Storm Phase Series: Books 1-3

by Hayden, David Alastair

  “And don’t forget how you got engaged to another girl. Seriously, how do you manage to get into so much trouble?”

  “I don’t know. My life used to be exceedingly boring and then … I’ll tell you what happened. Lu Bei showed up. Nonstop chaos since then.” He expected a response from the fetch, but then remembered he’d told Lu Bei to stay out of sight.

  “He is a troublemaker,” Iniru said. “And you’re really, really bad with girls.”

  “I’m not bad at trying to marry them! Just all that other stuff. Imagine how hard it’d be for you to cast a spell.”

  “Okay …”

  “Well, that’s girls for me.”

  “But it can’t be that bad.”

  “Oh yes it can. I don’t understand any of you. Not one bit.”

  For a long time, they sat together quietly, just being together. Every so often, he’d smile at her, and she’d smile back. Eventually, Captain Boki started talking, perhaps because he thought they were bored.

  “You seem unused to the ship,” he said. “You don’t have ships on your side of the gate?”

  “We don’t have all this ice,” Turesobei said. “But we have ships, without skates. They sail on water.”

  “Water?” the captain said, astonished. “Melted ice? Unbelievable.”

  “What I find unbelievable is a creature with such big bones that you could use them as skates,” Turesobei said. “It’s amazing.”

  “The skates have to be honed and lacquered first,” the captain said. “And they work best if we stop every three days to oil and polish them, though you can go a lot longer than that. We’d just finished the procedure when you came upon us.”

  “What’s your cargo?” Turesobei said.

  “Most of it’s preserved meat and furs. We have a little wood and iron to trade, rope and bone knives. We’re taking it to the Far West. It’s faster to sail there than travel by land. Safer too … but that’s only because we’re moving faster.”

  Turesobei tapped his foot against the stretched hide that covered the deck, overlaying the wood frame. The hide was pulled so taut that it felt almost as solid as wood and a bit like walking over a reed mat, only with a little bounce to it.

  “In our world ships are made entirely from wood,” Turesobei said. “This ship looks like half of it is made from hides.”

  Captain Boki’s hands dropped from the wheel. “Entirely of wood? The expense!”

  “We have huge forests of trees that stretch for miles and miles.”

  Iniru sighed, probably thinking of home.

  “And these ships of wood aren’t slow, and they don’t sink in the water?”

  “If they weren’t wood, they would sink,” Turesobei said, “and ships of comparable size are faster than your ship.”

  Boki fell silent, though every now and then he would murmur in astonishment and shake his head.

  An hour later, Turesobei grew tired at last. “I’ve got to get some rest.” He released the spell, and the ship slowed dramatically, but it did keep moving under the breeze, at about the same speed as a sonoke, like Boki said.

  Following Iniru, Turesobei went down a ladder into the hold and squeezed past the sonoke and into a tiny, cramped space. Sacks filled with goods were piled high all around. Turesobei sank down beside Enashoma and the hounds and was asleep before Iniru could even sit.

  Thankfully, no further nightmares of Awasa or the shadowy demon plagued him. Not meaning to, he slept nearly twelve hours. At first, he was mad that no one woke him, but with a surge of natural strong winds, the ship had moved steadily, and he was forced to admit that without the rest, he’d be in no shape to help out with magic in a pinch.

  Lu Bei woke up as well. “Should I remain out of sight, master?”

  “I think it’s still wise. We don’t know these people.”

  “Master, the men who died … I know how that makes you feel. You can’t afford to blame yourself. You didn’t mean for that to happen. We won, and only two were lost.”

  “I know. It’s just … those two won’t be the last. I fear more innocents like them and Kurine will die. And if we survive ourselves and make it back, I’ll be a weapon. The clan will use me to kill enemy soldiers. Innocents will die, too. I don’t want this. I don’t want any of it.”

  Lu Bei patted him on the hand. “I know, master. I know. You’re a good man.”

  “You think I’m a man and not a boy?”

  “Master, from the moment you took in the Storm Dragon energy, willingly sacrificing yourself to save tens of thousands of people, I have considered you a man.”

  “I’m going to go up and get some fresh air.”

  Turesobei walked out alone onto the deck. It was night. Avida, the bright moon, was nearly full, though it was only a little more than half as bright in this world as it was at home.

  “No clouds,” Captain Boki said, having noticed him looking up at the moon. “Lucky break for us. We couldn’t have sailed this fast in the dark otherwise. Too dangerous.”

  “Do you need more light? I have a spell that can give you that.”

  “You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”

  “You have no idea,” Turesobei said. I’m even full of surprises that I have trouble thinking about or knowing at all.

  The captain chewed on his lip. “Why are the yomon after you? Those jewels you got stolen from them or something?”

  “Oh, I wish it were that simple. I told you the witch girl leading them was my betrothed, right? She’s angry at me, and I stopped the yomon from invading my world.”

  “You did mention the witch girl was betrothed to you …” Captain Boki jerked his head toward the cargo hold. “But someone else told me the dying girl was your intended.”

  “Well, yeah. She’s my second one.”

  “And the girl what was out here with you earlier? She your intended too?”

  “Oh no,” Turesobei said, chuckling. “That’s my girlfriend. Sort of. I think.”

  The captain shook his head. “You sure I can’t learn magic? Because it really seems to be working for you.”

  * * *

  Over the next three days, they stayed watchful, in case Captain Boki attempted to rob them, but he didn’t make a move. Even if he’d originally planned to, seeing Motekeru in action had probably scared him off that course of action. When they weren’t keeping watch, they rested as much as possible, huddling together in the cramped cargo hold. Even though it was colder, after weeks of riding and adventure, it was nice to lie around and avoid the saddle. Narbenu didn’t even worry about them mingling much, though he had placed sacks of furs in a line to make a section for the boys and a section for the girls.

  Turesobei knelt over Kurine and stroked her feverish brow. “Hang in there. Just a few more days.”

  The hounds, their injuries now healed, slept nestled beside her.

  Kemsu joined him. “Is she going to make it?”

  “If they have a cure at the Forbidden Library, then yes, I think so.”

  “And if they don’t?” Kemsu said.

  “They will have a cure. I’m sure of it.”

  “I’m worried she won’t make it that long,” Kemsu said.

  “I can cast another healing on her tomorrow. It will buy her more time. She’s very strong. I think most people would’ve died already.”

  “She’s always been strong,” Kemsu said.

  “You love her, don’t you?” Turesobei asked, the words spewing suddenly out of his mouth.

  “Yeah … I mean, I used to.” Kemsu surprised him by answering honestly. “Now … I don’t know. I’d hoped to win my freedom somehow before she found someone else. I can’t really blame her for moving on. It’s just hard because …” He sighed, his shoulders slumping dejectedly. “Kurine and I had been friends — more than friends — for a very long time. When we were kids, we’d talk about getting married someday. You know how you do.”

  “I don’t, actually. I was betrothed to Awasa when I was three year
s old and she was two. She hated me until a few months ago. It’s a lot like slavery, really. Women in my society don’t have much freedom, not like they do here.”

  “That’s why your sister left with Zaiporo, isn’t it?”

  “Basically. I think they chose the wrong traveling companion, though. Look, I’m sorry about me and Kurine. Honestly.”

  “Well, you didn’t intend it. And I am a slave. Like I said, what could she do? I don’t think she ever forgave me for becoming a slave.”

  “You had a choice?”

  “The alternative was that I could forfeit everything my father owned and be exiled from my people. So it wasn’t much of a choice. But I think she had this dream that she’d run away with me when I was exiled. Like your sister and Zaiporo.” Kemsu looked away, nervously. “Look, if Kurine survives and you and her … I mean … about Iniru … you can’t marry two women, so if I —”

  “If you’re about to ask me if I would be okay with you pursuing Iniru, the answer is no. Besides, it doesn’t really matter.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Because she’s the one that gets to pick, not you or me.”

  Chapter Forty-Three

  A sailor opened the hatch leading down to the hold and poked his head in. “Captain Boki says you’ll want to come up now.”

  All of them were asleep except Motekeru and Turesobei. He was sitting with Kurine, holding her hand, hoping it would bring her comfort. Her fever was getting worse, even though he’d just given her another healing spell. She’d be dead before he could give her another.

  “Are we there?” Turesobei asked.

  “Nearly,” the sailor replied as the others were sitting up, rubbing their eyes, and yawning. “You’ll want to see.”

  Motekeru knelt beside Kurine. “I will watch the girl.”

  Turesobei woke his companions, and they all climbed the ladder and joined Captain Boki on the foredeck. He shouted an order to trim the sails. The ship slowed.

  In the distance appeared the faint outline of what looked like a fortress on an island rising up out of the Glass Sea. From this far away, it was hard to tell how big it was, but Turesobei thought it must be nearly as large as the Palace of the High King in Batsa, the capital of Batsakun, his homeland. To the starboard side, a ship appeared. From its mast flew a crimson flag that at first Turesobei thought sparkled in the sun, but as the ship drew closer, he could tell the flag actually glowed. It was a subtle magic in a world in which he had not seen any magic so far.

  “What does the glowing flag mean?” he asked.

  “They have a license to trade with the Forbidden Library,” said Boki wistfully. “Unlike me, they can sail to the island and make port. Very few captains have such a commission, but those who do are famously wealthy. The Forbidden Library pays well for the finest cargo, and not even the most desperate pirates will attack a ship flying that banner. Those that did in the past … it was said that strange beings hunted them down and killed them, leaving a messy warning to all others.”

  “And no one in this world can fake the glowing flag,” said Turesobei, “which is convenient.”

  “Indeed,” Boki replied. “I applied once through an intermediary for a trading permit but was turned down.”

  The trade ship, traveling at full speed away from the library, passed them.

  The Forbidden Library came into full view: three dome-capped buildings linked together, sitting atop a flattened hill on a tiny island. A massive, cylindrical building was in the middle, taking up most of the hilltop. The thinnest building towered over it to one side, while on the other side was a short building a little bigger around. The domes appeared to be made of a shiny black stone, obsidian perhaps, while the rest of the buildings were made of a common gray stone etched with patterns Turesobei couldn’t make out from this distance.

  Sailors rolled up the last of the sails and tossed the anchors overboard. The ship groaned to a halt. Turesobei handed the bag of pearls, gems, and coins to the captain. Boki immediately divided jade coins amongst his crew and promised more wealth after he could evaluate the gems.

  “Can’t have a mutiny,” he muttered to Turesobei. “Sorry I couldn’t take you all the way in, but I’d like to avoid execution today.”

  Turesobei bowed. “Thank you for taking us as far as you could, Captain Boki. I am deeply sorry for the two men killed by the yomon. The fault was mine.”

  “We live in a dangerous world,” Boki responded. “All my men know that.”

  “Nevertheless, please give a share of the money I paid you to their families.”

  “I always do.”

  Turesobei pulled out the pouch of coins Kurine’s father had given her as a dowry. He’d added as many gems as it could hold to it. “And split this between their families as well. I hold it on your honor that you do so.”

  “On my honor,” the captain replied solemnly. Turesobei trusted him to do so. This gesture was the best he could do.

  “Farewell, Captain Boki.”

  “I fear you are marching to your death,” Captain Boki said, “but I wish you well and hope you find a way back to your world.”

  And with that, Turesobei and his companions led their sonoke down the gangplank and out onto the ice. They strapped Kurine into one of the saddles. She woke halfway for a moment.

  “Sobei … are we … in your world?”

  “Not yet,” he replied. He hoped she wouldn’t have to go back to Okoro to be cured. He was already afraid she planned on going back with him no matter what. She needed to stay in her world with her own people. She didn’t deserve to be the only goronku in Okoro.

  “That’s … that’s too …”

  She fell back into her coma. Iniru climbed into the saddle behind Kurine. Turesobei waved to the Falcon’s Cry as it pulled away. Then they turned and rode toward the Forbidden Library.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  As they neared the island, Turesobei realized that from a distance he had underestimated the size of the Forbidden Library. The main building dwarfed the High King’s Palace in Batsa and was easily three times bigger. The thin tower soared higher than Chonda Tower, the Monolith of Sooku, and the High Wizard’s Tower combined. Even the smallest library building dwarfed everything back home in Ekaran.

  A tiny village hugged the eastern coastline, as if its presence were barely allowed. A ship flying a glowing banner docked there. Steep cliffs blocked in the western side of the island. The southern end sloped upward to the library, intersecting a long staircase that climbed to a set of massive doors. Unfortunately, the climb was too steep for the sonoke.

  Since the southern end was closest, that’s where they headed, intending to ride along the coast to the village. The sonoke would get better traction on the frozen beach than on the slick ice of the Glass Sea.

  Lu Bei flew overhead and announced that he didn’t see anyone, but when they reached the island, a tall figure suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The being, whoever or whatever it was, wore a charcoal-colored cloak with a deep hood that entirely hid its features. The tips of blue-and-white feathers poked out from under the hooded cloak. Turesobei guessed the figure wore a second, feathered cloak like Shaman Eira’s underneath. A steel rod no longer than Turesobei’s forearm hung in a sheath from the being’s belt. What purpose could that serve? It was too short to be a club, and it didn’t have a blade.

  Turesobei stopped his sonoke and started to speak a greeting, but the being held up a hand and said in a lyrical yet powerful voice:

  “You do not have permission to step foot on the Great Isle. We do not allow visitors …” he said, glancing at Motekeru and Lu Bei “... of any kind. You must leave at —” He paused, and with his hooded head cocked to one side, he stared long and hard at Turesobei. “You wear a kavaru.”

  “Yes, I do.” Turesobei bowed. “I am Chonda Turesobei. Except for the three goronku with us, my companions and I come from Okoro, the world beyond the Winter Gate. We have come seeking a way back to our world. Your li
brary is our only hope. And Kurine, my betrothed, she was poisoned. She needs help. Soon.”

  The cloaked figure stepped forward and peered at Turesobei’s kavaru. “Chonda Turesobei?”

  “This is the kavaru of my ancestor Chonda Lu.”

  “Master speaks the truth,” Lu Bei said.

  “The Winter Child opened the gate for us,” Turesobei explained, “but she died on this side, and the gate closed on us. We were fighting to stop the yomon from coming into our world and unleashing destruction and eternal winter. The yomon pursue us even now. They’re probably not far behind.”

  “The yomon are of no concern to us,” the being said. “Our protocol normally forbids me from allowing you in. However, this is a highly unique and unforeseen situation. I will allow you an audience with the Great Librarian. If she accepts your cause on merit, she will argue your case before the Gathering. If they do not decide in your favor, you will be allowed to leave here. But I must warn you, if the Great Librarian will not take up your cause and argue your case, death will be meted out upon you for trespassing. This is the most likely result.”

  Turesobei gulped as several of his companions breathed in sharply.

  “If you are not willing to take that risk …“

  “Our alternative is to face the yomon,” Turesobei said, “and to have no chance at returning to our world. We accept.”

  Iniru urged her mount forward a few paces. “Wait. I think Turesobei may be getting ahead of himself. Before we put our lives on the line, could you tell us if such a way back exists?”

  The figure nodded. “There is a way … of sorts. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be allowed to take it. And if you are given the chance, I highly doubt you’ll succeed.”

  “You’d be surprised what we can do,” Iniru said.

  “We accept,” Turesobei said.

  “What’s your name?” Enashoma asked. “You never said.”

  “I have two names,” the being replied. “One that you cannot pronounce and one that I would never share with a stranger. You may call me by my title. I am the Keeper of the Shores.”