by Marlow York
“‘Roger fishes in our ocean for a living. He has not yet noticed the disappearance of fish, however, he sometimes sells his catch to the City.’
“All around the room came scoffs of disgust and rolled eyes.
“‘Then what is he doing here? Why did you not just kill him when his ship came too close to the island?’ a man asked.
“‘Because I find it highly unusual that the people in Landsend have not yet noticed the fish populations depleting, but around our island, it’s happening very quickly. I suspect something is amiss and our lovely companions in the City are likely the root cause. Our new friend Roger’—I jumped as the captain slapped his hand down on my shoulder—‘is going to find out why and report back to us.’
“I stared at the captain, utterly confused. ‘You want me to do what?’ I asked.
“The captain continued smiling. Still the expression did not reach his eyes. ‘If he doesn’t report any activities back to us, we’ll kill him.’
“My heart lurched in my chest. I looked at the faces around me. Some of the people snickered, some still looked annoyed that I was even there. I sensed the people of the island thrived off privacy and solitude, and this particular group demanded even more privacy than the rest of the village, hence the hidden meeting late at night in the basement of a rundown tavern.
“‘How do you expect me to do that?’ I asked crossly. ‘I don’t even know where I am or how to get home.’
“‘Don’t worry about that,’ the captain continued. ‘We’ll help you repair your ship and send it along the right course back to shore. We’ll also provide a way to pass messages to us, even at this distance.’
“The captain nodded to the woman, who lifted a dark sheet off a tall object, revealing a bird cage with a trio of huge ravens inside. One released a throaty caw and gazed around the room, eyeing me with interest.
“‘You will send messages back and forth to us using our friends here,’ the captain said. He reached his fingers through the cage and gently stroked the birds’ feathers. ‘Anything that happens in the village—especially anything unusual—and everything regarding the City, you will send back with them.’
“‘And if I do not?’ I asked.
“The woman smiled dangerously. ‘The wind and the water will find you.’
“She lifted her hand and a small breeze swirled around me. I didn’t need to ask what she meant. These people were powerful, and I had no doubt they could and would kill me if they wanted to.”
“But they didn’t,” I said quietly.
Roger shook his head, looking at me. “No, they didn’t. They kept their word and helped me fix my ship, and then they sent me home with one of the caged ravens. I didn’t have to adjust my sails the entire time I crossed the ocean; somehow the wind knew which way I needed to go.”
“What did you tell your family?” Cypress asked. “They must have been worried that you were gone so long.”
“I lied, of course,” Roger said. “I told them I had gotten caught in the storm, which was true. And I told them my ship had been badly damaged, which was also true. But then I told them I had gotten stranded on a deserted island in the middle of the sea. Fortunately, a large ship from a faraway village found me and towed my boat to their home. That’s where I fixed it up, and that’s where I’d been all that time. Just among normal people.”
“How long were you gone?” I asked.
“About two months,” Roger said somberly. “My wife was certain I’d been lost at sea or killed by pirates. She was so relieved to see me alive that she believed my story wholeheartedly.”
“That’s a long time to stay with people who hate you,” Anza chimed in. I looked at her, but she didn’t say anything when our eyes met.
To me, two months seemed like nothing. However, Anza was right. “It must have been difficult,” I added. “Did you learn anything from them, like why they hated the City so much?”
“At first they wouldn’t talk about who they really were, or their powers.” Roger’s eyes looked off into the distance. “They kept me on a fairly short leash, so to speak. They wouldn’t let me out by myself; I always had to be accompanied by one of the people who had been at the meeting in the tavern. My guard changed each day, and I could tell most of them were not happy when it was their turn to be my babysitter.
“I was given some help repairing my ship, which was slow and tiring work. Since I didn’t have much money with me, I paid back the cost of the supplies by working in the tavern at night. I spent the daylight working on my ship and my nights were at the bar. Somehow I managed to find the time to explore the village.”
“What was it called?” Anza interrupted.
Roger looked at her and paused, as though hesitant to reveal a huge secret for the first time in his life. “The village is called Three Winds.”
“Is?” Cypress asked. “So, it still exists then?”
Saven hissed with interest.
“Be patient, young man.” Roger chuckled. “But yes, it still exists. Why else would I be telling you this story? Now where was I…?
“Oh, like I said, it was a beautiful village. Though everything was crammed together, all the buildings were sturdy, the roads were fairly smooth, and the harbor was massive. They even had a large orchard, and everyone had a little garden and livestock in their yards, no matter how small. Similar to Landsend, the people in Three Winds thrived by making a living on the sea. Many people were fishermen, but there were plenty of other jobs that revolved around the ocean and ships.
“It’s difficult to say when I managed to befriend the people who were keeping an eye on me. I suppose it started with the pirate captain, one late night in the tavern.
“After he told me I was expected to become a spy for them, he hadn’t talked to me since. As the weeks went by, however, I noticed he always kept his eyes on me. It appeared that nothing happened in Three Winds without him knowing about it.
“I was tending bar one night, and rather than join the raucous drinking of his companions, he surprised me by sitting down at the counter with a heavy sigh.
“I looked at him, his head drooping with fatigue. ‘What will it be, Captain?’ I asked.
“He seemed to notice me for the first time then. ‘Whiskey,’ he said, his voice hoarse with exhaustion.
“So, I poured him a drink and turned away to dust and organize the shelves of liquor. I didn’t expect him to speak to me, but then came his gruff voice behind me.
“‘Do you love the City?’
“I turned to look at him with surprise, but there was nothing challenging or judgmental about his question. He genuinely wanted to know, but it took me a moment to formulate an honest response.
“‘Well,’ I said. ‘I don’t think I would call my feelings towards the City “love.” I have never been there, and I don’t know anyone who has. But in Landsend, we rely on the City for many things.’
“‘Such as what?’ the captain asked. He gestured to his empty shot glass, indicating he wanted another drink. I poured him more whiskey.
“‘Trade, for one thing. Most people in Landsend only have enough to get by because we trade with the City for what we can’t produce on our own. In return, they take our fish and goods from us. The City also protects us from potential danger.’
“‘Who?’ the captain asked.
“‘Who what?’ I asked.
“‘Who does the City protect you from?’ Again, there was no hint of arrogance in his voice. He was just one person curious about the lifestyle of someone very different from himself.
“I had to stop and think for a moment, but I couldn’t come up with an exact answer, which surprised me. ‘Well, no one has attacked us in centuries, as far as I know. But I always figured that was because the City kept the neighboring villages under control.’
“The captain perked up. ‘Under control?’ he asked.
“I paused, not realizing my choice of words. ‘Yes…’ I said hesitantly. I looked up at him. ‘Sir,
what are you getting at?’
“The captain gestured to his shot glass and I poured a third shot of whiskey. Instead of drinking it, he just stared at the amber liquid. ‘The City is not who you think they are,’ he said. ‘Though they trade with you and protect you, it is smart for you not to love them. The City and its officials are power hungry, controlling, and deadly to anyone who crosses them. They thrive on their ability to command as many people and villages as possible. They hate and destroy anyone who is disobedient. But, most of all, they seek to destroy those who are different from them. People who aren’t entirely…normal.’ He lifted his index finger and swirled it in a circular motion above his shot of whiskey. The drink spun in the glass, growing taller with each spin until a tiny waterspout was reaching out of the glass.
“My mouth opened in amazement. ‘People like you?’ I asked.
“‘Like every person in this village.’ The captain lowered his finger until the waterspout settled into the shot glass. ‘Tell me,’ he said. ‘Despite the fact that we kidnapped you, do you think the people of Three Winds are bad?’
“I glanced around the room and at its patrons, then shook my head. ‘No, I don’t. And to be honest, this hardly feels like a kidnapping anymore. If you people had wanted to kill me, you would have done it already. If you hadn’t found me stranded in the ocean, my ship would have sunk, and I’d be dead right now. In a sense, you rescued me.’
“The captain chuckled. ‘Would it change your mind to know my wife created the storm that damaged your ship?’
“‘Your wife?’ I asked. Then I remembered the beautiful young woman with seafoam eyes. I hadn’t realized they were married. “‘Was she trying to kill me?’
“‘At first,’ the captain said. He stood and walked around to my side of the bar. ‘When we sensed a boat on the water, she started the storm. We do so every time a vessel finds itself that far out at sea. The only ships that have tried to come here were from the City, and each time they sought to destroy us. There was never a peace offering, never a potential trade agreement, nothing. Somehow, they figured out who we are and what we can do. From that moment on, they’ve attempted to destroy us.’
“‘Because you have those powers?’ I asked in shock. ‘But why?’
“The captain reached under the bar and produced a second shot glass. When he straightened up, he looked at me with amazement. ‘Because we’re a threat, of course. People like us are powerful. My ancestors once ruled this world. The City and “normal” people like you feared us and took over. Now we’re forced to hide on tiny islands and far-flung villages in the middle of forests and deserts just to stay alive.’
“I stared at him in shock as a million questions entered my brain, but not one managed to come out of my mouth.
“He laughed at my expression and poured a shot of whiskey. He passed the glass to me and lifted his own. ‘Roger?’
“‘Yes?’ I said tentatively, taking the glass from him.
“‘My name is Lagan. Captain Lagan, to you. I think this is going to be the start of a beneficial friendship.’ He laughed heartily and downed his shot of whiskey. My hand trembled as I gulped the burning liquid, still unable to wrap my head around what he had told me. The rest of the night is a bit of a blur.”
Roger chuckled and fell silent.
I looked around the old ship, trying to picture it out on the open water. “Why are you telling us all this?” I asked.
“Because I want to take you to Three Winds,” Roger said. “If anyone is willing to join your fight against the City, it would be the Istkaal and Theria.”
“You are certain they are still alive?” Anza asked. “The City has been patrolling the lands much more lately. They are determined now.”
“Normally one of the ravens brings a message every week or two, but it’s been months since I received a message from them,” Roger admitted. “Even though there has been more activity from the City, somehow I don’t think Three Winds has been attacked. Their defenses are very strong, considering the number of people on the island with powers.”
“Does everyone on the island have powers?” Cypress asked.
Roger nodded. “As far as I could tell. And if that’s true, you may have a lot of people willing to fight with you.”
We all looked at each other, likely thinking the same things. Not only would the people on Three Winds know how to use their powers in a battle, they likely wouldn’t take much convincing to fight the City with us.
“How long will it take to fix your ship?” I asked Roger.
He looked around the deck, assessing the damage with expert eyes. “I’ve already begun working on it a little, but it could still take several weeks. If you are all willing to help me fix it, it will take much less time.”
We all nodded eagerly and agreed to help him.
Chapter 15
Is there no one left in Landsend willing to help us?” I asked Roger as I hammered a new board into the deck.
He looked at me grimly and shook his head. “After the plague swept through and everyone died or fled for the City, airships destroyed what remained of Landsend. There’s no one left. Just me.”
“Would you take me there?”
Roger hesitated and averted his eyes. “I haven’t been there in a very long time. Ever since the City destroyed it, I’ve avoided that place.”
I eyed him with sympathy. “I understand. The City destroyed my village too. I’ve been back since then, and it ripped my heart out to see what became of it. But I would like to see Landsend for myself.”
“I’d like to see it too,” Cypress chimed in.
I glanced at him curiously.
“My people have heard about the City’s destructive ways, but I haven’t seen it firsthand,” Cypress continued quietly. “With all due respect to your people, I think I need to see for myself what they’re capable of.” He turned to me, as though asking for my permission too.
Anza snorted and fixed her eyes on her work. “I have seen plenty and I hate them enough for all of us. I will not go.”
Mjoll growled softly, perhaps sensing the sadness Anza was hiding from us. Anza dropped her saw and cast a harsh look at the mountain lion. As I watched them silently argue, Anza’s lower lip quivered slightly. I didn’t blame her for not wanting to go; seeing two villages destroyed was more than enough for me. Still, I couldn’t stand the thought of Landsend being forgotten, its people abandoned for time to swallow their remains.
Anza heaved a sigh. “Fine…I’ll go.”
Roger pressed his lips together, but he finally nodded. “Alright, I’ll take you there.”
✽ ✽ ✽
Roger’s cabin wasn’t far from Landsend, and yet the path leading to it had become so overgrown that even he had a hard time remembering the right way through the thick brush.
“The ghosts keep me away,” Roger told us somberly.
“Ghosts?” I asked.
He glanced back at me and tapped his head with his finger. “The ones in here.”
I knew what he meant. Like me, he grew up believing the City protected his people and nothing bad would happen to them as long as the government watched over them. Just like the Fiero, he never thought the City was capable of such terrible destruction. Now we knew better.
“This trail used to be much better, years ago,” Roger said. “But, as with all things, time overcomes those who aren’t vigilant. I’ve neglected it for a very long time.”
He didn’t sound regretful at all. Instead, I believed he intended to ignore Landsend as though it had never existed. I’d seen the Fiero village once since its destruction, and my visit hadn’t been an entirely willing one. I wondered, would I too forsake my former home? I hadn’t thought about going back there, mostly because it was too close to the City and therefore too dangerous. Would the memories become so painful that one day I would never willingly want to return?
“Do you think we can go home after all this is over?” I asked Saven.
“W
hat do you mean?”
“My home is destroyed, and yet for some reason I never considered that I would still be alive at the end of all this to help rebuild it.”
Saven looked down at me. “You think you won’t survive the war?”
I had never thought about it so bluntly, but I also never pictured what my future might look like after the fight. My imagination didn’t reach that far. I imagined the fight, but after that there was nothing.
Saven hissed slowly. “Don’t think of it as a vision,” he said. “Perhaps if you start thinking of the future you want after the war, you will have something to work for.”
I glanced at Cypress ahead of me. Would he be part of my future? What about Anza and Mjoll? If we all survived the war, would we go our separate ways? They had people to go home to. Aside from the refugees in Edgewood, I had no idea how many Fiero were still alive. Surely Jenassa would want to rebuild our village. Wouldn’t she?
“Valieri,” Saven murmured. “This war will mean nothing if we don’t prepare for the future we will have after it’s over.” He glanced at me again. “I intend to survive this war, and if I don’t, then I will assure that you do.”
“Don’t talk like that,” I said sadly. “You have a better chance of surviving than I do.”
“I would spend my last breath assuring your survival.”
“I don’t want to think of a world without you in it,” I told him.
“Then what would you like to do after the war is over? What do you want our future to look like?”
I squinted at the back of Cypress’s head and quickly pushed away my thoughts before they could reach Saven.
“Well,” I said wistfully. “I want to build a house for Jenassa and myself. If not in a new Fiero village, then maybe someplace in the forest.”
“Not with the Secara or Grakkir?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “Perhaps. Or maybe near Roger’s cabin. Anywhere she wants to go, I’ll go. And you’ll come with us, right?”
Saven’s mouth twitched as he tried to smile. “Of course I will.”
I wanted to feel reassured by this small plan, and yet it still seemed too unlikely.