Storm Breakers

by PT Hylton

A female voice answered, surprise in her voice. “You? Stumped?”

  “Yeah, but just for a moment. Then I remembered Abbey could reduce her own weight, so I told Dustin to give her an updraft, and I told Abbey to fly over to the ship and grab Dahlia. She seemed a little nervous, but I told her I’d be over to help in a minute. And that was when I first had the idea of Dustin and Viktor using their powers together against the Barskall fleet.”

  Abbey cleared her throat. “Is that how it happened?”

  Olaf spun around in surprise. “Err, yeah, pretty much.” He subtly nodded toward the woman standing in the shadows and mouthed, be cool.

  The woman stepped out into the torchlight, and Abbey recognized her from the raid. “Hekla! Getting to know Olaf, I see.”

  Hekla nodded. “I’d like to get to know him better. He says so many dumb things, but he has a pretty face.”

  Abbey stifled a laugh. There were a lot of things she’d call Olaf, but pretty wasn’t one of them.

  Olaf tilted his head, clearly considering whether Hekla’s statement was a compliment or an insult. After a moment, he shrugged. “You know what? I’ll take it.”

  “Okay, well, you two kids have fun.” Abbey turned and walked back toward the rest of her friends.

  Syd looked relieved when she saw her. “There you are. Elliot wants to discuss something with us. Apparently you gave him an idea.”

  A few minutes later, Syd, Dustin, Abbey, Elliot, and Sigmund were once again gathered in Elliot’s home.

  Hekla was the last to arrive. She looked flushed and a little annoyed. “I was having a nice conversation with the pretty man.”

  “That’ll have to wait.” Elliot turned to Abbey. “I’ve been thinking about what you said, and you’re right.”

  Abbey searched her memory, wondering what the hell she’d said that might have caused further thought. She remembered telling him that she liked his bow, but that probably wasn’t what he was referring to.

  “You told me we needed to do more to help the starving villages, and you’re right,” Elliot said. “I think we need to attack a larger city and raid their food supplies.”

  Sigmund and Hekla stared at him, mouths agape.

  “Wait, so when the hot girl says it, it’s a good idea?” Sigmund asked.

  “No, it’s not that. Besides, I’m not talking about Ammaas. Something smaller. Near the coast.”

  Hekla scratched at her chin. “How about Nuur? It’s on the coast, and it’s mostly Stone Shapers. They pushed out the fisher folk.”

  Sigmund nodded. “They live like kings and queens while the people in the villages starve. When do you think we should do this?”

  Elliot thought a moment. “As soon as we can safely plan it. Three or four days should be plenty. If I’m right, we’ll get more food from this raid than from all the others we’ve done altogether.”

  Abbey felt herself getting caught up in the idea. She imagined the looks on those village children’s faces when they saw a wagon overflowing with food pull up.

  “Raiding a city full of Stone Shapers is going to be different than raiding a tiny village with four guards,” she said. “It won’t be easy.”

  Elliot flashed her a smile. “Nothing worthwhile ever is.”

  Syd held up a hand. “Okay, let’s all just hold on a minute. You’re forgetting a crucial detail. Chief Magnus put us on a deadline. We only have three days left to get back to The Foggy Day.”

  Abbey’s stomach turned. Somehow she’d managed to push the deadline out of her mind, but Syd was right. If they didn’t figure out what they were going to do soon, her father and her shipmates would be killed.

  Of course, they might be killed even if she did figure things out.

  Dustin scratched his chin. “We have to find a way to get the ship past the pillars and out of the harbor. If we got into open water, there’s no way they could catch us.”

  “Yes,” Syd said, “but they’re not going to let us leave peacefully as long as the Tall Grass Raiders are free.”

  Hekla frowned at Syd. “What would you have us do? Should we turn ourselves over to Chief Magnus so you and your friends can go home safely?”

  “No, that’s not what I’m saying. I want us to work the problem. There’s a way out of this. We just need to find it.”

  “Wonderful,” Sigmund said. “When you figure out a solution that will free your friends from the Stone Shapers, alleviate hunger in the villages of Gren, and pardon us for our so-called crimes, you let me know. In the meantime, we are planning a raid.”

  Syd leaned toward the man, an angry snarl on her face. “What I’d like is for you to work the problem. If you want to spend time talking about how impossible things are, I’m sure you can find someone to grumble at outside. If you’re going to stay in here, you are going to help us look for a solution.”

  Sigmund glared back at her, and their eyes locked in a tension-filled, angry stare. Then Sigmund burst out laughing. “Very good! You’re just like your brother. You’re both pigheaded and far too serious.”

  Syd raised an eyebrow, then turned to Elliot.

  Her brother just shrugged. “What can I say? He likes to test new people.”

  Syd shook her head, but she cracked a smile.

  A knock at the door interrupted them.

  “Come!” Elliot shouted.

  The door opened, and a Tall Grass Raider came in. His face was pale, and he was panting. Fannar was standing behind him, seax drawn. He pushed past the other man.

  “What is it?” Elliot asked, concern evident in his voice.

  “It’s that damn Stone Shaper,” Fannar said. “He’s escaped.”

  ****

  Elliot stormed out of his house and into the torch-lit night. A group was gathered in the center of the homes.

  “What the hell happened?” he asked.

  The Tall Grass Raiders all looked at each other.

  “We’re not sure,” one of them said.

  Elliot stared at them, incredulous. “You’re not sure? You damned well better figure it out.”

  “He had a stone,” Clemens said. “He shifted the damn thing into a blade and cut himself free.”

  Elliot wheeled on him. “And how do you know that?”

  “Because he tried to stab me with it. Thankfully Olaf tackled him before he could land the blow.”

  Olaf smiled. “Did you expect any less?”

  “Huh,” Abbey said. “You had him down? How’d he get away?”

  The smiled faded from Olaf’s face. “He’s more slippery than he looks.”

  Elliot cursed quietly. “I don’t understand. Where’d he pick up a rock? This place is clean.”

  The Tall Grass Raiders were silent.

  “Say it,” Elliot ordered.

  One of them cleared his throat. “We think he must have brought it back from the village.”

  “Sonofabitch. I thought we checked him. Not well enough, apparently.” He sighed. “All right, pair up and spread out. We have to find this bastard. If we don’t, we’re done in Baer Gigur. If you see him, start screaming your damned head off and the rest of us will come running.”

  Abbey turned to Dustin. “Pair up with me?”

  Dustin grinned. “Naturally.”

  They grabbed torches and headed south, the direction Gideon most likely would have gone. There was nothing to the north but more wilderness. They followed a small animal track, moving quickly, hoping to catch Gideon before he got too far.

  As they ran, Abbey turned to Dustin. “Man, you’re in better shape than you used to be. Remember when you could barely make it up that mountain with Syd and me?”

  “Don’t remind me. Hanging out with you is pretty much its own workout.”

  “What are you talking about? I’m a pleasure to hang out with. Everyone says so.”

  Dustin’s breath was getting heavy now. “I won’t disagree. I’m just saying that every time we go somewhere together, we end up either running away from someone or running at them.�
��

  “Usually both,” Abbey added.

  Beneath the easy banter, Abbey could tell Dustin was just as concerned as she was. It was their fault Gideon had come to Baer Gigur. He would never have found it without Fannar’s translation of the name.

  And now he’d escaped.

  Elliot was right. If Gideon made it to a Stone Shaper city, Baer Gigur was done. He’d bring an army of Stone Shapers back to the camp with him. Elliot and his friends would have to find somewhere new to live, or they’d face capture.

  Abbey silently cursed herself for being so lax with Gideon. Just because they’d spent a few days with him and he’d been a pleasant traveling companion, she’d assumed the best in him. Granted, they’d kept him restrained just in case, but deep inside she’d assumed they’d be able to win him over.

  Especially after he saw the village.

  How could anyone meet the starving children in that village and not understand the evil Chief Magnus was bringing to Gren? Abbey couldn’t fathom it.

  And yet, there was a tiny part of her that could. Chief Magnus was Gideon’s brother. Even if they didn’t get along, that meant something. Turning your back on family was difficult.

  Hadn’t Syd given her brother the benefit of the doubt when she’d arrived in Baer Gigur? She’d assumed the best even before they had any reason to believe the Tall Grass Raiders weren’t evil.

  Another thought struck Abbey. Once word got back to Chief Magnus that Syd and her crew were working with the Tall Grass Raiders rather than trying to bring them in, The Foggy Day would be destroyed. The seven-day deadline would be thrown out, and every person aboard that ship would be killed.

  With the possible exception of Dahlia, which only made things worse.

  If she wanted to save her father’s life and the lives of her crew, there was no option here. They had to find Gideon.

  As they moved farther down the trail, Abbey began to doubt their chances of success. They could only see as far as their torches allowed, which wasn’t far, and they were blind to anything beyond the reach of their lights.

  Still, they searched until they saw the sunlight peeking over the eastern hills. They were still searching when they heard a horse approaching from behind them.

  They stepped off the trail. Abbey drew her sword in case it was Gideon.

  The horse appeared a moment later, Elliot on its back.

  “Any of the other groups have any luck?” Abbey asked him.

  He just shook his head.

  “Damn it,” Dustin said. “I know he’s been looking for you in this area for a long time, but it really didn’t seem like he knew his way around that well.”

  “Could be he didn’t,” Abbey said. “He might be holed up under a bush or something waiting for the search to die down.”

  “Possibly,” Elliot allowed. “And if he is, we’ll find him. We have people looking.”

  Abbey stared up at him. “Elliot, I just want to say I’m sorry. We brought a Stone Shaper into your camp. It was idiotic. If we’d only—”

  He held up a hand. “Stop. You brought my sister back to me. You don’t have to apologize for anything.”

  “So what now?” Dustin asked.

  Elliot sighed. “We keep searching. But I want you two to go back to Baer Gigur and get some rest. I need you fresh.”

  “For what?” The last thing Abbey wanted to do was sleep while others tried to clean up her mess.

  “Near as I can figure it, the smartest move would be for Gideon to head for the closest Stone Shaper city. That’s Nuur. If he’s on foot, that’ll take two days. Maybe longer.”

  “Okay,” Dustin said. “I’m not seeing the plan here.”

  “We were going to raid Nuur anyway, right? We just move up the timetable. We head that way this afternoon, and we search for him along the way. If we find him, great. If not, we assume Baer Gigur is exposed, and we never come back. We carry on with the raid.”

  Abbey raised an eyebrow. “Is that such a good idea? I mean, is raiding for food really our top priority? We’ve got Gideon to worry about, not to mention finding your ekkja a new home and saving our friends on The Foggy Day. They’ll die if Gideon tells Magnus we joined up with you. Food isn’t worth that.”

  Elliot smiled. “Oh, we’re not raiding for food. Nuur is a coastal city, remember? I’ve got a better idea.”

  After a moment Abbey got it, and she let out a laugh. “I like where your head’s at. And I guarantee Dustin’s up for it.”

  Abbey and Elliot both turned and looked at the Storm Caller.

  Dustin looked back at them blankly. “Up for what?”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Benjamin stared into the darkness as he lay awake for the third straight night. He’d been trying to go to sleep for hours, to no avail. His responsibility for the men and women of The Foggy Day weighed on him, and with each day that passed the seven-day deadline drew nearer and the weight grew heavier.

  He trusted Syd. He trusted Dustin. And most of all, he trusted Abbey. If anyone could complete their nearly impossible mission, it was those three.

  Yet he was in charge of the ship, and he had to face reality. If they didn’t come back, it would be up to him to lead his crew in a defense of the ship—one they were certain to lose.

  It didn’t help his efforts to sleep that the night crew were stomping around topside like they were trying to wake up their fellow stormship sailors.

  He swung his feet off the cot and sat up. It was no use. He might as well go check in on the night crew. He put on his outer cloak and turned to go, but turned back at the last moment and grabbed his sword belt. As unnecessary as it seemed, they were in enemy territory. One couldn’t be too careful.

  As he stepped onto the main deck, the cool night air hit him; suddenly even the smallest thread of fatigue was gone. He knew he’d get no sleep that night.

  He looked at the city of Ammaas. A few windows showed light, but most were dark. The city was asleep. Turning in the other direction, he could just make out the twin stone pillars in the moonlight.

  He made his way to the quarterdeck and was surprised to find it empty. Who was supposed to be stationed here? He racked his brain, but he couldn’t remember.

  He started to take another step, then paused. Something lay in a pile on the deck in front of him. He bent down to take a closer look.

  No. Not something. Someone.

  He rolled the man over and the body thumped onto its back with no resistance, revealing a gaping hole in the man’s chest.

  Davenport. That was the name of the man who’d been stationed on the quarterdeck. And now he was dead.

  Benjamin ran to the rail and looked over. A dozen stone pillars stood just below deck height next to the ship. There was no one on them.

  The boots he’d heard on the deck…

  A shadow climbed through a hatch onto the main deck. Another quickly followed, then another.

  Dahlia! They were there to rescue their damn Queen of Storms!

  Benjamin drew his sword. “All hands on deck! We are under attack! Fight, sailors!”

  The shadows on the main deck froze.

  The blacksmith sprinted toward them, sword raised, yelling as he ran, “Fight for your captain! Fight for your Storm Caller! Fight for your ship!”

  He reached the first marauder. The man was completely dressed in black, but he still wore that idiotic black sash over it. A Stone Shaper, as if it were any surprise.

  The Stone Shaper raised his hand, revealing a stone that quickly morphed into a blade, but Benjamin was quicker. He had his sword in the man’s heart before the stone finished changing.

  As his first opponent fell, Benjamin spun toward the next. He heard the clamor of running feet as those on night duty rushed to join the fight. Sounds of battle came from belowdecks as well.

  “They’re Stone Shapers!” he yelled. “Watch the rocks!”

  He raised his hand and threw a fireball at the man in front of him. The Stone Shaper screamed and r
eeled backward. Benjamin pushed him with magic, sending him over the side.

  He’d reacted instinctively, and he cursed himself for the stupidity of using fire.

  Wooden ship, he reminded himself. Pitch and tar.

  Who was the Barskall Storm Caller on duty? It took him a moment recall the name. “Ludvik! Get your ass over here!”

  He spun toward the next Stone Shaper, this one a woman. She was ready for him. He’d no sooner turned to face her than a stone spike brushed past his cheek.

  He swung his sword at her, but she morphed the stone in her other hand into the rough approximation of a shield and deflected the blow. He stepped to his left to get around her shield, and plunged the sword into her neck.

  “You called me, sir?”

  It was Ludvik.

  “Yeah. We need to let them know their Queen of Storms isn’t the only game in town. We need fog, rain, lightning, whatever. Enough to show them we have power too.”

  “Okay, sir. It’s just, as I’ve explained before, it takes time for a Barskall to develop weather patterns, and we work best at a distance. Also, we need to be submerged in water to stormcall, so—”

  Benjamin grabbed him by the collar. “I don’t care if you have to jump over the side and doggy paddle. Call me a damn storm!”

  “Yes, right away, sir.”

  As Ludvik rushed off, Benjamin turned back to the fight.

  A blond man stood staring at him with a slight smile on his face.

  “Hello, Edvard.”

  “Hello, Benjamin.” Edvard wasn’t dressed like his companions. He wore the black sash, but under it was a strange, smooth breastplate the color of dry earth. Benjamin had never seen its like.

  The blacksmith raised his sword. “What happened to the seven-day deadline?”

  “Oh, that deal was with Magnus. As far as I know, it still stands. You had no such arrangement with me and my friends.”

  “Uh huh. And how’s the chief going to feel when he hears about your attack?”

  Edvard shrugged. “He’ll understand. Especially when I bring him the Queen of Storms.”

  “Seems like a gamble.” He nodded toward Edvard’s empty hands. “You’re not holding any stones.”