by Hylton, PT
The bald woman stood on an outcropping, looking out over the sea.
Abbey let go of Dustin’s hand. “Let’s get up there.”
They made it the rest of the way to the outcropping in silence but for their grunts of effort. Abbey was getting tired, but she wasn’t about to let Dustin beat her to the top, so she pressed on. She arrived at the rocks ten yards ahead of Dustin, and she allowed herself to put her hands on her knees and catch her breath for a moment.
When Dustin joined them, Syd gestured to the sea far below.
“Damn it all to hell,” Dustin said. “Well, at least we know we made the right call.”
Abbey blinked at the horizon, trying to figure out what the other two were looking at. Apparently, she wasn’t as practiced in spotting objects far across the water. “What is it?”
Syd moved behind Abbey, then pointed. Abbey followed the woman’s finger, but it still took her a moment to see it. When she did, she let out a soft gasp. It was a ship.
“It’s not Thunderclap,” Dustin said.
“Not The Foggy Day either,” Syd added.
Abbey raised an eyebrow. “You can tell that from this far away?”
Syd ignored the question. “It’s either the Summer Wind or the High Tide. Which means Tor sent them out searching for us.”
They watched for a few minutes in silence, then Dustin let out a soft whistle. “They’re moving mighty fast. It won’t be long before they pass us.”
“It’s a good thing we got off the water,” Syd said, echoing Dustin’s previous statement.
They watched for a few more minutes, and even Abbey noticed how quickly the ship was moving. If they’d been in their little boat, this thing would have caught them no problem. “I don’t understand. With how fast they’re going, how do they hope to find us? There are a million spots we could be hiding. We could be in any of these coves. On any of those islands.”
“It’s a standard sweeping technique,” Syd said. “This ship’s primary mission is to ensure we don’t beat them back to Holdgate. They’re cruising down there as fast as they can. If they overtake us on open water, great. If not, they reach the city before us and brand us traitors and liars. That way, if we do make it down there, it will be more difficult to get people to believe us.”
“That’s definitely High Tide,” Dustin muttered.
Syd continued. “My guess is they’ll be sending Summer Wind close behind to conduct a more thorough search of the shoreline.”
Dustin sighed. “If you’re right, that raises an interesting question. We’re caught between High Tide and Summer Wind. No way we can get home by sea. And walking there would take a week, easy. So, how are we going to get home?”
The answer came to Abbey suddenly, like a bolt of inspiration. “We don’t go home. At least not yet.”
Syd raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
A slow smile crossed Abbey’s face. “Think about it. Our primary objectives are to stay alive and to get home as quickly as possible, right?”
“Yeah.” Dustin sounded anything but confident in his answer.
“And the fastest way home is a ship. It would take us a week to walk back to Holdgate, but we could make it back to Bode in only a day or so.”
Now, Syd’s skepticism was turning to outright worry. “And why the hell would we do that?”
“If Tor sent Summer Wind and High Tide off to look for us, that means Thunderclap is guarding The Foggy Day all alone.”
Dustin went pale. “Wait. Thunderclap is the best ship in the Kaldfell Peninsula, which pretty much means it’s the best ship on Irth. Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”
Abbey put her hand on her sword. It felt good to finally have a plan. “I’m suggesting we sneak back to Bode, sabotage the hell out of Thunderclap, and get our ship back.”
Chapter Nineteen
Abbey concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other as they made their way up yet another steep hill. It had been a long morning of hiking, traveling north through the mountains of the Kaldfell Peninsula. It was difficult to gauge how far they’d come on this mountainous terrain, but she was beginning to suspect Dustin’s prediction that they could make it back to Bode in a day was woefully optimistic.
Syd had told them they would stop and rest when they found a good spot, but that had been hours ago, and apparently, they still hadn’t come across a place that met the bald woman’s lofty standards. “We need a spot that can’t be seen from the sea or from the land below.” Syd had told them. “We don’t want someone spotting us and coming to check out the mysterious strangers in the hills.”
Abbey slowed her steps and dropped back to walk alongside Dustin. The poor guy looked even more worn out than Abbey felt.
“How’s the mighty Storm Caller?” Abbey asked. “You gonna make it?”
He shot her a slight smile. “Please. You’ll drop from exhaustion long before I do.”
She let out a laugh. “We both know that’s not true. Although, you do have that little walking stick.” She gestured to his Storm Caller staff.
“Yeah, who knew my sacred staff would be reduced to holding me up as I climb a damn mountain?” He paused. “Wait, did you say little?”
“Aha!” Abbey said triumphantly. “I knew you were sensitive about that thing.”
It felt good to laugh, to put aside their quest for just a moment. At the same time, her mind had been working as they walked. “I’ve been thinking about your Storm Calling and what you said about the sea. Some Storm Callers can cast without being on the ocean, right? Like the Storm Caller on the wall of Holdgate during your Testing?”
“Yeah. But that’s because there is a trough filled with seawater on the wall. It was designed for that purpose. A Storm Caller can sink their staff into the trough and do everything they could do on a ship at sea.”
“Hmm. So, you’re saying that little bit of seawater contains the same amount of power as the sea itself?”
Dustin shook his head. “It’s about the connection to the sea. The wood touches water, and that connects the whole thing.”
Abbey opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Syd called to them.
“Up here!”
Abbey looked up and saw Syd standing in the shadows under a rock overhang. “Holy shit; I think she’s going to let us rest.”
Dustin shook his head. “No way. I’m not getting my hopes up until I’m sure.”
They made their way up to where The Foggy Day’s first mate was waiting and found her standing in the shadows. Abbey took a look around. She could see a small village in the distance, but even if the townspeople looked up here, there was no way they would see Syd, Abbey, and Dustin among the rocks. They were equally protected from someone on the water seeing them.
“This place will be adequate,” Syd said. “I’ll take the first watch. You two sleep for a few hours.”
Abbey and Dustin both breathed a sigh of relief.
Abbey settled in on the rocky ground. She didn’t have a blanket or pillow, but somehow, she had no problem falling into one of the deepest sleeps of her life.
It seemed like only a moment later she felt someone shaking her. She opened her eyes and saw Syd crouching over her.
“Arcadian, there’s trouble.” Without waiting for a reply, she stood and walked to the edge of the rocky outcropping.
Abbey wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and go back to sleep, but then she saw Dustin standing next to Syd. No way was she going to let him look heartier than her. She sighed, struggled to her feet, and joined her companions.
Neither Syd nor Dustin spoke. Their eyes were fixed on the village far below. Abbey quickly saw why. Two columns of smoke rose up from the town.
If the columns of smoke had been together, Abbey might have been able to convince herself that this was simply some house fire that had spread. But the two columns of black smoke were rising from opposite sides of town. This was no accident.
Ab
bey spoke through gritted teeth. “Barskall.”
Syd nodded slowly. “My thoughts exactly.”
Dustin hesitated. “How can we be sure?”
“We can’t,” Syd said. “Not without getting closer.”
Abbey was already starting down the mountain toward the village.
“Whoa, hold on.” Dustin held up a hand. “Shouldn’t we discuss this?”
Abbey paused and looked back over her shoulder at him. “There’s nothing to discuss. If it is the Barskall, those people need our help.”
Syd nodded her agreement. “She’s right. Not only that, we need to confirm if it’s Barskall. We need to know if they’re looking for us.”
Dustin stood quietly for a moment, thinking as he clutched his staff. Abbey knew he had to be afraid. He’d spent so long honing his storm magic skills, and if this came to a fight, he’d be without them. He was probably wondering what good he’d be in a land-locked battle.
He took a deep breath, then looked down at the village. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go.”
It took them nearly an hour to make their way down the mountain. By the time they reached it, the sun was setting, and there were many more fires blazing.
Abbey, Syd, and Dustin paused at the edge of the village. People were scurrying around carrying water pails, but there were no Barskall that Abbey could see.
Syd called to a short, blond man who was running past. “You there! What’s happening?”
The man stared at them, perplexed at the sudden appearance of these strangers. But then his gaze settled on Dustin, and his expression changed. “Oh, thank the sea.”
“Uh, what?” Dustin suddenly looked very uncomfortable.
The man ran up to Dustin and grabbed his cloak. “Help us, Storm Caller! It’s the Barskall. A few came into town to start these fires, and they’ve been sending in waves of Warriors ever since. They’re looting our homes even as they burn.”
Abbey put a hand on the man’s shoulder. “We’re going to help. Are they still here?”
The man ignored her and continued to address Dustin. “They say when help is needed, a Storm Caller will appear, but I never believed it. Not until now.” He turned and pointed to a large wooden structure in the center of the village. “Look. We have a storm tower, and its trough is filled with seawater. We keep it full, even though we hoped this day would never come. But now it has. You can save us!”
Syd and Abbey exchanged a glance.
Abbey turned to Dustin. “Okay, man. Let’s get you to that storm tower.”
* * *
Abbey charged into town, her eyes on the storm tower. It was a wonder the Barskall hadn’t set that thing ablaze yet, but it just looked like a thirty-foot tall wooden frame with a platform at the top, so perhaps they didn’t think it was anything important.
As they moved through town, they saw dozens of fires and plenty of men and women hauling pails of water, but still no Barskall.
Syd shouted to be heard over the din around them. “This is how the Barskall operate. They send a small group to sow chaos in a village, often burning homes, then they fall back. When the townspeople think the attack is over and have turned their attention to putting out the fires, they attack again.”
“Let’s get Dustin to the storm tower before that happens.” Abbey glanced over her shoulder to make sure Dustin was behind them. He was, and now that his skills were needed, all the fear was gone from his face. He kept his eyes on the storm tower as they moved forward.
They were almost to the storm tower when a cacophony of ringing bells and shouts filled the air.
A man standing at the top of the tower yelled down at them even as he wailed on a bell hanging in the tower. “They’re back! The Barskall are approaching from the north. There are more of them this time.”
The townspeople stopped, stunned, none of them sure what to do next.
Syd drew the two swords off her back. “Son of a bitch. These people have no leadership.” She turned to Abbey. “Get Dustin to the tower and protect him. Dustin, see what you can do to put out these fires. I’ll help these people muster some sort of defense.”
With that, she turned and ran toward the people gaping at the hills to the north of the village. She yelled as she ran. “All right, you land-locked, dirt lovers, who among you has a sword?”
“She’s a real charmer,” Abbey muttered. Then she took off for the base of the tower, Dustin close at her heels.
They reached the crude staircase that wound its way up the tower, and Abbey paused.
She motioned toward the top. “You head up. I’m going to do what I can to keep them off you while you Storm Call.”
Dustin nodded. “I appreciate that. It’s going to take everything I have to put out these fires. If there’s really seawater up there.”
Abbey touched his arm. “Just… be safe, okay?”
“You, too.” He dashed up the stairs.
Abbey turned toward the north and drew her sword. She hoped Syd would be able to mount a defense, but she wasn’t naive enough to think that the majority of Barskall wouldn’t get through.
Up ahead, a large wagon pulled by four huge horses rolled into view. A moment later, the horses pulled to a stop. No sooner had the wagon wheels stopped turning than a dozen Barskall leaped out.
“Shit,” Abbey muttered. “A dozen Barskall Warriors, and no one around to see how awesome it’s going to be when I take them all down.”
She glanced up at the top of the tower and saw Dustin was in place, both hands on his staff, his eyes aglow in bluish-green. The sky seemed to be darkening, though, whether that was from the impending sunset or the work of her Storm Calling friend, she did not know.
A single, heavy raindrop fell on her arm, answering that question. In the distance, she heard thunder.
The Barskall who’d jumped out of the wagon were spreading out, heading in every direction. The good news was that only two of them were running at her. The bad news was she saw another team of horses approaching close behind them. How many of these guys were there?
She raised her sword and waited as raindrops fell onto her arms and face, her eyes fixed on the charging Barskall Warriors.
Just before they reached her, there was a mighty crash of thunder, and the skies opened. Rain poured down in a sudden torrent. The potion-addled Barskalls didn’t seem to notice. Their sole focus was Abbey.
One of the Barskalls, the leaner of the two, was a few steps ahead of his companion. As he reached Abbey, she stepped aside and sliced into his stomach. She’d learned her lesson in Bode; she wasn’t going to assume that single blow would slow her opponent. She lifted her sword high into the air and brought it down on his neck. Only then did she turn to face the second Barskall.
This one was thicker, sporting both a heavy gut and well-muscled arms. He smiled madly as he ran toward her, not even glancing at his fallen ally.
He thrust his sword at Abbey’s midsection. She deflected the blow, but she was impressed by her opponent’s speed. He attacked again. And again. And again. Each time he struck, he let out a high-pitched cackle. Each thrust was the same as the last. He wasn’t toying with her or testing her, she realized. He was just attacking again and again like an insane person. She was quickly learning that fighting Barskall who’d consumed their draughts was not like fighting other opponents. Normal rules of logic and combat barely applied.
“Okay, I’ve had enough of this shit.” Abbey deflected his latest strike, then dropped low, catching him in the ankle with her sword.
The Barskall Warrior went down hard, landing on his back in the mud.
His eyes widened as he looked up at the storm tower. Before Abbey could deliver the killing blow, he bellowed to his countrymen. “Storm Caller in the tower!”
Abbey finished the man, but it was too late to stop his final message. All around her, Barskall Warriors stopped what they were doing and turned toward the tower.
“Oh, shit.” Abbey widened her stance, gripped her
sword, and waited for the Barskall army to charge.
Chapter Twenty
Benjamin stood in the alley, watching as the sun dipped below the horizon. “You know, Jarvi, I’m beginning to wonder if this plan isn’t specifically designed to land me back in my jail cell as quickly as possible.”
The elderly trader smiled wryly. “Not specifically. That is merely one possible side effect.”
Benjamin couldn’t help but smile back at his friend. “You really think we’re going to be able to get in there without getting caught?”
Jarvi glanced up at the window before answering. “We’ll never know unless we try. So, what do you say you start climbing?”
They were outside the home of notorious party animal and recent murder victim Bronson. Jarvi insisted that they weren’t getting the full story from the city guard. If they wanted to find answers, they’d need to inspect the crime scene themselves. Benjamin wasn’t so sure, but he didn’t have any better ideas. He took a deep breath and began climbing toward the second story window, the very one that the murderer himself had reportedly gone through.
Benjamin wasn’t too worried about the city guard catching them here. The murder had taken place days ago, and the body and murder weapon had both been cleared away. But something felt wrong about being here, about entering the home of a dead man uninvited. If it hadn’t been Abbey’s life on the line as well as his own, he probably wouldn’t have agreed to do it.
The cobblestone wall was roughly masoned, and climbing proved to be no difficult task. Benjamin worked with his hands all day, and that gave him the strength he needed to hold tight to the small gaps in the stone. In a few short minutes, he was at the window. Just as Jarvi had predicted, the window was still unlatched, and he was able to open it and climb through.
He performed a quick search of the house to confirm it was unoccupied, then he went to the back door and let in Jarvi.
“Well, isn’t this lovely?” Jarvi said sarcastically while stepping inside.
