Tides of Faith: Travail of The Dark Mage Book Two

by Brian S. Pratt

  “Perhaps.”

  James ignored them and gave Jira a hug. “I can’t wait.”

  “Me neither.”

  Getting to his feet, he walked over to where Azhan and Hikai worked to keep the sails full.

  “You boys okay?”

  “Yes, Master,” Azhan replied. “Hikai is helping.”

  James patted his newest apprentice on the shoulder. “Good. It should only be a couple more hours. Will you be able to maintain the winds until them?”

  “Not a problem, Master,” Azhan boasted.

  He thought that having an apprentice or two might not be a bad thing as he went to see how Father Vickor and Eddra were doing.

  Eddra lay bundled beneath many blankets to ward off the chill borne upon the sea air. Father Vickor sat next to her holding her hand. The swelling surrounding the one eye was all but gone. Her other tracked him as he approached.

  “How is she doing?”

  “Better,” the priest replied. “Her strength is improving and she gains lucidity daily…”

  “Glad to hear it.”

  “Any idea if she knows anything about the shimmering field?”

  Father Vickor shook his head. “I doubt it though all Azhan’s attempts at questioning turned up nothing. I don’t have the feeling that she is anything more than an old woman wrongfully accused of being ill-favored.”

  James knelt before her and patted the back of her hand. In a soft, kindly voice he said, “Do not worry, we will see that you are well taken cared of.”

  He doubted she understood what he said, but her face lit up ever so slightly and the corners of her mouth rose almost imperceptibly.

  Patting her hand once more, he smiled reassuringly, then stood. To Father Vickor he said, “Let me know if anything changes or if you need anything.”

  “I will.”

  Jiron stood at the rail with his daughter. They stared eastward to the horizon, vainly hoping to see sails bringing their loved one closer.

  “Will still be a couple hours,” James said as he joined them.

  “I know,” Jiron said.

  “Mother is fine, isn’t she Uncle?” Jira asked.

  “She is,” he assured her. “I am sure she will be even more so when you are once again with her.”

  Jira grinned. “I can’t wait.”

  James turned his gaze to the far horizon ahead of them. “I can’t either, Jira. I can’t either.”

  The following hours passed agonizingly slow. His mirror showed that Kendrick kept on course and finally turned due west at the top of the island. Ever worried for their safety, James scrolled the image in search of enemy ships. The only ones near the island were to the south and unlikely to pose a threat. A few could be but they appeared intent on patrolling rather than hunting for those in flight.

  Port May now lay completely under the enemy’s control and the forces heading for Tearlan had arrived. The city’s garrison and watch manned the defenses but once the magical devices came into play, it ended quickly.

  “They’re going to have the whole island in a day or two,” Scar commented.

  “Looks like it,” agreed James.

  Potbelly spat. “Think they will move on the mainland?”

  “Most likely. The island would make a good staging area from which to launch an assault.” In the mirror, a lone warship fled before three of the enemy’s ships; golden beams tore it apart. “Especially if they control the seas which it looks very much like they will.”

  “Land off the port bow!”

  James hurried to the port side and looked ahead. “Must be Za’im.” He turned to Jiron. “It’s a small island famous for its olives.”

  “Are we close to mother now?” Jira asked excitedly.

  “Less than an hour I would guess,” James replied. He pulled out his mirror and checked.

  Kendrick and his ships had passed the Isle of Carut and were now tracking more northwest than west. Two others had joined them.

  “Have Captain Anyn turn a few degrees to the north,” James instructed Scar.

  “On it,” he replied as he turned and hurried to the rear of the boat where the captain stood with several of his men. In short order, the orders had been given and the ship angled more toward Za’im so as to pass close to its southern shoreline.

  Scanning to the south revealed a patchwork of sails scattered throughout the area as merchants and citizens fled in ships of all sizes. Most were heading toward the mainland; the others sailed in every direction from north to west.

  Za’im bustled with activity. While not under immediate attack, those living there wasted not a minute in fleeing. Docks were filled with people and ships packed to standing room only headed out to sea. Where the exodus from Port May and Tearlan had been little more than a panicked, out of control mob as likely to sink and destroy those seeking to save them, Za’im remained somewhat orderly. Guards stationed at the docks kept the evacuation on track.

  One large merchantman with railings lined with people came alongside.

  “Where are they coming from?” their captain shouted to Captain Anyn.

  “South,” he replied. “Head west and north.”

  The other captain nodded, shouted wishes for speed and luck, then hollered for sails to be lowered as he turned to put the islands behind him.

  “Is he right?”

  James turned to Shorty.

  “Heading west I mean,” the knifer explained.

  Shrugging, James said, “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  In the mirror, he brought their ship into focus, then zoomed outward for a large aerial view of the surrounding waters. It took a few minutes to pinpoint the Melia’s Dream among the rest of the fleeing ships.

  “That’s them,” he said, tapping the mirror. Then his finger moved. “And we’re here.” It looked like they were on the right course to intercept them somewhere north of Za’im.

  “Not too much longer,” Jiron said.

  “I wouldn’t be surprised if their sails come into view in the next five or ten minutes.”

  Centering the image on the Melia’s Dream, James zoomed in until the ship came into sharp clarity.

  “There’s Mother!” Jira exclaimed excitedly.

  Aleya stood with Melina and Kenny near the ship’s wheel where Kendrick and another captain stood conferring.

  “Shall we let them know we’re coming?” James asked her.

  Her eyes got wide. “Can we?”

  He glanced to Jiron. “Might be close enough. I’ll see what I can do.”

  Gathering magic to him, he concentrated on the ship’s deck near where Kenny played.

  “We should make for Lak Tir,” Captain Jehume stated.

  Kendrick shook his head. “That is Warlord Halim’s capital city. Any assault on the mainland will surely include that and I will not be trapped while moored. At least on the water we have a chance to escape.”

  “Alone, is what we’d be if caught under sail,” Jehume argued. “Lak Tir has a sizeable garrison and strong walls.”

  “Bah,” scoffed Kendrick. “You saw what they did to Marik’s ship. Their magic tore through his hull in no time. They’ll do the same to any walls standing in their way.”

  Kenny sat cross-legged, idling the time away with a coil of rope pretending it was snake, twisting it so as to turn this way and that. A large bucket, or rather castle, sat upside down before him. Just as the snake was about to attack a giant guarding the gates to the great castle, an orb of yellowish light sprung into being on top of the castle.

  It took a second for him to register that what he was seeing was not part of his imaginary play. His eyes grew large for he had seen a similar orb throughout his short life. “Daddy!” he cried.

  Meliana turned at his excited cry and gasped when she saw it.

  “Father!” she shouted to where he stood by the wheel and stepped forward, kneeling down before the glowing orb. Tears filled her eyes and emotion welled forth. “He’s alive.”

  Aleya join
ed her as did Kendrick and most of those nearby gathered round.

  “Look,” Kenny said.

  A dark point appeared in the deck. It moved to form letters.

  My Love.

  A sob broke free as she read his words. “Charcoal,” she exclaimed. “Or ink; something to write with.”

  “I feared he was dead.”

  Meliana turned to her father with tear-filled eyes and smiled. “I always knew he would return.”

  “What does this mean?”

  Without taking his eyes from the orb and the words before it, Kendrick said to Captain Jehumes. “It means the Dark Mage is alive.”

  “And nearby,” added Meliana. “He could never do this over a long distance.”

  “Daddy’s here?” Kenny asked excitedly.

  “Yes,” his mother replied.

  Word of the Dark Mage’s return spread like wildfire through those on board the Melia’s Dream.

  Look west-approaching. Five minutes.

  “Tanil,” Kendrick said, turning to his First Mate. “Get eyes aloft.”

  “Aye, Captain.”

  Orders were shouted and men flew into the rigging.

  A sailor appeared with ink and quill.

  “Thank you,” Meliana said.

  Dipping the quill in the vial of ink, she started writing, “How…,” but then paused and wrote instead, “Jiron, Jira?”

  Both with me. Fine.

  “Good,” Aleya said. “Would have killed that man if he had died.” Her tone belied her words and she fought back a rising tide of emotion.

  “Is he behind these attacks?” demanded Captain Jehumes.

  “Certainly not,” replied Kendrick.

  “He would not be party to such a thing,” Meliana affirmed.

  The captain looked little convinced.

  Kendrick hollered to the men in the rigging. “See him yet?”

  “Sails are everywhere, Captain,” one sailor replied.

  Meliana stood and looked to the west. There were indeed a multitude of sails upon the water. She returned to the deck and took up the quill once again.

  “Where? Give sign.”

  Look.

  She rushed to the rail.

  Far out across the water, a massive starburst lit the sky.

  “There he is!” she cried.

  Kenny squealed in delight.

  “Tanil,” Kendrick said, “let’s go get my son-in-law.”

  “Think that was a bit much?” Jiron asked with a grin.

  James laughed. “Nope.” Summoning magic once again, he created another large burst of light high overhead.

  Jira was hopping from one foot to the other in her excitement.

  After such an extended period of worry and separation, euphoric giddiness welled forth and would not be denied.

  “Master,” Azhan said, stepping forward. “May we?” He glanced to the fading starburst.

  “Have at it, boys,” James replied. “Have at it.”

  For the next two minutes it was like the Fourth of July. James had to finally halt their exuberant display when those in the Crow’s Nest were inundated by a shower of sparks and the ropes started to smolder.

  As the two ships drew closer figures grew to clarity, arms waved and smiles were exchanged. “Bring us alongside,” James told Captain Anyn.

  “Aye, Sir.”

  “Meliana!” he hollered. “Kenny!”

  “Father,” Jira said, bouncing at the rail. “There’s Mother.”

  “I see her,” he replied.

  Her exuberance diminished slightly at the tone in his voice. She had never heard it before. “Are you okay, Father?”

  “Yes,” he said, patting her head. “All is perfect.”

  “My Love.” Meliana’s voice reached him from across the water. It made his heart sing with joy.

  The next moments were excruciating as they waited for the two ships to come abreast. Lines were tossed from one to the other and they were pulled together. Before the two sides touched, Jiron flung Jira over the narrowing gap to where Aleya waited and then hopped over after.

  Once secured, the gangplank was run out between the two ships to facilitate crossing.

  Before James crossed, he said quietly to Scar, “Don’t let Captain Anyn leave.”

  “He won’t,” the Pit Master replied. “Now get over there.”

  James hurried across.

  “Oh, Meliana,” he said with a catch in his voice. Their arms wrapped around each other, their lips met, and he felt the wetness of her cheeks.

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  “I thought you dead,” she whispered.

  “You should know that nothing can keep me away from you.”

  Kenny grabbed onto his legs. “Daddy.”

  He took his son and together the three of them held each other.

  “Good to see you again, James.”

  He raised his head to see a grinning Kendrick standing behind Meliana. “You as well, Sir.” Unwilling to break the embrace that had been a long time waiting, he let go his son but kept an arm around his love’s waist.

  “Reverend Father,” Kendrick said as Miko joined them.

  “Any idea what’s going on?”

  Meliana’s father shook his head.

  “Most of the island is occupied,” James explained. He took out his mirror and brought Kendrick’s manor into view. It remained intact though others in the area had smoke rising from them. Widening the scope revealed enemy troops throughout Corillian. Then he moved to Port May and Tearlan. “I figure they will have it all by nightfall tomorrow.”

  He paused, then asked, “Do you know who they are?”

  “No. Nor do I know why they attacked.”

  “We encountered four of their ships on the way here,” James explained. “They seem to be hunting mages.” He saw a look of profound worry leap to Meliana’s eyes. He patted her hand. “Worry not, those I encountered were no match for me.”

  “And that magic weapon they have?” Kendrick asked.

  “Powered by crystals,” he explained.

  “Like yours, Daddy?”

  He looked down at his son. “Yes.”

  “It is used by a priest,” Miko added.

  Kendrick turned a surprised gaze upon the high priest. “A priest? Whose?”

  “That we do not as yet know.”

  “They mentioned the ‘Unclean One,’” James said. “Does that name sound familiar?”

  Kendrick shook his hood.

  Captain Jehumes stepped forward.

  “This is a trading partner of ours,” Kendrick explained. “Captain Jehumes, may I have the pleasure of introducing The Dark Mage,” he paused a moment before adding, “my son-in-law.”

  “Truly?”

  James nodded and extended his hand. “Yes, Captain. I have the honor of having his daughter for my wife.”

  Meliana gave him a smile.

  “And me, Daddy.”

  “And of course, you too,” James said with a laugh.

  “What do you plan to do about this?” Captain Jehumes demanded, putting a damper on the joy of being reunited.

  “First we must get everyone to safety,” he said, then glanced to Meliana.

  She slipped from his arm as she said, “I’m not going anywhere. I lost you once, I won’t lose you again.”

  Looking into her eyes, he almost relented for he felt the same. But then Kenny moved into his field of vision. “This is no place for him,” he said. “You know that.”

  “He can go with my father,” she insisted.

  James shook his head. “I cannot do what may be required for fear of what may happen to you.” Reaching out his arms, he took her in a loving embrace. “This is not easy for me,” he whispered, “but our first priority has to be Kenny’s safety, not how we feel.”

  Placing a finger under her chin, he gently raised her head so as to gaze into her eyes. “You must watch over him.”

  Maternal instinct warred with desire for a moment before
winning out. She sighed, then nodded. “Kenny comes first.”

  “But where is safe?” Kendrick asked.

  “The mainland?” Captain Jehumes asked.

  “I don’t know,” James replied. “Gaining a foothold on the mainland may be their next objective. If so, landing there may prove a bad idea.”

  Captain Jehumes harrumphed. “Then where?”

  “Farther west,” Miko said. “And north. Possibly all the way to Cardri.”

  “That’s no small distance,” the captain argued.

  “We can help by filling sails with wind,” James explained. “It won’t take as long as you fear.” To Kendrick he said, “There we can consult Ellinwyrd and see if he knows anything about them.”

  Using his mirror once again, he brought the symbol embossed on the front of the magical device he captured into view. “Have you ever seen this before?”

  The two captains shook their heads. “No,” Kendrick said.

  “It’s on their magic weapons and is an integral part of their uniforms and, I believe, their religion,” he explained. “It has to mean something and Ellinwyrd may know.”

  “Master!”

  James turned to where Azhan stood with Hikai at the rail of the other ship; each held a bowl.

  “Master?” Kendrick asked.

  “Long story.”

  He and the others moved to the railing. “What is it?”

  Azhan pointed to the bowl. “The enemy approaches, Master.”

  “The enemy?” he asked confused. “How…?”

  Miko chuckled.

  James flashed him a questioning look.

  “They learn fast,” was all he said.

  Hikai absentmindedly let his bowl tilt and water spilled out.

  Having seen him use his mirror, they had worked out how to do it. But instead of a mirror, they used the surface of still water in a bowl.

  His face hardened. “You used magic without my permission?”

  Azhan’s look of triumph faded quickly to be replaced by one of fear. The color drained from his face. Hikai looked to be on the verge of passing out.

  “What’s going on?” Meliana asked.

  James kept his gaze focused on his apprentice until Azhan bowed his head and said, “Yes, Master.” Without shifting his gaze to Meliana, he said in a quiet aside, “I now have two apprentices.”