Born of Water

by Autumn M. Birt

  “You are doing fine. Just keep it slow and follow the channel,” Ty said a little more kindly.

  Lavinia sucked in a breath through her nose while glaring at the back of her brother’s head. She refocused on the quickly approaching wharf. The mass of wooden planks and pilings sprawled along the shore without order. In places small rope and board bridges spanned sections that had fallen into the waves.

  “Where do I go?” Lavinia asked in admission that she needed help.

  “Stay to the starboard side. Head there, just off the channel. You see?” Ty said, pointing to a doubtful looking mass of planks nailed haphazardly between old pilings.

  “That is where the merchant vessels tie up?” Lavinia’s voice broke with nervousness.

  Ty glanced at her grimly. “No, it is the closest to the channel and will be the fastest to leave from.”

  The edges of Ria’s vision faded, the colors blending to white. She sucked in a breath of sea laden air while her stomach tumbled. Overcome with seasickness and nervousness, Ria focused on the rigid lines made by the bones of her hands, not looking up towards the town until the boat brushed the dock.

  Three men were walking down the wharf toward them as Lavinia stalled the sailboat just off the dock. They confidently stepped across the missing planks with an easy swagger. His gaze not leaving the approaching men, Ty casually looped a rope around a nearly upright piling, not so much as securing them as making certain the boat did not drift.

  “Do exactly as I say while we are here.”

  Lavinia watched her brother wide eyed over the dropped sail as she lashed it to the boom. Niri was pale but her serene face did not betray any fears. Ria felt like if she opened her mouth she would scream. Her heart thudded in her chest so hard Ria thought it would break her ribs, which felt as fragile as crystal. She was a creature made of spun gold and milk glass about to step foot in a world that would crush her as surely as the Church. Eyes twin green stones of moss agate set in alabaster, Ria stared at Ty, feeling as frightened of what he was asking her to do as she was of the men walking down the dock.

  “Aye, what business do you have?”

  The lead man stood over their small ship, coolly appraising it from the height of the dock. One thumb was hooked into the waist of his faded red, rough woven pants while his weight rested on his right leg in a casual pose. His muted brown hair fell to his cheeks, which showed two days worth of scruff.

  “We have goods for the bizarre,” Ty answered calmly, eyes not leaving the man’s face.

  There was a slight glimmer to the man’s hazel eyes as he looked at Ty, then the air of nonchalance fell back across his face. His eyes drifted between Ria and Lavinia. “Is that so? Anything good?”

  The muscles around Ty’s face tightened and he stood a little straighter. “Odds and ends mostly, we need to clean out the boat.”

  “Not selling her are you?” The second man asked from where he stood a pace behind the first. Sandy blond hair trailed over one eager brown eye. His tan tunic had a slash of dirt across the front, while his pants were neither gray nor brown. They were the color of mud.

  Ty paused, his gaze shifting as he tried to judge what the man was referring to. The man’s eyes rested on the girls as much as the ship.

  “No, the boat isn’t for sale.”

  “Too bad, she is a slick little vessel,” the man replied, his eyes laughing at some private joke.

  The third man was hard to gauge. He stood well back from the other two. Built lithely with fine muscles that rippled under his deep black skin, his eyes took in everything. But his expression gave little in return. His clothes were dark, a sleeveless violet tunic with embroidery at the key hole collar over black pants and boots. The fabric of his shirt was crisp as if still new. His eyes were the only ones that did not stare at the two girls. He met Niri’s gaze steadily.

  Niri remained unreadable, not in the least bothered by the direct stare. She stood alone near where she usually sat on the boat, the bright and slightly revealing shirt looking out of place on her controlled form. Ria felt as pale as a summer rain cloud. She refused to look at any of the men wishing they would disappear if she did not acknowledge their presence, as if she could will where they found themselves not to exist. Lavinia stood in front of her, looking up at the men through a lock of dark hair that had fallen across her downcast face. To Ria, the glare to Lavinia’s blue eyes looked startlingly like her brother’s.

  “You’ll need to pay the normal dock fee then,” the first man, who looked to be the oldest or at least in charge, spoke again.

  Ty did not hesitate. “I’ll pay you to watch the ship too. We won’t be past sunset.”

  The offer erased the dour look from the man’s face. “That would be alright. I’m Gaff. Causis and Hahri can help you take items up to the bizarre as well. You can pay me.” His grin was easy and gap toothed, more troubling by the boyishness of it compared to the nefarious look the moment before.

  Ty passed Gaff a handful of coins without even counting them. Ria watched the money they had spent the last two days earning disappear into Gaff’s shirt. Her breath came in little puffs as she floated high in her head, detached from her body, the boat, the town.

  Gaff vanished down the haphazard wharf. Sandy haired Causis stood leering at the two girls while Hahri waited silently behind him. Ty tossed the bags they had sorted the night before and brought on deck at dawn at Causis’ and Hahri’s feet. Causis scowled but picked up his share.

  Ria followed Lavinia’s actions, bending to pick up a small sack of mostly fine cloth. It was light but Ria felt like a willow being bent over in a storm. Ty helped her from the boat to the wharf, his touch warm on her ice like skin. It made her come back to herself and her skittering heartbeat like a wild bird caught in a snare.

  Ria walked down the rickety wharf as close to Lavinia as possible. Hahri and Causis were nearly to end of the dock and Ty was moving quickly to stay with them. Ria’s stilt like legs and the weight of the bundle twined in her arms nearly caused her to overbalance at every missing plank. Her eyes would lock on the water swirling on rocks below and she would nearly misstep. Niri’s hand on her shoulder kept her moving, bringing back enough focus to keep her from walking off the edge.

  The relief of finding the muddy road under her feet fell away the instant the wind shifted. The smell of strong spirits and stale urine hit Ria with a sudden onslaught. She gagged this time for a reason other than nerves. On solid ground now, Lavinia moved her bundle to her left hip so that she and Ria could walk next to each other, their shoulders nearly touching. Ty followed directly behind Hahri and Causis while Niri was last, keeping the girls between herself and Ty.

  Dilapidated buildings with broken boards and missing narrow windows lined the dirt road winding up the hill. Bottles were smashed into the muddy track. A rat dove under the corner of a building, something moldy in its mouth. In an upper window, Ria saw movement. She found herself meeting the dull eyes of a girl about her age. Her naked shoulder was bruised and scratched, lank hair falling down to cover her breast. Rough hands covered the welt and pulled her back and out of sight.

  Trembling so hard that she thought her bones would fall apart, Ria pulled her eyes down to Ty’s back and walked ahead in a nightmare of a dream.

  The abused wooden buildings gave way to low stucco structures and then larger ones of worn stone. Still far from elegant, these building at least gave a sense of purpose and organization. Ria found herself glancing around again from under her lashes.

  Ahead, Hahri opened a tall arched door set in a high wall. Causis and Ty slipped through without pausing. Ria raced through on Lavinia’s heels, who stopped so quickly Ria bumped into her. The bizarre of Sardinia swirled around them on the other side of the old stone wall. The winding narrow streets of chipped stone and stucco buildings echoed the shouts, music, laughter, and sales chatter of hundreds of vendors. Shop doors stood open, giving glances into the dark interiors of rug merchants and dimly lit cafes. Smoke
from small cook fires along the street floated in the warming air. The smells of roasted coffee mixed with spices and cooked marinated meats mingled in the still morning. It was the largest and most vibrant market Ria had ever seen or heard of. She blinked in surprise.

  “Where do you want to start?” It was the first time Hahri had spoken. His voice was a low base that rumbled deep in his chest. After walking through the doorway to the market, Hahri was now behind Niri while Causis was next to Ty. Ria glanced at Ty to see Causis staring at her. Unintentionally, Ria felt her cheeks flame as she glanced away.

  “I know someone. You will be able to leave us there. This way.”

  Ty led, moving along the bizarre with the ease of someone well familiar with their surroundings. Lavinia’s blue eyes grew darker as she watched her brother’s back. The tension was gone from Lavinia’s form. The bundle she carried dangled only a foot above the ground. Niri and Hahri were behind Ria, so she could not see if they were similarly relaxed in the vibrant heart of Sardinia. Ria felt more confused than reassured.

  But it was easy to be drawn in. An elongated red and orange demi-dragon twisted around the arms of a tattooed man, the rich colors of his skin blending with that of the chained beast. Birds in catches or with feet tied by a length of twine to sticks screamed and sang from one stall. In another, fire sylphs danced above their brass cages waiting to be sold. A man ran up to Ria holding out lengths of gleaming silver silk. His words were incomprehensible as he described the material in a language other than trade. Ria shook her head and looked away, seeing a young boy acrobat, wearing little more than paint, lithely tumbling forward from a handstand. It was marvelous and lurid, fantastical and deceptive.

  Amid it all, Ria felt like every eye turned toward her. Silk and jewelry, delicate shoes and fine dresses were whisked in front of her. She pulled into herself, for the first time in her life wishing away the novelty of her delicate beauty. The sellers could not help but notice her. Eyes from the shadows of stores assessed her potential. She could feel the stares pushing against her.

  Senses assaulted by a new wave of merchandise thrust at her, Ria floundered, gesturing them away with her hands. The bag she was holding dropped and was scooped up before she could bend over. Tears of frustration filled her eyes as she stepped after it, stopped in only a pace by the surrounding wall of merchant men. Lavinia was not next to her, Ty nowhere to be seen.

  Ria scrambled to step back, not knowing how she had become separated so quickly. But the group would not let her pass. A hand like a shackle closed over her wrist and pulled her sideways through the throng. The relief that Ty had found her shattered as Ria found herself staring into Causis’ greedy brown eyes. His other hand cut off her scream as he dragged her forward toward the edge of the street.

  His grip was brutal. His hand crushed her wrist, bruising her flesh while the arm of the hand across her mouth felt like a steel band across her chest. As he pulled her down an alley barely a doorway wide, Ria stumbled against Causis, feeling the length of his body against hers. She began to struggle.

  The hand over her mouth let go. Ria sucked in air before it was knocked out of her by the hand across her face.

  “Stop it. You are worth more to me unblemished but not by much,” Causis hissed into her ear. Spittle from his breath full of staleness and rot sprayed her cheek. The hand was back over her mouth. Ria looked at him, so close to her face from the corner of her eye. Her heart was a double beat without pause so that her whole chest ached.

  Something like acid rose below the fear, eating it away from the bottom up. Causis pulled her further forward. She bit his hand. Ria felt like she stood over a bonfire, flames of power rose up her legs, easing the pressure on her chest. She did not care what it would bring, she would crush this man who assaulted her.

  Causis’ hand was pulled back to strike her again. She pushed the power at him with her desire to see him die at her feet. Nothing happened. The power winked out, leaving her cold and alone. Terror throttled her throat closed as Causis’ hand fell towards her.

  Then he stopped. His face drained of blood, even his lips turning blue-white. Weakly, he clutched at his chest as he staggered backwards into the wall behind him. Before Ria could react, Ty was there with a knife to Causis’ throat. Trembling so hard she couldn’t stand, Ria slid down the wall behind her, wrapping her arms around her knees.

  Above her Ty’s knife bit a red line into Causis’ neck. “If I see you again, I will kill you.”

  Eye to eye and inches from Causis’ face, Ty didn’t look like he wanted wait. Every line on Ty was barely restrained fury. Ria did not recognize him. Ty turned and thrust Causis down the alleyway. Causis tripped, caught himself against the narrow wall, staggered once, then took off running.

  Lavinia stood watching the knife in her brother’s hand. To Ria’s surprise, it wasn’t fear on Lavinia’s face but envy. Lavinia’s empty hand balled into a fist before she shook herself and dropped to Ria’s side, wrapping her arms around Ria. The desire Ria had to unwind in her friend’s arms had dissolved. Stiffly, Ria let herself be held in her best friend’s embrace. Her eyes focused on Niri a few steps away from the group.

  Niri’s face was downcast, but from where Ria sat on the ground she could see lavender fading from Niri’s eyes. Ria wasn’t the only one who noticed. Hahri stared at Niri with blind hatred. The balled fist and tense muscles of his arm looked ready to smash Niri’s skull. Ria struggled to pull out of Lavinia’s arms.

  Ty glanced back. His eyes narrowed as he took in Niri and Hahri. A bland calmness washed over Hahri’s face as he opened his fist.

  “I never trusted him,” Hahri said, nodding in the direction Causis had gone.

  Ty hesitated but let Hahri’s change in intent pass. Instead, Ty looked down at Ria, worry and grief deepening his blue eyes to violet. He reached down to help her up, but Ria shrunk away from his hand.

  Ty’s eyes dilated, silver blue erasing the warmth as his offer went untaken. Lavinia helped pull Ria to her feet as Ty stepped back, hand on his belt.

  “We should go back, Ty. We shouldn’t have come,” Lavinia said as she helped Ria brush herself off.

  Ty didn’t answer. He watched both girls with his features locked in a cold mask. Lavinia turned her full attention to her brother, her brows bunched in confusion.

  “It is too late for that. We’ll go on to the store,” Ty said the last to Hahri. Hahri bent, picking up the scatter of sacks without comment. Ty lifted one bag, then froze. His eyes were on Niri.

  Niri was a pale ghost of herself. Her usually controlled form was slumped against the wall of the alleyway, one hand under her checks as she rested her head against the rough plaster with eyes closed. A trace of a tear clung to her lashes while her normally stern mouth was loosened to a slightly opened fullness. To Ria, she looked like she was struggling not to be sick.

  Trancelike, Ty lightly placed a hand on Niri’s upper arm. She flinched at his touch, her eyes flying open. But he did not take his hand away. She looked at him with murky brown eyes lined with tears. He slid his arm up and across to her opposite shoulder, handing her the bag in his hands. She took it, pulling it against her chest as she bowed her head. Niri shuffled forward after Hahri, Ty’s hand lingering until she was out of reach. The perplexed expression softening his face faded as he bent to pick up the last two sacks. He gave one to Lavinia, barely glancing to see if Ria was ready to go. Having nothing to carry somehow made Ria feel all the more exposed.

  “This time, stay together,” Ty said gruffly as they walked toward the mouth of the alley.

  CHAPTER 8

  TY’S RETURN

  Ty sucked in a ragged breath.

  Slow down.

  He shifted the sack of silver utensils to his other shoulder and tried to amble along. Ty could force himself to act calm, take steady breaths, but he could do little to soothe his racing pulse. Blood hammered in his ears.

  The relief that Finneous would help them was a poor balm for what had h
appened in the bizarre. The red bruise on Ria’s face and arm and the loathing in her green eyes as she looked at him had wounded his soul more than he thought was still possible. She had walked to the shop as if in a dream, guided more by Lavinia’s touch on her arm than conscious effort. Inside the cool dimness of the store, Ria had looked through Ty like he wasn’t there. It had been all he could do to keep his voice steady as he turned to Hahri.

  “You can leave us here. Go back and keep an eye on our ship. We’ll be back before dusk.” Hahri’s eyes had brushed over Niri as he turned and left. Ria had bit her lip, hands gripping the chair where she sat while Lavinia had hovered near.

  The shop had been empty, but he’d found Jistin in the back. The jaw dropped, wide eyed pause before Jistin had hugged Ty with all he was worth had been enough to make Ty smile again. He and Jistin were the same age and they had become fast friends on Ty’s visits to Sardinia.

  “I need your father,” Ty had said to Jistin’s questioning stare. Worry had already replaced the joy at seeing Ty. At Ty’s words, the muscles under Jistin’s eyes had tensed. He had nodded, leaving to retrieve Finneous.

  Finneous must not have been far. He had come into the shop with arms flung wide, smelling of spices and sweat. Finneous had been unchanged. Heavyset, he had worn what looked like the same cream tunic belted over his rotund stomach with a blue sash as the last time Ty had seen him. His maroon pants had nearly been obscured under the shirt’s long hem and the knee high leather boots. The sable brown eyes under his balding head with wisps of light brown hair had crinkled in the corners when he saw Ty, embracing him as if he were a second son.

  “I did not believe Jistin when he said you were here, boy. You should not have come.”

  Ty had shaken his head slightly, glancing briefly toward Lavinia.