Their minds refocused as the captain walked closer. “While the men do their duty I’d like to know what you’re up to all the way out here.”
Kallel grinned and Alex liked his plan before the guards showed up. “Why I’m sailing across to meet my sister. I just received word that her husband was killed by members of Freelan. So my sons and myself are crossing the lake to see if there is something we might be able to do to ease her suffering of the incident. Once I drop them off I’m coming back to tend to my wife, she’s ill at the moment, but her mother is looking over her while I see about my sister’s well being.”
“You’ll attempt to make such a journey in this…thing?” Then the admiral began looking at the patched boat. “Are you sure you’ll make it? I’ve never seen such a shambled ship…”
Suddenly Clift neighed in terror and Alex’s grip tightened against his staff. He began shouting a string of curses that were indeed impressive. Alex’s heart stammered as he listened for sounds of men screaming. Then came the voices of the men below deck. “Careful, he’s a kicker.” “Ow! He bites too!” “Get away from ‘em!” and the men continued yelling at each other. Soon all eight men stormed out of the lower level and they were panting heavily.
The admiral’s eye narrowed on three men before him as he demanded from his men “What happened down there? Did you find anything that will expose them as rebel liars?” Alex didn’t like being called a liar, but controlled his temper.
“Nay, Admiral!” One man said. “It was just an easily spooked horse below deck. When we got too close to his hay we scared him and he about kicked me.” The next man continued the report, showing a little blood on his forearm where Clift’s teeth impressions stood out firmly. “We found four packs, but they were all clean. We checked their food supply, but it was only food and fresh water, enough for only them and their steed.” As the man finished speaking, Clift went silent.
“Is that all?” The admiral finally looked at his men. They all said the citizens were cleared of suspicion. Then the captain politely bowed to Kallel. “I’m sorry about the inconvenience. You may all leave now in peace.”
Kallel laughed which caught all off guard. “I’m glad you’re doing your job, Admiral. I feel safer knowing that you do such fine work. I don’t mind the inconveniency just as long you find a Freelan rebel in your search.”
The man grinned and walked back to his ship, along with all of his men. They removed their hooks and the board.
Alex, Kallel and Marlin waited and watched as the Water Guard reopened their sails and continued on their way.
Once they were too far away they all sighed in relief and put their rings back on. The three of them unfurled the sails and continued on the journey. Alex walked back down the stairs after the boat began were moving ahead and said “We made it. You can all come out now.”
Lily almost exploded out of the hay. She brushed off all the straw off her clothing. Her eyes locked onto Alex’s and she smiled. “You are truly devious. I almost blew my cover when Clift spooked. Is that what you told him to do?” he nodded. “We’ll tell me next time. It was a close call when you don’t understand what someone always says, especially if you speak to animals. Are we good to go?” he nodded and she sighed in relief while removing the strands in her hair.
Shade came up and out from his shadow next to Lily and admitted that he was glad everything worked out. Relief filled them all.
Chapter 17
After the single incident with the Water Guard, things went smoothly ever since. None of them have seen a single Guard ship or fishing vessel since the boarding. If it were to happen again they might not be so lucky if the situation were to be repeated. Though they were joyous the plan succeeded but none dropped their guard in systematically scanning the horizon every few minutes.
For the next week they saw few things but water, water, and you guessed it, more water. And then on the seventh day land changed the northern horizon. It was a welcome sight. Alex’s heart beat with joy knowing that they had made it completely across the vast lake safely and the next leg of the journey was just up ahead.
Kallel then followed the shoreline of Point Lake westerly for a few more days until entering the mouth of the Quad River.
Each and every one of them were relieved to see trees and land once again. If the ship failed them now they would all be capable of swimming to shore.
The Quad River runs from Point Lake all the way back to Nicronane or deeper into Alluan, depending on which route you wished to travel. Alex’s destination was further in Alluan so Kallel kept to the northern bank. The river is mainly freshwater, bled from Point Lake, but if you took the river south, into Nicronane, it becomes brackish.
The relatively straight river was sailed for the next three weeks and at some points the water became murky. It was dangerous because Kallel grew afraid of underwater logs and other hidden debris laying beneath the brown water. There were many docks along the river and most were run down because no one had used them in many years. Kallel docked only once, at small a community to buy a few fresh supplies and then continued on. It might have taken some time to repair the ship, but Alex and the others saved at least four month of traveling continually on foot. Some points in the river were tight to get through, but Kallel was a great sailor and Marlin’s item saved their hides from crashing into underwater obstacles. His bobber saw everything in the water that couldn’t be seen with the naked eye. When the ship became too close to any dangerous debris Marlin would float it to the surface or weigh them down, whatever he deemed necessary. There were four large rivers they could have turned on, but they stuck with the main one heading deeper into Alluan’s boarders.
Around mid morning on the thirty third sailing day, Kallel shouted from the helm “WE’VE MADE IT!!!”
Everyone was on the top deck as Kallel pointed to an unnoticeable dock. It was hidden by a small cove that choked at a point. You wouldn’t realize it was there unless you knew exactly where to look. The trees blocked most of the cove and no ships larger than Kallel’s could possibly fit through the inlet’s entrance.
He somehow managed to fit his boat through the bottleneck and into the peaceful cove. The water was undisturbed until the boat’s wakes arrived, causing ripples. The color of the water stayed brown because of the surrounding trees, but it was strangely clear for about six feet below the calm surface. A faint breeze rustled the trees above and a school of fish kept swimming under the water’s calm surface. The cove remained relatively serene even with the intrusion.
It was a beautiful place.
Kallel spun the ship around expertly and docked perfectly. The sailing journey finally came to a harmonious end.
Marlin and Alex slid the ramp onto the dock. All went quiet too suddenly. Then Shade howled and launched himself off the boat and into the water, causing havoc all around. His splash made the fish scatter and the sloshing noise echoed off the surrounding trees. Squirrels and birds joined together in anger to Shade’s appearance. All he did was rumble a laugh at his newfound freedom. He made everyone laugh because they knew they didn’t have to stay onboard any longer. They could move as they pleased instead of residing in the cramped quarters for so long, with little to do for entertainment.
Below deck they went and grabbed their packs and loaded them with food as tightly as could be properly stuffed. Lily filled the two skins inside the water bucket one last time before walking off the boat. Clift was the last one to take the ramp to the pier. He still looked wary until he finally landed on the sturdy dock. He too was neighing in relief, but refrained from joining Shade in a swim.
Kallel looked down at the five amazing recruits who did so much. “You kids had better be safe. You all should know the way to the relay point. Good luck and may you live freely.”
Each one of them said their thanks of gratitude and then he departed the cove soon after while the four walked up the dock and Shade had already beaten them to shore. He shook his wet fur everywhere and he included
everyone in the spray.
Once they were moderately dry again Lily asked “Where to now?”
“Now we head north and onto the plains. It shouldn’t be more than a few days journey.” Alex said and hoisted his pack in a comfortable position before walking down the trail.
Alex led everyone through the path that led to the dock, realizing from past tracks in the ground that the last party to come through this trail had been three weeks ago in the least, four at the most. Trees surrounded their every step, sheltering their bodies from the sun with its welcome canopy, but the birds continued singing and Lily would hum; making the trek that much more pleasurable. The path shrunk too small to walk side by side, but they managed to talk freely and pleasantly.
After two days of trudging through the thickly grown vegetation and varied greenery, it began to thin out rapidly. Before any of them knew it, they were on a relatively flat and grassy plain. Clift neighed at all the opportunity he was just delivered to. Everyone could see his mouth watering in anticipation.
It was midmorning and the untamed grass bent with the wind. The grass was lush and a healthy shade of green. Alex knew that this land must have been rained on recently so water wouldn’t be too hard to find. There were only trees to their back and nothing but open space to the front. The air smelled sweet and the only noise came from insects. The sky was brilliant blue and clear of all clouds.
Alex looked up and to his right as Lily rode expertly atop Shade, finishing humming the same delicate melody. She said “There is room for the two of us up here. I’m sure Shade wants to get a move on.”
Shade shifted his gaze from her to his brother. He asked Shade “Do you want to pick up the pace?” He grinned and nodded once. It was astounding they were on the same wavelength. “Can you manage for two people to ride?”
“Please. I could carry three on my back and not feel any discomfort. I cannot even feel Lily’s weight as it is. The two of you won’t disrupt my run. Besides it has been a long time since I’ve had an opportunity to stretch my legs with such room, plus we can make great time with such free land and no trees to dodge.” He grinned even larger, sabers flashing in the sunlight. “Hop on my big little brother.” Alex smiled as he walked up to Shade’s side.
There seemed something odd about Shade, once Alex came closer he began understand the slow change that happened gradually in their journeys. He had grown yet again. The last time Alex measured him properly, the top of Shade’s shoulders had reached his, but now they reached his eye level and his sabers were closer to nine inches and sharper than ever. His shoulder and hind muscles had thickened and became more defined underneath his fur. His paws had become larger as did those sharply curved claws. His tail has also become longer. His tail frightened the others more than anything. It was a deadly bludgeoning weapon, especially when he became excited. Alex wondered when he’d cease to quit growing. Was Shade becoming a Shadow Fang Lord?
He didn’t mention his thoughts aloud as he spoke to Lily. “Allow me to ride in the forward position. Please.” Lily smiled as she placed her hands on Shade’s back and lifted her rear slightly so she could slide back.
Alex took the staff and planted it firmly into the ground. He then jumped on Shade’s back, but it felt almost too easy. Even with his new size there wasn’t any problem leaping the height, but usually he had to crouch down for Lily to climb up. His long legs straddled across Shade’s ribs and behind his shoulders. Alex then felt his own thighs casually to understand why it was so easy to leap and the change made his eyes widen. They’ve been journeying so long that he hadn’t realized that Shade wasn’t the only one who’s grown. Alex’s legs had thickened and his chest had bulked up ever so slightly. The added muscle size had aided the ascent atop Shade’s back. He then reached down and retrieved the still standing staff. With his Xeal staff in his left hand Alex grabbed a handful of Shade’s shoulder fur with the other.
Then Alex felt something that sent an electric current coursing throughout his body. It wasn’t an unpleasant sensation. Immediately his mind remembered the sensation from the past and it reminded him what it meant. Awareness of his whole body electrified as Lily had scooted forward. Her inner thighs touched his outer and then she wrapped her arms around his abdominals. The hilts of her swords barely touched his waist line. She pressed her chest into his wide back and he felt that her breasts were still plated with her armored item. Then her scent made him hyperaware of her. Where they touched felt like bliss, and where it did didn’t, ached for her contact.
Alex turned his head to peer at her with a single eye. Her eyes were calm as she looked back at him. She wanted to hold him, but she couldn’t say that so she instead took a more logical explanation. “I need something to hold on to and you are all I’ve got.” She looked the other way as she squeezed her legs. She was unsure of how he would take her statement.
Immediately Shade began walking and slowly increased his speed.
Marlin began smiling at Alex while riding expertly Clift. He gave Alex a subtle gesture of approval and made it vanish before Lily looked in his direction.
While Shade ran, there was only one thing Alex was able to think about. Lily’s last sentence rang inside his mind. She was holding on to me because I was all she had? She was the first one I could hold onto, but she already knew that. Alex thought. Her tone was well controlled so it was difficult to decipher if she meant more than she said or if she meant it only in a platonic way. It might have been said like that, but he chose to think of the implications rather than let her words slip away. Her importance to him was unequaled, except for Shade if they were speaking of close friendship. His romantic love for her was true, but would it ever be requited?
Alex managed to keep his Xeal staff off to his hip to make sure it didn’t accidently contact Lily in a painful way. She still remained clutched to his body as Shade continued running.
Shade on the other hand started howling with joy as his speed picked up even more. He enjoyed the way his body moved and the effortless speed he could achieve. The only time he stopped was because in his excitement he left Clift off in the distance, trying his best to keep up the impossible pace.
A few hours later they took a short break and continued on the journey. They rested during the night and continued in the day. Shade didn’t lose himself again throughout the day’s run and leave Clift behind. Lily didn’t speak too much to anyone, but Alex still felt like he was getting through to her slowly. Right now she needed a friend and companion, not a person pursuing her hand. She needed to seek out what she wanted, not be forced into anything she wasn’t ready for.
There was nothing but a sea of flat land covered in grass as they ran north, that they could see. The emptiness became disconcerting for them all.
On the sixth day they had finally found something different in the open travels. Off in the distance to the north stood a lone oak tree. It was undoubtedly a local landmark and their next destination. It wasn’t difficult to spot once they had found it. It was a ways off, but a different terrain than what they’ve seen recently.
It came as a sure sign of hope.
Since Shade and Clift had run all morning, the three humans decided to walk along their side. With a destination in sight they didn’t need to rush.
While they walked Lily and Marlin were jabbering about something, but Alex’s attention was occupied. “Shade, you’ve been quiet for a very long time. What are you thinking about so seriously?”
Shade’s ears perked as he turned his head towards his brother. His tone had become calm and sure as he walked. “When Uncle Gambit died, I wanted to join this organization the moment I read it from your uncle’s final will. I do not want to hide who and what I am, when Freelan comes to retrieve us. I’m a Shadow Fang and I’m proud of it. If they can use my strength, they will need to accept me without us being covert like our past adventures. I’m no sneak. I’m an honorable warrior.”
Alex patted his back. “I’ve thought about it as well. You�
�re right. We’ve come here to be accepted and you are an irreplaceable part of us. I’ll follow your lead this time.”
He explained what Shade wanted to do to the others and they all agreed that Shade did have a point and a right. Lily mock punched Shade’s shoulder and they both grinned. Marlin and Alex sighed jokingly knowing that they will both get them all in trouble at some point in the near future.
When they moved closer to the enormous tree Alex told the others that he saw seven people waiting under it. At least that was the amount of bodies that were visible to him. Lily and Marlin told Shade and Alex to wait here for a few minutes. Clift traveled with them.
The three went off to inform the seven new companions who was to come. Shade and Alex hunkered down into the tall grass while cautiously watching the others under the tree walk up to the three. The conversation looked tense, but the wind muffled the words. Then the two of them saw Lily’s silver crescent sword glint in the reflected sunlight. That was the signal they were waiting for.
Shade and Alex stood and casually walked in the tree’s direction. Once they were close enough they could see the stunned and scared expressions on the faces of the seven other new Freelan members. There were two teenage boys and a early twenty’s woman. The other was a husband and wife with their two teenage daughters. Each of their faces were sheet white as Shade and Alex made their approach. Marlin then walked between the two sides.
He began introductions.
“These are our other companions we spoke of, Alex and Shade. As you can see we weren’t lying when we said that we had an actual Shadow Fang with us.” Then Marlin turned to his friend. “Alex, these are also new members. This here is…” Marlin explained all seven of their names to him and he in turn told Shade.
Untamed Gift (Book One of the Items Trilogy) Page 35
