by Hylton, PT
The first day, Abbey spent most of her time swabbing the deck and cleaning the bulkheads. She worked efficiently and without complaint, the same as if she were in her father’s shop. Syd grunted with reluctant approval when she saw the gusto with which her newest crew member worked.
“How’d I do scrubbing those walls?” Abbey asked her.
Syd frowned. “They’re not walls, Arcadian. They’re bulkheads. And you did… adequately.”
“Right. Bulkheads. Got it.”
It seemed everything aboard the ship had a different name than what she knew. It was as if the stormships had invented their own language just to set themselves apart from the people who spent their lives on land. She felt like a child, not sure what to call the most basic of items.
Dustin, for his part, spent his time in the bow of the ship, clutching his staff, his eyes a mesmerizing blue-green as he called down the winds that pushed the ship north toward Bode.
At the end of the first day, Abbey crawled into her bunk, bone tired from the day’s hard work and a bit nauseous from the constant motion of the ship on the water.
The next day, Syd pulled her aside first thing in the morning. “I have an important task for you, Arcadian. Today you will accompany me in my duties. This will allow you to see all the workings of the ship and view firsthand how everyone does their jobs.”
“Gee, that does sound important. Kinda like when I was five, and my father gave me the important task of restacking the woodpile five times just to keep me out of his hair.”
Syd frowned at her. “This isn’t busy work. I saw potential in you yesterday.”
Abbey raised an eyebrow. “You really liked the way I scrubbed the floors, huh?”
“Decks. And yes, I did. It’s not the task itself; it’s how you dedicated yourself to it. If you keep that attitude, you’ll go far on this crew.”
Abbey frowned at that. She wasn’t sure she wanted to make a career out of working on a stormship. As far as she was concerned, the quicker she could get back on solid ground, the better. Still, she wasn’t about to tell this intimidating woman that. And it was nice to have her hard work noticed, even if it was for something as simple as scrubbing the decks.
Syd nodded toward the bridge of the ship. “First, we go see the captain.”
Abbey followed Syd up the stairs—no, not stairs, companionway—to the quarterdeck where the captain stood observing his crew. He nodded a greeting as he saw them approaching.
“Ah, look at you two. Fast friends already. I knew you’d get along.”
Syd gave no response to that. Instead, she said, “How are we looking, captain?”
“Mighty fine.” Roy wore an easy smile this morning. Somehow, he seemed different now that they were out of sight of land and well on their way. More relaxed. More in control. Perhaps the open sea was the only place he could truly be himself. “Say what you will about our young Storm Caller, but he’s certainly getting the job done. We’re moving at a steady clip. If we can keep this up, we’ll be to Bode by nightfall.”
Syd nodded briskly. “You expect we’ll attack the Barskall forces tonight?”
Roy considered that for a moment before answering. “That’s not my call. This is Captain Tor’s show. We’re just here to support him. But if I had to guess? I’d say yes, we can expect to engage the enemy tonight.”
For the first time, Abbey saw Syd smile. “Excellent.”
Roy shook his head. “You and your fighting, Syd. One of these days, you’ll get sick of it and want a sensible, peaceful life like me.”
“Somehow, I doubt it, sir.”
Abbey scanned the open water. They were moving north along the Kaldfell coast, but they were out of sight of land. Better to sneak up on the Barskall undetected, Abbey assumed. She saw a ship ahead of them—it had to be Thunderclap—and two more behind them. Dustin was at his place on the prow, staff in hand.
Abbey nodded toward him. “He got to work early.”
Roy chuckled. “Indeed, he did. I’m told he got up four times in the night to call more wind, even though we were cruising along just fine. I think he badly wants to beat Thunderclap to our destination.”
“Sounds about right. He’s always been competitive, ever since we were kids. I’m the only one who could beat him at anything without him throwing a fit.”
“Is that so?” Roy asked. “How’d you accomplish that?”
“I expect I beat him so often he kind of got used to it.”
Syd let out a bark-like laugh. “Be careful, Arcadian, I’m starting to like you.”
“Why should I be careful?”
Syd smiled slyly. “I have a habit of getting my friends into trouble.”
Now, it was Abbey’s turn to smile. “Then I think we’ll get along just fine.”
Chapter Thirteen
Dustin stood at the prow of the ship, his staff resting in one hand. The city of Bode was visible in the distance, and the setting sun was at their backs. They’d stopped the wind and were waiting for a signal from the other ships, now all gathered in a line near them.
Captain Roy, Syd, and Abbey joined him at the front of the ship.
“Won’t be long now,” Roy said. “Just have to wait for the signal.”
The crew was gathered on the deck, dressed for battle, weapons in hand.
They’d been sitting there for over an hour. Thunderclap had sent a single small boat ashore to validate the claims that the Barskall had taken the city. Once it was confirmed, the Storm Callers would bring down the fog, and the attack would begin.
Dustin glanced at Abbey. He had to admit, she looked every inch the warrior. Her sword was at her hip, and she watched the shore with her jaw set, grim determination in her eyes. He knew she felt this was her best chance to find the man who had killed the Magistrate’s son and framed her father.
“There!” Roy pointed toward shore.
Dustin looked toward where the captain was pointing and saw a pattern of flashes of light. It was the way Holdgate ships communicated with one another, and the way they communicated with allies on shore. Dustin had learned the complex language of light as an apprentice, and he was fluent in its nuances. Excitement sprang up in his belly at what he saw.
“It’s confirmed! The Barskall have taken Bode.”
Syd pumped her fist in the air. Finally, someone with as much excitement for battle as him. He was starting to like that woman.
Roy’s face was unreadable. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We have to wait for our orders from Captain Tor.”
Dustin turned to Thunderclap and watched anxiously. He knew they were meant to be here in a support role. They wouldn’t be first in the city. More likely than not, warriors from The Foggy Day would pull up the rear. By the time they got to shore, there would be little to do other than clean up the few Barskall Warriors who had slipped through the fingers of the others. Still, it wasn’t bad as far as first battles went.
A light began flashing on the deck of Thunderclap, created by a mirror and torchlight. As soon as Dustin saw the first few flashes, he went cold. “No. There is no way!”
“Easy,” Roy said softly. “Let’s hear them out.”
Abbey tapped her foot impatiently on the deck. “Um, some of us don’t speak light flashes. Care to translate?”
It was all Dustin could do to force the words out. Anger was boiling up in him, threatening to spill over into rage. “They want us to stay back. They don’t want us to join the battle at all.”
“Wait, what?”
“My thoughts exactly.” Dustin watched the flashes of light and continued to translate. “They want us to stay here, and I’m to provide a cover of fog over the water, so people in the city don’t see their ships approaching.”
Syd burst forth in an impressive string of curses. Even Abbey raised an eyebrow.
“They never wanted us along,” Dustin muttered. “Now, they’re keeping us out of the fight.”
Roy put a hand on his shoulder. “You’re n
ot wrong. But their motivations hardly matter. We have our orders.”
Dustin turned toward the man, a look of fury on his face. “This is why no one’s heard of The Foggy Day. Because you’re willing to sit back while others do the real work.”
Roy didn’t react, but it was clear from the look in his eyes that the words stung him. “What would you have me do? Disobey orders?”
In truth, Dustin didn’t know what more they could do. As much as he hated to admit it, the captain was right. “Fine. I’ll bring down the fog, and they can go capture all the glory.”
He glanced at Abbey and noticed the look of concern on her face.
“Wait, Abbey, if we’re not going ashore, how are you going to find—”
“That’s what I’m wondering,” she said, cutting him off. Her eyes scanned the deck for a moment before she spoke again. “We still have the little dinghy. What if I took it to shore? Could you conjure up a little wind that would carry me there, Dustin?”
“Of course. But I don’t know about sending you ashore alone.”
“Me neither,” Roy added.
“I can fight.” Abbey sounded offended at the suggestion she might need any kind of assistance. “If you need a demonstration, I’m happy to take on any member of your crew right the hell now.”
Roy chuckled. “I’m sure you are, but that will hardly be necessary.”
Syd looked back and forth between the three of them. “What am I missing? What’s so important about her going ashore?”
Dustin wasn’t sure they could trust Syd. Not yet. She seemed solid enough, but they’d known her less than two days. “There’s not really time to explain. Let’s just say—”
The captain cut him off. “She’s come to find a traitor who we believe is working with the Barskall.”
“Ah.” Syd didn’t seem entirely surprised.
“I stand corrected,” Dustin muttered. “I guess there is time to explain.”
The three other ships were all raising their sails, preparing to surge toward the city.
Roy glanced at Dustin. “Looks like it’s time for you to go to work.”
Dustin nodded and gripped his staff.
Abbey stepped in front of the captain. “I’m going ashore, captain. Are you going to let me use your dinghy, or am I going to have to swim for it?”
Roy shook his head. “Sea and stars, you’re a persistent one.” He thought for a moment. “Syd, you’ll accompany her ashore.”
Syd looked surprised, but not displeased.
Abbey bristled a bit. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
“I’m not offering you one. I’m giving you an ally. I don’t care what a badass you are. No one can do this alone.”
“Fine.” Abbey turned to Dustin. “You’ll give us the wind we need?”
Dustin smiled. “Abbey, I’m going to get you there so fast you’ll have time for dinner before the other ships arrive.”
* * *
Abbey crouched down in the dinghy, clinging tightly to its sides as it was lowered over the edge of the ship and down into the water. Syd, on the other hand, stood in a wide-footed stance, looking as calm as if she were on dry land. Abbey let out a surprised grunt as the boat landed in the water with a splash.
Syd grinned at her. “I hope you’re better on land than you are on a ship, or we could be in trouble.”
Abbey clutched the side of the boat. “Don’t worry about me. I just hope you know how to use those two swords.”
“I’ve swung them on occasion,” the bald woman said. She raised the dinghy’s small sail and settled in on the bench seat.
A thick fog hung over the water now, and the other three ships were no longer in sight. Abbey looked up at the bow of the ship. Dustin stood there, clutching his staff, his eyes glowing a blue-green. He nodded down to them, and Abbey didn’t have to understand the code of light signals to take his meaning. He was about to send them on their way.
Syd sat down and put a hand on one side of the boat. “If you weren’t holding on already, you’ll want to now.”
No sooner had the words left her lips than wind slammed into their backs, sending them speeding through the fog.
Abbey’s first instinct was to tense up. After all, there were three large ships ahead, and for all she knew they were about to crash into them. But then she told herself that if they were going to crash, there was nothing she could do about it anyway. Then she forced herself to relax. After a minute or two, she found she was actually enjoying the ride.
“You’ll recognize the Barskall Warriors by their lack of armor,” Syd said, shouting to be heard over the wind rushing by. “Remember, they will have drunk their nasty seiderdrek before engaging us. That means they don’t feel pain like you or I. All they have is their aggression. The only way to stop them is to stop them permanently. Drop their asses, and do it fast.”
“Got it,” Abbey called back. There was confidence in her voice, but she felt a twinge of doubt. Not that she couldn’t hold her own; potion or not, she was looking forward to testing her mettle against the legendary Barskall Warriors. It was just that she’d never killed anyone before. Never even seriously hurt anyone. Most of the beatings she’d dished out had been with practice swords with dulled edges. The worst she’d ever hurt anyone had been the guards at Jarvi’s house. But now she wouldn’t have a choice.
Suddenly, they broke through the fog, and Abbey gasped. All three ships and the city of Bode all came into view at the same moment.
“It doesn’t look all that different than Holdgate, does it?” Syd asked.
“A bit smaller maybe,” Abbey answered. “And a lot more on fire.”
At least half the buildings along the water were ablaze.
Syd shook her head sadly. “Those Barskall bastards.”
Dustin’s wind pushed them forward as fast as ever. Syd kept her hand on the rudder, guiding them between Thunderclap and High Tide.
A few moments later, the dinghy settled on the rocky shore.
Abbey looked around, scanning the city. What she saw made her gasp. Men and women without armor, wearing only thin cloaks were scurrying through the streets with broadswords. Abbey saw one of them, a tall, fat man, swinging wildly at a boy who couldn’t have been more than fifteen.
Abbey glanced at Syd. “Holy shit. They’re slaughtering the townspeople. We have to get in there.”
“I thought this was about finding the traitor.”
Abbey stepped out of the boat and onto the shore. “It is. But I’m not going to let these Barskall pieces of shit kill these innocent people. Not when I can do something about it.”
Syd smiled and drew the two swords from the scabbards on her back. “I was really hoping you’d say that.”
The two women dashed toward the street. A Barskall Warrior was standing over the fallen body of a woman.
“Bastard!” Abbey yelled.
Without stopping to think, she charged the man. He smiled as he saw Abbey coming and raised his sword.
Abbey stabbed at his midsection, but he knocked the blow away. Abbey was momentarily taken aback by the force of the counterstrike. Syd hadn’t been kidding. This guy was the strongest foe she’d ever faced by a long shot.
The Barskall Warrior swung at Abbey, but she managed to duck out of the way. He attacked again. And again. And again.
Abbey remembered what Syd had said. When the Barskall had drunk their seiderdrek, they became creatures of pure aggression. There was no thought behind his attack, no strategy.
She ducked his next blow, then lunged forward. Her sword sank into his belly.
To Abbey’s surprise, he didn’t even react to the wound. He simply struck again with his sword. This time, Abbey spun out of the way and stabbed him in the throat. He fell to the ground, clutching the neck wound.
Abbey stared at him for a long moment. She’d killed her first enemy.
A hand touched her shoulder, and she turned. It was Syd.
“Well done. But there’s plenty mor
e of them. Let’s keep moving.”
Abbey nodded. She turned and saw another Barskall Warrior. He was approaching an elderly man, who was holding up a rusty sword with a shaky hand.
Abbey started toward them, but Syd grabbed her arm and said, “Wait. That’s Randall. First mate of Thunderclap. He’s got this.”
Abbey saw the man she was referring to. He may have been the tallest person she’d ever seen. He was dressed in leather armor and carrying a sword Abbey recognized as one of her father’s.
Randall stalked toward the Barskall. When he’d almost reached him, he turned, smiled, and stabbed the old man. The Barskall Warrior bellowed in laughter.
“The traitor,” Abbey whispered.
“Abbey, look around.” Syd’s voice was filled with horror.
Abbey did as instructed. What she saw made her quake with anger. All around her, she saw Holdgate fighters and Barskall Warriors working together. Cutting down townspeople. Breaking down doors. Hauling away valuables.
There wasn’t just one traitor, Abbey realized. There were hundreds.
Thunderclap. High Tide. Summer Wind. They were all traitors. Every one of them.
The Storm Raiders were real. And they were working with the Barskall.
Chapter Fourteen
Benjamin sat in his jail cell, waiting for the inevitable.
He’d been locked up for almost two full days now. Since the time the city guards broke into his home, and he’d been dragged through his shop and to this cell, he hadn’t really been worried. He was innocent of the crime for which he was being accused. Clearly, someone was trying to frame him. There was nothing he could do to clear his name from in here, so all he could do was wait, remain steadfast in his innocence, and hope the real criminal would be brought to justice.
And if he wasn’t? What if Benjamin died for a crime he didn’t commit? Well, that wouldn’t be the biggest injustice the world had ever seen. He’d persecuted enough people during his time as a Hunter in Arcadia that his death would be deserved.
