A/N—thanks to all those who review my story. It really means a lot to see people take their time to write their thought and opinions.
Enjoy! (R&R)
The wind had picked up, making it hard to steer the boat effectively; although the boat needed little persuasion to tug downstream. At one point I thought I caught a glimpse of the pirates' raft, but as I drew nearer, and it got no farther ahead, I realized it was just a sharp rock.
The moon was high by the time the river widened and the current picked up. I coasted along down stream, scanning the water for boats and the riverbed for signs that the pirates and disembarked and were continuing on land. But I was unsuccessful. Either the pirates had disappeared off the face of the earth, or they were too far ahead for me to see them. I wasn't sure which option was better considering that the pirates held the upper hand in every way.
Immersed in my thoughts as I was, I didn't notice the fork in the river until I was almost on top of it. Cursing loudly, I deliberated about which path to take. The right side was rockier, but the rushing current showed that this way lead to open waters. The left side was narrower and calmer—ideal for inexperienced sailors like me, but an unnecessary precaution for ruthless pirates. But which to take?
In the end, the decision was out of my hand. Unbeknownst to me, caught up as I was with the decision, the current had quickened, heightening it pace and carrying me to the churning waters.
My boat was slammed against a rock and I fell over, gasping in pain as I rubbed my head where it was slammed into the boats hull. As I sat, grimacing in pain, once again the boat crashed into a rock sending pain screaming up my hand as I instinctively grabbed the boat edges to keep my balance and got my fingers crushed against the merciless rocks as a reward.
I felt like one big bruise, and I swore that I would never step foot on a boat again, Mithros strike me if I lie. I wasn't sure how much more my battered body could take. I had taken beatings in the past, being a Knight of the Realm had its downsides, but never have I been beaten by something I couldn't beat back.
The water was merciless, a solid mass of fury. The boat was repeatedly slammed into one rock after another until, with some relief, I emerged from the rapids into the calm waters near the center of the river. Goddess bless. Something went right. Little did I know how wrong I was.
The boat careened down the river floating happily along when I felt a tug on the boat. It didn't worry me at first, but as the pull became more insistent, there was no denying that something was amiss.
With mounting dismay I surveyed the water and realized the tide had picked up once again. This time, however, instead of leading me towards rapids, I was being pulled towards a monster of a maelstrom.
I pushed aside panic, but I knew inside that this was a force I couldn't fight. Give me ogres, trolls, immortals, bully's, for all I care. I'd send them back in pieces if I so chose: but nature was a force I couldn't recon with—against nature I was powerless.
The boat had neared the outer rings of the monster. Here the pull was more insistent. I paddled as fast and as hard as I knew how against the tow, but it was no use. The boat stubbornly approached the behemoth with conviction, taking its unwilling passenger with it.
Though I had stared Death in the face many times, this time wasn't like any other. I had always wished to die in battle—fighting my heart out till the last. This was a death that would bring me no honor—and I could honestly say my honor is my life. I closed my eyes in desperation fighting back tears.
Goddess, Mithros, Trickster, ANYBODY! If you get me out of this alive, I'll…I stopped. What could I offer a god that they couldn't get for themselves? Despair filled me once more, but I replaced the hateful emotions with fraudulent bravado. I closed my eyes for what must be the last time.
Slowly, I embraced death…
It never came. Just as I was about to be encompassed by the unforgiving rings of the maelstrom, a firm hand seized my waist and drew my in. I grasped at the hands and held on tight. I was dragged from the boat (I seized my weapons before the faithful thing capsized) and then all I breathed was water.
I drew in a ragged breath, but choked as water poured into my empty lungs. Blackness threatened to overwhelm me, but I stubbornly held on.
When we finally reached land, I was on the edges of consciousness. Slowly I thrust myself back to reality to face this new challenge. Kneeling in front of me, gasping for breath, was a young man. His clothes were muddy and torn and dripping from his hard swim. I went over to him and helped him stand—though I could have used some assistance myself.
"Thank you," I said meaningfully, "you saved my life."
The boy nodded, neither denying nor acknowledging, and studied me with a critical eye. Once he was assured I was all right, he sat and motioned for me to do the same. My mind was filled with questions: who was this youth? Why was he here? How did he know where I was? Why would he risk his life for me?
I started with the obvious. "Who are you?"
"My name's Caden," the boy said and then continued, "and you are Lady Knight Keladry." I raised my eyebrows in surprise—how did he know who I was? —but gave no more of my emotions away.
"Ok, Caden. Why are you here?" May as well get the facts straight. "And no lies, mind you, I'm not feeling kindly disposed to anyone right now."
Caden nodded gravely. "Lady Keladry, don't you recognize me?" I stared him up and down blinking rapidly as though that would help jog my memory. Finally I shook my head in defeat.
"I'm sorry, but I've got no idea as to who you might be."
"Well, like I said, m'name's Caden." I frowned with displeasure. Now was no time to joke, especially with my mood tried as it was right now. Caden, seeing my displeasure, hurriedly added, "I was one o' them boys up on the ramparts in Isolda. The town you got this boat from," he clarified
"And what, if I may inquire, are you doing here? I left you on the riverbank back at—Isolda, is it—so how came you here?" Why had the boy followed me all the way from his home? Did the boys mistrust me so much that they sent one of their own to make sure I stayed my distance and left their village without harming anyone? It seemed a long shot. I was well away from their village before I saw the boys turn back to guard duty, so what in the devil's name was the boy doing here?
"I'm sorry Caden, but I'll need more than that. I left you in Isolda with those other ungrateful whelps, and now I am miles away from there."
Caden didn't answer right away. He avoided my gaze and seemed unusually interested in a speck of dirt on his nail. Finally he straightened his back, thrust out his chin stubbornly and said, "Take me with you."
I could honestly admit that I didn't expect that.
"Why?" I pursued him for details.
He sighed before he answered, as if stealing himself, then said "My Mother was taken by pirates when I was nine. My dad and brother fought the pirates off but 'twas no good. I watched as the pirates slaughtered them. My sister, she was but five at the time, heard the noise. I tried to stop her, I did, but…" he stopped sobbing quietly at painful memories. I didn't push him, but he felt compelled to finish, "They killed her too and threw her body into the latrine out back as if she was some common mule meat. My baby, my baby sister." He whispered the last line and closed his eyes in pain. When he opened them, his gaze was cold and determined.
"I want to get revenge for what they done to me. I want blood."
"It's too dangerous," I began, but that was the wrong thing to say.
"I know how to fight. I can fend for myself. I'll be no burden, really, I did just save your life." I had to admit he had a point.
"How did you save my life, might I inquire?" I asked curiously, more to distract him than because I really cared.
"I tied this rope around my waist and tied the other end to this tree. Then I jumped in after you and hauled us back in. The rope saved me from being pulled under. But don't change the subject. Whether you like it or not, I am coming with you. If you say no, I will just follow you. I'm good at tracking. I followed you all the way here, didn't I?"
I could see he wouldn't be deterred. Finally I nodded reluctantly and admitted, "I could use the extra hand." The grin on his face made the whole thing worth it. But agreeing to let him come reminded me why I was there.
The pirates; the children—I was chasing the pirates and I had lost them. There was no way they had come this way. They would have known about this maelstrom and taken the left fork. And now they were getting farther and farther away from me.
Caden saw the desperation in my eyes.
"Cheer up, Kel," he said, though I had given him no permission to use that nickname, "Pirate's got to eat, don't they? Thanks to you, they hadn't taken any food from the village beyond ours, save the children, so they have to dock somewhere nearby for provisions. No one, not even pirates, can last in these seas without supplies."
The world was looking better already: I had company, and all hope was not lost. I smiled timidly at Caden and he returned the grin.
"Lady Knight, I'm glad I met you—now let's get some pirate scum!"