Chapter 8
We set out at sawn, hoping to reach South Port by noon. Landi looks pale, a grim set on her face. I try to gently probe her thoughts, but she had shielded them, and all I get is a blank wall. "Landi?" I ask, but she just shakes her head and nods to the road. I settle down on Loka's back, tucking my face into her flapping mane.
We reach South port by noon, while the city is awake and bustling. Dropping our horses off at an inn, we head for the docks, scouting out boats that will take us to Lienid.
I must have scoured the minds of hundreds of sailors, not all of them pretty, before we find a ship that is heading to Lienid, and would leave in two days time. The only problem was that we couldn't take the horses. The innkeeper said he would take care of them, but a quick glance at his mind showed that our horses would be much better off at a different place.
We asked around the port city, and were finally directed to a small house on the outskirts of town. The lady who owned it was graced, and I could tell that she would be good to our horses before I even looked in on her. We returned to the inn, satisfied that all was taken care of.
The ship set sail at dawn, shrouded in cloaks we hopped aboard with the other few passengers. Almost as soon as I set foot on the deck, I could tell there was going to be a problem. My stomach tossed and turned, and instantly I turned as green as the new spring grass.
"I'll be at the railing." I gasped to Landi and rushed off.
Landi on the other hand, was a different tale all together. I t seemed as though she was born at sea, and the sailors took and instant liking to her. By the third day she was scampering up posts and ropes, the sea breeze blowing her long curls behind her. She wears her "Landi grin." As I call it, all the time, and when she sees me it gets even bigger, if that's possible.
On about the second week, I finally get my sea legs, just as a storm chooses that moment to wreck havoc upon our small dinghy. The captain orders us into the cargo, and we bottle ourselves into tiny cabins, getting tossed about with the waves. Both Landi and I stare in distress through the pot-hole when the waters are calm enough. Landi gets more frustrated with each passing day, and though she tries to hide it, it seeps around her barriers and into the air.
On the 7th day of storms, we are allowed to go on deck. The sky is a clear baby blue, and the waves lap gently at the sides of the boat. Landi comes up behind me, jumping and screaming. "Rhaka, Rhaka! Look, look!"
I lean over the railing, my hair flying behind me over my back. The wind brings tears to my eyes. I raise my hands and scream into the wind.
There on the horizon, the sun just peaking over its towering cliffs, are the glittering peaks of Lienid.
"Landi!" I shout to her and hugging her close. "We're there! We're here! We finally made it!"
And Landi gives me one of her giant Landi grins and hugs me back.
