Tides of Faith: Travail of The Dark Mage Book Two

by Brian S. Pratt

  “From the Empire?” she asked incredulously.

  “So it would seem.”

  “It was either that,” Miko explained quietly, “or have them killed. One of the conditions for sparing their lives was that they swore not to use magic unless he specifically gave his permission.”

  “Can they be trusted?” Kendrick asked.

  “According to Miko,” James replied.

  The high priest nodded affirmation.

  He waved his two apprentices over to Melia’s Dream.

  “Dear, this is Azhan and Hikai, late of Warlord Kazan’s, service,” he said. “Boys, meet my wife.”

  Azhan bowed deeply. “A great honor.”

  Hikai glanced from her to James uncertain about whether or not consequences for their magic use were imminent or not. He finally decided that he would live for a while longer and bowed silently to Meliana.

  “The honor is mine,” she replied somewhat hesitantly. She eyed James uneasily.

  “They’ve been worth the trouble,” he told her.

  Azhan beamed and Hikai managed to relax a little bit more.

  “Now, what’s this about?”

  Holding out his water-filled bowl, Azhan said, “Ships of the enemy are moving this way.”

  James felt the tell-tale prickling of magic and the surface of the bowl shimmered then revealed a seascape. Five ships sailed in formation; four were identical to those that he encountered before. The fifth was over a third again the size of the others. It boasted a second main mast; and at the fore instead of the single magical device, it had three.

  “From the south,” added Hikai,

  “How far away?” he asked as he pulled out his mirror.

  “I am unsure,” Azhan replied.

  Kendrick moved to the railing and turned his spyglass to the south. A myriad of sails fleeing the enemy obscured his view. “Don’t see them.”

  Bringing an aerial view of their current position into focus, he scrolled it southward. “I do,” he said when the five ships appeared. “Maybe twenty minutes.”

  Meliana gasped and clutched Kenny. “What are we to do?”

  To Miko, James said, “Inform Scar that we’ll need to get underway shortly.”

  “Got it.”

  “Boys, go with him. Keep an eye out for other ships that may be moving to join them.”

  “Yes, Master,” Azhan said. He and Hikai then scrambled back over the rails to Captain Anyn’s ship.

  He sighed, then turned to Meliana. “Events force us to postpone our reunion.”

  Her arms wrapped around him and her kiss was moist with tears. “I know. At least I know you are alive.”

  “Is Daddy leaving again?” Kenny asked.

  “Yes, Grandson,” Kendrick said. “He must do what only he can.”

  James turned to his father-in-law. “Take everyone to safety. Hug the coast and we’ll draw them off.”

  “Are you sure they will follow you?” Captain Jehumes demanded.

  “Absolutely.”

  Captain Anyn was less than thrilled with the prospect of his ship entering the fray while the others fled to safety. But with mages and men of questionable stability on his ship, not to mention Scar’s threat of possible life-ending, or at the very least pain-filled repercussions if he failed to provide the Dark Mage with his best effort, realized he had little choice.

  Once relaying James’ message to Scar, Miko found that Father Keller had Eddra all ready to cross over and join those leaving with Kendrick.

  “A ship heading to battle is no place for one such as she,” he said as Miko joined them.

  “I agree. Remain with her.”

  Father Vickor nodded.

  He and Father Vickor helped the aged woman across the deck to the gangplank. Several sailors waited to assist in her crossing.

  As they neared where the gangplank began, uneasiness settled over Miko.

  “Easy,” Father Keller said she stepped upon the gangplank.

  Shorty stood on the gangplank and held out his hand. She took it with a smile.

  The sky darkened and Miko found it hard to breathe. When Eddra stood upon the gangplank with Shorty and Father Vickor, uneasiness gave way to dread.

  The gangplank was not wide enough to allow two people to walk side by side, so Father Keller followed behind her closely, holding onto her waist. She shuffled slowly across the space between ships.

  Every step she took only deepened the ominous felling of impending doom. His heart raced, perspiration beaded his forehead; a single drop coursed down his temple soon followed by a second.

  She stumbled midway across but Shorty quickly stepped forward and added his arm to those supporting her.

  “Easy does it,” Father Keller advised.

  Time slowed as she neared the end of the gangplank. Visions of horror plagued him; stillborn babes …storms laying waste to the countryside…pestilence…streets lined with rotting corpses…death and destruction on an unimaginable scale…

  Eddra reached the end of the gangplank.

  Certainty came that should she reach the Melia’s Dream, all would come to pass.

  Returning to the here and now, he strode forward. “Wait!”

  Father Keller paused and turned back toward him.

  “She must remain with us,” Miko warned.

  “But that would be unwise,” his priest argued.

  “I…,” he paused, “do not believe so.”

  “But, Reverend Father,” Father Vickor said, “we go to battle.”

  “And she must accompany us. Morcyth wills it so.”

  James came to him. “What is it?”

  Already the visions faded leaving only a feeling that she must not be allowed to cross over. “It would be best if she remained in our company for now.” To Father Keller, he said, “Bring her back and ensure her comfort.”

  Father Keller glanced uncertainly to Father Vickor, then to Miko. “As you wish, Reverend Father.”

  They brought her back and returned her to her spot near the forecastle

  Miko turned to James and could see questions burning to get out. “You must trust me on this.”

  Searching his eyes for a moment, James nodded. “I always do.”

  Scar joined them. “Shall we get underway?”

  James’ gaze lingered on Miko for a moment longer before he nodded. “Yes.”

  Scar signaled Captain Anyn.

  “Cast off the lines,” Captain Anyn barked. Sailors on both ships untied the ropes securing them together and tossed them to their counterparts on the other ship.

  Jiron was the last to leave Melia’s Dream. His argument with Aleya about her remaining with those fleeing had been much more heated than James and Meliana’s. But like Meliana, her maternal protective instinct prevailed. Jira came first.

  One final hug, a passionate kiss that promised more later, and then he leapt across the rails not bothering with the gangplank.

  The scamp in question had tried to follow but her mother quickly took her in hand and forestalled the ill-conceived attempt. “Not this time.”

  “Rat poop!” she spat.

  “Watch out for your mother,” Jiron told her.

  She pulled one of her daggers and gave a very solemn solute.

  He grinned and did the same. Once completed, he said to Aleya, “Don’t worry. This won’t take too long. James will have this over in short order and we’ll be back together before nightfall.”

  Meliana and Aleya stood together at the railing with Kenny and Jira. They waved and exchanged words of love and safe passage with James and Jiron.

  Kendrick shouted orders and sails unfurled.

  James stood there and watched Melia’s Dream carry his wife and son away.

  “Damn!”

  His exclamation startled Jiron. “What is it?”

  James sighed and shook his head. “Forgot to give her the chocolates.”

  “You can do so when we rejoin them tonight.”

  “Don’t let me for
get again.”

  “I won’t,” Jiron said, slapping his back. He waved to Aleya and Jira until they grew indistinct in the distance.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  “Have the lookout holler when they come into view.”

  “Aye, Sir,” Captain Anyn said.

  “Azhan, give us some wind.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  James crossed to the magical device recently acquired from the enemy ship. The priest, or rather what had been left of him had been removed and the machine and deck cleaned during their time with Melia’s Dream.

  “Think you can work this?” Jiron asked.

  James shrugged. “Possibly. But it isn’t the machine itself I’m interested in, rather the crystals.” Of the original twelve, nine retained their glow. “They may prove useful.”

  “Be careful.”

  “I shall. Let me know when the enemy is sighted.”

  “Will do.”

  A very fine latticework of golden filigree provided a cage wherein the crystals were stored. Each cage was secured on one side by two silver hinges; the other secured the cage in place with an eyelet and a small silver lock.

  He sent his senses into the lock and cage to see if there were any magical booby traps waiting to ensnare the unwary. Not finding any, he modified his assassin spell and severed the lock. Slipping it off, he pulled open the cage and removed the crystal.

  It glowed deeply with a great amount of stored magic. Having much experience with crystals, he could guess with some accuracy how much magic the crystal contained. He glanced to Jiron, “These will come in handy.”

  Shorty joined them and held out a small cloth bag. “Here.”

  James took it. “Thank you,” he said, slipping the crystal into the bag.

  One by one he released the crystals from their cages. Even the depleted ones he took for they could still be used to again harness magical energy. The cloth bag bulged heavily once the last rested within.

  “So what is the deal with Eddra?” he asked Miko.

  “I believe Morcyth wants her to remain with us.”

  “She would be safer had she gone with Kendrick.”

  Miko shook his head. “I do not think so.”

  “What?” James asked, alarmed.

  “No, no, no,” Miko said quickly. “I did not mean it that way. There was no part of the vision indicating harm to Melia’s Dream. Rather, a feeling that should she go with them, a doom would befall us.”

  “Can you elaborate?”

  He shook his head. “Though I cannot, I remain steadfast in my belief that she must remain on board.”

  “Think it came from Morcyth?”

  “Of that, I am absolutely certain.” His gaze traveled to where she sat with Father Keller. “In some way, she is important to our future.”

  James followed his gaze, allowed his to linger upon the now-sleeping old woman before returning to Miko. “Then we must ensure her safety.”

  “Indeed.”

  “Sails ho!” came the cry from the lookout.

  Rushing to the rail, they looked out over the ocean toward seven sails in formation moving their way.

  “Looks like they picked up two more,” Jiron said. “Could be interesting.”

  “Perhaps.”

  “Are you mad?” demanded Captain Anyn. “They’ll kill us all.”

  James flashed him an irritated look. “See to your men and your ship, Captain. We’ll deal with this.” Their gazes met and locked. The captain turned away first.

  “Hikai,” he said, turning to his apprentice. “Gather the clouds.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  “Like before, target their masts.”

  His skin prickled with the onset of magic use. The sky darkened as clouds rolled in from all directions.

  “What of me, Master?”

  James turned to Azhan. “Protect the ship.”

  His apprentice nodded.

  “And this time,” Scar said, “don’t forget to send those arrows back to their owners,”

  “I won’t.”

  James gathered magic and put a protective shield before their bow to ward off attacks from the magical devices. He then embedded spells identical to those used during their last encounter with these enemy ships within seven of his remaining slugs. Knocking each against the ship’s wooden rail set the trigger event in place, he then waited for the gap to close. He didn’t have to wait long.

  Wham!

  Nine beams struck the shield simultaneously in a massive explosion of heat and light.

  “By the gods!” exclaimed Potbelly as heated air bordering on searing rolled over the ship.

  Hair smoldered, skin reddened, and it was over in an instant.

  Standing at the bow as he had, James had felt the brunt of it. Morcyth’s glow sprang to life beside him as Miko called to his god. The healing light spread to him and skin that burned was soothed; redness subsided and a more normal color returned. Fathers Keller and Vickor did likewise for the rest of those on the ship.

  “Thank you.”

  “Any time,” Miko replied.

  Sailing straight for them was the large, command ship. On either side sailed three of the smaller ships like those with which they had previously dealt. After the attack, the two sets of three altered course so as to angle away from the flagship; one set to the right, the other to the left.

  “Going to flank us,” commented Scar.

  James nodded. “Keep heading for the big one.”

  “Aye,” replied a nervous Captain Anyn.

  He cocked an eye to the captain. “Don’t worry, we’ll keep your ship safe.”

  The captain returned an unconvinced look though he nodded.

  Summoning more magic to him, James extended the protective shield along both sides of the ship to ward off any attacks the sets of three ships may attempt during their flanking maneuver.

  Wham!

  Another bright explosion erupted as beams of light struck the shield. This time the effect was lessened as the beams were now unable to concentrate their attacks upon a single spot. Three from the flagship struck the bow section of the shield while three struck on each side from the flankers.

  “How are you doing?”

  James glanced to Potbelly. “Piece of cake.” Then under his breath he mumbled, “If that’s the best they can do.”

  The seas grew choppy as Hikai brought clouds in from all parts of the sky. The deck rolled upon the waves.

  “Target the flagship if you would,” James said.

  “Yes, Master,” replied Hikai.

  James took three of his spell-embedded slugs into his right hand as lightning struck down upon the enemy ship. Even from so far a distance, the resulting thunder resonated within his chest. More than one sailor made exclamations; some in shock, others in awe, and still others in exuberant encouragement.

  Arcing back his hand to throw, he overheard Scar say to a sailor, “…this is nothing, you should have seen him at the walls of Korazan. Of course, then he was by himself…now, with two apprentices, this should really be something….”

  Turning a deaf ear to the Pit Master, he concentrated on the three ships moving to flank them on the right. Once he had the trajectory firmly set in his mind, he threw the stones and let loose the magic.

  Wham!

  Beams again struck the shield and did little more than drain magic that he could readily afford to lose.

  The slugs sailed through the air. He kept them firmly set in his mind’s eye as they rose to the apex of their arc. Then, after a final magical burst to send them down to their respective targets, he let go the magic and they fell as dormant iron.

  Like before, when they struck the wooden deck of the ship, the latent spells activated.

  Men died as magic drained from them to power the spells that cracked hulls and exploded flames outward to tear ships asunder.

  Sailors cheered and Scar hollered. “Didn’t I tell ya?”

  As the trio sank beneath the wa
ves, James tried not to think of the loss of life; he did what he did for his family.

  Lightning continued pummeling the flagship. As he turned his attention to the ships on the left, there was a lull in the strikes and he caught sight of a barely seen field of golden luminosity surrounding the flagship.

  “A shield,” he mumbled.

  “What?” asked Miko.

  He pointed to the flagship. “They have a shield.”

  “Will that be a problem?”

  “I don’t know.” His gaze lingered upon the shield as he muttered, “Let’s hope not.”

  Sending his mind’s eye to the ship, he saw that the lightning strikes had had little effect. Not a sail had been scorched and no men had been harmed. Then another series of strikes hit and he watched as they were deflected many feet before they could reach the wooden spars of the ship. At least Hikai was keeping the priest on board busy while he took care of the support ships.

  Again he took three slugs in his hand, readied the spells to launch them.

  Golden magical beams of heat struck his shield in rapid succession. Each was easily deflected and he wondered if these priests with their magical devices were little more than one-trick ponies. Against the average, non-mage-carrying ship, they would be devastating. But against someone who knew what he was doing…little more than a nuisance.

  He didn’t have time to think about that now, he readied his slugs, set in his mind the trajectory to the other trio of ships, and threw.

  As before, they sailed through the air. The first hit the wooden body of the mast…the spell triggered and the ship disintegrated in a mass of fire and death. The second left a hole in the mainsail on its way to the deck; spells activated, men died and the ship was no more.

  The third slug hit one of the smaller sails at an angle, slid along its length, and fell upon a coil of rope. Not striking the wooden deck, the latent spells failed to activate. When the ship did not explode as had the others, James sent his senses to investigate.

  Sailors and men-at-arms stood gathered around the coil of rope. The ship’s priest knelt before the slug, hand reaching out, his fingers came close but did not connect to the bit of iron. One sailor was gesticulating wildly, pointing to the sail and then to the slug and speaking in an animated fashion as if to explain how the slug came to be there.