn
“I think… I think I can help.” She’d said it so softly that he might not have heard.
“No.” His chest rumbled with the word. “I want you to lock yourself in the cabin and stay there. You’ll be safe until it’s over.”
“I’m not hiding while you and the rest are-”
“You’ve done enough. This is now something we have to handle ourselves.”
“I’ve never casted this big but I think it will work Derek.” She tried to dip her head under his elbow but he dropped it so she couldn’t.
“There isn’t anything you can do. Even if we catch the wind better and out race them, they’re going to see where we’re heading.” He shook his head. “We’re going to move out of the harbor so the authorities don’t see any of us and then…” He didn’t finish but it was clear what the intent would be.
“But I can help. You have to trust me. I know a spell that will keep us out of their sight once we get far enough away.”
“Why not let her try?” Caspin said taking the last step to the deck. “If it doesn’t work, we’re not anymore worse off then if she hadn’t.” Elanor tried to duck under his arm again this time he allowed it but still protested.
“I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
“I’m not afraid of hurting myself.” She did look down at the crew working and then back to him. “Do you think-”
“If you get us out of this mess,” Derek said shaking his head. “There won’t be a man, woman or child on the Island that wouldn’t be grateful.” He sighed heavily then smiled at her. “Do what you can my beautiful burde.” A flutter played against her chest. When he said it like that, she did feel beautiful and pride in being a caster openly like back at the country side.
“This won’t be easy or quick.” She pulled her wand from its place at her hip and raising the twisted wood towards the sky. This time she’d need all the tools she had to cast. “You’ll still have to get as much ground from them as you can to give this a chance.” Derek started shouting orders to the crew. Elanor stood just behind him on the deck feeling safer near him. Her lashes brushed the calming round of her cheeks, grounding herself with deep breaths. Her own words and intent. No fancy spell work. Just her thoughts of her sisters.
“Earth, fire, air, spirit and water,” She said each of her sister’s elements, leaving the last for her own. “Where ever you are, I call to you my sisters, whatever the distance, where ever in time or place, connect with me.” Deep breaths inhaled she felt the invisible lines of connection one by one. All four of them having felt her need and reaching out. Energy pulsed now through her like static or lightning striking to the sky. Instinct overwhelmed her thoughts. She just knew how she wanted to use the water to help them.
Her arms still raised she opened her eyes to look to the clouds. “Hail Goddess, Mother to all! I call upon you. Please grant the path to safety!” Elanor continued to speak the words over and over so that the message would reach this Goddess and if it be her will, might grant the plea.
“Mercy, will you look at that!” She knew before she looked that she’d been heard. The current of energy so intense inside her body that she could barely stand there. Elanor’s gaze found what the crew was shouting about easily enough. A crow had landed on the rail and now taken flight back into the sky as clouds were seemingly melting from the sky and drifting down to the water in a eerie calm snake like coil; then spreading out. Like a physical blow to her chest she felt the terms of the Goddess’ help all at once.
“Derek, if you can, get us moving faster!”
“Get back to work, now!” Derek shouted at the crew watching in wonder. “What’s wrong?”
“I was afraid that it might be like this but no other form of the Goddess came to mind that would help us better.” Elanor let her arms lower having already thanked the Goddess for her generosity, though, what she had granted might take both ships down in the process.
“She’s got a warrior’s spirit, Derek. To her, to win a battle you have to show your mettle. She’s giving us a blanket of cover but at a cost. A very big storm is coming.” Already the other ship and the distant Port they’d come from had been consumed by the fog. It was pushing towards them now, nearing faster than a normal natural fog would.
“To win the battle, we have to make it out of the storm.”
“How-”
“She’s blessed us really.” Elanor cut him off before he unwittingly insulted the Goddess, knowing how vindictive she could be if the gifts she gave weren’t properly received. “I can use my own magic to help us. She’s given us a real chance to make it to our Island.”
He peered over his shoulder at her raising a brow but didn’t say more about it when she shot him an expression that he knew all to well to wait for explaining.
A sail snapped hard and the ship lurched. The muscles in Derek’s arms bulged as he held the wheel steady.
“I’ll try to keep the fog parted so you can see where we’re going.” Her wand lifted just in front of her this time she focused all the energy she could into moving the moisture of the air in spirals. It thinned enough to see ahead. Caspin and Stepp joined them on the deck again. She could feel their apprehension.
“Do you think we’re going to be able to steer through the reef at this pace?” Caspin shouted looking ahead.
“We better.” Derek answered trying to yell over the growling wind. “It’s going to be close as it is! We’ve got to lock down before that storm hits the Island.” The ship shuddered with another large wave spraying over the rails. It had only taken moments for the air to gain momentum and the water to get rough. Elanor gripped the rail in one hand and her wand in the other. There was shouts of orders and things she couldn’t make out in the increasing monster roar of the storm gaining on them. She kept her focus and intent on helping Derek get the ship safely to the Island. She stumbled with another roll of the waves but Stepp came to her rescue before she hit the deck.
“I have you, Miss.” He assured helping her gain her feet again. The water now rough, tossing the bow up and down and making the sails blow fully into their girth.
“White water ahead Captain!” Shouts came from everywhere on the ship. Men pointed to the left, a few to the right and no doubt there were some pointing straight ahead. They had come upon the reef faster than expected.
“Damn it! We don’t know where on the reef we are!” Derek shouted through the pouring rain. Panic pressed her into a tail spin of thoughts. There had to be something she could do to keep them from hitting the reef and splintering into a pile of wood.
“Keep it heading straight!” She yelled when it came to her. “Don’t let the ship pitch at all!” Elanor lifted both hands towards the dark sky channeling the mass amount of energy that pulsed through the clouds. She asked her mother and the Mother of all Goddess to be with her. She’d never tried to do a spell this big on her own, though she’d been told many times that she could achieve it. Control over the sea water, she would have to believe. Really believe.
No choice, she focused her intent on the water commanding it to raise up beneath the ship and create a wave to carry them over the reef. As though she were committing an act of physical strength she strained her leg muscles and her stomach clenched. Her arms rose up slowly as did the ship on the wave. The wild nature of the sea made it difficult to manage but she wouldn’t let it get the best of her. She envisioned the force of her will like an arrow moving through the air towards her target. Wood scraping the reef suddenly echoed in the wind. She pushed harder in her efforts to make the wave bigger. The scrapping stopped but Elanor couldn’t allow the ship to lower until she was sure they were over the jagged rock and coral. Her lungs squeezed and the pound of her heart out roared the wind.
“Let it go!” Derek shout sounded like it came from the distance. She shook her soaked head, afraid that it was too soon. “Elanor!” She relented only when her body began to shake. The spell having taken her personal energy because of the battle of fighting with
the wild nature of the wave. She knew Derek was saying something to her but the storm had gotten deafening. It roared so loudly in her ears that she couldn’t even hear her labored breath. It wasn’t until her legs got weak that she realized it wasn’t the storm but her heart thundering that she heard.
Elanor fought to stay conscience, afraid they would need her again before they made the island. She tasted water in her mouth that had been tainted by tin. The world spun but she clawed mentally at the darkness that tried to blanket her. The last thing she saw was Derek’s concerned face as he reached out to catch her before she fell.
Chapter twenty-four
Her head ached a bit. They’d made it to the Island, safe and sound.
Pain seemed to remind Elanor she were alive; prompting her to try and get up. A chorus of protests immediately assaulted her pounding sensitive head.
“Alright, alright, but please stop shouting.” She groaned laying back to the dock’s planks. Her hand rose from her side to rub her temple gently, trying to ease out the throb. She’d over done it by trying to over use her inner energy. It had been the last resort and the fact that she lay on the docks connected to the private Island told her it had been the right choice.
“Are you hurt?” Derek took a knee by her. She could feel his body half hovering her but she refused to open her eyes. It hurt too much.
“Did the storm pass us or is it going to hit soon?”
“No my magical burde, it’s completely gone. I think we won that Goddess’ favor.” A triumphant laughter richly touched her ears; it helped ease the pain in her head.
They did it.
“I never would have thought to have said something like that.” His sincere amusement caused her eye lids to lift a little to look up at him. Derek had an infectious grin which in turn brought a bright enchanting smile on her own lips. Not only had they done it… she’d done it! The people who surrounded her were joyful, happy, and thanking her for casting. Derek did this for her. Taken her to a place where she could be herself and safe. Safe. They all had their own reasons for seeking refuge and he’d met it. And now, she too was apart of that.
“I’ve waited a long time to see you look at me like that.” Derek’s eyes were vibrant his expression tender. She reached up with her arms and pulled him down to wrap them around his shoulders. The profiled of her face nestled into the hallow of his neck. An overwhelming desire washed over her. She didn’t want him to let go. She wanted to cling to him and felt the lift of the wall she’d built crumble completely. Nothing existed but the two of them in that moment. The connection so complete that her subconscious allowed her mind to drift to a comfortable drowsiness though still holding tight.
“We should head to the village and start working out what to do next.” She heard Caspin tell the crew members still standing around celebrating with recounting of the victory. The march of feet against wood faded when the last of them left.
At last, reluctantly, they pulled away from each other. Yet, not completely out of reach.
“He’s right. We do need to figure out how to stop them from seeing the Island and- how to stop them from following you.” Elanor’s fine brows narrowed in purposeful thought. Derek chuckled, pushing the fly away hair from her face.
“You’ve done enough. We’ll come up with something. You’re exhausted.” He withdrew to look her face, searching before speaking. “You know that contacting your family, even leaving the Island is now a problem?” He seemed to brace for her reaction. For once she didn’t feel differently. The immediate danger had to take the forefront of their thoughts.
It wasn’t as though she were giving up on her family, she promised herself, just for now they had to help the innocent people here.
“Actually, I have an idea but I…you’re not going to like it.”
“More magic?”
“Yes but not mine.” She nearly choked on her laughter revealing what she’d come up with knowing his reaction would be comical to say the least.
“We could make offerings to the- Sprites.”
“Oh, come on El, not the Fae?” His reaction didn’t disappoint. She didn’t hold back the teasing laughter. “I told you not to talk like that in my family’s garden, Derek. Once you insulted them, they just took great pleasure in annoying you.”
“Bloody hell.” He said getting to his feet and offering a hand to help her up. The pounding of her head had eased to a lingering throb. She found it bearable with the good-natured banter and hope of what might keep them all safe. “I didn’t know you were serious about little,” He flapped his hands limply at his sides. “Fairies actually living in your garden. They looked like dragonflies with those wings.”
“Yes, yes. You were warned though, don’t insult them… but-” She used a loud whisper with a cup of her hand. “Well they can’t be too powerful. They’re only as big as my finger.” She mimiced while her eyes dart to the sky in a roll of teasing mockery. “Maybe this won’t work after all. I should go alone and you should stay here.”
A guff of noise came from his chest and throat. “Bugger that.”
“If we offer them cloth, shells, maybe fruit?” Her face twisted a little in deep thought; unsure what these sea sprites would accept as offering. The Faye could be very fickle and easily offended. “They have a star light veil here. I felt it as soon as I got off the ship the first day. I think-” Elanor glanced over her should towards the water. “that the water dragon felt it too. The reason she’s attracted to this area. She’s trying to keep her brood safe.” Elanor’s bare-feet dug into the soft white sand, looking over the beach for signs of the magic dwellers. A cluster of small rocks and scattered shells looked like a good start. Things that seemed random or simple, usually were where magic dwellers lived.
Out in the open, yet well hidden.
“Pick some of that,” Elanor pointed to a fruit bearing plant while reaching behind her to start the buttons of her simple white dress. There were pleats ruffling the neckline and extra cloth of the sash. She wiggled her hips to let the dress drop down past her stay and bloomers.
“What…the hell are you doing?” His confusion and bold awareness of her shedding apparel felt comical. She folded the dress and sash gesturing for him to bring the fruit.
“Do you think they’ll be pleased with what you’re wearing?” Pointing to the worn out patches in one of his favorite sailing knee pants.
He winked after a slow glancing up and down her front recovering from the shock. “Perhaps not and maybe you should offer them those too.” His finger dipped down and up to gesture towards her undergarments. She ignored his witty banter though the expression he gave made her belly tickle. “Your gully knife too.” Her free hand reached out for it. He had punished Stepp for giving her a knife not long ago but didn’t hesitate to give her one now. She folded the fruit and knife into the material of the dress.
“Stay back while I try to get their attention.” All teasing washed from her. She glanced over her shoulder at him. “I hope this works.”
“Everything will work out, love.” His soft drawl giving her courage and comfort. She took a deep breath and eased down to her knees by the cluster. Elanor extended her arms to gentle place the pile of items. Her eyes drifted closed, long lashes touching the soft of her cheeks. She’d never tried to talk through her thoughts before coming here. Animals, other species of humans like Faye and Elves she didn’t know their language. But the language of thoughts, the energy is all the same.
Elanor began channeling through the moisture in the sea air, politely asking if she could speak to those who lived on the Island. It felt almost intrusive to be there on the beach asking for strangers help. The long silence began to make her resolve of trying to help the new dwellers of the island start to be questioned. These fae no doubt had lived here a long time. They may not want to be intruded upon. Or worse yet, she wasn’t doing the mind casting right. Her eyes open in disappointment when no energy connection vibrated in return. She meant to turn to tell De
rek it wouldn’t work when she saw the prettiest translucent being slowly showing from under one of the shells.
Just one showing, more than likely out of curiosity but she felt a leap of hope. Instead of mentally connecting it seemed the small being wanted to physically interact. Small tendrils of translucent skin spilled gently from its head. Large eyes watched cautiously while still easing very slowly from its hiding spot.
“Merry meet.” Perhaps they didn’t understand her but maybe the genuine friendly tone of her voice would translate. Like any new encounter, the over eagerness would be forced so she held back a little. As powerful as she might be or could become, her water magic would only do so much.
“My name is Elanor.” The small being crept further out of its hiding spot revealing small webbed hands and feet. Pretty sparkling large silver eyes ever watching like a cautious child regarded her calmly. They were anything but children; Faye being one of the oldest species of humanoid on the planet. Their part in keeping nature cycling on the planet kept it from turning to solid stone and burning fire.
“This is a beautiful place. Your home is lovely.” The small water sprite had pulled itself completely from the covering of the shell now. It’s soft white tinted translucent belly and long frog like legs showed. Elanor smiled genuinely folding her hands into her lap, kneeling calmly. It wasn’t hard to miss the darting glances towards Derek, realizing she hadn’t observed the social observances. A sheepish expression accompanied her introductions.
“This is Derek, he’s a seeker on the Island whom also lives here.” He edged forward the sure arrogance that usually aired around him gone and replacing it with an awkward unsure steps. “Her husband… her uh mate.” Elanor stifled a giggle. His effort to say anything coming out as awkward as his stance. She patted the sand next to her, giving the sprite another glance. The being had wander to the pile of items she’d collected, exploring with small webbed hands with rounded flat tips. She imagined those were used to climb rocks and cling to the trees. Not all Faye had wings as assumed by stories of the seekers.