by Lucas Thorn
Chewed off the front of the boat like it was paper.
Water.
Panicked, the elf lost all ability to think as black water rushed into the boat on limbs of foaming white. Moonlight gleamed off its surface, making it more terrifying. The boat was still screaming as the mast was felled like an old tree. Its sail, plucked loose, beat at the air and was quickly swallowed by the sea.
“Shit.” She spat saltwater as a wave swept over the edge and tossed her like a doll into the back of the boat which was rising quickly as it was attacked by water from behind.
Saw Nemo, the old raider perched on the edge of the rising side. He looked at her and there was a moment where he seemed unable to decide whether to help or not.
Then he turned away.
Jumped into the night.
Leaving her alone with the body of Pike. He’d been jammed against a rail when the longboat hit the reef. He lay, broken and half-submerged with pale fingers reaching for nothing, head smashed open.
Then another wave crashed like the hand of a god, engulfing the boat. The Blue Ox heaved, broken ribs inhaling one last time, then bowed to the might of the sea and let itself be ripped apart. Her leg slammed into the floating mast and she was dragged, head scraping across wood, into the broiling darkness.
She held her breath. Didn’t know for how long.
Flailed as sharp coral cut across her shoulder like shattered glass. Knew that even if she knew how to swim, she couldn’t fight the current dragging her along. Was she being dragged toward the islands? Or back out to sea? Back to the yellow lights hiding in the luminescent fog?
Air.
Her lungs burned for it. Ached for it.
Terrified mind begged for it. She reached, arms lashing out. Legs kicking. Hit something hard and sharp.
Then wind whipped her face and she choked seawater free. Spat foam. Snatched a lungful of salty air and was pushed back down by rolling waves.
The worms in her body raced through muscle, but they couldn’t deliver oxygen. She knew if she drowned, they couldn’t heal her from that. Couldn’t save her.
Suddenly, she was thrown upward into the air once again. Hard enough that she almost popped completely free.
Gasped. Sucked at the crisp promise of life.
Splashed back down. Dragged under arms of fluid black.
And again.
Until the panic became calm and her body felt weightless and lost in a thick rushing void. When struggle became truly pointless. When the horror of drowning was smoothed from her thoughts. Thoughts which could no longer focus as her body suffered from lack of air.
Then something brushed her boots and she kicked out. More instinct than anything.
She hit it again.
Soft.
Granular.
Sand.
The word floated in her brain, loose and isolated.
Sand.
She kicked, revived by desperation. Felt it again. Pushed off it, spearing upward. Not having far to go, she erupted free of the foaming waves and into the night. Choking and coughing, she scrambled for air. Body twisting as wave after wave sent her barrelling toward shore. Tumbling helplessly, mind awakened to frantic hope as she kicked and lashed out without grace.
Then, without warning, she was spat like an unwanted nut onto the beach.
Where she rolled onto her back, spitting seawater. Eyes filled with tears of terror and exhaustion as she looked up at the moon. Heavy belly beaming down at her. Felt the solid muddy sand beneath her back and revelled in the safety of it even as the endless rhythm of waves kept washing up and pushing her further up the beach.
Shuddering uncontrollably, palms itching like crazy. Forcing her to make fists so her nails could dig into skin. Confusion scattering her feelings and leaving her wanting to scream.
To shout.
Cry.
In ecstasy of survival or echo of horror, she couldn’t guess. The elf’s emotions were so chaotic she didn’t notice the footsteps until the big man was looking right down into her face.
Maks, one-eyed and leering. Knife in hand.
Steel glinting in the dark.
Someone shouted from far away and he looked over his shoulder. Sighed. Then leaned down to offer Nysta his hand.
“See you survived,” he said. “How you feeling?”
She rolled onto her aching side. Choked up more seawater with a groan. Managed through her teeth, “Wrecked.”
CHAPTER FOUR
There was no sign of Nemo or Ainu, but Saja and Geri had rolled up onto the beach with Maks. Halvir came lumbering out of the surf just as Maks had found Nysta. It was his shout which had caused the one-eyed man to look back.
She let Maks lead her up the beach to where Saja was just managing to quickly get a fire going. Didn’t let him help her as she limped, though. Wiped blood from her face from where a cut quietly bled in thin ragged ribbons.
He looked back at her, long hair plastered to the sides of his rugged face. “You’re stubborn,” he said. “I get that. But there ain’t much difference between stubborn and stupid in my book.”
“Lucky this ain’t your book,” the elf growled.
“You’ll damage yourself even more, you know. It already looks like you broke something. And I’ll bet those draug took more of a piece of you than you’re showing.”
“I’ll be fine.” She tried to straighten her back as she took her next step. Which only sent more pain spinning through her side. Pain which mingled with the hideous crawling sensation as darkness wormed through her body from wound to wound. And the itching as skin knitted slowly.
Dancing through her tattered nerves, the worms caused twitches and sparks of blinding agony which made her suck air through clenched teeth.
Nearly at the top of the beach, Maks shrugged. “If you say so.”
“Where are we?”
“Kind of where we want to be. This island’s called Temple. Reason for that is kind of obvious. Madman’s Temple’s here, near a town called Cold. That’s on the eastern tip. Right now, we’re pretty much on the far west. Which is okay. Geri and I, we’ve got friends nearby. Family. We can hopefully get some news as to what the fuck is going on, then head on out to Cold. I want to see the whites of Ihan’s eyes. I want to know why we went through what we did. Ain’t sure what you want, but it’s also a good place for you to go, I reckon. You can catch ship from there to Dragonclaw. Plenty of traders come through. Maybe I can help with that.”
The elf nodded as Saja rushed over. Behind her, Geri took over the fire, feeding it to encourage growth.
“Nysta?” Saja skidded to a frantic halt. “Did you see Ainu?”
“Nope. Didn’t see shit after we hit the reef. Saw Nemo jump, though. If he ain’t here, then I don’t know where he is.” She remembered the look on his face as he’d turned away. “Could be a lucky thing for him.”
Geri looked up, eyes reflecting his worst fears. “What about Pike?”
“Dead,” she said, feeling an irrational need to needle the boy. A need she couldn’t resist. “Hit his head by looks of it. Last I saw, his brains were all over the place.”
“Shit.” Maks ran his hand through his hair and nodded to Halvir as the big man came limping from the dark. “Halvir. You look like shit.”
“Maks.” He winced, gripping his side which was bleeding heavily. Looked down, waving his arms dismissively. “Looks worse than it is, I reckon. Took a scrape is all. But all my bones are in place and I’ve still got my axe, so that’s something.”
“Sure. That’s something.”
Mildly defensive, Halvir touched his rough fingers to the weapon slung from his belt. “Hey, it’s a good axe.”
“Relax, Halvir. I didn’t mean nothing by it.”
Saja waved Nysta toward the fire. “Come on, get in and get warm. We’ve got to get dry. I’ll bet we’ve got a long walk tomorrow. If you can make it?”
“I’ll make it.” The elf dropped down in front of the warmth and only when the heat
of the flames slid through her skin did she realise how cold she was. Or how icy the water had been. Terror had blinded her to that.
She shrugged free of her jacket and boots, knowing clothes would serve only to keep her colder. Unbuckled the leather halter which carried more sheaths across her back and sides. Drew a few shining blades and placed them beside her leg before squeezing saltwater from her shirt.
Shuffled a little closer to the flames and allowed the heat to sink deliciously into her bones.
An image of Talek, back pressed against a small wooden stove as he absorbed warmth. Suddenly, feeling the weight of terror and pain from her journey, she began to understand why he’d liked it so much.
Eased her eyelids down as her shivers threatened to shake her apart.
Could feel Maks and Geri watching, though their attention seemed more to do with the shock of Pike’s death than anything. She heard the older man offer a few words of comfort to the boy, who’d obviously been close to Pike.
Heard Halvir mutter something similar.
Saja moved herself closer to the elf, a long stick in her hand which she used to disturb the logs and send a few sparks flicking up inside the column of smoke. “You really didn’t see Ainu anywhere?”
“All I saw was water.”
“Fuck.” She looked back toward the beach where the waves battered the shore. “I hope she’s okay. I liked her. We were going to visit the temple together this winter. I wanted to pledge my flesh. I know Maks and Geri think that’s stupid, especially after what happened. But I’m sure this is all just a fuck up. Ihan’ll fix it all. You’ll see. Besides, I figure when I’m dead, I won’t need my body. And even if I don’t get to see any treasure, I’ll be happier knowing what’s left of me is fighting Caspiellans rather than feeding worms in some fucking ditch.”
The elf felt awkward at the mention of worms. And wasn’t quite sure what the young woman was talking about. She still didn’t understand why anyone would want to be turned into draug when they died.
But it was Geri who spoke up, the young man sneering across the fire at her. “For someone who wants to be like them, you killed them quick enough. Could have just jumped in if you feel that way.”
“It wasn’t my time. The Madman takes you when he’s ready. Not before. And he doesn’t like cowards. Or weakness. He’ll have seen me, though. Seen me fighting the others. And he’ll want me for his crew.” She said it with cool determination, eyes hard as she glared at the boy.
“Not your time.” Geri shot Maks a look, probably more to tear his gaze away from Saja’s. “You hearing this shit? We still gotta put up with it?”
“Just shut your mouth,” Maks said. He set his jaw, and the young man looked down at his feet, brooding darkly. When satisfied Geri wasn’t going to say anything more, Maks looked to Saja. “Might be best to keep it to yourself, Saja. Pike’s death hit him pretty hard.”
Saja rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
“Come on, lass,” Halvir said. “Don’t rock the boat.”
“Ain’t no boat left to rock,” the young woman said, looking back out at the glittering dark expanse. “It’s all gone, Halvir. We’re all that’s left of the Ox.”
“We’ll get back out there. Bound to be a captain or two who’d take us on. Especially when they hear how we survived. Look at us. We’re survivors. Good luck charms all of us.”
“Sure.” She sighed heavily. Tossed her stick onto the fire and watched as it was quickly consumed. “I really hope Ainu’s okay. And Nemo.”
The elf had no comfort to offer.
Her bones were trembling in their sockets as the heat from the fire continued to prise the cold free. Her shirt still dripped saltwater, warmed from the fire, down her skin. Goosepimples rippled flesh and there was a tightness behind her temples which gave prelude to the headache she knew was coming.
The terror she’d felt as she was dragged through the sea was all but gone, leaving behind a solid core of emptiness. Even the cold ball of fear which seemed permanently inside her belly had shrunk to numb silence.
She closed her eyes, breathing steady.
Worms sliding through meat.
Then woke some time later to find the sun stirring against the blushing horizon. Gulls hovered above the surf, ignorant of the echoes of violence which had crawled up from the beach the night before.
The elf shifted slightly, feeling the remnants of warmth being pushed away on the morning breeze. The campfire lay submerged beneath a blanket of soot and ash, its war against the freezing air long since exhausted.
Blinking, she realised with a grunt that she hadn’t even felt herself fall asleep. Also couldn’t remember any dreams. It was like she’d just passed out.
Saja was pressed up against her, the young woman’s body exchanging warmth in place of the blankets they didn’t have.
First thing she saw was Maks, sitting aside on a log bitten by bitter winds and caked with salt and white sand. His hooded gaze was firmly fixed on her. As she stirred, he rubbed his bearded jaw.
“Nemo was right,” he said slowly. “Something strange about you. Shadows seem to move differently around you. At first, I thought it was my eyes. But it ain’t that. Tell me, long-ear. You ever been to the ruins of Lightforge? Ever touched the broken wall before dawn?”
“Lightforge?” She scratched at her palm, shaking the sleep loose as she yawned. “Ain’t ever heard of it.”
He leaned forward, hands on his knees. Single eye strange and burning with something which bordered on desperation. “You sure? You got hit on the head pretty hard out there. Maybe you forgot?” He licked his lips with a slow dry tongue. “It’s a city. Well, it was. All ruins now. On the north side of the forests of Deadspore. They say there’s statues there. Of men with wings like the wings of doves. Carved from marble. White marble. Only there ain’t no white marble in the Fnordic lands. So where’d it come from?”
“Sounds impressive,” she said. Lifted herself up onto her knees and looked around, enjoying the taste of morning but not quite happy with the sound of the drumming waves. “But I still ain’t ever heard of it.”
He opened his mouth to say something but snapped it shut again as Saja rolled around to blink at them with bloodshot eyes. She scanned the one-eyed man’s expression and frowned. “I miss something?”
“Nothing much,” Maks said. He looked away as Halvir began to stir.
“You going on about Lightforge again?”
“Forget about it.”
“It’s bullshit, Maks,” she said. “I asked a couple of traders about it in Southlight. One of them said he’d been there. Said there weren’t no statues. Said the wights in Lightforge carved bone, not marble, and even goblins won’t go into the ruin.”
“I said forget it.” A little heat.
“Fine.” She gathered herself, hugging herself tight to preserve the last few precious clouds of warmth. Looked around. “Where’s Geri?”
“He went down the beach. Wanted to check if Ainu or Nemo washed up anywhere close.”
“I should’ve thought of that.” She rubbed at her neck and shoulder. “If he finds her, I’ll take back everything I ever said about him being a witless little shit. Hey, you’re from around here. Is there somewhere nearby we can get something to eat?”
The elf’s stomach let out an involuntary gurgle as the thought of food trickled into her tired brain. She grunted in agreement.
“Like I told you last night, Flowing Tears is close,” Maks said. “Should be a few hours walk if you’re both able?”
“Are you kidding? I’ll fucking race you there if it means we get food.” She grinned at the elf. “Think we can outrun them?”
Nysta touched a hand to the throbbing heat on her ribs. It felt smoother. The wound was closed and thickening with scar tissue. It had only been shallow, so was healing fast. It had taken longer for her shoulder, she thought. A lot longer.
Getting to her feet, she checked her thigh. Didn’t seem so bad. Felt bruised inside
, but it took her weight. “Feels good,” she said. “But I reckon I’ll let you do the running.”
“I thought you’d be out of it for a day or two,” Maks said. “You looked beat to shit. You heal fast. Real fast.”
“She’s an elf,” Saja said. “I heard they heal real quick.”
“Not that quick,” Geri said, stepping into the clearing. He shot the elf a sour look which reminded her of Nemo. “Ain’t much faster to heal than most people, really.”
Saja snorted. “Bullshit. Elfs are completely different. They heal faster. Run faster. And they’re stronger than us. Right, Nysta?”
“Some more than others,” she allowed, not wanting to be brought into the argument between the two crew who obviously didn’t like each other much.
“And you saw her fight, Geri. You ain’t half as fast as she is.”
The young man tensed. Looked ready to spit a retort. Thrust his chest out and began heading forward. Stopped with a frustrated snarl as Maks aimed a grizzled look at him. “Quit it, you two,” the one-eyed man said. “You find anything out there, Geri? Any sign of the others?”
Geri smoothed his face quickly, but couldn’t help flashing the elf a dark look before answering.
“Nothing. Just a few bits of wood. Pieces of the sail further up the beach. It was all shredded. Like the draug got to it and tore it up. But I think I saw some smoke on Brokefang from here. Looked like it was on the beach. Could’ve been them, I guess.”
“Brokefang’s an island to the south,” Saja murmured for Nysta’s benefit. “Small fort there, called Cutter.”
“I think that’s where Ainu and Nemo ended up,” Geri continued. “If they survived.”
“Then Nemo got almost to where he wanted,” Maks said softly. “Good for him.”
“Ainu, too,” Saja said. Voice firm as though convincing herself. “She’s not dead. She can’t be.”
