by Bob Nailor
She touched her cheek. Her finger was wet. The light rain turned into drizzle then into a heavy downfall very quickly. Jewyl could feel the wind picking up speed. She stood and saw the ship's crew was now fully awake and jumping about in the rain.
"Simple rain. Interesting, isn't it?" Jopab nodded toward the men in the distance. "Chardo, I thought you said you were going to sleep over there with the sailors."
Chardo stretched his arms above him, then yawned. "Decided better of it," he said, an smiled.
"I hope they enjoy their second bath in a day." Jewyl picked up Jopab's first line of conversation. "Any ideas on how to get out of all this?"
Jopab shook his head. "Percho had all the equipment," he said. "The fool probably drowned trying to save it."
"He wasn't a fool." Chardo trudged toward the tree line. "We've made due without the comfort of a tavern before."
Jewyl looked at the fire, it was almost dead from the rain.
It's going to be a long, cold night, she thought.
Drums.
"Somebody is happy about the rain?" Chardo asked dragging a few leaves behind him. "Who plays a drum in the rain? Jopab, do you want to help me get these palm branches together?"
"The purpose?" Jopab asked, all the while gathering the fronds like Jewyl and Chardo were doing. He glanced over at the ship's crew. They were looking inland.
"The branches may be wet," Jewyl said. "But they will help keep us dry when we thatch them."
Chardo quickly pulled a thin leaf from a frond and whipped it around a cluster of other fronds. "Find some long sticks, poles, whatever," he said. "We'll use them to make a frame."
Jopab brought some of the longer wood from the stockpile they had for the fire. "This should work," he said and laid it at Chardo's feet. "What do you think of the drums?"
"I don't," Chardo said. "I think it could be just the wind banging a branch against a hollow log."
Chardo moved in a fury lashing the sticks together, adding the fronds, and repeating. A strange structure of precarious stability came into existence.
"There." Chardo stood back to admire his handiwork in the stinging rain. "That should keep us pretty dry as long as the wind doesn't blow any stronger."
"Three of us?" Jopab pointed at the strange tee-pee lean-to shelter. "In that?"
Chardo smiled. "We'll be in out of the weather. Oh, we may be a bit cramped, but we all know one another pretty well by now." He slapped Jopab on the shoulder and smiled. "In."
Jewyl crawled inside first, Jopab followed and Chardo pulled another group of fronds behind him as he clambered in.
"Cozy," Jopab murmured. "Shall I continue my sentry?"
"If you're tired," Jewyl said. "I can stay awake."
"Nobody needs to stay awake." Chardo snuggled into a corner. "We're inside. There isn't any fire. All the wood is wet. What else is there?"
"The drums," Jewyl said. "I'm not swallowing your story about a branch beating itself on any log, Chardo. That is a consistent beat, not the random banging you claim."
"Whatever it is," Jopab said, while pulling his knees up closer to him. "We're sitting out here as obvious as can be. If we'd only built the shelter back into the tree line a little further."
"Would that make you feel safer?" Chardo stood. "All we need do is stand and carry this to the edge of the tree line."
Jopab smiled, but in the darkness, it was missed. "That easy?" Jopab finally asked. "Then let's move this thing and leave the sailors to the outcome of the drums."
"Those are strange words uttered for a priest," Jewyl said. "What are you thinking?" She stood with the two men and carried the structure to the tree line and nestled it among some overgrowth.
Jewyl re-adjusted her position then peeped outside to see if anyone was near. "The rain has lessened," she said. "The drums are still beating. I don't think Harsborz could accomplish all that by himself. When Harsborz said, 'we are not alone,' I don't know exactly what he meant, but I don't think we want to be here... or anywhere on this island, for a fact."
"Aiee!" came the cry.
Jewyl, Chardo and Percho each pulled back a frond to see what was happening. Harsborz stood where they had originally built their hut. He carried a staff.
"Behold the sins of Yendisa," he yelled at the crew. "Behold the power of the Lost Souls." The old man started to dance maniacally about the few struggling embers of the fire Jopab and Chardo had built earlier.
The embers glowed, pulsing in strength and light. Soon a blaze flashed and streaked its way upward into the sky. The rain stopped, the wind held its breath. There was an uncanny silence on the beach.
"Look," Chardo whispered. "See the waters? They don't move. There's no surf."
Jewyl strained to peer out of her little nook she'd created in the fronds. Chardo was correct, the ocean was still, but he also was wrong.
"There is no water," Jewyl said quietly. "That is a wet ocean floor. See the rocks I had landed on? They are now part of the beach. What does it all mean?"
"Yendisa controls the waters," Jopab whispered. "Yendisa was before there was anything." He pulled back into the hut, crouching. "Yendisa," he whispered, and buried his head between his knees.
"Get control of yourself," Jewyl said. "You've seen worse."
"Behold!" Harsborz yelled while holding both hands in the air. He slowly brought them down to point at the sailors. Before anyone could react, he dashed into the vegetation to disappear.
Jewyl looked out and could see the ship's crew. There was mayhem, yelling, hollering, when suddenly Murdo and his men were completely encompassed by a group of bodies. These things, people, whatever, glowed a sickly green and where their eyes should have been were nothing but dark patches. The beings appeared skeletal yet something bothered Jewyl. She stared at them. They were indeed skeletal, the white bones standing out from the green glow, yet they were not complete. One looked in her direction, she could feel the eyes burning into her soul, searching. Jewyl held her ground. The creature turned and she realized the craziness of the situation. When it had stared at her, she could see the rib cage, the front of the skull and the legs, but when it turned away, all she could see was the back of the creature, blackness.
"Does it make sense to you?" Chardo asked in a low whisper. "Why haven't the crew given up our location?"
"Yendisa," Jopab whispered.
Jewyl could see him wringing his hands together in the darkness. What has happened to this man? she wondered.
"They are not creatures of the night," Murdo yelled. "They are flesh and blood. Fight them."
Jewyl turned back to the scene in time to see Murdo's sword slice through the air at one of the creatures.
"Hurry," a voice whispered in the darkness. "Come with me if you wish to live."
"Harsborz?" Chardo asked.
"Come. Come," Harsborz called urgently. "Be very quiet. The waters are going to come back."
Jewyl crawled out of the makeshift hut and could see Harsborz. His wild maniacal look gone, he now appeared quite tame and docile.
"What about the waters?" she asked.
"It will come back, taller, taller than three of me," Harsborz said. "We must make it to the cave in time or all will be lost."
"Who are those men out there?" Chardo asked.
"They are followers of Yendisa," Harsborz whispered. "They are the not dead. We must avoid them." The small man peered back at his followers. "They seek sacrifices." He smiled. "I don't need sacrifice. I have plenty food."
Jewyl frowned. She could hear the change in Harsborz voice.
There was a roar, a loud rumbling and the sound of water.
"Hurry!" Harsborz yelled. "It comes! It comes! We must hurry." He dashed through the overgrowth and undergrowth, the vines and branches whipping at his frail body.
"What about Captain Murdo and the crew?" Jopab asked.
"They live, they die," Harsborz replied. "I can't save all. Pretty woman. Yes, I save her." He smiled a lecherous grin. "Yes, woman
for Harsborz."
"Hold it," Jewyl said and grabbed the old man by the arm to turn him toward her. "I'm not your woman." She let go when he jerked his arm free.
Harsborz frowned, mumbled something before once more motioning the group to follow him.
Chardo leaned closer to Jewyl. "I don't think you made a friend."
"If you think I treated other men cold, watch me with Harsborz," Jewyl replied. She pushed a swaying frond from her face and out of the way. "Wait a minute," she said. "Where'd he go?"
"I'm here," Harsborz said and grabbed her hand to yank her down beside him in the shrubbery. "Down. Get down." He put a finger to his lips.
Jewyl motioned to the others to get down and be quiet.
"We are not alone," Harsborz whispered to Jewyl. "I protect you. Shhh."
Jewyl listened, but couldn't hear anything. Finally, she saw the shadowy figures moving in the overgrowth. There was a glow about them, but totally unlike those on the beach. One passed close to them and Jewyl watched in amazement. The figure moved silently through the growth without disturbing it. The frond Jewyl had moved sliced through the figure. A coldness embraced her.
Jewyl looked to Harsborz, but she could tell he'd again went over the edge. His eyes were wild, and he was starting to titter. He started to get up, and she quickly covered his mouth and rolled over his body to hold him down. She wasn't about to let him give away their hiding place.
Harsborz pulled Jewyl's hand away. "Come, we go."
"Who were they?" Jopab asked.
"Those were Yendisa's true undead," Harsborz said, panting under Jewyl's weight.
"Get off him," Chardo said. "Unless you'd like us to leave you two alone?"
Jewyl rolled away and quickly stood. "He almost gave our hiding place away." She dusted herself off.
"Come," Harsborz said, and once more motioned with his hand.
Jewyl shook her head at this quick change of Harsborz's demeanor. A mere few seconds ago he was on the edge, and now he seemed normal. Once again, his eyes were clear. Jewyl grimaced at the thought of how fast he could change his demeanor.
"How many undead do you have here?" Jewyl asked.
"Two," Harsborz said. "The living undead — those on the beach with your friends, and probably now their captives. Plus, the true undead who passed us and go to meet them."
"True undead?" Jewyl echoed.
"Your friends on the beach," Harsborz said and pushed a branch carefully back so as not break it. "They will be sacrificed to Yendisa. If they believe in her, they will attain undead status. If not, they will become food for the undead." He paused and shook his head. "Both of the undead shall feast. Come, here is my hiding place."
They stood at the base of a large grouping of boulders. Harsborz gently pushed a bush aside to reveal an opening and pathway within them.
"Who comes here?" a voice called from within.
"Aieee," Harsborz screamed. "We have been discovered." He fell to the ground, groveling in supplication. "Forgiveness, great goddess," he murmured over and over.
"We are followers of Hagontha," Jopab said. "In chaos she rules."
"Jopab?" came the reply. "You're alive?"
"Percho?" Chardo asked. "Is that you?"
The young man stepped from the shadows into the clearing night.
"Percho!" Jewyl exclaimed. "You're alive! Blessed be the goddess. How did you get here?"
Harsborz stood up and frowned at the sudden excitement by the group for the intruder.
Jewyl saw his consternation. "This is our lost friend," she said. "We thought he had drowned when the ship was destroyed."
"We had best hurry," Harsborz said. "They will be returning soon, and we must be hidden when they approach."
"He's right," Percho said. "I believe they can hear a person breathing. I had to hold my breath when they passed me. Three of them stepped on my hand and I thought my hand was going to freeze to the ground. They are cold to the touch."
"You have touched an undead?" Harsborz asked, and grabbed Percho's hand.
"Not by choice," Percho shot back and pulled his hand away from Harsborz's inquisitive search.
"Let's not talk here," Jewyl said. "We'd best get on inside. Harsborz? Lead the way." She leaned against the boulder and let the small man pass.
"We should be safe," Harsborz said. "Who would stop to think there may be a place within the boulders?"
Jewyl eyed the area and the distant hills. Could not somebody see this from up there? she thought, and made a note to check it out in the future, if necessary.
"They're here," said a strange voice. "Captain Murdo? I've found them."
We only needed another second or two, Jewyl thought.
"Surrender to them," Captain Murdo said while striding to her. He stopped and stood, keeping an eye on her. They were quickly joined by a living undead.
"When my sword is taken." Jewyl raised the weapon in preparation to attack while looking at the man hidden under the guise of paints. Where she had seen black sockets before, now blue eyes looked out at her from within the dark paint.
A green mist swirled in and Jewyl felt its coldness as the true undead passed through her body. Like an unwanted kiss, she was repulsed by the feeling. She slumped to the ground. As she fell, she saw the others, her companions, falling to the ground and the swirling mists forming into men. A paralyzing coldness embraced her. She closed her eyes.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The Lost Souls
Jewyl awoke, groggy, and her body ached everywhere. She discovered her hands tied and her feet bound. She lay sprawled on her side. A furtive search of the area revealed Chardo, Jopab, Percho and Harsborz in similar situations. They were all prisoners. This she didn't doubt.
Distant arguing caught her attention. It was behind her, and although she was tempted to turn over to see who and what it was all about, she didn't. She noticed Harsborz open one eye to look at her and he barely shook his head. She remained still.
"I don't care if you were offered a thousand gold coins," the voice said. "You won't be able to get a copper coin if you damage the goods."
"I didn't plan to damage her, as you call it," Captain Murdo replied. "You'd deny me a small taste of the tribute?"
"If the Holy Father even suspected she was here." The fear in the other’s voice lifted in a crescendo before lowering to a whisper. "Have you any idea of the consequences?"
"Ballec?" Murdo questioned. "Bah! Listen to me, Auro. We need to appease the undead right now."
"Feed me into the burning mouth of Yendisa, if you wish," Harsborz said. "I remain true to Hagontha."
"Blessed chaos," Jopab murmured. "May Hagontha continue to move in mysterious ways."
Jewyl watched Jopab. He lay quietly, not moving. She frowned. Maybe not, she thought. There was a small jerk of an arm and little movement behind his back. He is working the ropes. Every so often he would nod, and his eyes would move to the left. She followed where he was looking and saw the pile of swords — their swords.
Murdo strode over to Harsborz. "Be still," he said. "If I set you free, it will be to put your puny body on the altar." He guffawed and kicked at Harsborz. "A snack for her. Yet, maybe you are truly worthy of Yendisa." He kicked Harsborz again. "You’re a befouled embodiment of Hagontha."
Harsborz glared at the man then spat on his boot. "You're not worthy to even say her name. May Hagontha serve me and give you a foul ending."
Jopab glanced at Harsborz. "Rather harsh," he said.
"This is not Murdo's first time here," Harsborz said. "Am I correct?"
Murdo kicked Harsborz in the stomach. "Mind your manners, wizard," he said.
"Wizard?" Jopab questioned.
Murdo stepped over to Jopab. "Yes," he replied. "You didn't know that, did you?" He smirked beneath the beard. "You should choose your allies more wisely," he added. "Isn't that correct, Jewyl?" Murdo swung around to face her with a smug smile.
Jewyl moved quickly, swinging her legs against Murdo, k
nocking him to the ground.
"Yes," she said. "All choices must be weighed, and then acted upon."
Murdo scrambled to his feet and glared down at Jewyl; his right foot inched backwards slowly in preparation to kick Jewyl.
"Murdo!" Auro yelled. "Touching her in any way will be your last act before meeting Yendisa in her eternal flames, face-to-face."
Color drained out of the captain’s face, emphasized even more by the dark beard and scraggly hair framing it. "You wouldn't," he said.
"Ballec will be here before sundown," Auro said. "He assured me not less than five days ago when we last spoke. In the meantime, I need nourishment, and my assistants need taken care of." He paused. "Of your new scalawags last taken on, which do you feel will be the tastiest, and the best offering to our most holy goddess, Yendisa?"
Captain Murdo slowly let his gaze drop to Percho.
"Of your men, Murdo! Not these — they are for Ballec." Auro turned and started to walk away. "Never mind, I'll make my choice."
"Obviously you don't know about what's happened in Bashiwa?" Jewyl called to the distancing man.
"Hush," Jopab hissed.
"I wouldn't bet all my assets," Jewyl taunted. "Things have changed, and last I heard, Ballec was headed for Zornal."
"Zornal?" Auro turned. "For what purpose would he go there?"
"He was going there…" Percho hesitated as he did some mental calculations. "I guess it would have been today."
"Must we give all our secrets away?" Jopab shouted. "This is the same man we paid at Lizbeth Harbor for passage to Zornal on the Albatross Wing." Jopab scowled at his comrades. "Fine. Lord Azre's men came to arrest him the day before yesterday."
"None of this makes any sense," Auro replied. "Why do you tell us this?"
