by L L Vickery
“Do you have any food?” Rein asked.
The woman rolled her eyes, grabbed his lips with her tiny hands and examined his mouth. “I have just the thing.” She said after taking note of his blunt teeth.
“That was a little weird,” Almon said, making sure to keep his voice low.
A male was behind the bar mixing up some kind of cocktail and pouring it into hollowed out coconuts. He filled a try with hard round containers and brought them to the table. Rein thanked him and took the first sip. The others watched his reaction.
Rein smiled, the liquid tasted like coconut water with a lot of alcohol added. Kraw served this to him once, he called it rum. “It’s good,” he said and watched the others lift their cups to their lips.
The female came back with a long rectangular wooden tray full of fruit and charred meat. Lux was the first one to try the meat.
“Tastes like chicken,” He announced.
The pigmies didn’t seem offended by any of this. They just went about their work making sure all of their paying customers were happy.
Jon, who had been a little too quiet nudged Rein in the side. “You think that’s them what has Lillian’s packages?”
“I’d say those chances are pretty good.” Rein pointed to a small box on the floor at the feet of one of the men tied closed with twine.
Rein stood and walked across the room to their table and pulled up a chair. “You guys got something for me?”
“I don’t know who you are.” The man with a box at his feet said.
“Get lost.” The other one growled and hitched his thumb toward the door.
Rein plopped a tan leather pouch on the table with his mother’s seal burnt into the side. The men looked at the bag with their eyes wide. “You’re here for Lady Lillian?”
Rein nodded. He opened the pouch and showed them the coins and gems inside. It was clear these two were pirates from their blackened teeth and unclean smell.
“You must keep these packages apart.” The one with the box said as he reached out for the bag.
“Not so fast.” Rein grabbed it up before the pirate could get his hands on it.
“How do I know there’s anything in that box?” He asked.
The pirate lifted the box and placed it carefully on the table. He untied the twine and opened one flap on the box. Rein peaked in, it looked like a pitchfork of sorts with the middle tong missing. It was made of gold though it had lost its shine many years ago.
The pirate reached his hand out for the payment but Rein pulled it close to his chest. “Not so fast.” He said. “Where is the other package?”
The second pirate handed him a metal rod. It didn’t look like much but who was he to second guess his mother’s motives.
Jon reached out and took the rod before Rein realized his friend was standing behind him. “I’ll take that.” He said in a low and gruff voice.
Rein reached out for the box but the pirate pulled it back. “Payment first.” He said.
“Very well,” Rein cocked his head to the side and dropped the leather pouch full of coins and gems on the table and pirate snatched it up before Rein could pull it back again.
Bram put a handful of coins on the table and stood. Lux and Dana followed his lead. “This should take care of it.”
Almon waved at the bartender and followed the others through the door. The two pirates were close behind. When Jon realized they were being followed he stopped. One of the pirates wasn’t paying attention and ran into the back of Jon.
‘What do you think you’re doing?” He asked.
“Lady Lillian said you’d get us off the island.” The pirate staggered back a couple of steps, the wood planks creaked under him.
“No way,” Jon grumbled.
“But she said…”
“It’s my ship and I say, you are not coming aboard,” Jon shouted.
The pirates tucked tail and headed back to the bar. They had enough money to buy their own ship now if they could agree who would be captain.
Luc and Cassandra rejoined the others and they headed back to the boat with the packages in hand. “What’s in the box,” Luc asked.
“not sure.” Rein said.
The waters were calm on the trip back to hope falls, even though the rain began and didn’t let up from the moment they entered the ship.
Lillian was waiting on the dock for their return, with Sargeant Amaranth close by her side. Thomas didn’t let Lillian out of his sight while they were away from the palace, something Rein had taken notice of and made him more uncomfortable every time he saw them together.
“I see you have begun to grow your Navy.” Rein handed the box to Amaranth then kissed his mother’s face.
Five ships sat in wait, anchored just offshore sporting banners of red with a silver dragon embroidered on them. Rein wondered if his mother saw herself as the silver dragon or perhaps it was a symbol of Thomas.
“These are only half of my ships,” Lillian said and reached out to take possession of the metal rod that Jon held.
“make sure these are the right ones.” She told Thomas.
He held the rod in his hands, a jolt of electricity flowed through it and he dropped it on the ground. “This is the real deal.” He said smiling.
“Amaranth, pick it up,” Lillian instructed.
Amaranth bent over and stretched out his fingers then thought about the shiny silver plate male that covered his body and how Thomas had dropped it like he had been struck by lightning. He pulled his finger back and stood. He pulled off the red cape that hung down his back and dropped it over the metal rod, careful not to touch any part that wasn’t covered he picked it up.
Eagar to get her packages back to the palace Lillian turned to walk away.
“Not so fast mother.” Rein shouted at her. He stepped forward and so did two soldiers to block his path. “You promised me something.”
“Give it to him.” Lillian hissed between clenched teeth.
“I have something else for you, mother.” Rein said as he took possession of his father’s sword.
Lillian turned around raised an eyebrow and waited with her arms across her chest and her deep red lips pursed.
“This is Lux and Dana.” Rein motioned for them to step forward. “They are in need of work and a warm place to sleep. I thought you might have use of them in the kitchen.”
“I’m sure I can find something for them to do, and the stables should be a suitable place to sleep.” Lillian looked them over.
“They are friends, not slaves.” Rein said in a protective tone.
“Fine.” Lillian huffed.
“You’ll treat them well?” Rein asked lifting his arm in front of Lux and Dana, not allowing them to get any closer to his mother.
“Rein, do you really think so little of me?” Lillian laughed. “Of course, I’ll take care of your little friends. I was only joking about the stables.”
Rein lowered his arm allowing Lux and Dana to follow his mother and Thomas to the palace. Before they were all gone, two soldiers stepped around the others and dropped a small chest full of gold coins at Jon’s feet.
He could hear Lillian calling from the front without turning around, “There’s more where that came from.”
Chapter 16
“You have all three parts of the sword, are you ready to get it to the isle?” Jon asked.
“If you’re ready to head back out so soon, I’d like to get this over with.” Rein nodded.
“Very well,” Jon said and turned his attention to his crew.
It would only take a couple of hours to get to the isle and Festival was only a few days away. Jon had picked up enough booze along the way to sell to the bar and the vendors in Hope Falls. The money he made alone with what Lillian had given him should be enough to pay for a little house to be built on the outskirts of town and get them through the cold winter.
He would have chosen to stay on the west coast and the desert isle where the winter was much warmer. It
was Avanna that insisted they live where the season change and Yule, is celebrated around a roaring fire with too much snow outside.
Any snow was too much snow for Jon. The waters on the east coast become frozen over in the winter and he cannot make runs by ship. It will be four long months on dry land. Four long months that he will have to endure the crying babe and looking at the same group of people day after day.
He tried to push all of this out of his mind as he got the ship underway. It rocked this way and that. The sea was calm enough and a strong wind blew into the sails. This would be a quick journey indeed.
“Who’s coming ashore?” Rein asked as the others gathered next to the small rowboat that would carry them to the black sandy beach.
“I’ve come this far,” Luc said eagerly.
“You’re not going without me.” Cassandra held Luc’s hand. He smiled at her a squeezed her fingers gently and winked.
Bram nudged Almon from behind and they stepped forward.
“This is as close to the isle as I care to ever get.” Jon clapped Rein on the shoulder.
The rowboat was lowered into the water, Almon and Luc took the ores and pulled them through the black sea. Luc’s ore hit something hard beneath the waves.
“What the hell?” His ore was pulled back into the water and nearly out of his hands.
Something hit the bottom of the boat hard enough to tip it to one side. Instinctively Rein reached out with both hands and grasped the side of the boat and looked over the edge.
Another bump and the boat tipped to the other side. Bram got himself as low in the boat as he could. “You don’t think it’s…” His voice cracked.
“It’s too shallow here,” Almon said pulling his ore through the water.
“What?” Luc asked. “What do you think it is?”
“Row faster.” Rein said.
Luc and Almon pulled the boat through the water as fast and hard as they possibly could. Their minds were on the Kraken that had shown its might the last time they came to the island. This time it was something else and whether it was something just as big and deadly or small and less of a threat, Rein didn’t want to take any chances. Not with Luc on board. Avanna’s wrath, if Rein lost her son might be even worse than the Kraken.
They didn’t stop rowing until Rein jumped out and pulled the boat unto the black coarse sand of the beach. Cassandra sat there with her eyes glued to the water behind them. She watched as a tail as gold as the sun and larger than any fish she had ever seen raised out of the waves and smacked the surface of the water before disappearing below.
Rein bent over and put his hands on his knees, he coughed and panted trying to catch his breath. It was much warmer here than it had been back in Hope Falls. Steam rose from his pant legs as the sun dried the salty water of the sea leaving behind a white dusting of brine.
Cassandra climbed out of the boat with Luc’s help, her boots pressing into the black sand. She looked around at the tree line just beyond the beach, a small man sauntered from the path.
“It’s about time.” The little man shouted.
He had silver hair and a long gray beard. He wasn’t nearly as husky as Bram and dressed in more comfortable cotton clothes than the traditional leathers of other dwarves.
“It can’t be.” Bram dropped to one knee and lowered his head.
“Bram, get up,” Rein ordered.
“No,” Bram said. “You should show some respect.”
“What are you talking about?” Almon asked under his breath.
“That is Kram Brondrake. He is the greatest dwarven weapons master we have ever known.” Bram kept his eyes on the ground and talked out the corner of his mouth.
“There’s no need for that here, my boy.” Kram patted Bram on the shoulder. “Get up, let’s have a look at ya.”
“We thought you were dead,” Bram said hugging the old man tight.
“You should’ve known better than that. I still got a lot of weapons to make before my time is up.” Kram chuckled.
“So, are you here to take the sword?” Rein asked.
“First we have to make it whole again,” Kram said as he led them into the mouth of the cave.
The last time they were there a strong freezing wind blew from the mouth. This time they were welcomed by a soft warm breeze.
Inside there was a large stone table. This was new too. Around the room, torches hung on the wall lighting the cave as bright as the outdoors with a midday summer sun.
“There is a pot of stew in the next room,” Kraw told Rein. “You can wait there.”
“I think I’ll wait right here.” Rein said folding his arms across his chest.
“Well, I’m starving,” Cassandra said and pulled Luc along by the arm.
Almon followed silently. His brooding was even getting to Bram. It was clear he wasn’t happy about coming along on this trip and leaving his very pregnant Gwen to fend for herself, but he had agreed to help Rein and the baby wouldn’t be here for several months anyway.
“It’ll be fine,” Bram said tugging on Rein. “It’ll be nice to get some food in our bellies before we have to make our way through the cave.”
“Oh, not you Bram. I’ll need you to stay here.” Kram shook his head.
Rein walked slowly across the cave floor, “Just fix my sword so I can get this over with.”
“Put the pieces on the table,” Kram said when it was just him and Bram left in the room.
Bram put the blanket on the table and unwrapped the sword. He lifted each piece carefully off the blanket and placed them in middle of the stone table. First the tip, then the blade. When he wrapped his hand around the hilt the tip and blade vibrated on the table.
He dropped Leopold’s sword on the table and the hilt separated from the blade. He jumped back, his heart beat as fast a humming bird’s wings fluttered.
He looked at the hilt and then at Kram. “I didn’t mean to break it.”
“You didn’t break it,” Kram said. “But that was very curious.”
“You saw that?” Bram’s eyes were as big as dinner plates and he didn’t dare take them from the table.
“I want to try something,” Kram said grabbing Bram by the wrist.
He pulled Bram to the table and stretched his arm out over the pieced of the sword, they shook violently and moved closer together. Bram yanked his arm back.
“What kind of sorcery is this?” Bram shouted rubbing his wrist.
“This is not sorcery,” Kram said. “This is a gift.” He put his own hand out above the table and watched as the tip and the blade fused together.
He pulled his hand back and said, “Finish it.”
Bram stood there shaking his head. “I won’t have any part of this.”
“I am an old man; my time is nearly over. It is your time.” Kram insisted.
Bram shook his head again. “No. I am not the one.”
“You are the one.” Kram furrowed his brow and stood face to face with the defiant Bram. “Now finish it.” He shouted, his voice echoing through the cave.
Bram rubbed his fingers together and reached out gingerly toward the table. Slowly he stretched his fingers out. With his other hand, he covered his eyes and took a step forward. He peered through the crack between his fingers as he inched closer and closer to the table.
Slam. The hilt was hurled toward the blade and welded itself, creating the whole sword once again.
“This is your destiny,” Kram told Bram.
“How can you know that?” Bram huffed. “I bet any dwarf could have done that.”
“If any dwarf could have been the one, do you really think I would have spent the last 547 years on this godforsaken island?” Kram said, his voice hoarse causing him to cough.
“What is all the ruckus?” Almon ran into the room.
“It’s time for you folk to go,” Kram grumbled.
“Rein,” Almon yelled over his shoulder. “The sword is whole.”
He walked over to the table a
nd ran his fingertips over the blade. He gently picked it up from the table and blames bust from the blade.
“I suppose we know who is meant to wield the sword,” Cassandra said from the doorway.
“Well then,” Rein smiled. “Let’s get it to the Gods and get you back home.”
“It won’t be as easy as that.” A dark figure came from the shadows.
The same hermit they met on the beach the last time they were there stood before them. He was dressed in a long black robe and kept his hood up to obstruct their view of his face. His long slender white hands stuck out from this sleeves, Rein’s eyes focused on the blackened fingers.
“I know,” Rein said condescendingly. “There are three trials throughout the cave, we have to make our way through them, blah blah blah.”
“You’re right that there are three trials.” The hermit walked over to Almon and the flames disappeared. “But they are not here in the cave.”
“Alright, just tell us what they are and in what direction to go and we’ll get this over with,” Bram said.
“Not you.” The hermit whipped his head around and stomped in Bram’s direction. “You have other things to do.” He raised his arm and Bram disappeared. He looked at Kram who bowed his head and he disappeared as well.
“The first trial was the dwarf’s,” the hermit said. “The second will be yours.” He pointed at Almon.
“What about the third?” Luc asked clearing his throat, the lack of confidence in his voice showed just how sheltered of a life he had up to this point.
“You’ll know it when you see it.” The hermit chuckled.
“Enough of this,” Rein yanked the hood off the hermit revealing the burn scars that covered the right side of his face. It took Rein by surprise and he stumbled backward.
“Head out onto the path.” The hermit said pulling the hood back up to hide the black skin that marred his face. “Just follow it through the jungle. And this time stick to the path.” He walked back into the shadows and was gone.
Chapter 17
The sun was high in the sky and there was no telling how long the other two trials would take. Rein wanted to be back aboard the Misty Rose before nightfall and knew they’d need to pick up the pace.
