by M. D. Grimm
Morgorth cupped his hands around his mouth, and I felt a hum of energy surround him, indicating he was using magick. Strange, I hadn’t heard him use one of his words of magick. But then I remembered him telling me the more skilled a mage become, the easier it was for them to say words inside their mind. As I understood it, mages made up such words and linked them to spells. Morgorth would say that words activated the magick and hands directed it. His own were tongue-twisters, hard for me to repeat. It amazed me he could say them in the heat of battle.
“Kartez!” Morgorth shouted.
His voice seemed to shoot directly at the ship in question. Then we waited. The complete silence made my hand tense on my sword. Morgorth seemed to notice because he grabbed my hand and linked our fingers. He squeezed gently, and I forced myself to relax.
There was a small boat attached to the ship’s side, and I soon saw three figures climbing into it before it was lowered into the water.
“Who is this Kartez?”
“Met him years ago. He’s captain of the Seabeast, the ship you see before you. He got ejected from his town because he wouldn’t marry. He preferred male lovers and the town wasn’t very accepting. He gathered others to him with similar stories and formed his crew. His first mate is Shyba, a seela female who was once a princess. She rejected a betrothal and ran away when she was sixteen. She’s vicious and has no sense of humor.”
I eyed Morgorth even as I monitored the boat’s approach. “Why haven’t you mentioned them before?”
Morgorth shrugged. “Didn’t think about them. I haven’t used their services in years. But theirs is the fastest ship on these docks and they don’t ask questions.”
It would seem I would constantly meet associates of his I didn’t even know existed. I supposed I should resign myself to it. Morgorth had lived with secrets for so long, it would take time for him to adjust and truly share all.
The boat reached the shore and two of the men were rowing. A strikingly tall male with a sharp goatee and sleek black hair stood up from where he sat at the front. His clothes were surprisingly clean and well-tailored, fitting his lanky form. His eyes were a cold silver, his face slightly ruddy from his time spent at sea. There was a sword strapped to his hip while a small dagger was tucked into his boot. He wore a large hat and the shape of it indicated him as the captain.
That must be Kartez. Then, the moment those eyes set on Morgorth, they warmed. I also saw more appreciation in them than I would have preferred.
“Well, this truly is an honor!” Kartez jumped rather jauntily onto the sand and swept off his hat, giving a flourishing bow. “The Lord Morgorth, Dark Mage of the East has deigned to bestow a visit upon us lowly outcasts.”
I glanced at Morgorth to see an eyebrow raise and a smirking smile. “Stuff a cork in it, Kartez. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
Kartez laughed and replaced his hat. He had a nice laugh and an easy manner I realized he only bestowed on those he thought worthy. Apparently, Morgorth had made an impression on him. Then those eyes settled on me and they took on a different sort of heat, one I wasn’t sure I was comfortable with.
“And might you introduce your friend?”
“This is Aishe. My mate.” His tone was declaring, possessive. His hand still gripped mine.
Kartez’s gaze lingered on me a little longer before returning to Morgorth. He held up a hand. “I don’t poach, Morgorth. Not only because I don’t wish to rile a dark mage, but we have history. You did say mate, didn’t you?”
“Aye, I said mate. Be assured, if I didn’t blast you with fire, Aishe would put an arrow in your balls if you tried anything.”
I smiled. I couldn’t help it. Kartez glanced at me, then at my arrows, and chuckled.
“I understand your point.”
I glanced at both of them in turn, wondering what Kartez meant by “history.” I knew Morgorth had had lovers before me, but I didn’t relish meeting one. I wondered if I was.
“We haven’t spoken in years, Morgorth,” Kartez said, hooking his thumbs in his belt and looking at ease. “Why have you sought me out now?”
“I need transport and I know how fast the Seabeast moves. We need passage to Lyca. Immediately. How much do you want?”
Kartez blinked, looking startled. He recovered quickly but I saw it. I suppose Morgorth had never taken passage on his ship, or perhaps it was his lack of haggling that surprised him.
Kartez rubbed his chin, eyeing both of us. “You ain’t on the run from the council, are you?”
Morgorth rolled his eyes. “Hardly. You won’t have mages on your ass, Kartez. That I can promise. Besides, if I was on the run, I would be going the other way. The White Tower is on Lyca.”
His dry tone seemed to ease Kartez’s misgivings and the pirate captain smiled again. He named a price for passage that made my head spin. Morgorth instantly began to haggle it down, and I only watched and listened. It was evident now they had once been involved but, strangely, I didn’t feel jealousy or unease. I was curious. I didn’t doubt Morgorth’s fidelity, or to be honest, his dependence on me. And it was hard not to like Kartez. He had a certain jolly air about him that contradicted his position as a ruthless pirate.
They finally settled on a price, and we made our way into the boat. Morgorth and I were squeezed into the back while Kartez took his spot in the front. The rowers took us back to the ship. The sea air calmed and intrigued me. I trailed my hand along the surface of the water, enjoying the sensation.
“We were involved,” Morgorth said, his voice low.
I glanced at him. “I know.”
He frowned but didn’t ask me how. He didn’t need to. “He’s nice, oddly enough. He’s loyal, that’s a rare quality. But, seriously, if he makes a move on you, stick an arrow in his balls.”
I snorted out a laugh. Kartez glanced back at us but I knew the others couldn’t hear what Morgorth said. I kissed his cheek and took his hand again. “I hope that won’t be necessary. I like him already.”
Morgorth nodded. “He has that way. You would never guess he was a killer.”
I glanced at Kartez’s back and could see him, the way my gift allowed me to “see” other creatures. He was a killer, but he wasn’t a murderer. He didn’t kill for sport or gain, but in protection of those under his command. Or in battle. He was a thief and a smuggler, but those were games to him, and he loved every minute of it. He wasn’t a killer at heart; in fact, he regretted every kill he’d ever made.
I saw all this with a striking clarity. I took a deep breath, trembling slightly. My gift had dimmed as I grew older and there were times I thought I’d lost it all together, since months could pass without sensing it. But no, I suspected it would stay with me the rest of my life.
“Are you cold?”
I smiled at Morgorth. “No.” But I was starting to feel a little sick from the rocking of the boat. Yet, it was when I climbed up the rope ladder and helped onto the ship deck that I felt it hit me in my gut. I gripped the rail and felt pressure in my throat. I ducked my head.
Morgorth gripped my shoulder. “Shallow breaths, Aishe. Easy.” He sighed. “Seems you don’t have the sea stomach.”
“The what?” I murmured, swallowing hard.
“You’re going to be sick. Some can’t handle the rocking of the ship. Let me help you sit down.”
“He’ll get his sea legs,” Kartez said from somewhere behind me. Then he started bellowing out orders, a lot of which I didn’t understand.
Morgorth led me over to a small stack of wooden crates and sat me on the deck. The nausea was growing worse and I even felt green. I began to sweat and tremble. I didn’t observe much on the deck, other than it was a flurry of activity.
“Sorry, baby,” Morgorth murmured, searching his pouches.
“Not your fault.” Talking didn’t seem to be a good idea so I clamped my mouth shut.
“Shh, don’t speak. Here.”
He handed me a purple leaf, and I didn’t hesitate to shove it
into my mouth and chew. I hoped it was a remedy of some sort.
“There’s no real cure for sea sickness,” Morgorth explained, sitting next to me. “But I think if you don’t move around much and you keep eating these leaves, you should be fine.”
I nodded, still feeling ill. I curled into Morgorth, my head on his shoulder and my arm around his waist. He held me back, his hand stroking my face. I closed my eyes and tried to find the rocking movement soothing. It didn’t work very well. Then I felt a warmth suffuse my body, and I realized the source was Morgorth’s hand. The last thing I heard was, “Luellela,” then sleep overtook me.
Chapter Four
Morgorth
Poor baby. I put Aishe to sleep, hoping he would feel better when he woke up. I hated myself for not warning him sooner. I hoped he would be immune but no such luck. I myself loved ships and the ocean and quickly found my sea legs again. I left Aishe bundled in a blanket by the crates and went in search of Kartez. Shyba was at the helm and she scowled at me. She didn’t like anyone. I sent her a sunny smile and a wave just to piss her off before walking into the captain’s quarters. Some things didn’t change. The interior was paneled in rich, red wood, polished within an inch of its life. His bedroom door was open and memories surged up. I shook them off and walked past it. Old maps covered the walls, some oddities, some with glaring mistakes. Kartez was a collector of strange maps. The passageway was narrow with several rooms branching off from it. But I knew exactly where I was going.
The door to his dining quarters was open, and I poked my head inside. He had three of his sailors with him, all looking down at a map. The floor creaked and he looked up. I held up a hand.
“Sorry, I can come back—”
“No, no. It’s fine.” He nodded at his men and they left without a word. He smiled at me and rolled up the map. “Just plotting the most direct course. Some storms are predicted around that area and we want to make sure to miss them.”
I nodded.
“Your mate sleeps?”
“It’s for the best.” I stood there, feeling slightly awkward. It had been more than five years since we last spoke. We’d parted on good terms and neither of us had been looking for more than a fling. His company was one of the more pleasurable encounters I’d had, before Aishe, that is.
“Aye, it’s the best for him. Dialen don’t do well on the sea. I’ve tried to hire a few for my crew but they never last long.” He set the map aside and gave me a considering once over. “You look good, Morgorth.”
I smiled slightly. “Yeah, you too.”
“And your mate is quite pretty.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I know.”
“How did you find him?”
“He found me, actually.”
“Did he?” Kartez poured some wine and offered me some. I accepted the goblet and drank half of it down.
“Long story,” I said.
Kartez continued to sip, eyeing me. “I remember our times together with fondness, Morgorth. Since you’ve chosen a mate, I can only assume he has much to offer as well. If I can ever offer my services to either of you...” His suggestive smile said quite clearly what he meant by “services.”
I had to laugh. “Kartez, seriously, are you that desperate for sex? You’re mildly attractive; you shouldn’t have trouble finding a partner.”
He laughed with me. “It’s not desperation that drives me, Morgorth. It’s desire. I will admit, I’ve often hoped you would come back into my life.”
I had no idea I’d left such an impression. I didn’t know what to say, so I just sipped my wine. He seemed to sense my unease and, instead of looking annoyed, he simply changed the subject. We ended up talking a long while about his current projects and a few of mine, and I even put in a commission or two for a few artifacts I wanted to possess.
When I left his quarters, I felt good and slightly buzzed from the wine. I found Aishe and lay down next to him. While I had some good memories of Kartez, it only took one look at Aishe to know it was him, and only him, I would make love to for the rest of my life. I pulled him into my arms and closed my eyes. We were leagues from shore when night finally fell. I hoped the journey would be uneventful, and I would get as much sleep as possible. I doubted I would find much rest once we reached our destination. I was once more going into a war, and I had to be prepared for anything.
***
Aishe felt well enough in the morning to stand with me at the rail and enjoy the beauty of the ocean. He was still a little too pale and had to continually eat the purple leaves, but he smiled and could speak without needing to vomit. We stood shoulder to shoulder, and I took a deep breath of the fresh air.
Aishe suddenly chuckled. “Kartez offered his services. He’s so polite.”
I snorted. I didn’t see a reason to hide our conversation from him. “Oh yes, he is nothing if not polite. I was pleased he took the rejection with ease. I really don’t want to piss him off if we’re stuck on a ship with him for weeks.”
“Agreed.” Aishe glanced at me. “But he is very attractive.”
I rolled my eyes at him before narrowing them. “I agree. But I won’t allow you to act on whatever thoughts you have in mind.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Allow?”
His tone was deceptively soft. I raised an eyebrow. “Aishe, you know what you took on when you became mine. I’m a very jealous mate.”
Aishe grinned, looking pleased. “I wouldn’t expect anything less, as I happen to be jealous as well.”
“Good, then we understand each other.”
“Indeed.”
We both smiled as we returned our gazes to the ocean.
“But he does have a nice ass,” Aishe commented a moment later.
I shrugged. “I won’t argue with that assessment.”
He chuckled.
The ship suddenly jerked and tipped violently to one side...but it wasn’t the ship so much as the water. I gripped Aishe’s arm, pulling him tightly to my side, and he gripped me and the rail, becoming slightly green. I looked up to see the clear sky, with its shining sun, the white puffy clouds. Why the sudden disruption of the water?
“Kartez! What’s going on?” I shouted.
Kartez ran across the deck, shaking his head at me in confusion. He jumped to the helm and Shyba moved aside, shouting orders to the crew. He gripped the helm tightly and tried to direct the ship but something hit it again. Everyone jerked. Aishe and I clung to each other even as my magick flashed to the surface. I looked around, a suspicion forming in my mind. There were sea monsters, but most lived at the bottom of the oceans, never surfacing. But if my father had found a stone of power, then there would be side effects around the world if he used it. Using a stone, especially if it was a major stone of power, affected the wildlife, the weather, the very nature the Mother created. The stones usurped her will and one could not use them without consequences. One such could be a sea monster breaking the surface and toppling over a ship.
Suddenly slippery, glistening tentacles shot out of the water, surrounding the ship, dwarfing it. I gaped and Aishe froze. The crew screamed in fear, and Kartez could only hold onto the helm and try to use the wind to guide the ship.
I pushed myself into action and flung us forward before shoving Aishe at the crates. “Get your bow, Aishe, shoot at the tentacles!”
Then I ran to the center of the ship, slipping slightly. But I managed to plant my feet and just as the tentacles began to slam down on the ship, I cried out a word of magick and flung my hands up. The ferocious blast of wind managed to buy us some time. The tentacles flew away, and I heard a strange roar from under the water. Even as my heart pounded in fear and panic made me sweat, I focused, shouting orders at the crew.
The tentacles began to return but I used wind again and the sails billowed. The ship shot over the water, but I knew the monster wouldn’t be far behind. I also knew the ship couldn’t take the pressure of the wind and water. I was mostly trying to buy us some time, letting the cr
ew collect their minds and wits.
“Hold her steady!” I shouted at Kartez.
“Aye, Mage!” he said.
I glanced at Aishe to see he had his bow, an arrow nocked, and quiver at his side. He was crouched, still looking ill, but his eyes were hard and flat. I grinned in pride. Nothing could keep my mate down. I let the wind die and the ship slowed, rocking violently, the water lapping hard at its sides. The tentacles caught up and tried to wrap around the ship once again. I didn’t risk fire, but I had another element that was aplenty around me: water. Just as I gathered focus for the next spell, a tentacle tried to slither onto the deck, heading toward me. Before I could react, Aishe shot an arrow, puncturing the slimy flesh of the tentacle. Then he ran and leapt over it, and with his sword, sliced off the tip. The tentacle shot back into the water, and the monster bellowed in pain. Aishe spun around, nocking another arrow. He was now close to me, and I could see it was a struggle for him to remain focused. He was sweating profusely and deathly pale. I would have ordered him below deck if I thought he would listen.
More tentacles now slithered around the ship and the crew did what they could, cutting at the appendages and shooting their own arrows. They gave me the time I needed. I ran across the deck and realized the monster’s tentacles seemed to be following me. I wasn’t surprised, since most creatures could sense magick and many predators were attracted to it. If a predator ate a mage, they sometimes gained the power of their food: you are what you eat. I could use that to my advantage.
I reached the other side of the ship and flung my hand down with another word, using the magick in the water—every element had magick, instilled there by the Mother—and used it to freeze the water. But not just on the surface, I made the ice sink below where the beast rested. I continued the spell, causing the tentacles to freeze. It wasn’t easy to freeze saltwater but as I was using the magick within the element, and not my own to control it, it was much easier. Once the tentacles stopped moving, I instantly swung around and used the wind again to get the ship to move. We shot across the water once more, and I happened to look back to see what the beast was doing. We didn’t get very far before the ice broke. I realized the beast was far bigger, and stronger, than I suspected. I watched, fascinated and terrified, as the beast surged completely to the surface. Its bulbous head and gaping mouth appeared, its tentacles writhing in rage. Those black, pitiless eyes focused on us, and then the monster dove back into the water. It sped toward us, creating a hump in the water.