by Langland, J.
He'd been doing this for some time, his hand resting on Rupert's head, listening to the ship and the sea, just being lulled by the gentle motion of a ship at sea. As far as he could tell, it must have been some time in the early morning hours when he heard the voice out the open window behind his head.
"There you are!" Edwyrd nearly jumped, only the rather heavy sleeping Rupert kept him from springing up. The voice had come from the window directly behind his head. Where no voice should have been able to come from, it was a twenty foot drop to the sea below the window. Edwyrd twisted his head around to try and peer out the window.
Blocking his view of the sea outside was a large shadowy object. It was hard to make out anything in the darkness; the moon had set some time ago. All he could really see were two glowing embers set about an inch or two apart. He also heard what sounded to be a droning, or soft buzzing noise. "Knew I'd find you eventually," the glowing embers said.
"Tizzy!" Edwyrd said aloud. "You startled me."
"Yeah, I'll bet. Mind if I squeeze in?" The demon placed two of its hands on the windowsills. The window was wide open, but there was only about a foot and a half by a foot and a half of area to squeeze through. Edwyrd wasn't sure how the demon was going to do it. Nonetheless, he gently shook Rupert to wake him, so they could move out of the way.
"Huh? What...." Rupert said groggily.
"Shhh...It's all right. Tizzy's just trying to crawl in through the window, so we need to make some room." Edwyrd whispered.
"Huh," Rupert looked out the window. "Oh, hi Tizzy." Rupert seemed to wake up more, glad to see Tizzy. He backed out of the bunk and stood a little uncertainly on his hooves in the small walk space in front of the door. Edwyrd backed out the other direction, to the forward bulkhead. As he did so, the droning noise ceased and suddenly Tizzy was squirming through the window.
The wood of the frame groaned alarmingly, and Edwyrd was afraid Tizzy would break the window. Apparently, the multi-limbed demon was more supple and agile than he appeared, however, for he shortly had wormed his way in without breaking the window. Tizzy certainly seemed bigger now than he had before, Edwyrd thought. The demon took up the entire bunk, easily. Edwyrd suspected that the demon was actually the same size he'd always been, Edwyrd was just a lot smaller now. It was really rather interesting to view Tizzy and Rupert from his perspective as Edwyrd. Both were much more frightening looking than he'd ever realized before. The dark really didn't seem to help a lot.
"Whew, tight one that." Tizzy commented, shaking random limbs as he adjusted himself on the bunk. He looked up at Rupert. "Glad to see you're feeling better. Look a lot healthier now." He turned his head to Tom, "you though. You don't looks so hot. Kind of pale and underfed. You been getting enough fresh air?" Tizzy queried. Edwyrd just shook his head at the demon.
Tizzy sniffed around a bit. "Hmmm, still got your pet wizards around?"
Edwyrd shook his head again, "they're not my pets, but yes they're in other cabins." Tizzy started licking his lips. "Anyone to eat on board?"
"No. You are not going to eat anyone on this ship." Edwyrd said firmly.
"You know. The problem with you youngsters, you just ain't got no appreciation for fine cuisine. Nothing like a bit of fresh sea-human to liven up the old palette."
Trying to change the subject, Edwyrd asked, "didn't you get enough to eat with your accursed master? I assume that is where you took off to."
"Why sure enough. Most fun. Took him a good day to croak. Raped him 69 times I did." Tizzy's voice was getting louder with excitement. Edwyrd made a quieting gesture with his hands. For once Tizzy took the hint. "Why don't you wanna wake anyone up?" He asked more quietly.
"I'd prefer not having everyone go jump ship when they found out a demon was on board. Someone has got to drive this thing to shore."
Tizzy blinked. "Think they'd do that for one demon on board? What would they do if they knew there were three?" Tizzy giggled, so did Rupert.
"Let's just not find out. OK?"
"I suppose, whatever you want. But why bother having someone drive it to shore? Why not just fly to shore? Seems a lot easier to me."
"Yes, well, we'd have to carry Jenn and Gastropé." Actually, Edwyrd thought, if they could let Jenn know Rupert was a demon, then flying would be easier, he wouldn't have to carry three people anymore. On the other hand, he doubted the two wizards would really go for being carried by demons. He also wasn't prepared to let Jenn know about Rupert yet. "And I, for one, don't want to do that. So we'll just wait to get into port."
"Gonna take a while with this ship. Doesn't seem to have much in the way of masts. Must be kind of a slow one." Tizzy looked thoughtful, "they don't got a steam engine on it do they?"
"No afraid not," Edwyrd answered.
"Probably no nuclear turbines either?" Edwyrd just shook his head. "How long to port?" Tizzy asked.
"Well, if we hadn't lost the masts, then it would only have been about another three days. As it is I'd guess it will take about another five or six."
"Five or six days!" Tizzy exclaimed. Edwyrd made hushing motions again. "I'm gonna get a little cramped on this ship for six days! Course, I guess I could fly around the deck a bit, get exercise." Edwyrd grimaced, he hadn't thought of Tizzy coming along for the rest of the journey. On the other hand, he would really rather have the unbalanced demon where he could keep track of him, than running off somewhere murdering innocents.
"I don't suppose you can shape change into a human?" Edwyrd asked.
"A human? Is that what you're supposed to be? Why in the Dungeon of the Concordenax would I want to do something like that?"
"To blend in?" Rupert piped up.
"Why would I want to do that? I'm proud of being a demon. Aren't you?"
"Yeah, now I am," Rupert announced.
"Tizzy, we're playing sort of a game here," Edwyrd wanted to put it in terms Tizzy could understand better. He wasn't sure what those terms might be, but he thought he should try. "You see, we're pretending to be humans to find out what's going on with the wizards. Therefore, to keep the game going, it would be nice if you could turn into a human."
"Hmm," Tizzy said . "Maybe, but since I can't, it's a moot point." Edwyrd shrugged; there went that idea. "How long you gonna play this game?"
"I don't know, as long as it takes. Until we get to Freehold, probably."
"Freehold! What you want to go to Freehold for? There's nothing there but wizards. Nasty lot, actually."
"Uhm, that's where Gastropé and Jenn, and" he looked over at Rupert, "Rupert are going."
"Well actually, Tom." Rupert spoke up, his gravelly voice held down to as close to a whisper as he could. "I had been going to Freehold, because that's where everyone else was going. But really, I don't have to. I'll go wherever you want to go."
"Yes, well, uhm," Edwyrd wasn't sure. He didn't actually have any place else to go, except return to the Abyss. "I promised Jenn I'd get her there. So, Freehold is where I'm going for now. Besides, since Lenamare's there, I'd eventually wind up there anyway. I'd rather go on my own terms."
"Hmm, well...could be interesting I suppose." Tizzy muttered to himself. "As long as none of them wizards knows my name, it could be a lot of fun. I'm sure they'll just love having an unbound demon running around terrorizing them in the night, and the day."
"Yeah." Edwyrd said unenthusiastically. Such a prospect would convince Tizzy to stay with him, rather than run amuck alone; however, he really couldn't let Tizzy terrorize Freehold either. He'd just have to deal with that problem later. It looked like more and more of his problems were getting pushed onto the back burners.
"So, what are we going to do with you?" Edwyrd asked.
"So you're saying you don't want your pets to see me on the ship?" Tizzy asked.
"I think that would be best."
"But it's ok for him to run around like that?" He pointed to Rupert.
Rupert looked down at himself. "He doesn't go out like that." Edwyrd answered the octop
odal demon on his bed.
"Should. Really don't understand why you want to look like that," he looked contemptuously at Edwyrd's body. "Puny little thing. I can take those things apart faster than they can repair ‘em. Game or no game. Doesn't seem worth it."
"It's not really a lot of fun, to be honest. However, you told me you used to look similar, before you were captured." Rupert glanced curiously over at Edwyrd.
"Well, now. No need to bring up bad memories is there?" Tizzy sounded hurt. "That was before I knew better. Don't you know better now?"
"I'm not so sure, but maybe." Edwyrd admitted.
Tizzy smiled. "Knew you'd get over it. You're really much better off as a demon. Except for the damn wizards--if we could kill all of them off, things'd be a lot better. Smart lad, smart lad."
Tizzy looked back over to Rupert, smiling. "This here's another smart lad. Knew that the moment I met him." Tizzy stopped and stared at Rupert for a moment. He tilted his head back and forth a couple times. "You know, Tom, he looks mighty familiar. Kinda looks identical to you, only in miniature."
"Tom's my father." Rupert spoke up. Edwyrd groaned internally, he hoped Tizzy wouldn't say anything, the octopod knew that couldn't be possible.
Edwyrd could see the glowing embers that were Tizzy's eyes dart back and forth between Rupert and himself several times. Finally, "You do work fast Tom, gotta give you that. Used to take longer in my day. But, I can see the family resemblance sure enough. The kid's also got your personality too. Serious and dedicated type. Doesn't let shit get to him." Edwyrd sighed a sigh of relief. Tizzy certainly could have solved his dilemma for him. It would have been very awkward though.
Rupert was smiling at the compliment. If Edwyrd had actually been human, he would have cringed at the extremely wicked looking teeth the smile revealed. Watching Rupert, he was really beginning to understand why he freaked so many people out without even trying. Actually, looking at Rupert standing there, an exact copy of himself, he got this sort of funny feeling in his chest. Kind of like pride or something. He knew it was silly, Rupert really wasn't his kid, but...well, he felt that way. All of a sudden, he wanted to change back to his true form and take Rupert out flying. Rupert would never have done that before. It'd be like helping your kid take his first step or something. Tom could remember just a few weeks ago, after he'd finally gotten the hang of flying. It was so exhilarating.
Edwyrd shook his head. How he could have such crazy thoughts when he had so many problems on his hands, he didn't know. What was he going to do with Tizzy? Actually, Tizzy was about as big a problem as a rogue demon child. If Boggy would show up too, then things would be just great, he could play dad to them all, and they'd have the male half of the demonic Brady Bunch. He wondered deliriously where he could pick up a mom demon and her devilish daughters. Oh, Tom suddenly thought, remember not to forget another fiend for a housekeeper! That was it. Edwyrd shook his head again. He knew now that he was totally losing it. If he lost any more of his sanity he'd be as crazy as Tizzy.
Closing his eyes, he leaned against the wall of the cabin. He had to get a grip on himself. He didn't know who he was or what he was doing anymore. Sometimes he didn't know if he was Tom or Edwyrd. If he was Tom, was Tom a demon or that guy from Harding? Again, this would have to wait, like all his other internal problems; he had to deal with the situation at hand. "So," he said, opening his eyes, "what do we do with you? We really can't hide you in here for six days."
Tizzy looked away from Rupert, to Edwyrd, then down at the floor. Apparently, he was thinking about the problem, at least Edwyrd hoped he was thinking about that. "I could get out and push. Or rather, pull."
"What?" Edwyrd didn't know what the demon was saying now.
"Well, if we want to get there sooner, I could get a rope and pull the ship. In the dark, no one will see. We still have a couple hours of dark tonight. I can come back in here for the day then pull again tomorrow night."
Edwyrd blinked. Well, that would work, he supposed. He guessed he too could get out and pull. The boat normally moved about ten miles an hour under sail. He and Tizzy could probably double that during the dark hours. However, it just seemed a bit too risky. What if someone saw? The night watch would have to get curious when they noticed the ship moving faster than it should. If they investigated, which he was sure they would, they would quickly find out what was towing them, and then all hell would break loose.
"No, that is an idea, but I think it's too risky. If they found out, that would be just as bad. Further, I doubt it would speed things up that much if we only did it at night. And, we'd still have to hide you in the day." Tizzy shrugged.
"Do we have to hide him?" Rupert asked suddenly.
"Why, of course we do." Edwyrd stated, "I don't think people are going to be too happy about having a demon around."
"Maybe," Rupert said, "but what if Tizzy came openly in the daytime? Jenn and Gastropé already know he is cruising around in the world. He could just come back claiming to wait for Tom to return, and not leave."
Edwyrd looked doubtful. Rupert continued, "It's not exactly like Gastropé or Jenn can do anything about him. The crew will be freaked for a little while, but they're already convinced you're some sort of powerful wizard or animage. If you promise them that you won't let Tizzy hurt them, they'll accept it."
"I don't know." Edwyrd didn't like the idea. "How do you know what the crew thinks? You've been down here all the time." Edwyrd asked.
Rupert pointed to his ears. "Yeah, but I was down here in this form most of the afternoon and I can really hear good when I want to." Edwyrd had to admit the kid was right on that one. "I overheard them talking amongst themselves when you weren't around. They think you're some Archimage traveling incognito with his students."
Tizzy interrupted, sounding curious. "Why do they think you're a wizard?"
"Well, actually, I'm pretending to be an animage." Edwyrd cleared his throat. "However, I kinda blew up a boat with two wizards on it this afternoon. It seems to have slightly intimidated the crew."
"Blew it up? in that form?" Tizzy pointed a couple of hands worth of index fingers at Edwyrd.
"More or less." Edwyrd hedged, he really didn't feel like getting into the whole story right then and there.
"Why do I always miss all the fun?!" Tizzy pouted. "If you had at least let me know, I could have hurried back sooner."
"Look, it's not like I planned it." Edwyrd really wanted to get this thing solved. "Anyway, let's think about this. I'm not sure I like this at all. I just don't see another way."
~
Jenn stood by the rail of the ship, thinking. The early morning sun cleared away a lot of her mental cobwebs. She'd just finished breakfast and was feeling considerably better. Yesterday had been too much. First, she'd been sure they were all lost in that battle. Somehow, though, between luck and Edwyrd's--whatever it was animages did, they'd survived. Luck really; it was pure fortune.
One of the first things she'd learned on coming to Lenamare's school was not to overextend yourself in casting spells. Spells were tricky things, if you tried too far above your ability or knowledge, disaster would strike. She'd seen students burned badly by a mispronounced spell that was too powerful for them. Like all students, she was ingrained with the stories of great wizards failing at great spells and bringing havoc to their whole surroundings. The Verigone desert being the textbook example. Luck. She had said more than one prayer to the goddess last night on that score.
Then Rupert, she'd been so afraid she'd lost him. When the healer had said he'd died, Jenn was sure she was going to have a nervous breakdown. Again, Edwyrd pulled him through somehow. She had no clue how animages did their healing, but Maelen had admitted that Edwyrd's story was possible. Incredible, she could only think, to bring someone that far gone back. She could tell Maelen was just as puzzled as she was. However, she'd checked Rupert out herself, and so had Maelen. Aside from the strange change in his appearance, he was perfectly healthy, if weak. Ag
ain, thanks to the goddess were due. She only hoped his hair would straighten out, as Edwyrd promised.
Now the problem was that the crew wanted her or Gastropé to help them get to Hoggensforth faster. Not that it was a bad idea, the sooner they got there, the better. The problem was that she wasn't sure she could. Oh, true, she could summon a light wind, but air spells were in the realm of enchanters, and she wasn't that good at such spells. Nor was Gastropé, he apparently was a pyromancer with some conjury ability. Edwyrd, apparently, was into fire as well. Maelen called it pyromastery though, not pyromancy.
Actually, from the little Maelen had said, she gathered Edwyrd was far more than just a passable student. In fact, he seemed to be hinting that Edwyrd was a full-fledged master. If one could believe that. Not that she'd known him long enough to argue the point, but what sort of master animage would be walking penniless into a strange town with only the clothes on his back. Animages were strange, but that strange?
Jenn shook her head. As she was about to turn away from the rail, she noted a large bird approaching the ship, rapidly. As she looked again at the bird, she realized that it was a very large bird. As it got closer she realized it was a very large bird with eight legs! "Shit! That's no bird, that's the goddess-cursed demon friend of Tom's that tried to subvert Rupert." She quickly looked around, searching for Gastropé. He was on the other side of the ship. "Gastropé!" she yelled.
Gastropé looked up from whatever he was doing. "Come quickly!" Jenn yelled. "We've got problems." Gastropé trotted over to her. As he got to her, she pointed to the now very close demon.
"Holy birds of Draston!" Gastropé croaked. Quickly he began what preparations he could to hold the demon. A loud droning noise filled the deck. By this point, crew members had noticed the approaching demon, and were pointing and talking loudly among themselves.
As it became apparent that the demon was headed right for the two wizards, the crewmembers made haste to place themselves on the opposite end of the ship. The demon came down, fast.