Voyage of the Ruthless Part Two

As Raylan struggled to regain his colours, the captain emptied the bucket of vomit over the side. "You are so lucky you didn't barf on my ship,"

"He can't help it!" complained Carol.

"You saved me, boat lassie. I thank you dearly," the captain gave her an awkward hug.

"You're welcome," she wheezed, compressed by his strong grip.

It was still raining and everyone was soaked from head to toe. "Best we wait out the storm down below deck," said the captain already marching down with his parrot.

"Just great. We came all this way for nothing," complained Raylan.

"It wasn't for nothing," said Ezran. "At least we're ahead of everyone after us,"

Willow started sneezing violently; she had got the sniffles. Escort down below deck, they went inside a large cabin where there were a wide range of hammocks and a small stove. Carol pulled off her drenched cloak and hung it close to the hob to dry up.

"Here you go laddies and lassies," the captain tossed them some blankets. "I'll be asleep in me own quarters," he pointed to an open room with a large hammock. "Just knock if you need anything. Sleep well," he went inside with his parrot shutting the door gently behind him.

Willow sneezed again, snot flying out her nose much to the disgust of everyone. They all gathered around the stove, warming up in their blankets. They had some food as well, except for Raylan who didn't want to risk being sick again.

"Feeling better Ray?" asked Carol.

"A little. This is the worst nightmare of my life,"

"But at least you were brave enough to face all this ocean so far," Ezran comforted.

Felix curled up like a car near Carol's feet. Zym nudged close and he kindly laid his warm furry tail over him like a blanket. Bait tuckered up near them. "Ah. They're all tuckered up," Willow said affectionately.

"We should get some sleep," said Raylan. "It's been a long day and we could use some sleep until this storm passes,"

They all went to their own hammocks whilst the three creatures stayed near the fire. Ezran and Willow fell asleep straight away. Raylan just lay back, holding his mother's pendant thinking about her. Carol saw him adrift in thinking and felt deep sympathy for him. Then she looked at her siblings before crying a bit. She still didn't know how she was gonna tell the dreaded truth of her father's fate. She pulled out her diary and started writing again. She wrote about how magical it felt to be the Moon Nexus. She drew pictures of the sacred sites. Then she drew a picture of her dad, shedding a tear. "What do I do dad? How do I tell them?"

Sensing her sorrow, Zym opened his ears and glanced sorrowfully up at her, wishing there was something he could do to help her feel better.

On a clifftop not far from the port town, Caldor took camp under some tall trees. He stared out into the distance but couldn't find Castor. He wasn't far behind. He grew worried about Corvus and Gren. He hoped they were all right and they had found the children. But something in his gut told him that something was wrong.

He summoned his eagle Skyros who landed on his gloved hand. "Circle back and see if you can find them," his eagle took off again.

The four teens had fallen asleep but the lightning boomed and boomed outside. Carol however was kept awake. Felix had climbed inside with her and had fallen asleep in her arms. Zym dozed a bit with Willow who had managed to stay awake this time. Ezran snored like a pig and his drool dropped on a grouchy Bait. Raylan was clutching his pendant in his sleep.

Near the window, as she stroked her sleeping best friend, Carol could see the lightning striking the island. But it wasn't just that. Every time she heard lightning, she felt herself back to that moment when she used the spell Fulminus. And that moment when lightning struck her and Zym's egg back at the caldera. It was strange but it felt so magical. She didn't know how to explain it.

Sensing her strange reaction, Zym woke up and carefully curled out of Willow's arms and over to her hammock. She heard him. "You feel it too?"

Yes. It's not just that. I just love hearing the sound of lightning and being out in the rain.

You are a sky dragon after all. I'm not surprised. She twisted her head again. I feel like I'm back in that moment when you hatched.

You desperately want to do magic again, don't you?

I do. She yearned. I want that more than anything. Magic has always been my passion other than art. And I felt so close to my mum. I know you have to be born to do it…but I know I can feel something. I just wish I knew how to explain.

I can as well. Maybe you could make a proper connection.

But how? I wasn't born with an arcanum like you.

But you could form by yourself. Let's go outside.

No. Bad idea. I am not going to risk your life. Please promise me Zym, you won't go outside there.

I promise. He said.

You wanna go over there and keep Willow asleep? She can get a bit scared of lightning sometimes.

Sure. He went back over and jumped into Willow's hammock and her arms automatically went over him again and he was cuddled like a teddy bear; he closed his eyes.

Carol took one last look again out of the window and closed her eyes, letting fatigue overtake her. Felix cuddled up close to her chest and they fell asleep.

Claudia, Soren, and their new allies were riding on horses, pulling Gren and Corvus behind them with bound wrists attached to a rope; both were gagged as well. The mages would risk them trying to blurt out to the two siblings of their intention to capture Carol and destroy their alliance.

"Still no sign of Castor," cursed Delmar.

"How long does it take to find him?" Tellus criticised impatiently.

"Care to tell us what business you have with this elf?" Soren questioned.

"That is none of your business," The earth mage spat back.

Claudia frowned and pulled on her horse stopping it. "Look if we're going to work together, you might wanna start answering our questions.

"Fine. But we'll answer anything you ask and not this armoured oaf," Lairus insulted, earning a scowl from Soren. "Now you my dear are an expert in dark magic,"

"You know how to use it?"

"Our brother Castor does,"

"Okay. Just how many of you are there?" Soren asked.

"He said we'd answer only to the pretty lady here and not you," Delmar reminded strictly. He looked at Claudia. "There are only four of us. There used to be six of us. But our sky and moon brothers betrayed us,"

"Now that you've answered my brother's question, answer my question. What business do you have with this elf?"

"His lineage makes the perfect weapon to be our assassin. He was meant to learn our ways as a child but his people outwitted us and destroyed our brother and leader's valuable source of star magic. Also, we have business with his parents and the only way we get through to them is to use him,"

Claudia still remained distrustful. "And when exactly are we meant to see this brother of yours who leaders your cult?"

"When he captures our treacherous moon brother,"

"And what about your sky brother?"

"He is dead,"

Back on the ship, Zym's eyes opened slightly. Everyone around him was fast asleep. Keeping his mind temporarily void of emotions and thoughts, he crawled lightly out of Willow's arms and onto the floor. He tiptoed very lightly towards the door. It had been left slightly open to let in some air but it was still raining hard outside. He went outside.

A moment passed. Boom!

Carol jolted up awake, pale like she had just had a nightmare. "Oh my. Just the thunder,"

You okay? Asked Felix. He licked her face.

"I'm okay," she stroked his head. "I just had this weirdest dream that Zym…" the moment she turned her head, she saw Zym wasn't in Willow's hammock. "Oh no," she tried to connect to him but she felt it being blocked. "I…I…can't feel him," quickly she jolted out of bed and went over to Raylan's hammock. "Raylan…" she ushered. "Raylan,"

Raylan woke up slowly. "What is it?"

"Zym's gone,"

"What?"

"I've tried reaching him but it's like he's blocking me off or something,"

Quickly Raylan swung out of his hammock, and they went over to the door, seeing it open. The flash of lighting sent a flash of light stretching through the door. They looked up and they didn't see him on the masts, not even on the higher decks.

"Oh no," Cary smacked her forehead. "I should have known he'd do something like this. He was enjoying the thunder so much,"

"We've got to find him before he gets hurt or worse,"

"Felix…" she knelt before her fox. "You stay here and keep an eye on Ezran and Willow.

He whined not wanting her to go. "Don't worry about me. I'll be back soon. Come on Ray,"

Pulling their clocks on and their hoods over their heads, they set off into the rain and boarded the island. It was small but still Zym could be anywhere.

"I'll take the west and you take the east," Ray suggested. "Be careful,"

"You too,"

They dashed off in separate directions. Ray searched the beaches at the far west, keeping as much as he could away from the rough waters. Carol searched the cliffs on the far east but still no sign of the baby dragon. He must have enjoyed it so much that he wanted to go out and play without getting anyone to come out with him. Just then came the loud zap again. She felt a tingle in her heart. As if something had sparked inside her like an inside power source.

She turned around and saw a large wind meal and on its roof was a lightning rod stretching up the sky. That was the most likely place Zym would be," she started to make her way over to the building. "Zym! Zym!" she cried out. She climbed up a ladder. "Zym! This isn't funny! You could get hurt out here! Please don't block me off like this!" Once she reached the roof, she saw the lightning rod up close. But no sign of the baby dragon. She made a move to turn and leave. But something stopped her. She felt that spark in her again. What if she was touched by lightning again? What if she could do magic again? She felt the urge to reach over and touch it. But could she do it? Would she have the guts? Her fingertips were almost touching it.

A cute head peaked out from behind the windmill head next to the building.

Raylan still had no luck finding the baby dragon. "Zym! Zym!" he huffed. "Oh moon-mumps!" he cursed. He tilted his head upwards and he saw Cary about to touch the lightning rod on the roof. "Carol! What are you doing? Stop!"

His voice echoed through the wet atmosphere and Cary felt broken from her thoughts. She turned down and saw him. Then she looked at the rod and pulled back her hand. She didn't have the guts to do it. It was too reckless. And stupid. She turned to leave.

Boom!

Willow screamed. She sat up, hyperventilating.

Ezran who had woken up ran to her side, hugging her instantly. "Shush. It's okay Willow. It's alright," His sister took a moment to calm down. She rubbed her eyes. "Bad dream?"

She nodded. "It felt so real. I just really hope it's not gonna happen. Why are we like this Ezran? Why can you understand animals? And I can see potential futures? We are not from magical dynasties,"

Ezran sighed. "I don't know sis. Dad did say part of our line was quite a mystery. Maybe once we've delivered Zym home and we go home, we can ask him," He noticed something was still off about her, her dream. "Wanna talk about it?"

"I don't wanna lose Carol. Every time I close my eyes, I find myself back in that awful moment when the mages almost had her, when they were so close to capturing her again,"

Her brother clasped her shoulders. "Nothing is going to happen to her. We're way too far ahead. And once we get into Xadia, they'll never be about to catch up to us,"

"I hope you're right. It's not just that…yesterday I saw a vision of Caldor. And I saw a cloaked man, one of those mages with a star symbol, holding him in chains. And he called him 'brother',"

Ezran blinked. Before he could say anything, they heard they heard the loud squawk, squawks of a red parrot. They turned to see the captain emerging from his quarters. "Hello, laddies. See you're up and about. Storm's passed. Ready to get sailing?"

"Oh, we surely are. Thank you, captain," saluted Ezran. "You hear that guy….we're setting off," but when he turned his head towards Carol and Raylan's hammocks; they were empty. "Guys?"

"Carol!" Raylan had climbed up the cliffs towards the windmill. When he came to the top, he saw a scorched roof but no sign of her. "Carol!" he cried again. "No,"

"Ray?"

He spun around and saw her coming forward, dazed, dozy…carrying Zym in her arms. "Carol!" he rushed forward and caught her as she collapsed. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. But he got struck," she lifted him up. He was unconscious. The lightning struck him on the roof. He was near the lightning rod. He won't wake," she began to cry. "This is all my fault. It was my responsibility to take care of him. I should have known he'd go out by himself but I carelessly allowed him to wander free,"

"You can't be responsible for everyone. This was my duty too," he rubbed her forearm to comfort her. "But were you thinking Carol? Standing on the roof attempting to touch the rod?" Carol couldn't answer; she was too sad to answer.

Ezran and Willow went out into the wet air, the rain had stopped. "Carol!" the brother cried out.

"Raylan!" the sister cried out. Felix barked. Bait croaked.

"Don't worry lassie," the captain comforted. "We'll find them. We'll search the island,"

"Look ahead! Look ahead!" the parrot suddenly squawked.

The children looked ahead and they saw the teens with Zym. They were relieved. But their luck died when they saw the dragon seemingly dead in their sister's arms.

"Zym!" cried Willow. Quickly she and Ezran with the animals sprinted down the plank down to the shore. As they approached them, they saw tears falling from their faces.

"What happened?" Ezran asked.

Seeing that Carol couldn't speak, Raylan stepped forward. "Zym got struck by lightning. And he hasn't woken up,"

Willow's hands flew to her mouth.

"No. He can't be dead," Ezran shook his head. "Otherwise, this entire journey has been for nothing,"

But it seemed hopeless. Carol gently placed Zym down, pulled off her wet coat and laid it over him before covering her wet eyes again. Raylan hugged her.

Ezran hugged the sobbing Willow. "Please tell me you saw something involving him being alive,"

Willow couldn't answer.

Bait croaked sadly. Felix purred as he dropped his ears. He sniffled the little dragon. He tried to nuzzle his head. Come on. He begged. Come on. You gotta be awake. He licked his face multiple times. Nothing happened.

Carol felt something spark in her head. Like a strike of thunder. "Do it again buddy. Do it again,"

Felix continued licking and licking until Zym woke up, sparks flashing from his lips. The children cheered. Bait and Felix barked and croaked for joy. They jumped around the baby for joy.

"You're alive," cried out Carol for joy. Zym leapt into her arms and licked her. "Don't you ever scare me like that again young hatchling," she warned. "Do you have any idea how scared I was? When you blocked me off?"

I'm sorry. he purred remorsefully. And I'm sorry I put you in danger. I just wanted to be out in the thunder so I could connect to magic.

All she did was hug him tightly and he licked her back.

"It's good to have you back Zym," Raylan stroked his head. Zym licked his face and he laughed. He then jumped into Ezran and Willow's open arms and licked each of them before jumping onto the ground to play with Felix whom he licked affectionately for waking him up.

While the kids laughed and played around with him, Carol touched Raylan's forearm and he could tell she wanted to talk.

"To answer your question…the reason I wanted to touch the rod was that…I thought I could do magic again. But when I heard your voice…I realised…" she sighed. "I didn't have the guts. Lujanne was right. My destiny isn't to learn magic at all. I just really thought it was my thing,"

"I'm just glad you're alive," he hugged her and she hugged him. "And Carol…" he let go and held her hands. "You're already amazing just the way you are. With or without magic. I've seen you do amazing things without that primal stone,"

She smiled. "Thanks. That means a lot coming from you,"

"Oy laddies and lassies!" cried out the captain from the ship. "The storm's passed. The sea's looking clear ahead," The team turned and they saw that further out to sea, the ocean was calm and gentle and the skies were clear as crystal. The voyage had not yet ended. "You ready to sail off again?"

"Absolutely captain," Raylan saluted. He wasn't afraid to get back on the ship again.

"Let's go guys," said Carol. She took Raylan's hand and together they walked up the plank to board the ship again, Zym and Felix behind them. Ezran picked up Bait and he and Willow boarded behind them.

The ship cast off and the group were now sailing across the sea. Raylan and Carol sat at the very top of the mast, Felix and Zym sitting beside them. Willow and Ezran sat at the front, the prince stroking Bait who was asleep. It was a beautiful peaceful moment which they didn't want to forget.

Claudia, Soren and the three mages and two prisoners arrived at the town. They were just outside the forest. The brothers dismounted their steeds. "Wait here with our prisoners,"

"And have you gone off and potentially betray us? I don't think so," said Soren. "It's only fair one of you stays here whilst one of us comes along,"

"I will stay here," said Delmar. "But your sister will join my brothers,"

Soren growled and slumped against a tree. "If you come back without her…"

"Don't worry Soren," Claudia gave him a hug, comforting him. She glared at Delmar. "You do anything to him…"

"Got the point missy," he said.

The dark mage gave him a strong glare before marching into the town with the two men.

Soren grumbled.

"I don't think I appreciate your stone," Delmar said. "Now…help me tie up the prisoners,"

"What am I? Your servant?" the former Crownguard soldier complained. Delmar growled, leaning in on him. "Okay. Okay. As you wish, sir," he chuckled nervously. They lied Corvus and Gren to the trees before Soren was forced by Delmar to go and find some water for the horses; they eyed each other nervously, uncertain how they were gonna get out of this mess. A needle of pine fell onto Gren's face. He looked up and saw Skyros, the eagle. His eyes enlarged. So did Corvus.

The eagle spotted them and then took off.

Caldor awaited at his secret camp. He hoped Skyros would return with news. He pulled out his telescope but found no sign of the mighty bird. He peered down into the village. His eyes enflamed when he saw Claudia with Lairus and Delmar. "What are you up to?"

Castor climbed up on the rocks above him. And then he leapt.

Thud.

The world went dark.

"I've got you now. Brother,"

That's another chapter done. What did you all think? I hope you're all enjoying it. Thank you all so much for your reviews. Also thank you kigheu92, for the news of the new sequel to the inheritance cycle Murtagh. I look forward to reading it.