CH. 4
Whale Port was near ruins. But the manner of its ruination appeared most shocking. While the docks were built on the low seawall, the town itself sat at an elevation just below sea level. Fortunately the seawall protected the port from flooding, but it appeared that even the cliffs hadn't been able to stop whatever had flooded the town. Everything on the ground was under water, had we stepped in it might have come as high as our shoulders. Anything that was not under water, however, was blackened and scorched, as if some terrible fire had swept in with the water. It appeared that the people had survived, but were in the business of packing up. As far as we could see, the docks themselves were the only active part of the town… and even the bustle we had expected of such a busy port was subdued. Behind us our barge unloaded its cargo, while other sailors on the dock began carting off the crates.
"What happened here?" Mandra asked in quiet horror. No one answered.
Small fishing boats floated about the town, driven by men with poles as they aided women and children in ferrying them and their things to the dry land of the docks. Fenris stepped forwards to the waters edge as one such boat pulled up to shore.
"Excuse me sir," he said to the ferryman, "But I wonder if I could ask you what happened here?"
"What happened here?" the man said looking up his eyes filled with despair, "Charybdis happened here!"
"Charybdis?" Fenris asked.
"A terrible force in these waters," the man said glumly, "His might is untold and he has begun tormenting ships from here to Sky Tower! It is said that the sea and sky obey his command… and we have seen his wrath."
"How did this happen?" Kai stepped up.
"A fortnight ago," the man licked his lips nervously, "One of our sailing ships was brought under by the whirlpool of Charybdis. In an effort to avenge their unjustly slain comrades a harpooner with our strongest men went out to sea. They found Charybdis and struck him with mighty blows from their harpoons. By some miracle of heaven they triumphed and drove him deep into the waters, wounded and bleeding. But… Charybdis would not suffer their deed unpunished, and he exacted his vengeance upon our port. By his strength he sent a wave of water upon us, while the sky rained thunder and lightning upon our homes. Those that were not drowned were slain by the fire caused by the lightning… and now only we few are left."
Someone called from across the watery town and the man excused himself as he poled his boat to aid the survivor.
"A tragic tale," Fenris said… though he did not sound at all tragic.
"Indeed," my brother said then he paused as he watched the people on land moving their things, "But where are they going?" Taking the initiative I walked over to a young woman who was lifting a few bags.
"Excuse me miss," I said, "May I ask where you are all going?"
"To the Albatross," she said, "It is a great sailing ship that will take us across the sea to the safety of the eastern shores."
"What of the monster?" Mandra asked with meek concern, "What is to keep him from attacking your ship?"
"Even Charybdis will not take this ship," she said with a hopeful smile, "Captain Kalua is a man of faith and believes that God will protect us in our journey across the sea."
"What God does he believe in?" I asked skeptically.
"Does it matter?" the woman said, "His God protected him from Charybdis on his journey here, and his God will protect us on our journey back," so saying she lifted her bags and headed off towards the docks.
"There will be no peace here," Fenris concluded after a moment of silence, "We must move on."
"Fortunately we didn't live here," Harris said, "Our home is further inland. If you'd like a place to stay for a little while… it's the least we could do."
"No…" Kai said, "Thank you but no. Our quest is quite pressing and we must continue…" he trailed off as he began digging in his pack.
"Well, if you ever need anything, we'll be more than happy to oblige," Cindy said.
"I'm a woodsman and carpenter, if you ever need anything built," Harris said, "I don't care how big or small, let me know."
"Thanks, we'll remember that," I said smiling. After a few more farewell's the couple headed off west, circling around the town towards their home.
"We have two choices then," Fenris said thoughtfully, "We can move north, or take the ship east."
"How do we decide which?" Mandra asked.
"Like this," Kai said with triumph as he pulled Sten's map from his pack, "Seiya, the tear please."
As my brother held the map open I lifted my arm with the tear over the map, holding it over our current position. The gem turned orange and then began to tug towards the east on the map. I let my arm follow and the tear stopped to hover on a port town on the eastern shore. The tear released a thin shaft of yellow light to pinpoint the town.
"Looks like a place called Township," I replied.
"And this is where we find the next person?" Fenris asked.
"If the tear is right, then the next waker is across the sea," Kai said as he looked up, "Which means we need to get on that boat."
"Which means more sailing," I groaned, "Lets hope this time we don't have to do any of the work."
Mandra quietly picked up her things and began to follow the stream of pilgrims headed away from the town. Fenris and Kai followed suit while Kita and I brought up the rear. As I walked away I looked back at the town. The area was on enough of a slope that it would eventually drain, but even so these people's homes were beyond repair. If the town were ever to thrive again, it would have to be rebuilt from scratch. I breathed a sigh of compassion and followed the others around the corner to the northern docks.
"Whoa…." I heard my brother say. I looked up, and was also amazed. The ship was magnificent. Great white sails billowed from mighty masts that rose from the wide deck of the gilded vessel.
"Now that is a ship," I replied.
"Hurry now," a man on the gangplank was saying, the sailors on board were lifting children and baggage into the ship, while others walked up the plank, "Hurry now, we must be off by the morn."
We paused as we watched the steady stream of refugee's board the ship. Even as they did so, I felt something strange about the ship, and about the man, who appeared to be captain, that stood on the plank. Kai perhaps felt it as well when he spoke.
"Perhaps…" he started, "Perhaps we ought to ask if we may pass on the ship. But I would like to camp on the land tonight."
"Why?" Fenris asked.
"I'm… still a little woozy from our last voyage," Kai admitted, "I would like to spend as much time on solid ground as possible."
"As would I," Mandra said. Though I was pretty sure Kai was lying, I could see Mandra spoke the truth. Though her skin was always greenish, she had borne a sickly look in her eyes when we saw this larger ship. But true to her nature, she had said nothing.
"I see," Fenris said as he cast about for a camping spot, "Then perhaps a bit further inland?"
"I will speak with the captain," Kai said as he walked towards the boat, "You all find a spot."
Mandra and Kita turned and started walking back towards the town. Fenris and I followed, and found a tree beneath which we set up camp. Kita and I went out for firewood, while Fenris began to prepare dinner. Unfortunately most of the wood was wet, but we found what little dry wood we could and brought back even a few pieces of wet drift wood. In the end, a flint and tinder would not light the wood and I was forced to conjure a fireball which I directed into the pile of wood, with rather explosive results. Mandra had made sure to stand well away during the process. Once the fire had become a lively crackle, Fenris began cooking, as Kai cam back.
"Well, we have a spot," my brother said as he dropped his pack, "Though the captain has said that he cannot assure us that Charybdis will give us unhindered passage. But he says that God will protect us, whoever that god is."
"So… who exactly does he worship?" I asked, "Shen-liu? St. Eva? Namanda?"
"I don't know," Kai said as he sat down on a log, "He didn't say."
"Perhaps it is someone more obscure," Fenris said as he began to serve up a seafood stew he'd made from the fish the sailors had given us.
"Maybe he doesn't know either!" Kita giggled. This made us laugh, and soon all questions were drowned out as we set to eating. It appeared that Mandra had taken a liking to sand, as she had filled her bowl with the gritty stuff. For some reason, Kai tried to get her to try some fish, and after much coaxing she finally took a bite. She appeared to like it, but said that meat was not a healthy part of a tree person's diet. Still she indulged in a thin fillet before we finished our meal. After cleaning up and wrapping ourselves in TR54TR5421our ground sheets, I drifted off to sleep under the stars.
An hour later I awoke, why I was not sure, I only knew that a strange light emanated from within my blanket. I lifted my arm, to reveal the Dragon's Tear, blazing with red light. The color red described anger, and the brighter the light, the deeper the wrath. I stood and shivered against the night wind and looked around. The Tear tugged on my arm and I followed its lead, following it to the shore. It lead me to the end of the one the docks where it held itself horizontal, pointing out to sea. I peered into the blackness, seeing nothing but a storm rolling in. And then I caught a glimpse of something. Something large. It roiled from out of the deeps, far out at sea. The waters swelled with its mass, and then as a great branch of lighting struck across the sky, it was revealed. A thunder clap deafened me as I beheld a leviathan, great and terrible. Smooth thick skin, a great cavernous mouth, and entirely larger than any being I had ever seen. Though it was very far out in the water, it still appeared large from where I stood. A second lighting bolt scarred the night as the leviathan leapt from the waters, arched and then dove head first back into the water. So great was its length that for a time it formed a complete arch between its exit and entry, before I saw its mighty tail, with two fins branching on either side, leave the waters, only to disappear beneath the surface moments later. It's reentry to the water created a great hole, which became a swirling whirlpool, before with a thunderous clap; it closed once more, leaving a pillar of water to ascend to the sky.
For a moment I could not move, nor could I speak. The first drops of rain broke my shock, and I looked up to see the rain clouds rolling in. My senses returned to me and I ran back, as the tear's light began to fade.
"Rain!" I cried as he ran back to camp, "Rain, everybody rain!"
My comrades roused themselves. Fenris and Kai quickly set about setting up the tents, while Kita and Mandra gathered everyone's things to themselves. I rushed down the hill, looking behind me as I saw a wall of falling water, rush across the sea. The first tent went up; fortunately it was the largest for I could see they would have no time to set up the second. Much of our equipment could be ruined by so much water, not to mention all our clothing soaked. Kita too seemed to recognize this, for she began tossing everything into the tent, while trying to shove Kai and Mandra inside. Fenris had begun to set up the second tent, but realized that it was a lost cause and followed the little cat-girl inside the tent. I reached the tent and rolled in under the low flap as Kai fastened it behind me. The wind and rain struck us with such force, that Fenris and Mandra grabbed the poles of the tent to keep it from falling in on us. Fortunately our shelter held. As the storm raged, the initial force wore off, and the tent stood steady.
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The following morning was a soggy one, beneath a sky of grey. Needless to say our parties spirits were somewhat dampened as we piled out of the tent. As I stretched my sore back I vowed never to sleep on top of my brother again. Kita bounded out, bouncy as ever, and frowned at the sky.
"Aww, no sunny shine," she pouted. I shook my head and helped Mandra crawl out of the tent.
"We'd better get our things together," Kai said as he dragged himself from the shelter, "The captain intended to leave as early as possible this morning."
"What time is it?" Mandra asked as she quietly lifted her waist pack and strapped her shield across her back.
"Nearly seven-thirty," Fenris replied after a glance at his pocket watch.
"Then get to it," Kai said as he began to break down the tent. I scattered the ashes of our fire after we decided to take our breakfast later that morning, assuming we'd have time once we boarded the ship. Once we'd packed up and erased our campsite our little party of five headed up the hill towards the ship. As we walked I grabbed my brother's arm and drew him towards the back of the group.
"Kai… I think I saw it," I said.
"Saw what?" he asked.
"The thing, the monster…. Charybdis," I replied.
"You saw…. Seiya, this isn't like your dragon is it?" he asked.
"I saw that too!" I said, and at that moment a connection clicked in my head, "In fact… it was the same dragon that was defending the shrine."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Well, I can't be absolutely certain," I said, "But It was about the same shape, black and that white mane was pretty distinctive."
My brother said nothing as we crested the hill and came into sight of the ship on the other side of the ruined town.
"Well?" I asked him.
"What was it like?" he asked. I described it as best I could and there was another long silence before he replied, "Well, then we may be in for quite a voyage."
"What if it attacks?" I asked.
"Then we must pray we can repel it, survive it somehow," he said with a shrug. I left it at that, he didn't seem to have any plan… nor did I for that matter, so like all the other passengers we could only hope and pray that we survived the voyage. Our party made its way up the gangplank to stand on the wide deck of the ship, where the captain greeted us.
"Good morning," he said cheerfully, "Stow your luggage below, we'll be departing any moment now."
I looked across the deck of the ship. On the port side deck, where we stood, ropes from the riggings were lashed to the bow, forming a web of lines that climbed into the yard arms high above. The span of the deck was much greater than that of the previous vessel we'd ridden and a great many hatches and gratings pocked the smooth hard-wood of the deck. The bow sprite was ornamented with a beautiful angel woman, whose wings swept back along the hull, just above the waves below. The deck rose towards the aft and gave way to doors that led into cabins, above this, on an elevated deck sat the helm, behind which the poop deck surmounted the aft of the ship. Lilly white sails sat furled, high above us, awaiting their release to carry the ship across the waters. All in all it was a most impressive vessel. We descended down a flight if stairs through a hatch and placed our things in one of the smaller caches. I left my bow and quiver, but kept my knife and throwing blades, noticing that my brother also slipped his own dagger into his boot. I quietly advised Mandra to do the same, and she hid her blade with in her dress. After having sufficiently prepared we headed back up to the main deck, where the crew was busy tying down lines, carting crates and climbing the riggings into the yards to unfurl the sails. The last of the town's refugees boarded the ship as Fenris announced that it was now ten a.m., according to his pocket watch.
It was a solemn business, as the crew raised the gangplank, stowed all cargo below and cast off from the docks. Most of the town's former residents stood on deck, to look forlornly towards their ruined homes. At an order from the captain, the anchor was weighed and the oars splayed to cut the waters and slowly push the great ship away from the port. I rushed to the fore, to watch as the ship turned away and began to make its way out into open water. I held the Tear up before me, out of curiosity, wondering if that monster was anywhere near. But the gem remained its normal clear crystal. I turned it back towards the crew. Their feelings were mixed. Shades of green, light red and grays swirled through the jewel, as I was too far away from the men to lock onto anyone specific. The sea breeze blew through my hair, lifting it in whorls about me. My thoughts turned to our mission, as well as other things, such as the strange absence of demons that threatened our quest. After some time, I made my way back down to mid ship, where I found Mandra sitting with her back to the mast, looking down at her lap.
"Mandra?" I asked, "You okay?"
"Hmm?" she looked up, appearing a little dizzy, "Oh, it is nothing. I just… do not like sailing."
"Perhaps we should get you below decks," I said reaching down and helping her up. We descended a short flight of stairs into the passenger's bunk area, where Mandra soon went to sleep. After making sure she'd be comfortable I headed back topside, where the passengers had dispersed and the crew was hard at work, unfurling the sails to catch the wind. I caught sight of my brother, leaning of the starboard bow and gazing out onto the watery horizon.
"Hey," I said as I stepped up next to him.
"Hey," he said with a faraway look.
"You okay?" I asked. He didn't answer for a moment, then turned and looked at me.
"We're being watched," he said.
"What do you mean?" I asked him.
"You recall the hawk that tried to attack us in Spargus?" he asked.
"Yeah?" he said.
"There was a bird circling over Fish Port when we stayed the night there," he said, "It was hard to tell, but it appeared that it too had black wings."
"Yeah…" I replied, beginning to follow his clues.
"And just as we pulled out of Whale Port, there was a black winged hawk, sitting on a lamp post at the end of the dock," he said.
"You're sure it's the same bird," I asked.
"As sure as you are that you saw the same dragon," he replied, searching my eyes. His gaze was uncomfortable; he did that when he was trying to tell if I really believed what I was saying. I returned his gaze with as much confidence as I could, and eventually he returned his eyes to the sea below.
"So someone has sent their pet hawk to spy on us," I said, "Not that I can see that doing much good, hawks can't tell anyone anything."
"I learned once that a well trained hawk can bring clues to his master," he replied to me, "If the bird returns with empty talons, then he missed his quarry. Such birds bring back all sorts of things, a twig from a certain tree, a nut, a berry, even things like clothing or jewelry if the bird thinks such a thing will tell his master where he had been."
"I'm not sure I follow," I said puzzled.
"Say when we were in Spargus Woods," Kai said, "Say the bird snatched a twig from one of the elder trees there. Such a twig would give who ever owns that bird a good idea of where we are, if he knew we were heading north, then he knows we are near elder trees in Spargus Woods."
"And the only are in those woods that grows elders is the deep forest," I finished as I understood.
"Exactly, that bird knows what it is doing," he said, "It's kept up with us thus far, I just want to know who sent it."
I could see he needed some time to think, so I left him alone and went to go look for Fenris. The dog-man had found a place at the fore, watching the ship cut through the waves, as the wind began to carry us, belling out the great sails over our heads. I heard the scrape of the wood as the oars were racked below us and we began to sail purely on wind power.
"Hi," I said as walked up next to the lupine. He turned to me and nodded, his ears tipping forwards.
"Morning," he replied.
"So what do you think of the captain?" I asked him.
"Why do you ask me?" he returned.
"Because so far, with everyone we've met, you're the first one to formulate an opinion on them," I said, leaning backwards with my elbows up on the rail, "You're a very calculating man."
"Ah, I see you've noticed," he said with a slight smile.
"That I did, so now if you'd answer my question, please," I giggled.
"The captain?" he said with a pause, then continued, "He seems harmless enough, though I would like to know what this 'god' is that we worships. Only two things bother me however. I have seen no religious symbols or paraphernalia about this ship, save the angel on the stern."
"Hmm, that is true," I looked around me, noticing this for the first time, surely a man as devout as the captain claimed to be would have some sort of symbol about, "And the other thing?"
"His speech," he said.
"What about it?" I asked.
"The man is a sea captain," he said, "I spoke with one of the sailors, they said he's been sailing these waters since before he could walk. Built his own ship, put together a crew and has been sailing ever since."
"Uh-huh," I continued, not really understanding.
"If he was born at sea, lived at sea, and has been surrounded by nothing but sailors," Fenris continued, "Ought he not possess their accent as well? Many sea captains are well spoken, but even so they have the accent of a buccaneer. And yet this man speaks like a gentleman, no slang, not even the slightest hint in his voice that would make one believe he commands a sea going ship."
"Hmm, I suppose," I nodded, it didn't really seem like a big deal, but it could be called a little suspicious, considering the circumstances, "Well, I'm going to go see how Mandra's doing." The dog-man gave me a nod and I headed below decks.
Down in the hold, crew men labored, racking this and stacking that, while other heft barrels up the stairs. I moved across the rocking wood beneath my feet before coming to the bunks. Mandra had been alone when I first brought her there, now the bunks were filled with mothers and children, some crying, others laughing while the mothers tried to corral their young offspring. I made my way through the ship towards the back five bunks that we had claimed for ourselves. Mandra was sitting upright on her bed, holding her large branch in one hand and the dagger in the other. She'd hacked off all the twigs, leaves, knots and any other irregularities, and had shortened the branch a bit to make it useable as a cane, rather than a staff. She appeared to be having some trouble.
"Problems?" I asked as I sat on my bunk, across from hers.
"This wood is hard," she said, "Harder than I had expected. It often repels my blade entirely."
"Magic?" I queried.
"Perhaps," she replied, "Though Yggdrasil's boughs are known for their strength," she said as she sawed hard, finally succeeding in shaving off an irregular edge of the cane. She twirled it experimentally. It was long enough to reach the ground from her hand if she were walking, but short enough to use as if it were a sword of some sort. I drew my own dagger and held it up. Mandra brought the stick down on the edge of my blade hard. There was a dull thunk, as we hacked both weapons at each other, and then Mandra withdrew the stick satisfied with the experiment. She examined the wood and smiled as I looked as well. The stick had suffered no injury, not even a nick from my blade.
"If it is that strong," I said, "How do you intend to carve it?"
"I suppose with magic," she frowned, realizing that this would indeed be a kink in her plans for the stick, "A well trained mage, ought to be able to do something against it, brand the runes in perhaps."
"That could work," I nodded leaning back in my bunk, as Mandra swept the wood shavings through the cracks in the wood floor. A horn sounded from somewhere overhead, and a metal pipe that ran across the ceiling overhead rattled, and then a voice came out of it.
"To all below deck," the captains voice echoed through the hollow metal tube, though at sometime sit was faint if he didn't speak loud enough, "We are informing you that we will be sailing silent within the hour. An unconfirmed sighting has just been made by the lookout. During this time we ask that you keep all sound to a minimum and that you remain at your bunks. Thank you."
The mothers around us quickly shushed their children and gathered them to themselves, trying to keep them quiet. I looked at Mandra puzzled.
"How did he manage that?" I whispered.
"Manage what?" she asked. I pointed up at the pipe.
"That! His voice coming out of the pipe?" I asked.
"It is an aluminum tube, belled at our end, with an audio magnifying cone at the other," Fenris said as he and Kai walked slowly over to us, Kita was riding my brothers shoulders.
"What?" I asked.
"He talks into the tube on one end, and the sound travels through the empty tube down to us," Kai explained. I nodded, only half understanding, but deciding that it wasn't important.
"So… what did they see?" Mandra asked as Kita scrambled off my brother's shoulders and into her bunk.
"They think they saw Charybdis," Kai replied as he sat next to me. Fenris vaulted up into his bed over Mandra's head.
"How close?" I asked.
"They didn't say," Fenris replied, "But there are clouds gathering overhead, they believe Charybdis control over water will allow him to bring rain upon us, and possibly conjure a storm."
"He means to destroy us?" Mandra asked. There were shrugs all around. None of really knew what the creature was capable of, or what he might do.
Mid-day came and passed before the storm finally broke upon us. The ships rocking increased, forcing Mandra to go back to bed. After a few hours of chatting, Kai decided he wanted to go exploring, and examine the ship below decks. Kita was taking a nap, so Fenris joined him and I decided not to be left behind. We made our way out of the bunks and to the under deck, which we walked across. Sailors moved this and that, and we often had to stop entirely as a particularly large barrel would require the entire space of the hall to be moved. Our progress continued until we reached the ships mess, where the sailors ate. Spying another set of stairs, Fenris led us downwards another level. The second level was the hold, and so we went down once more… to find ourselves in the dark. A single sputtering torch sat in a bracket on the wall, though it did little to illuminate the darkness. Kai took it from its place on the wall and stepped forwards. There appeared to be an aisle of some sort, leading down the center of the deck. Kai lifted the torch a little higher as we passed a bench. We examined it with curiosity once Fenris noticed a pair of shackles anchored at the base. Kai continued a little further.
"Guys…" he said. We followed and I gasped. This bench was occupied. An old man, half naked, and chained to the bench sat sleeping. His head rested on a long pole in front of him, to which his hands were chained.
"Kai," I said as I examined the pole, "I think this is an oar," and indeed it was. A thirty foot long wooden oar, was attached by shackles to the old mans wrists. At the moment the oar was racked to keep it inside the ship and out of the water. The man began to stir.
"Sir? Are you alright?" Kai asked.
"Gimme," I said as I took the torch from him and proceeded down the aisle. In the dim light I could see there were other oar slaves on either side of me, but I continued towards the front. As I had expected, there was a large drum, and to the right of the drum sat a big bronze tub filled with some liquid. I looked at the tub, stepped back and tossed the torch in. The moment the torch touched the surface, the liquid burst into flames, flaring bright and hot. It illuminated the room, revealing many rows of benches, each with at least two oar slaves chained to an oar.
"Wow…" Fenris said as he looked around. The slaves began to stir, quickly waking and taking hold of their oars. They looked at us, blinking from the brightness of the light, looking rather fearful. My brother took charge of the situation.
"Excuse me," he said a little loudly, I saw Fenris motion for him not to make too much noise, "Excuse me," he repeated, then pointed to a young man upfront, "You there, who are you?"
"Jacob, from Capitan, sir," he said, cowering slightly.
"Jacob," Kai said, "How did you get here?"
"We were captured sir," he said, "This ship, landed on our shores after a group of bandits raided our town. They promised safe passage to the south…. But halfway through the voyage we were all taken below decks and chained down here. After that, they made us row the ship, often for days when the winds went foul."
"Are all of you from Capitan?" Fenris asked.
"There are a few Guntzians over there," Jacob pointed, and in the corner five bull men raised their heads.
"Are there any other slaves on this ship?" Kai asked.
"Down the stairs, on the lowest deck," Jacob said, "The ship kidnapped some women from Tunlan, they've been locked down there… to be used by the sailors." That made my blood boil.
"Alright, I say we have a talk with the captain," I said.
"Agreed," Fenris said, "No man should be made to live like a dog." Coming from him, the statement was slightly humorous and I stifled a giggle. He frowned when he caught the irony, "Come on." We headed down the aisle past the slaves, and Kai stopped before we left.
"We'll be back to free you," he said, "One way or another."
We headed upwards, past sailors, of whom our opinion has been greatly lessened, and across the deck. After much coaxing, I convinced the boys that the captain might try to imprison us as well, and so we returned to our bunks to gather our weapons. I woke Mandra and told her what was happening. After a moment, she insisted on going with us, reasoning that if we fought, we'd need her to heal us. She picked up her shield and new wand.
"Wait," Fenris said as he looked about, "Where's Kita?"
We cast about, searching the bunks, the little cat-girl was no where to be found. Kai strapped on his sword and frowned.
"The captain," he said. Fenris growled and led the way out of the bunks, up the stairs and opened the hatch to the main deck.
The rain was pouring in sheets, as we stumbled across the rocking deck of the ship. The waves around us were incredible, often times seeming to tower over the ship, before crashing down back into the sea. We slid across the slick deck, while Fenris helped Mandra along. Kai finally reached the door of the captain's chamber and pounded on the door. Against the buffeting wind, he wrenched the door open and we stumbled inside, letting the door slam shut behind us.
"Where is she!" Fenris barked. Kai placed a hand on his chest and stepped in front of him. Before us was a long table, and at the far end was a small fire place. Windows on either side of the room looked out into the black roiling seas. At the end of the table, before the fire place was a large chair, in which sat the captain.
"Now now, temper my good Lupine," the captain said, as he turned slowly in his chair, "You wouldn't want to upset the poor kitty would you?" As he turned to us, he revealed a malicious smirk, though it was not as horrifying as what he held. It was Kita, sitting, trembling on his lap with a collar and chain around her neck. He was slowly stroking her hair as if he were petting a kitten.
"Get your hands…" Fenris lunged, and Kai held him back. I stepped forward.
"Sir? Could we have our companion back?" I asked adding a note of sweetness to my voice.
"You think your self sly of tongue serpent?" he replied with a dark chuckle, "But you do not know how much I know."
"You knew," Kai said, "You knew we'd found the slaves."
"And that you would try to free them," he replied, "Of course. But I cannot allow you to do so. You see, they feed our God."
"Your God?" I asked.
"Yes, the greatest force of this world," he said, "He feeds upon the souls of men. Their fear, their misery, their brokenness of will and spirit gives him strength, and we must give him power that he might rise once more. Their terror brings him sustenance, even as the trembling of this poor little girl gives him strength," he looked at Kita as he stroked her hair. My attention was suddenly drawn to the Tear. It was swirling through it's colors, growing darker and darker.
"Just let them go, and we won't have any more problems until we reach the port," Kai said.
"Ah, if it were only that easy," the captain said rising, then stepping up onto the table he began walking towards us, the light in the room seemed to dim, "But I am afraid, that there will be no peace for you. Your kind has meddled enough, and now your quest has come to an end."
My eyes were locked on the tear, as it grew darker… and finally turned to black, the color of evil. Then the tear began to glow, first softly, then greater, emitting a terrible black light from its depths. The captain tossed Kita at us, and Fenris caught her.
"Out, now!" Kai cried, opening the door as Mandra stumbled out, already preparing a healing spell. Fenris followed and I was last, as I drew my bow from its quiver. Kai slammed the door behind him and we skidded down to the deck. There was a loud bellow behind us, and the door to the captain's cabin blew outwards. Kai and Fenris drew their blades.
"All hands, on deck!" the captain roared above the storm. Across the deck, every hatch opened, and sailors crawled out.
Through the rain we could barely see them, and I notched an arrow to my bow. The sailors began to advance, slowly and methodically. Kita scrambled onto Fenris' back, holding on with her legs and tail, leaving his arms free to fight. As the sailors stepped forwards I could now see they were no longer men, if indeed that had been in the first place. They were grey skinned, and warty, with bulbous eyes that were entirely black. Claws on their hands and feet, dug into deck as long, red tongues curled around the wicked knives they held in their fangs. A long, spiked tail whipped behind them as the crawled forwards, and the Tear shone brighter than ever with the black of their evil hearts.
"Slay the dragons!" the captain ordered,
The sailors, who I now realized bore a great resemblance to some of the lesser demons that had attacked our town, jumped a full thirty feet into the air, and came down at us, like a wave to smash us. I opened fire, while Mandra scrambled away to safety. Two fell, pierced by my arrows, before I was forced to jump back as they slammed into the deck. Kai and Fenris rushed forwards, this was their work. My brother's sword flashed as a demon fell with it's throat torn. One jumped on his back, and Kai rolled forwards, straddled the demons chest, and impaled him. Fenris, though obviously enraged, displayed a warrior's form that was cool and calculating. His strikes were precise and swift, barely giving the demons a chance to touch him. Where my brother utilized speed and creativity, Fenris traded these for focus and precision. One lunged at the dog-man's back, but was repelled by a fierce scratch across the face from Kita's claws. The little cat girl was doing her part as well, angrily swinging her little claws at anything that got close enough. It was almost cute.
Kai suffered a blow to the stomach, and a scratch down his back from a pair of claws. Both demons soon died for their insults. I rushed in as well, firing and reloading, missing occasionally, but never more than once. Behind me I felt a spike of magic as Mandra attempted a healing spell, though this one was stronger than those she had used before.
"Cure Well!" she cried, a little woozily.
A green light surrounded Kai and instantly all his wounds were healed. Not only this, but the blood that had been drawn from the cuts appeared to dry up as well. A demon sailor tackled me, and I thrust an arrow through his eye, before notching it to my bow and taking another down through the back. Though we were outnumbered, the sailors were not gaining any ground, and were actually losing. I realized with excitement that we were indeed winning. Bodies lay about us, and we had yet to suffer any truly staggering wounds. With a cry, Kai leapt upon the final sailor and slew him, withdrawing his blade as he looked up at the captain.
"Well done," the captain said a she began to walk down towards us. His body began to change, expanding somehow, his skin melting away as we could see the muscle structure beneath, "But you will not survive me!" His muscles suddenly began to flay from the bone, forming into long tentacles. His head expanded, growing into that of a shark as a large dorsal fin exploded from his back. His arms were gone, replaced by tentacles that bore razor sharp bones, and his feet and legs had melted together into a long fin. He roared to the thundering sky, transformed into a demon. He turned to us and snarled.
"Give your heart to God!" he gnashed, then charged.
Kai did not hesitate, and rushed into his charge, with Fenris right behind him. Dodging lashing tentacles, they attacked, while I notched three arrows and shot them. All three were lashed out of the air by a single tentacle, I could see that this would be a difficult battle. I began to search my memory, trying to find something that would be helpful from my training. As Mandra cast a Cure on Fenris, I caught a memory of my mother's instructions on bows. I lifted an arrow from my quiver, playing her words over in my head.
"Often times, in dire need, you will find the need for greater power," she said, as she notched an arrow to the bow, "You will need your weapon to give you its all, to hand its very power to you. But ironically it works the other way around. You must focus on your weapon, and give yourself to it. Let the weapon guide you so that no longer do you use it, but it will use you. It will unleash your true strength according to its own nature," She raised the arrow, aimed for the target, hesitated then released. The arrow blazed with blue light and she gasped as it flew forwards, struck the target, and blew straight through.
I notched my arrow to the bow and took aim. Rather than concentrate, I let go, released my conscious want to control and felt only the arrow and bow in my grip. As I pulled back the string, I suddenly focused, though it was not through my eyes, it was through my arrow. My… other vision locked onto the demon's body, I pulled my string taut…. and let fly. The arrow blazed blue and sang through the rain. The tentacles that lashed it were torn through and the arrow found its mark in the demon's chest. It roared in pain as smoking holes were left in its tentacles as well as the discomfort from the arrow buried deep in its chest.
"Get him!" Fenris roared a she grappled with several tentacles.
My arrow had served as a distraction, and Kai rushed in to attack the beast directly. I drew another arrow to the bow and waited for my brother to get out of the way. The rain was coming down harder, blurring all vision. I could barely see Kai slashing, though I could catch spurts of red as his blade drew blood.
"Look out!" Mandra's terrified shriek rang through the storm.
I looked at her, and then off the port bow where she was looking. A fifty foot wall of water towered over the ship, but unlike the other waves, this one wasn't breaking. Lighting flashed, and we were shadowed by the plume as it came crashing down. Fenris flung himself against the mast as Kai desperately grabbed for the rigging. I had just enough time to grab a loose coil of rope, wrap it several times around my arm and hold on, when the water hit us. I took a deep breath and was suddenly wrenched from the deck and flung upwards as the torrent of water carried me. The rope snapped taut and I held on for dear life. The moments seemed like an eternity and for a terrible second I fear the entire ship would be sunk. And then there was air. I fell back to the deck, coughing and spitting briny sea water, searching for my comrades. Mandra had nearly been flung from the ship and had only be saved because her foot had caught in the riggings. Fenris pulled his claws out of the mast as Kai climbed down to the deck. We looked around, the demon was no where to be seen.
"Where…" Fenris began.
"Eek!" Kita screamed, jumped off his shoulders and tackled Kai backwards. A fraction of a second later the demon fell from the yard arm and crashed to the deck, it's spiny tentacles thunking into the wood.
"This needs to end!" Fenris roared, "Cover me!"
"I got you!" I ran backwards, releasing arrow after arrow.
The beast's tentacles were still stick in the wood giving me a clear shot at the head. When it finally freed itself it rushed after me. I stopped firing and ran, as Fenris swept in from the side. A tentacle snaked out and caught my foot. I yelped as I was lifted over the demons head, and slammed into the ground on the other side. The demon went to sling me again, when a singing blade slashed its tentacle in half. All the air had been knocked from my lungs, so I could not even cry out in pain as the severed end of the tentacle bore its spines into my leg. Mandra was next to me in a moment, wresting the spines from my leg as she placed a hand on my chest.
"Cure Well," she whispered and the pain left my body.
I took a deep breath and sat up, Kai and Fenris were keeping the thing occupied. Rather than attack it directly, they had formed a new plan, rid the creature of its tentacles. Blood spurted through the rain, and the demon roared in pain as again and again it's appendages were severed by the sharp swords. Kai hacked through the last one as the demon stumbled backwards.
"Our God will still be strong, we will feed him the souls of all on this ship," he raised his head and gave a sharp whistle, "Slay the passengers!" Kai was on him in a moment, thrusting his blade through the demons neck and giving it a sharp twist. The demon stumbled backwards, oozing blood everywhere and gurgling as if it was still trying to speak. Finally it toppled backwards, and yet managed to speak one last taunt.
"You have slain me…grrk," he gurgled, "But you cannot stop the might of God!" and so he died, blood frothing through his mouth to run in the rain across the deck. Kai stepped back and wiped demon blood from his face.
"We have to save the passengers," he said, "Get below, quick!"
"Kai! We're going to crash!" Mandra's voice rang out from the stern.
Fenris was wasting no time and he and Kita dropped below through the first available hatch. I leaned off the starboard bow and gasped. Before us great spires of rock loomed dark out of the raging waters. Jagged and sharp, if the ship hit even one of them we would all sink to the bottom. Kai wheeled, grabbed Mandra's arm and ran back across the deck.
"Seiya, help Fenris!" he cried, then pointed to the helm, "Mandra steer us hard to starboard!"
"What about you?" I screamed as I pulled open the hatch.
"We've got to furl the sails or this wind will drag us right into those rocks no matter how we steer," he yelled back as he jumped and started climbing the riggings, "Seiya go save them!"
Without further hesitation I dropped and landed on the deck below in a crouch. Notching an arrow and jogged down the hallway. As I turned a corner, I ran smack into a demon sailor, and the five behind him tumbled to the floor. I stood up first, just as the demon furthest from me stood as well. A twang of my bow string released the arrow into his head. As the demon nearest me moved to attack, I cracked him over the head with my bow, and crushed his throat with a hard stomp to his neck. Drawing my dagger I caught the fist of the second demon, stabbed him in the chest and twisted the blade into his heart. Back flipping away, I ran down the hall as the other three gave chase. The hall ahead made a sharp ninety degree turn, leaving a flat wall straight in front of me. I jump, planted both feet on the wall and sprang backwards, tackling the foremost demon. We tumbled head over heels past the other two and I ended up on top. Drawing and arrow I plunged it through his neck and rolled over as one of his comrades attempted to crush me with its tail. I spun to my feet and dealt the demon a hard roundhouse, slamming his head into the wall. He stumbled dazed, and as the other lunged I drew three throwing blades and flung them. They thunked into his head, making a perfect ridge from his forehead to his nose. He crashed to the ground as I drew an arrow, notched it to the bow and finished the final demon with a bolt to the heart. Retrieving my arrows I rushed to the nearest cabin, where refugees were huddling in fear of the storm overhead.
"Everyone on deck!" I shouted. They simply stared at me for a moment, "All passengers to the life boats, we're about to crash, everyone on deck!"
That got them moving. Grabbing what few belongings the still had, the men and women gathered their children and rushed down the hall. In the opposite direction I could hear the sounds of combat. After the cabin had been emptied I ran down the hall, following the ring of blades. I turned the corner to find Fenris withdrawing his katana from a demon's chest. The dog man looked up at me and frowned.
"I think that's all the passengers," he said.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"I haven't seen anymore, now to go free those slaves," he said. I flushed, having completely forgotten the slaves. Then I had an idea.
"Wait a minute…" I said, "Fenris, go down there, we'll contact you via the metal tube thingy."
I ran back up the stairs and burst through the hatch into the pouring rain. The refugees huddled near the main mast, shivering in the rain. I ran up to the helm and looked upwards, to find that Kai was lashing down the last sail. Mandra was struggling with the helm, and was putting up a valiant effort, but the rudder in the water was simply to strong for her. She had, however, succeeded in pulling us off our collision course with the rocks, unfortunately our current course set us to pass straight through them. I looked up, Kai was standing on the end of a yard arm, holding onto a rope and peering out to sea. Then he swung down, and scrambled down the riggings. He approached the helm, wiping rain water from his eyes.
"Is that everyone?" he yelled.
"Except the slaves," I replied, "Fenris is down there now. We're going to free them, but we need them first."
"What for?" he asked.
"We'll never turn away from these rocks," I said, "The wind is too strong. But with the help of the oars we can maneuver through them."
"Are you insane?" he shrieked, "One mistake and we're all dead!"
"Then we can't make any mistakes," Mandra said pulling her drenched hair out of her face, "We haven't any other choice."
"Alright," Kai sighed, "Help Mandra with the helm, I'll go down and…"
"Use the tube," I said.
"The tube?"
"The tube," I pointed to a large cone that attached to a metal tube that sunk into wood and blow the deck. He caught my idea and moved to the contraption. Placing his lips to the end he called into it.
"Fenris you down there?" he put his ear to the tube, and we heard faintly.
"Ready and waiting Kai," he said.
"Are those people unchained," Kai asked.
"Yes, and the women from below are on their way up to the deck as we speak," Fenris' reply came.
"Alright, we're going to row our way out of this," he said, "I spotted a port not to far off, we just have to get through these rocks, you ready?"
"Give us orders," Fenris replied. The rocks loomed close.
"Here we go," I said under my breath. Mandra was holding one side of the helm while I grasped the other. There was no turning back now. The first rock passed us harmlessly by, casting its terrible shadow over us as lighting thrashed overhead.
"Hard to port!" I cried as another spire loomed far too close. We turned fast and hard as Kai relayed the orders. For a moment I feared that we would not turn enough, and then the oars gave us the extra push. The ship rocked to it's port side as he narrowly missed the jagged stone. Another pillar of rock, and then another, in a way our attempt was exhilarating, and terrifying at the same time. I could hardly believe it was working.
"Rack oars!" Kai yelled into the cone. Before us two pillars stood directly next to each other. They would give us little enough room to pass between them, and the oars would surely be shorn off if they were not pulled in quickly. We held the helm steady as he moved towards the narrow passage, far to fast for my comfort. There was a light scraping as the stone gouged the wood, but we shot through.
"Oh no…" I whispered. Directly in front of us, too close to evade stood another pillar, this one much wider than the others.
"Hard starboard, hard starboard!!!" Kai cried to Fenris and us. Mandra spun the wheel hard and I pulled as fast as I could. The ship leaned to the right at so great an angle I feared we would capsize.
"Almost, almost…" I grunted as the rudder reached its maximum turn and we held it hard. We could see the sea beyond, we were almost free…. When with a terrible jolt we felt the bite of stone into our keel. The wind and waves were still pushing us, but we were slowing to a halt.
"Hold on!" Fenris' voice rang out of the tube. I peered towards the port bow. From my vantage point I could barely see, but I caught a glimpse of an oar scraping on the rock. They were trying to push us.
"Unfurl the sails!" Kai cried. For the first time, a few of the towns people made themselves useful, climbing up the ropes and working at the knots that had tied down the large sails.
We could hear the scraping of the oars, and then a cry from below as we heard the snap of wood. Above the sails belled out, catching wind. I could hear the yells of the men as they attempted to tie down the ends of the sails to the arms.
"We're taking on water," Fenris roared.
"Get up here, we'll have to abandon the…" Kai cried.
"No! We'll get out…. Now!" Fenris' voice held strain, and I could imagine the dog man struggling against an oar. More snapping wood, the oars were breaking. We held to the helm, lighting flashed over head… and suddenly we were free. We splashed into the water, and behind us a great wave caught our keel and pushed us forwards. The wind and waves thrust us out and away from the rocks, into open waters. A cry of triumph echoed from below, and the refugees on deck joined with hoots of their own. I released the wheel and sat back, exhausted. Kai cried out in exaltation, Fenris howled from below decks and Mandra hugged Kai in excitement. I smiled and laughed looking forwards, and I paled. Something white was coming up fast, far too fast.
"Land!" I cried.
"Yeah it…" Kai said, still not comprehending.
"No! Land!" I shrieked. The water gave way to white sand, and then we hit. The entire ship shuddered and as we were thrown forwards. I tumbled head over heels, sailed for a moment and then struck something, hard. Weakly I attempted to push myself up… and collapsed, as the falling rain beat me into unconsciousness.