Raylan followed his flight and saw him level off above the water, starting his first attempt to catch a few fish. Having no immediate chores, he observed the dragon’s movements for a while.
As the others got back to their duties, Xi’Lao lingered too, silently studying Galirras’ movements for herself. As the last remaining keeper of the dragon archive, she took every opportunity to study or question Galirras, hoping to collect information that had been lost over the centuries. Normally, she was quite enthusiastic about it. Now she was as quiet as Raylan as they stood side by side. He watched her from the corner of his eye, uncertain what to say. Her gaze frequently moved toward the distant horizon, her thoughts a thousand miles away. Perhaps she thought of home, but Raylan suspected she mourned the loss of Gavin, his brother.
Raylan stepped back from the edge and turned toward her. Words were racing in his head, but all of them got stuck in his throat. Xi’Lao and his brother had gotten very close during their escape from the Doskovian army. Raylan's mouth curled briefly into a sad smile, remembering how he had teased Gavin the night he stumbled across them in one of the hot springs. But his brother was gone now, and he was not the only one who felt that emptiness.
Gavin had been their commander from the beginning, leading them across continents on a long shot to locate the stolen relic and retrieve it for the Empire. His leadership and decisions had prevented capture time and time again. And perhaps if Gavin had not listened to Raylan on the night of their escape, he might still have been with them now. Instead, Raylan and the others had witnessed the enemy High General Corza Setra plunge a dagger into Gavin’s chest. Both Raylan and Galirras had been powerless to stop it from happening.
As the official second-in-command, Richard had been forced to step up and take over the leadership position. He was doing a competent job, but Raylan felt the group’s solidarity wavering without his brother keeping them together.
Only because of Gavin had Xi'Lao slowly opened up to the group and truly become one of them. Now, after that regretful night, she had grown cold and distant again. It was like she had become an empty shell, completely closed off and drained of emotion. Raylan knew how that was; he too had a hard time feeling anything. If not for Galirras, he would probably have given in to despair that night. It made him wonder who Xi’Lao had to turn to.
Raylan noticed Xi’Lao’s knuckles whiten on the handrail as the ship swayed gently in the wind. The airship’s movements were not sitting well with her. Raylan had seen her reach for a bucket or hang over the rail numerous times already. She was probably glad to soon be setting foot on solid ground again.
Xi’Lao stared straight ahead, ignoring him as he sought the words to speak. At first, Raylan had been certain she blamed him for the loss of her lover, as he blamed himself. But she was painfully honest that night about how she felt. Gavin had always made his own decisions and it was his own actions that led to disaster. And Raylan was dead wrong if he thought that she would allow his self-blame and despair to tarnish Gavin’s memory and sacrifice.
They had not spoken much since, and as more days passed, the more awkward he felt about the silence between them. So there he stood, trying to form a sentence that would leave his throat unhindered by shame and guilt.
But Xi’Lao pushed away from the rail and abruptly turned her back on him. She walked to the lower deck and picked up a quill to resume her notes, leaving Raylan pondering on how to fix things between them.
Preoccupied, he wandered around the ship, where he came across Sebastian in the cargo hold. The bearded former slave was crouching next to the toppled ghol’m. They tried to push two of them out of the hold the night of their escape. The first had fallen out as intended; this one, however, had slammed into the woodwork and landed face down on the floor. Too heavy to roll it over in the heat of battle, they had let it be.
“We’re getting close to Azurna,” announced Raylan.
Sebastian did not react.
“It’s hard to believe they can actually move when you see them like this,” said Raylan, looking at the fallen statue.
“Harder to forget once you do,” replied Sebastian.
“What are you doing down here?”
“Nothing much. Reminiscing. It’s been a while since I last saw one of them…before the harbor, I mean.”
“The night you all escaped from the mines?” said Raylan.
Sebastian gave a short nod.
“I saw soldiers and slaves torn in half that night. Some were beaten to death, or simply walked over. It wasn’t pretty.”
“What happened to the ghol’ms that helped you escape?” asked Raylan.
The riots had succeeded because a small group of slaves had managed to take control of a few stone warrior ghol’ms. Sebastian had been amongst them. The complete chaos that followed allowed many slaves to escape the mines, which had been their prison for a long time.
“We used them as a distraction. To delay the Doskovian forces while we tried to get away through the forest. We kept one close for a number of nights, but in the end ordered it to walk off and create a fake trail to throw off the last of our pursuers.” Sebastian idly ran his fingers along the roughly-shaped stone man.
“Isn't it strange?”
“What?” said Sebastian.
“To owe your life to something so dark, so…evil.”
“The ghol’ms aren’t evil. The ones who created them for power, those bastards who command these unnatural things, they’re the real evil! For us, it could just as well have been an angel in white that night…if only no one had to die for it.”
Raylan felt a knot form in his stomach. Each and every one of the ghol’ms was activated by a sacrificial scroll. While staying in the treetop village, which Sebastian and the other escaped slaves had painstakingly built over multiple years, Raylan and the others had learned this horrible truth: the truth that for every walking ghol’m, a person—a child—an infant had been sacrificed, their life force stored in one of those unholy scrolls, ready to be used to awaken the ghol’m when needed. Raylan had seen hundreds of ghol’ms that night in the harbor, but according to Sebastian the number produced in the mines was actually in the thousands.
“Was Marek still with you at the time?” asked Raylan.
Sebastian looked up at him.
“You said he was with you in the mines, right?” said Raylan.
“Yes, you’re right. I don’t know precisely when we lost track of each other. During those days, he was never far from my side…but there was so much chaos that day.”
“I was surprised how young he actually is. I think he’s even younger than Peadar.”
Peadar had been the youngest of their group. His addition to the squad was not so much for additional fighting power but because of his knowledge of animals. The boy’s interest in birds had surfaced while practicing under the royal animal healer at the royal court, after which he had been assigned to take care of the messenger birds their group carried. Peadar’s interest in Galirras had been apparent from the moment the dragon came into the world, and whenever Galirras sustained any injuries the eager lad had stepped forward to assist in their healing.
Raylan was well aware that Galirras would not be flying today if not for Peadar. The young bird keeper had helped readjust the dragon’s dislocated wing on the day of his hatching. Even Xi’Lao had complimented Peadar on his skill and quick ability to learn.
“He probably is younger. Marek was just a water rat back then,” said Sebastian.
Raylan knew the term well. He had seen his share of water rats during his years sailing. Orphaned boys with nowhere else to go. Stowaways on the ship searching for a better place, or adventure. Some of the boys were allowed to stay on board, if they worked hard enough and did not get in the way. After all, they did not eat much.
“It must have been his second or third voyage on board our ship. At the time my father said Marek was probably around eight, although even Marek himself was never sure. I think my father k
ept him around so I'd have company.”
Sebastian’s face broke out in a nostalgic grin.
“He loved to do all kinds of theatrics to make the crew laugh. He climbed the ropes with a fearlessness you've never seen, messing about, hanging upside down.
"One time, he even had my father scramble for the railing. He’d warned Marek multiple times already that day not to play hopscotch on the rail.” Sebastian let out a laugh. “‘It will be your own fault if you fall over. And you'd better not expect me to turn this ship around to come pick your sorry ass out of the water again, you hear me?’” Sebastian said in a deep voice, imitating that of his old man. “But when my father saw him go over the side, he rushed to the rail in earnest—only to find the boy dangling there, grinning up at him. We all had a good laugh about it, but my father was so furious he gave Marek three weeks of latrine duty.”
“Sounds like he didn't take his work very seriously,” said Raylan.
“Not at all! He worked like the best of us, else my father would never have let him stay on board. But even down in the mines he seemed to be able to keep going and going. What he lacked in strength, being a kid and all, he made up for in stamina. Which is probably what saved him from being dragged off by the guards. He never lost that fun streak, even if the guards beat him for it. I think it was his way of dealing with all the misery around him, to keep himself going.”
“And so he became your best friend?”
“We were certainly close. I helped him out at times, took the heat off him when the guards were bullying him. It helped having each other around. It reminded us of better times, before those dark days. His enthusiasm and curiosity got him in trouble a lot, though. The guards had it in for him the more he made people laugh. Eventually, he ended up under Old Tom’s wing as an assistant of sorts. But that was near the very end. Old Tom once said they were ordered to make strange things of metal, leather and wood.”
“Old Tom? The tinkerer?”
“Yeah. You know the assistant I mentioned back at the treetop village? That was Marek. Come to think of it, that’s probably why he was able to figure out this airship so easily. He’s used to putting strange pieces together and making things from scratch. Old Tom spoke often of how Marek was a natural at those things. When something really fascinates him, Marek gets this intense look, and will stop at nothing to understand how it all fits together,” said Sebastian, rubbing his shoulder.
“How’s it healing?” asked Raylan, nodding at his friend's shoulder.
“It’s fine. A bit stiff.” Sebastian waved off Raylan’s concern. “Xi’Lao says the wound is healing nicely.”
The bearded man fell quiet for a moment, as if to gather his thoughts.
“I’m sorry your brother had to pay for my stupidity. If I had just dodged that damn hook…I know there’s nothing I can do about it now, but I owe you my life for jumping after me. I—I just want you to know how sorry I am about Gavin.”
The apology took Raylan by surprise. He had been glad to get his mind distracted for a moment. Now his sense of loss came rushing back.
“You’re not to blame,” he said in a soft voice.
“I know that. But neither are you. You shouldn’t carry all that guilt by yourself. I can see how heavy it weighs on your shoulders. We all see it. But it wasn’t you, or me. It just happened. And it hurts…a lot. But we have to accept it. And after a while it will hurt a little less and you’ll be able to move past it a little easier.”
The remark did not sit well with Raylan; Sebastian saw it in his friend’s face.
“I’m not saying to forget him. I mean, I would punch anyone who told me to forget my father, no matter how much it hurts to think of him. All I’m saying is—is that if you'd like to talk, I’m here for you.”
“No…no, I understand. Thanks,” was all Raylan could bring himself to say before turning around and heading back up to the deck.
Later, Raylan found himself back in the company of his friend. He was staring across the ocean below, thinking about Sebastian’s words when the former slave joined him. Sebastian did not mention their afternoon conversation. He simply stood beside Raylan, taking in the view. It was somewhat comforting to not be alone, yet not have to talk, even though his friend's offer was still there.
Together, they watched the stars come out. The ship was closing in on the mainland’s cliffs, but Richard had ordered them to veer north to avoid stirring panic in the small fishing village that Galirras spotted earlier. It would still take them most of the night to reach Azurna.
“Looking forward to having both legs back on the ground again?” Richard joined them at the handrail.
“I don’t mind being in the air. It’s not so different from being at sea,” said Raylan.
“Apart from the fact that if you fall overboard from here, you will not be able to swim back to the ship,” remarked Galirras, who was semi-napping behind them on the deck.
“I don’t think there would be much swimming at all. The fall would likely kill a person. Maybe even a dragon,” replied Raylan in his head.
“Good thing I can fly, then,” rumbled Galirras, pleased with himself.
“Well, I for one can’t wait until my feet are on Aeterran soil again,” said Sebastian, unaware of the silent conversation between Raylan and Galirras.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be there soon,” assured Richard. “But before we arrive, I want to talk to both of you.”
“About what?” said Sebastian.
“A matter of sensitivity,” said Richard. “I’ve already informed the others, but I think it best if we don’t mention the invasion force when we arrive in Azurna.”
Raylan and Sebastian looked at him in disbelief.
“What? Why not?” they said simultaneously.
“We haven’t seen a Doskovian ship for over a week and a half. We’ve got no idea where their army will land. Telling anyone about it without first informing the king and High Council in Shid'el will only create panic. We need to follow the chain of command,” said Richard.
“But if they do end up following us, the people in Azurna won’t stand a chance! They need to get ready now! Even if they’re fully prepared it will be a near impossible battle against the ghol’ms and airships!” said Sebastian.
“If we’re not going to warn them, why not keep going and ignore Azurna completely?” said Raylan. The conversation made him uneasy, like he was being pushed along a road that he was not certain about wanting to follow. The danger they had seen was very real, even if they did not know precisely where the Stone King’s army were planning to invade, and Raylan had decided for himself to follow his brother’s last request and tell the people at home about the oncoming danger. But now they were forbidden to say anything about it?
Raylan had planned to deliver news of the invasion as soon as possible, giving the people of Azurna at least a chance against the dark tidal wave planning to swallow them all. After that he could focus on his other main priority: keeping Galirras safe. If possible, Raylan and Galirras would stay far away from the fighting, so in that aspect he would not mind going straight to Shid'el. Still, it did not feel right to withhold such important information.
“I’ve thought about that too, but we need to resupply,” said Richard. “This ship isn’t going to take us much further, which is why we need horses. We can get them in Azurna, which was Gavin's plan from the start.”
“And while we take their food and use their horses, you’d rather keep your mouth shut than tell anyone about the danger approaching? You’re gambling with all their lives,” said Sebastian bluntly. “They deserve a chance to defend themselves.”
“Look, I can see you don’t agree with it, but our priority is to tell the High Council back in Shid'el about the danger that’s coming,” said Richard. “There’s no way a single city can stop this invasion force. We’re going to need the entire kingdom, and even that may not be enough. Who knows; perhaps the High Council would rather abandon the city to prevent the
unnecessary loss of its soldiers.”
“What if they don’t believe us?” said Sebastian. “Do we just abandon these people?”
“Why wouldn’t they believe us?” Raylan asked his friend, confused. “We’ve got a dragon, a ghol’m, even a flying ship.”
“No, Sebastian has a valid point, one that I’ve also considered. We might have a dragon with us, but the ghol’m is just a statue without a scroll, and we’ll never be able to drag the ship to Shid'el to show it. Living statues? Flying ships that drop fireballs? It’s hard enough to believe it ourselves and we saw it with our own eyes,” said Richard. “But I follow the chain of command. We wait for orders from the capital.”
“But by then it might be too late!” said Sebastian. Raylan saw his friend’s burn mark flush with anger. “You do what you like,” the former slave continued. “I’m not part of your squad. You can’t tell me what or what not to do. People have a right to know as soon as we land.”
“You’re right. I can’t order you not to say anything, but I could let them detain you in Azurna. I’d rather not, as I believe we wouldn’t have escaped that continent without your help, but if you leave me no choice, then I will,” said Richard.
Raylan stared at his squad leader. “You can’t mean that.”
“Look, please…just keep it to yourselves until we hear back from the High Council. It should only take a few days using the fastest birds,” said Richard.
Sebastian did not say anything more and stormed off to the mid deck. Raylan looked at Richard blankly. His commander waited for Raylan to say something, but when no reply came, he let out a sigh.
“Fine. Just know I expect you to follow orders, even if you don’t agree with them,” said Richard, and with that he too left Raylan to ponder by himself.
“You do not agree?” Galirras stretched lazily as he woke from his nap on the deck.
Wavebreaker_Book II of the Stone War Chronicles_Part 1_Trickle Page 8
