Chapter Fifteen
Wisp Tail
Small waves lapped gently against the hull of the vessel as it approached the harbour and gulls squawked in fury as they were forced to leave the icy waters. The isles of El'Midador are in one of the most remote places in the world, a place so remote that it is only docked at by chance if a ship were to be thrown off course in a storm. Not for the Crimson Dawn however, it had been docking in the Capital ever since it had first set sail and had brought all types of trade to these end-of-the-world islands. The El'Midador horses were some of the most sought after in the world: the fertile soil filled with minerals and vitamins combined with a very selected breeding made for the fastest, toughest, strongest and smartest mounts over all the lands.
Only the strongest survived the weather conditions; it was sweltering in the summer and then during the winter the lush plains turned to fields of snow and the waterways would freeze over; a stark comparison to when they dried completely during the hot weather. If a horse couldn't survive, it didn't. After the colts and fillies reached three they were cut from the herd by the El'Midador people and trained to the impractical specifics of Tahakén. If they passed with the same untameable fire they had going into it they would be sold to Tahakén, however most were left broken beyond repair and left to die. Others, such as the ones the Dawn was about to purchase, were the weaker ones, cast from the herd after they were weaned and left to die from all manners of wild beasts, these were saved and trained to become the best mounts outside those from Tahakén.
The people were just as rough as the horses: loud and arrogant they were but fiercely loyal. If someone gained their loyalty it took a lightning bolt and one of their own to change their stance. They were as fierce and as beautiful as the land they lived off.
Two giants with muscles flexing like bands of iron took the mooring lines and tied the Dawn to the dock. Within moments the gangplank was slid across the gap and onto the wooden dock, Alanna gazed around her curiously as she crossed the plank and walked on land for the first time in many months, thankful to be on land.
The shape of the self-titled port, capital and island El'Midador looked as though the hand of a giant had crafted it. If one were to look upon the biggest island from above, they would see, through the smoke spilling from the volcano, a stretch of land, narrow and long. Small waterways scattered across the mountainous terrain and joined one big river, though it would be small by any other country's standards. It was guarded fiercely as well as the rest of the island by sharp rocks. Ironically naturally, a path cut through the rocks and up the river.
To reach the port, ship needed a very careful captain: heading northwest on the eastern side of the island, the ship entered a cluster of rocks and had navigated slowly south through tricky turns until it reached the mouth of the river.
After reaching the end of the river the waters opened to reveal a small crystal clear lake and flashes of silver would accompany the vessel up to the makeshift dock before darting back into shallower waters. Looking before you, you would see vibrant green fields before they gave way to slopes of great trees and on days when the wind blew the other way you could see the chilling beauty of lava slowly spilling down into the frigid sea.
On frosty nights, especially those of the full moon, eerie howling would echo across the islands, answered by a chorus of voices. Sometimes before the sun set, a great golden beast would lope onto the flat rocks spewed by the volcano long ago and bid the sun farewell with its roar. Nature would be silent then, as during the night but for the occasional scream of captured prey.
And on rare, very rare occasions a mournful humming would float down from the peaks and reduce all who listened to tears, even the land itself would weep. The mountain of El'Midador, the only one among the islands, was a sacred place to the people. Every year when the Crimson Dawn came they bought several large crates filled with the sweetest smelling substance. Several warriors would be chosen to guard the crates until morning and then the people would leave and not a single being would step foot on the mountain until the morning. The warriors never returned.
A passing Sailor saw the direction of her gaze and snorted. "I wouldn't be heading yonder unless you want to embrace death." As Alanna looked after him questioningly a second sailor came up behind her. "Them there mountains are a dangerous place, "he rumbled and told her a tale. It was drilled into children before they could walk: never ever stay upon the mountain during "Death's Song" for you would never return and all trace of you would be lost. Once a child had run from his home and decided to hide from his parents, thinking they would miss him and be worried. He was an accomplished hunter, warrior and tracker so his parents didn't fear for his safety, yes it would even teach the lad a lesson if he came across a pack or pride. Only when the song echoed down the crevices and across the plains did his parents fear. The father, a great chief, lea a group of warriors out after his son; they tracked him to the foot of the mountain when suddenly they heard a scream.
Yelling the warriors followed their chief up the slopes to the sacrificial grove, the place where the boxes where left, and charged out from the trees ready to face the "beast". All they found of the lad and the beast were the lad's weapons and a tooth of the first boar he had killed with only a sling.
With a roar of fury the chief swore a blood oath of revenge upon the beast and spirits for taking his son. He returned the next day and set alight to the trees and shrubs of the mountain, he stained the streams with the blood of any animal he came across and left their carcases to rot in the water.
The spirits became angry and the mountain rumbled, great fountains of magma burst from the volcanoes belly and into the dark day. The spirits are angry the people pleaded with the chief but he would not listen and when his mate was taken into death by air poisoning from the ash the chief raged. The people drove him out and then tried to make amends, they planted new seeds in the place of those taken by the fire and removed the animals from the streams and buried them with honour.
The volcano eventually subsided and the people thought things had returned to normal, unaware their banished chief was watching and waiting. During one of the "star rise" ceremonies that happened every century, the crazed chief stole a Wisp Tail before it could return to the Father-Star and hid it within the forest.
With a roar of fury nature turned upon the people; horses that had been loyal companions for decades threw their riders and then trampled them; the predators from the forests entered the villages and attacked everyone they came across; trees that once grew eatable fruit suddenly grew nettles and poisonous berries; the fish of the lake became diseased and the harvestable beasts were taken by the predators. The tribes of people were severally diminished by the time the cause for the disruption in the balance was found.
The defiant chief was dragged to the sacrificial grove and killed where the Wisp Tail was taken and his blood stained the earth crimson. The Wisp Tail was released along with the death of the chief with the hope that nature would return to normal. As soon as the Wisp had floated up into the sky and became another light among the stars the earth thundered.
Trees re-grew and dropped their poisonous fruits, livestock wandered back unharmed from the forests, furious horses became spirited companions; and predators slunk back into the shadows. Eventually the tale morphed to what was told around fires today and the only reminder of the legend was the bloody earth that made the sacrificial grove.
The sailors' eyes widened in mock terror as he completed his tale and slung his burden over his shoulder. He laughed at her wide eyes and carried on with his duties.
"Move," the first mate grunted as he and the second walked slowly across the plank and onto the docks, carrying a big black box between them. Alanna, unaware she had been gazing around her in wonder, stepped to the side and allowed them to pass. The two warriors hastened forward and positioned themselves under the box and helped carry the box beneath some trees next to the dock. As the box passed her Alanna's nose twitched and she leaned forward, wanting to inhale more of the delicious scent. A large hand on her shoulder stopped her from following the smell and she looked over to see Lyn standing close. He nodded towards the box, "Sweet isn't it? Try not to inhale too much of it, alright?" Alanna nodded; she had swiftly grown to trust the elder sailor and his easy but firm manner of teaching made for quick learning.
"Though this would be the first time I've seen someone so attracted to it," he said thoughtfully, watching as Alanna tried to shuffle closer to the box. A change in the wind bought the aroma back towards her and Alanna gasped, trying to inhale as much as she could before the wind shifted again.
"Interesting," Lyn muttered watching as her violet eyes widened and a spark appeared in them.
"What-what is it?" Alanna gasped as fire flooded her body and flashes of light exploded behind her eyes.
"It's a...ah... special substance..." he answered, skirting the question. Alanna noticed but chose not to comment and instead walked off the dock and onto the luscious grass.
"Alanna, " Captain Blair rumbled as he walked across the plank, "Buy whatever you want that is here, we won't be docking for at least another half month." Alanna sighed. Even though she had spent almost a year as a member of the crew she still loved being on solid ground, not that the ship was unstable but Alanna loved the feeling of grass beneath her as she gazed at the sky, the twine of a hammock was no substitute.
She nodded to Blair as he came up to her, "If you go somewhere let someone know. But stay close for tonight, we will be choosing from the herds tomorrow so get some rest." Walking forward he called greetings to some people he knew and he walked straight up into the tavern as though he owned it and marched inside. Alanna jumped up and down on the grass in joy, a great big grin crossing her face. Lyn smiled to himself at her almost childish glee and walked over to the boxes. No human would touch them and animals would give them a wide berth, but it never hurt to play it safe.
Finishing warding it he called to Alanna, "Come, it's my shout. Lariasha makes the best roast pheasant you will ever eat and the wine is a secret recipe passed down from generations."
Alanna stopped bouncing and beamed at him, her grin infections and loped over to him. For some reason she was really happy, almost deliriously so. She never noticed when Lyn frowned and glanced between her and the gleaming boxes in suspicion.
Alanna rode smugly next to Lyn as the First mate swayed dangerously across the back of the big bay beneath him. She didn't like the First Mate and she was sure the feeling was mutual; maybe it was because he was a sexist or because from the first day she had been taken on as Apprentice Mage he had been trying to turn everyone against her. Either way, watching the all capable and all macho First Mate struggle to ride a horse bareback amused Alanna to no end and she couldn't resist rubbing her superior skills in his nose.
She sighed with happiness; the sun was out, a small breeze danced through the blades of grass and she was on solid land. The horse beneath her was a beauty, tall, dark and incredibly handsome, his power haunches rippled as she held him at a trot. He snorted but kept to her restraint, even though she could tell he wanted to run and he was obviously intelligent. When he realised she could ride, that she knew what she was doing he had immediately tested her, to see what he could get away with. After trying, and failing, to buck her off he had become the most responsive horse she had ever ridden. He was very well trained and she said so, after that the natives were slightly kinder to her, but not by much.
She was used to being shunned, after all one cannot walk willingly and easily among the crew of the Dawn without suspicion, but these people took it to new extremes. At every new dock she was regarded as an outcast once they realised she was part of the crew and she was treated as though she were dirt. After a while she got used to it, though it still annoyed her. Maybe it was because she was supposedly unscarred or because the crew, with the exception of the First Mate, treated her as an equal, as a friend and as a woman, a young woman this was strange to these isolated peoples. But they treated their own woman well, better than well actually. Their women were treated with a great deal or respect and were obviously considered the equal of the greatest hunter. It was probably her hair and eyes she decided, they would never have seen purple eyes and they very rarely would see red hair.
Her mount snorted and tossed his mane and Alanna reached down stroked his neck and he quietened, though he still picked up his feet as though a show horse. The Captain looked back at her and after a word with the chief, who was riding next to him, gestured to her. Alanna nudged her horse and he willing and easily quickened his stride until he matched the stallion of Blair. His greys ears flew back but the chief barked a word and he snorted, but didn't strike out. "Ahead there is a very long field, which is used for pasture, which leads into a forest. We will be going through that forest and then it opens up into a valley. If you wish, you may gallop until you reach the forest." Blair glanced to the chief who rode a blood red mare and looked back to Alanna.
"There is a second stretch of plain to the other side of the island, "He lifted an arm and pointed to his right, "the river we came up separates the two plains. The cattle are currently on that side of the island so we won't disturb anyone."
Alanna grinned and shifted on the stallion as they cantered up a rise, her eyes gleaming. The sun shined brightly across leagues of lush grass and flocks of birds took fright as they saw the group.
She was about to urge her mount into a gallop when she remembered the chief. She glanced to him to see something flicker in his eyes, he inclined his head towards the pasture. Beaming she leaned forward and intertwined her fingers in long strands of dark brown mane and tightened her legs around his girth. Beneath her the stallion trembled and his ears pricked, though he waited for her instruction. Alanna laughed and released her restraint, muscles coiled beneath her and then she shot forward, from trot straight to charge within a few strides.
Yelling in exhilaration Alanna urged him faster as they raced across the fields, thunder rumbling through the earth they passed over. He gladly responded to her urging and stretched out until they were a blur passing through the wind, above an eagle screeched and flew with them. All too soon did the forest begin to appear and Alanna sighed as she shifted back and asked her mount to slow. He fought her for his head, he wanted to run, the whole point was just to run. Alanna shook her head from such thoughts and pulled his mane harder, leaning back so he would understand she wanted him to stop. Grudgingly he began to slow, though if he felt she wasn't concentrating he would lengthen his stride again and she would sharply reprimand him.
Halting just meters away from the forest Alanna turned and gazed back at the land they had swiftly crossed. In the distance her companions made their way through the grasses towards her. Snorting her mount pawed the grass and sidestepped in excitement, he was breathing as though he had just cantered up a fence line in a field not as he should have been after sprinting for over a mile.
She was still beaming from her wild run when the chief came up to her and watched her as they entered the forest. "He is called Thunder Foot," the chief spoke at length. Alanna looked at him curiously, he nodded to her stallion, "I'm sure you can guess why." Alanna thought about this for a moment and opened her mouth to ask why when a bird flew from the undergrowth into her mounts face. He reared in surprise and Alanna clamped her thighs around him in order to stay on, neighing he bucked and then pig stepped into the chiefs mount next to him. The chiefs chestnut tossed his head and froze in surprise and Thunder Foot startled again, coming into a half rear before Alanna forced him back to the ground.
As his hoofs landed there was a loud rumbling, like a soft storm within the earth. Alanna dismounted and came round to her stallions face; she stroked his nose and whispered to him. Eventually he calmed and the chief gave the order to continue forward, Alanna stayed on her feet and ran alongside Thunder Foot through the forest as she figured she could control him better. She could feel the chief's eyes on her but every time she looked to him he wasn't looking at her, she was annoyed, she couldn't see his eyes so she couldn't read what he was thinking.
Alanna's legs were beginning to cramp and tremble when they came out of the forest and into the clearing. Her breath was coming in short sharp pants and her face was bright red but she refused to mount as the First Mate was looking cockily at her and she wouldn't back down in front of him. It was hard work keeping pace with cantering and trotting horses a few miles and Alanna felt faint.
Dismounting the chief barked orders and a young warrior took their horses over to a small spring where he left them. A second warrior took his mount forward and into the canon as the chief began to whisper in a language that sent shivers up and down Alanna's spine as she bent over gasping for breath. Captain Blair moved over and stood next to her, "These people are very old, their nature, culture and magic have remained almost untainted since the dawn of time, or so mother says. Their magic enables them to breed the best horses in the world."
Alanna straightened and looked about her. They were in a small field, backed by the forests behind them and flanked by enormous cliffs that narrowed into a point a few hundred metres before them, there was a gap in the cliffs that the warrior had disappeared into and a thundering came from within. The chief raised his arms and tilted his head back, his eyes rolling. Silver magic veined its way across the front of the forest and streaked over the edge where their mounts were grazing. It shined brightly for a moment before sinking into the earth, a strange chime filled the air and the area that held the magic bust up and created a glittering silver cage all around the pasture.
"The people have various caches like this all over their islands. No one knows how they came to be or how they are able to use the magic, being a magic-less people, but the chiefs can once they are appointed in the ritual. The people use these for protecting their livestock from the various beasts that roam the untamed lands." Blair seemed to know all about them and Alanna raised an eyebrow to him.
"My mother was very precise in my education, "he smiled wryly, "at the time I never appreciated it but now I do. I have a basic knowledge of everything in these seas and the islands that exist here."
Alanna nodded, thinking that maybe the tribes in the desert would be more accommodating if someone were to try to learn their ways rather than forcing their law on them.
Alanna turned her attention to the loud roaring from the canon; small rocks followed by larger rocks were tumbling down the slopes. A shadow ripped through the dust and galloped straight across the fields, behind it followed the source of the thundering. The herd of horses charged straight from cannon and onto the pasture, snorting in excitement, following the herd was a great brown stallion, the tales of his conquest and rule written in the scars that rippled across his skin.
Alanna watched in awe as the horses, a mixture of colours, spread across the meadow and slowed to graze, keeping weary eyes on the humans. They were the most magnificent creatures she had ever seen, they were tall, built for speed but their chest and shoulders betrayed their strength and they made the chargers of the knights look like shaggy ponies so great was their superiority.
The Captain looked around at the horses and walked up to the band of heavily armed warriors that had followed the herd from the canon. Alanna, after glancing around herself, followed him, walking quickly to match Blair's giant steps. "Had any bad luck this year?" he rumbled to the leader of the band.
The warrior flashed a smile and shook his head, "Nay, tis been well an safe ts year." A scar across his check made his jaw un-aliened and his speech was affected. "None lion ahere since four moon," he added. Blair nodded and rubbed his hands, "Ill point some and we'll see them through their paces." Alanna wondered what he meant but then she realised, they were here to get horses and these would be the ones to choose from. Blanching at the idea of choosing a select few from such a fine herd Alanna hastened after her captain.
He moved softly around each animal and after watching them for a few moments he would move to the next, nodding to a warrior if he was interested in one. After he had chosen about thirty they were cut swiftly from the herd and were kept back as the herd was driven back into the cannon. Then they were mounted, if Alanna had thought Thunder Foot was an excellent mount these horses were the opposite. Warriors would take a running leap onto their back and cling like a bur to their mane as the animal would try to toss them. After tiring the horse it would respond to any instruction as though it were a highly trained king's horse.
Alanna asked Blair about it. "They are trained from when they were found, cast from the herd as weaklings. Then they are released if they are not needed into the tame herds. The warrior bands, "he explained, "swap over every half year and guard the horses from all the beasts here and they escort them to grazing and keep them to certain areas." Alanna nodded, she hadn't seen any fences and wondered how the people had kept their animals to certain areas.
After the horses were chosen, they were lead into the silver area were the other mounts were and left to graze. The chief sighed as the silver magic around the pasture faded back into the earth and snapped his fingers. The warriors all sat around him and bought out food parcels, Alanna sat next to Blair and the First Mate, ignoring the displeasure she felt radiating off him, she was starving.
Only when the sun was lowering into the horizon did they begin to move. Their meal was of fresh cooked meat, fresh juicy fruit that Alanna couldn't name and round moulds of bread and had well made up for the lack of food since the dawn meal. Feeling bloated Alanna rolled to her feet and promptly fell back down, the warriors that were awake chuckled and she blushed. She would move slowly and ease her strained leg muscles into movement.
The ride through the forest was uneventful and Alanna felt herself slipping off her mounts back in weariness. She righted herself before anyone noticed and began to mentally recite all the parts of a ship and its uses to keep herself awake. As they made their way from the forest she turned, sure that something was watching her. She couldn't see anything and slowly turned back, still suspicious of the eyes drilling into her back. The warrior riding next to her noticed her unease and her glances and spoke, "There's nothing there, if there was we would know." Alanna nodded, but still couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.
Alanna ducked as a pitcher of ale went soaring across the room and narrowly missed being crushed as one of the warriors charged a member of the Dawn and wrestled him to the floor. Punches flew as the friends of the warrior jumped in to help their very drunk and under matched friend. Sighing she picked up her bread roll and slipped from the tavern, getting into a fight wasn't her style and she would be heavily outmatched by everyone in there.
Standing on the steps she let the door close, muffling the cries of drunk and furious warriors and sailors as they clashed, and let the moonlight glaze her skin. Instinctively she looked over to where they had left the boxes four nights ago and started, they were gone. Stepping forward off the porch she looked around, where did they go? Almost running over to the tree she examined the footprints, Lyn had taught her the basics of tracking. The imprint of the boxes was left in the grass and faint footprints suddenly appeared and marched off toward the mountains. Alanna smiled, they were carrying the sweet smelling boxes somewhere, then she frowned, they were taking the boxes away! Snarling in rage she ran after the footprints and into the night, the beams of the full moon guiding her path. She wanted what was in those boxes, they were calling to her, soon she would find them, soon they would be hers.
With each step her rage and bloodlust grew and by the time she arrived at a clearing her vision was in a haze of red. In her fury she almost waked straight out into the ceremony, but her foot caught on a root and she fell. The knock to her head banished most of the anger and as she staggered to her feet she saw the root she had tripped over was actually a bone. She shuffled back in horror, covering her mouth to muffle her cry, it was a human leg bone and it was ripped almost in half and the ends were sticking into the red earth. That was what her foot had caught and had been the reason for her fall.
Slowing her breathing she gingerly stepped over the bone, her curiosity outweighing her fear she crept forward. Ahead was a clear patch of a dark red earth that waved onto a similar shade of hard rock that jutted out over a cliff. Below, water crashed against the cliff and sprayed foam into the sky. Sneaking further forward Alanna saw that the earth was barren and was barren but for red earth in a ring stretching the size of perhaps the Tortallan ballroom. On the outside of the ring a few trees were growing and the further away you got the more growth there was.
In the middle of the ring was a small pedestal, it was similar to a big chalice and was made of what appeared to be gold fire caught in glass. It was beautiful and glowed in the moonlight. Next to it lay the boxes, with small torches of fire dug into the ground around each one. There were also torches of fire on the line of the barren ring, casting a strange light on the red dirt.
A group of warriors wearing only a red dye stood next to the boxes with the chief who was casting symbols into the air using silver dust. Each warrior bowed as the chief passed them on his way down the path and into the forest; Alanna stayed as quiet as a butterfly's heart beat as he passed by her and carried on. Alanna shifted around until she found a comfortable spot and waited, silently in the shadows of a big fern tree.
She was dozing against the tree when the forest when quiet, the silence after a predator had made a kill and its foe had died loudly. Goosebumps receded across her body and she shivered even though the night was warm. A feeling of apprehension grew in her and she was paralyzed and her breathing quickened. Steadily the feeling grew and she tried to shrink into the shadows but something wouldn't let her move. Suddenly the air stilled and the torches fizzed out, the warriors sat in even spaces around the boxes looked up and then changed from sitting position into a worship submission position, with their eyes to the ground.
Alanna's fear mounted as the lids of the boxes dissolved into nothing and a clear liquid rose from within and glowed silver, an eerie glow like that of a scar. The silver liquid reached out to form above the chalice and a strange humming filled the air. Silver veins began to wind through the air from the kneeling sacrifices and into the silver liquid. Steadily the size of the veins grew and then a sharp chime clung to the air, with a cry of ecstasy each of the warriors titled their heads towards the stars. Alanna got to her feet, this was getting to spooky and her fear was beginning to drive adrenaline through her frozen body. Suddenly the sacrifices began to disperse, like a light snow storm being lifted by the winds, and blew into the silver storm.
A second chime echoed through the grove and then Alanna turned and ran as fast as she could through the forest in terror. For a brief moment she was sure she had seen an azure eye gazing straight at her from the centre of the silver orb.
She only halted her desperate dash when she came within screaming distance of the Crimson Dawn and bent over panting, dragging clean ocean air into her lungs. Gasping she stumbled further into the village and clambered up the steps to the tavern. Yelling, crashing and smashing came from within the inn and the door burst open to reveal chaos. Alanna swiftly stepped to the side as two members of the Dawn's crew wrestled five large warriors down the steps and into the dirt. Alanna looked at them in alarm and then looked cautiously inside the door. Chairs and tables, dusted with shards of glass and stains of ale, were strewn over the floor among brawling warriors and sailors.
Frowning she looked for the owner, a large smiling woman called Lariasha and found her standing in the doorway surveying the fighting men and the mess of her home in distaste. Alanna picked her way through the carnage and clambered over a broken table to speak to her. "Could I please have something to eat?" she asked politely, still retaining the skills of her etiquette masters.
Lariasha looked at her in shock, this girl wanted food while a full on brawl was going on in her home. Alanna, seeing the rejection in her eyes bought out a purse she had hidden on herself and dropped it in front of the owner. Gold coins spilled over the bench and Lariasha's eyes opened at the amount. Alanna jerked her head behind her, "For the damage also."
Lariasha turned behind her and barked something in her native tongue before turning back to the coins and sweeping them up. "Many thanks, if you take a seat your meal will be bought out momentarily." Alanna nodded and turned back to the fight, the Crimson Dawn crew were heavily outnumbered but were easily holding their own. The inn smelt like sweat and alcohol and the metallic smell of blood was beginning to intrude on the other scents. Alanna called back over her shoulder, 'I'll be outside", before navigating back to the door. Most of the sailors and warriors had left the inn and were scrambling about in pairs and threes tackling their opposition, screaming insults at each other.
Alanna took a deep breath and then leaned against the wall, hidden in the shadows. One thing piqued her curiosity though; no one was dead, yet. The sailors of the Dawn were a formidable crew and were proficient in the use of bow and arrow, staff and blade. Some where even more experienced without weapons, yet they were all weapon-less and were fighting hand to hand. Even the First Mate, who she knew to be capable in minor Shang, was fighting with his fists.
The warriors were also fighting with their fists, using their strength and speed to match the crew. Alanna figured it was some fight-as-your-opponent-fights and shrugged, if they wanted to be living and moving punching dummies that were up to them.
In the shadows and watching the fighting Alanna began to feel sleepy, her previous fear leached away. She felt content, almost like she was drugged and decided she was just happy because she was about to be fed.
By the time Alanna received her steaming meal and a mug of juice the brawl was still continuing. Alanna tucked into her food ravenously, her exhaustion fading, marvelling at the fighters' stamina and endurance to continue punching and kicking for well over an hour and a half.
Suddenly Alanna looked up; Lyn was gazing directly at her, his face expressionless, next to him stood the Captain and the chief. Blair looked livid, his gaze burned as though he could set the sailors alight with his glower. His words were lost over the grunts and curses, and he frowned even more. Alanna swallowed her mouthful, forced her eyes further open and picked up her juice, things were about to get interesting.
Very rarely did the Captain yell, Alanna had only heard him yell once, and the sound sent her cowering even though he wasn't yelling at her.
"Enough!" his raised voice and bellowed across the fighting warriors. Only those closest to him appeared to have heard for they got swiftly to their feet and moved to the side, the rest continued fighting.
Blair's face was turning purple with rage and he took a step forward and clasped his hands together with a snap. An explosion of power rippled out from the Captain and hit the fighting men hard; it flung them to the ground before continuing in a wave and dispersing into the forest. Alanna blinked in shock, the Captain had never shown any inclination that he had the gift, Alanna had seen him doing tasks that could have been much easier with the gift and wondered why he didn't just use his.
Blair marched forward until he stood in the centre of the fallen sailors and warriors. His voice quavered as he spoke in even tones, "Get up, now." The sailors hastened to obey and the warriors cautiously got to their feet, eyeing the legendary Captain wearily. "Who is responsible for this... This child's play?'
The chief standing next to Blair looked suddenly old and frail as he spoke in his own tongue to his people. The warriors, who stood like sheep in a corral, kept glancing to one warrior in particular and the sailor next to him. Blair turned his gaze on the sailor, "Staleom," he snarled to the quivering sailor, "What happened?"
The sailor glanced to the warrior next to him before inspecting the roughed up dirt and mumbling in a language Alanna was unfamiliar with. "What was that, Stalemon?" Blair asked, his eyes snapping and it occurred to Alanna he was trying and almost failing to remain in control. The sailor repeated what he said and remained silent, inspecting his boots. Blair turned to the chief and spoke sharply in yet another language, though Alanna felt as though she knew it, somehow. It was like a half forgotten melody sung to you when you were young.
The chief looked in fury to his warrior and spat something out, the warriors who heard flinching and shuffling away from their comrade. The warrior clenched his jaw and stared straight at the chief, he answered and then looked quickly away from the rage in his leaders eyes. Sipping her juice Alanna wondered what was going on.
The Captain and the chief conferred for a moment and then shook hands. The chief ordered his warriors and Blair barked, "Get on the ship." The sailors quickly followed his orders, gathering their strewn belongings and making for the dock. Blair's eyes roamed until he came across Alanna, sitting against the wall, balancing a near empty plate and a juice. She was watching the proceedings in amusement and interest, the demeanour similar to a child when it was in a new place.
Lyn came up behind him and looked in his direction, "We may have a problem."
Blair turned his head slightly, "Yes?"
"She was at the ceremony, "Blair nearly choked on his own breath.
"How do you know?" he asked in a hushed voice as Alanna heard him and turned to smile sleepily at him.
"Look at her gift, "Lyn answered in despair. Blair did as he asked, calling to his own magic and flinched at what he saw. The air round the girl glowed purple and a trail of purple specks lifted up into the trees before snaking in the direction of the grove.
"Do you think she has even noticed?' he asked his Mage.
Lyn shook his head, "Magic like this... she will have no idea, no knowledge on how to defend herself..." He trailed off and glared at the forbidding mountains he knew were in the darkness.
Blair gritted his teeth and turned away from the slowly dying girl to look his Mage in the face. 'You argued her life for a reason, at the time I let it be, but now I want to know why." He informed his old friend and teacher.
Lyn looked at his half brother straight in the eye and sighed, "She is a God's chosen, that alone would be worth bargaining her life."
Blair inclined his head, accepting his brothers point, "Go on."
Lyn moistened his lips, "But I know that isn't a valid reason for you. The other reason is because... she has been touched by a Tahakén Prince."
Blair straightened and frowned, "You're sure?"
"The green magic wasn't her own and I have seen it before. It belongs to-"
"Raku," Blair finished for him.
Lyn nodded, "Yes. He gave her a sizeable amount of his gift, I don't think she even knew, and he only has ever done that once..."
Blair rubbed his chin and nodded slowly.
"These facts on their own would be worth her life, "Lyn continued, "But together..., there must have been a reason she came to us of all people. To you especially..." he trailed off and made to say something else, but held his tongue.
Blair turned back to Alanna, to find her slumped against the wall, her face pale and her breathing shallow. "Get her on the ship," he snarled as he strode towards the forest, Lyn nodded and hurried for his apprentice. His Captains next words made him freeze in shock, 'Put her in my room and erase her memory of what she saw." Lyn pivoted and searched for his brother in the forest but he couldn't see him. Returning his attention to the unconscious redhead he lifted her easily and carried her swiftly back to the Dawn, breaking into a run when he felt Alanna slipping into the well that was death.
His booted footsteps alerted the crew to his arrival and they were out of his way as he rushed down into the belly of the ship. He was given strange looks as he carried Alanna down into the quarters of the Captain and opened the door, careful not to knock her head on the doorframe. Once inside he felt powerful magic swamp him and he continued hesitantly forward, passing into the private space of the Captain. When he reached the door to the Captains room the barriers became almost impossible to move through and he had to halt because he couldn't move any further forward.
Alanna stirred in his arms and he knew the magic in the ship was beginning to combat that of the magic affecting her. Lyn looked down at her and then at the door, focusing all his energy he forced it open and then, with the remainder of his strength he lifted Alanna and hurled her into the room. Exhausted he stumbled back away from the door as it slammed shut and the magic forced him backwards. He sat panting in a chair regaining his strength as the magical presence in the room faded back but he felt it watching him, waiting for him to make a false move.
Lyn was falling into sleep when he felt the magic disappear, a hand on his shoulder awakened him further and when the hand offered him a glass of whiskey he jerked to alertness. Blair shuffled over to the other chair and sat, exhaustion etched on his face. "You look like... like you've awoken in a barn after a hard night of drinking and have no idea where you are."
Blair nodded and took a swig of the whisky, gasping as it burnt his throat. "Yeah, I'm feeling that way."
Lyn downed his glass and got to his feet, it wouldn't be wise to ask what had left his brother in such a state. "I couldn't get into your room, so I dropped her on the floor." He explained as he shambled to the door.
Blair inclined his head, "I'm surprised you got that far." He stated, nonchalantly. Lyn blinked, he was too old for tests especially tests from his younger brother and he told Blair so. A soft smile crossed the captain's face and he nodded slowly, "Yeah, sorry about that."
Lyn shook his head as he let himself out, he really was getting to old for this.
With the morning tide, three hours after sun up the Crimson Dawn slowly sailed down the lake and out into the river. Alanna sat on the bowsprit her legs dangling towards the waves and watched as small fish leaped before the bow before disappearing in flashes of silver into the sapphire waters.
She was exhausted but she didn't know why, Lyn told her it was the aftermath of her several mile run keeping up with cantering horses, but that had been days ago and she was sure she was fine yesterday. Maybe she was getting sick. Shaking her head she thought back to the morning, when she had awoken, in a strange bed and in a strange room. Her skull had felt like it was being crushed and her body felt like lead, she had cautiously sat up and looked about her. The room was bare but for the essentials; a bed and desk and a small wardrobe in the corner.
The room was painted white and a small breeze blew virgin curtains gently into the room. Alanna inhaled deeply and slumped back into the pillows. A breeze was coming into the room; jerking upright Alanna immediately regretted it as her head roared and her skull pounding. Snarling against the pain she fought her nausea and stumbled over to the window, fearing she wouldn't make it.
She leaned out the window with her eyes closed and panted, trying to still her raging stomach. The soft lull of waves crashing onto a sandy beach met her ears and the salty air tickled her taste buds. Straightening Alanna looked before her in wonder and incredulously as she took the scene before her. A long white beach stretched into the horizon to her left and right and sapphire waves reared then crashed onto the sands before fingers of water drew back into the main body.
The sun glowed brilliantly in the sky and dolphins leap from the sea and into the air, a small breeze rolled off the waves and across the beach.
Her bare feet padded across the floorboards and she exited the room into burning sunlight, the glare off the sand making her cover her eyes. Wind hit her and ran tendrils through her hair and clothes and Alanna tilted her face to the warmth of the sun.
Digging in her toes she laughed as grains of sand tickled her skin and bought her hand to her head in wonder. Gazing around she saw a figure leaning against a tall skinny tree watching her. Blinking she wandered over to meet him her feet scuffing through the sand.
Captain Blair gazed at her squarely, his muscles well defined through his tunic and Alanna could halt the envy that flooded her. "Where am- what is this place?" she asked in awe, her amethyst eyes wide. Blair smiled and gazed around him with a look Alanna had never seen directed at her, fondness, like that of a parent watching a successful child.
"This is my... Lavaruax Aroa... my Dream State, " at Alanna's blank look he frowned, "My perfect world, um..what I want.." He seemed to be at loss for words and Alanna, feeling sorry for him, spoke.
"So, its like your perfect ah... home?"
"Yes!, Blair cut in excitedly, "Exactly like that." As his excitement grew so did his voice and he was booming by the time he had finished. "I designed every grain of sand to every drop of water. The animals though, they are real, but if this place," he gestured around him, were to be destroyed, or if I were killed, they would die."
Alanna frowned, this broke all the laws of magic she knew, "So everyone can have once of these... Dream States?"
Blair shook his head sharply, "No, you have to have the training and the proficient gift to keep it in the same state, and only Masters of both Magic and Mind can have animals in it."
Alanna was confused, "Keep in the same state?"
Blair ran his fingers through his hair, "Yeah, um like if you were to mould...sand...You would make the sculpture but if you turned away it would deteriorate, the same is with this, you have to keep it perfect all the time."
Alanna nodded, she now confirmed what she had guessed, Blair was a powerful mage. As though he could read her thoughts the Captain sighed, "I wish I was proficient enough to have animals though..." Alanna looked at him curiously and pointed to the dolphins leaping from the waves.
The Captain shook his head sadly, "They are real, but this place isn't entirely mine... but it is. I don't know how to explain... It's like my inheritance... yes that is right. My inheritance."
Alanna nodded, just like Trebond is hers, or was, "That makes sense."
Blair nodded and reached into his tunic. A small pouch was thrown at her and she caught it before it hit the ground and at the Captains nod she opened it. Glittering coins met her and she looked up puzzled.
"The payment for the damage to the tavern, you didn't have to do that."
Alanna shrugged, "I was hungry and figured Lariasha would be in a better mood if I paid her for the damage." She flashed a small smile and Blair shook his head in amusement.
"Come on, "he said in response to her stomachs loud protest, "Let's get some grub." He led the way over the sand and back into the bed-room and through a closed door and into a large living space. Alanna blanched at the size of the room and her confusion must have been evident on her face because Blair smiled and looked around him.
"Many of the rooms onboard are special, magical, "he explained, "the rooms more often than not do not fit the dimensions."
Alanna looked about her and nodded, certain she must be dreaming. This wasn't possible. The room was large and long. It held a fireplace (which was lit) several large and long chairs that looked extremely comfortable with a big bearskin rug in the centre. To the closest wall was a large book case, large enough to challenge even her father's personal bookcase and next to it was a large cabinet full of alcohol.
Dotted all around the room were stuffed...beings... creatures she had only ever heard of in legend and some that she had seen before but increased greatly in size, such as the giant wolf that was sitting before the fire and the great cat that was looking adamantly at a mural of the ocean on the far wall. Alanna looked at it for a moment, at the beautiful shades of blue that seemed to waver and shift and move by and the sandy ocean floor that had patches of coral.
Then Alanna gasped and quickly moved to the window to press her nose against the glass as a pod of dolphins swam mast. It wasn't a mural! It was the actual sea!
She turned excitedly to question Blair to find him standing right behind her. He nodded to some of the schools of fish that darted away from the vessel as it intruded through their waters. "Those are some tuna, and that right there is a barracuda, nasty little buggers, " he instructed, "don't ever eat one. They have bad bugs in their flesh."
Alanna nodded wide eyed as they passed more fish and creatures of the sea she had never seen before.
"Wanna see something else cool?' Blair asked looking at her. She nodded and followed him, as he left the room and opened another door down the hallway, moving with the rolling of the ship. It said storage room on it and Alana was puzzled as to why they would be entering a storage hold. The storage room was what to be expected on a ship of the suns size, it held many barrels of alcohol and held racks of dried food. It was nothing out of the ordinary and Alanna turned to Blair, a single eyebrow raised.
The Captain grinned and clapped his hands, there was a clinking and then the floorboards began to shake and creak and groan. Alanna jumped back as the deck slid back to reveal a whole big enough to hold several knights chargers in full battle armour and out of the darkness a part of decking rose. Blair stepped onto it and gestured for Alanna to do the same, she did so, cautiously and was surprised to feel the deck stand firm beneath her, it was as though the deck hadn't just arisen from the darkness. Smirking, the Captain barked a word and the plank slowly slid back down into the hull of the ship. "This is it," his enthusiasm was catching but still Alanna was weary. She followed as he walked off the moving plank and into the darkness. Torches sparked then lit as they came closer and by the time Alanna was next to the halted captain the entire room was lit.
His hulking frame stood before a pile of runes of different sizes on the wall, Alanna was puzzled, why go to all this trouble to have a small room with only one entrance and exit. Blair nodded to the ruins and gestured for her to walk through.
Alanna wearily eyed the wall, but did as she was bid. Slowly sliding her feet forward, her legs and body following after he got closer to the door. The strangest thing happened when she got close, the runes began to glow and then expand to the same size. Alanna froze but a glance back at the amused Captain told her to keep going. Her hunger forgotten for now she crept closer until she was inches away from the wall. She frowned and reached out with her hand, as her index finger reached the wall the wall opened for a size big enough to fit her fingers, then her palm and then her elbow as she moved her arm forward. She withdrew her hand and the hole closed up, she examined her hand and then thrust it at the wall again, it disappeared.
Blair came up behind her and Alanna watched as the wall or doorway, for that was what the runes were, opened to fit the giant form of the Captain as he walked through. Alanna blinked then hastened to follow him.
Blair stood at before a pedestal and was flicking the pages of a book. He paused at one and then reached for the ink well on the pedestal. A rune formed, as he wrote, in the beam of white light in front of him. It glowed amber and had ribbons of red streaking through it, several runes branched off it until it formed a mass of runes wound together stretching over the light but leaving a rectangle free. The size of a door. Blair walked down the steps and around to the door he gripped the handle of gold that formed and looked for Alanna. She walked up to him and glanced at the door, the rolling of the ship was almost un noticeable this far into the ship and Alanna felt like she was on land.
Blair smiled at her and then, he opened the door. Lush green grass stretched for several miles and was about a mile wide. A small stream lapped against the banks before pooling out onto some sand, following the crystal water to its source Alanna saw a small waterfall, and snakes of liquid fell down moss covered rocks. Horses grazed beneath great trees that stretched forward to the heavens and some were playing like foals in the sunshine.
"They-They, "Alanna began.
'Yes, 'Blair answered, "These horses are the ones were purchased from the chief. They are perfectly encaged with enough food and water to last about a year. Sometimes it will rain and other times a gale will blow, all such elements that we can control if we wish. This particular room has served us very well; it will regenerate by the time we want to reuse it."
Alanna's jaw was hanging and her eyes wide in wonder and disbelief.
Blair shook his head as he closed the door and left the horses to their grazing, "Yeah I know it's impossible. I get that all the time with every newbie."
Alanna followed the Captain in a daze up and out of the hold and onto the main hallway. "Magic is limitless, "Blair stated as he opened the door to the mess hall.
Alanna blinked as she was jerked back to the present by a large spray of water into her face. Yes, Alanna decided, magic was limitless, especially on the Dawn.
Authors Note:
Sorry about the wait, due to unexpected circumstances I am once again BETAless. So I'll be looking around for someone suitable in the next few days.
LKAON: Thank you I hope you feel like that, I hope everyone feels like that.
ZuliaGirl: Yeah, kind of the exact same situation: funny though because I never thought of it like that... I had/have more devious plans mwahahahahaha :D
NigerUnda: Go away: I am NOT giving you my Beta position! Besides, you already know what happens :'(
sajtm: Really couldn't be bothered to type out your name, no offence. We will be seeing Raku soon, very soon... but you might not like it ... :D
As always REVIEW! How come I only have 48! That is not acceptable! :D Lol
Regards, CDL