World in Chains- The Complete Series

by Ryan W. Mueller

  They left the port shortly after sunrise. The crew had told them of seasickness, but to Berig's relief, none of them suffered from it. Still, the swaying of the ship upon the waves felt odd. He was used to the ground remaining still beneath him.

  Standing at the ship's railing, he watched the coast fade into the distance. The endless sea stretched ahead of them. Berig felt sick when he considered how large the ocean was.

  The first few days on the sea passed without incident. Darius warned them that sea monsters did occasionally target ships, but most of those sea monsters dwelled farther to the north and south. It had been years since one had sunk a ship going from Seaside to Luminia.

  That wasn't reassuring. Berig kept glancing at the water whenever he was on deck, expecting to see some hideous serpent or tentacled monster.

  The crew remained distant from the four of them, but the party did spend some time with Darius. The captain was also willing to lend a hand with any ship's duties, and Berig respected that. Darius was the kind of person born to be a leader.

  In other words, he was nothing like Berig.

  With each passing day, Berig grew more bored. Darius eventually allowed them to help a bit in operating the ship. They got a few chances at the wheel, which wasn't all that exciting. Steering the ship through calm seas required little skill.

  Berig learned how to operate the sails and how to climb the rigging. After a couple of weeks, they each spent time operating as lookouts. To Berig's surprise, he enjoyed standing in the crow's next, gazing out upon the vast sea.

  According to Darius, this was a duty they needed to take seriously. The trade route between Seaside and Luminia wasn't far from pirate territory. These pirates were affiliated with the New Earth Empire, which lay to the south of Luminia.

  Day after day, Berig saw nothing but the rolling waves. The farther they went on their journey, the more he wanted to set foot on land again.

  Aric's illness was growing worse. At first, he'd helped with some of the work, but now he spent most of his time in bed, barely able to move. Some nights, he moaned in his sleep. He never let them know he was in pain, but it was clear in the lines on his face.

  Berig didn't spend much time in their room, as he couldn't stand to see Aric suffering. Now Berig truly worried that Aric would die before they reached Luminia.

  It was late evening. Berig found Darius standing at the bow of the ship. "How much longer is it to Luminia?" Berig asked. "I don't think Aric's got much left in him."

  "About three days."

  "I'm not sure he has that much time," Berig said.

  "I'm sorry, but I can't make the ship move any faster, not in these waters. There are a lot of rocks around here, so we've gotta be careful. I wish there was a way. I really do."

  "Thank you for everything you've done," Berig said.

  "It's been no problem. I've enjoyed your company."

  Berig could tell that Darius didn't feel like saying anything else, so it was time to head down to the mess hall. Though Berig didn't relish the thought of seeing Filip again, he knew he'd find Lara and Danica there. They'd both taken to helping the cook, and they didn't seem bothered by Filip's excitable nature.

  Berig took his usual place at the bar. Danica and Lara were sitting there as well, taking a break from their duties with the cook. Filip remained on the other side of the bar, handing out drinks and plates of food.

  "Berig, you look troubled," Danica said.

  "It's Aric. I don't think he's gonna make it."

  "Of course he'll make it," Danica said, but her voice lacked the cheer he was used to. "We have to keep our thoughts positive. Look at everything we've survived to make it this far. God must have a plan for us, a plan for Aric."

  Berig looked down at the ale Filip had poured for him. "I wish I could believe that."

  "Aric's strong," Danica said. "He won't give up when we're this close."

  Berig glanced at Lara, hoping to change the subject. "You've been quiet lately."

  "I think I'm starting to miss home. I wanted to leave, but now that I'm gone, I've realized I may never return. I may never see my father again."

  "Yeah, I guess that makes sense." Berig wished he could find better words to comfort her. He remembered how he'd felt upon leaving Bradenton. Now Liam and Captain Young seemed as if they belonged to a different life. If Berig returned, would they recognize the man he'd become?

  Sometimes, he no longer recognized himself.

  "I don't regret my decision," Lara said. "I still think I did the right thing. You're special, Berig, and I know I have to stick by your side."

  Was that all she saw in him? Someone special? Someone important? He wanted her to love him as he'd grown to love her, but he had the feeling she was too focused on whatever great things he might do rather than seeing him as the person he was. A person who needed love.

  Berig excused himself from the mess hall, then made his way back to the room he shared with Aric. Aric was sitting up in bed, reading a book Darius had given to him. To Berig's surprise, Darius had a small library aboard the ship. That seemed odd when Berig considered that the ship had to be light enough to float.

  Berig took a seat on his bed. "How're you feeling?"

  "How much farther is it to Luminia?"

  "Darius said it would be three days."

  "I can make it that long."

  "You sure?" Berig asked.

  "I'm not as weak as you think. The journey just took a lot out of me, and I think I'll stand a better chance of making it to Luminia if I rest right now." He winced as a sudden spasm of pain gripped him. "Don't worry about me. I know my own body well enough."

  Berig wished he could believe that. "You sure you aren't trying to make me feel better?"

  "I'm sure, Berig. You'll have—"

  Aric never got a chance to finish his sentence. A violent explosion rocked the ship. The wooden wall of their cabin exploded, sending giant splinters flying at them. The force of the explosion threw Berig backward across the room. He slammed his head against a wall and knew nothing more.

  Chapter 54: The Pirates

  Berig woke to a pounding head, to booms echoing through the air, to screams and shouts and hurried footsteps. He tried to stand but felt too dizzy. Once the spinning stopped, he staggered to his feet. The cabin lay in ruin. There was no sign of Aric.

  Another explosion. Splinters of wood rained down upon Berig as he stumbled through the chaos, panic flaring in his chest. What the hell was going on?

  There was a gaping hole in the wall of the cabin. Berig glanced through that hole, but he didn't spot Aric in the sea below. It was too dark to see anything clearly.

  Dust choked the air. A fire burned nearby, filling the air with the smell of burning wood. Berig peered through the smoke, hoping to spot Aric, and again there was no sign of him. Berig had no idea how long he'd been unconscious. Maybe Aric had escaped the cabin and left Berig there because he thought Berig was dead.

  Another explosion shook the ship, the force of it knocking Berig off his feet. Screams and shouts came from above. Fires crackled all around.

  Berig lurched his way out of the room as smaller explosions rumbled through the ship. He'd been drunk a lot of times, but he'd never felt this unsteady. The ship was swaying, and though Berig didn't know much about ships, he knew enough to be terrified.

  Out in the small corridor, some of the beams holding up the ship had fallen diagonally across the space. Berig ducked below one, climbed over another. Shouts came from the distance, but Berig feared he'd never see anyone again. The smoke grew thicker. He coughed. This reminded him of the burning prison in Crayden.

  The sheer terror of that day came back to him, sweeping through him like the fire through the ship, like that ring of fire through the city all those months ago. For a moment, he felt paralyzed. He couldn't move, couldn't think. Maybe he should lie here and wait for the end.

  No. He had to fight, had to cling to whatever hope he had left.

  As h
e raced through the corridor, dodging the debris that obstructed his path, the ship swayed more and more. Another massive explosion hit the ship, and Berig slammed against the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him.

  He lay beneath the smoke, listening to the crackling of the fire until his breathing returned to normal. Then he staggered to his feet, coughing, and found the door leading to the mess hall. Peering through it, he saw a scene of sheer devastation.

  The chairs and tables were overturned or broken. Smoke hung so thickly that Berig had to pull his shirt over his mouth. There was a massive hole in the side of the ship, allowing moonlight to enter the mess hall.

  A few sailors lay in crumpled heaps. Berig scanned the bodies but didn't see his friends among them. That was only a small relief.

  He left the mess hall and returned to the corridor, where he dodged scattered fires and large boards that littered his path. Eventually, he reached the ladder that led up to the deck. He climbed the ladder and emerged in the warm night air.

  Where he found a scene of utter chaos.

  People were running back and forth. Some were sailors. Others Berig didn't recognize. These must have been the pirates that had boarded the ship. Berig hung back behind a stack of crates, hoping no one would run across him.

  He checked for his dagger, but he wasn't wearing it. There hadn't been any danger aboard the ship, so he'd left it in his cabin. He didn't want to go back down there. The thought of braving all that smoke again was too much to bear.

  A dead sailor lay nearby, and a sword sat upon the ground beside him. Berig picked up the sword, praying he wouldn't have to use it. Screams came from all around. People shouted in fear and anger.

  He scanned the darkness, looking for his friends, but he didn't see them. What if they were already dead? What if the pirates had taken them prisoner?

  Berig had no idea what he'd do without them. He couldn't lose everyone he cared about. Not again. He had to find them, had to summon whatever bravery he possessed. After a deep breath, he moved to his right, remaining hidden behind the crates.

  The battle at the center of the deck remained chaotic. Berig could hardly tell friend from foe. He kept his eyes on the battle as he moved behind the captain's cabin, which stood above the rest of the deck. When he peered through one of the windows, he didn't see Darius within.

  Keeping out of sight, he made his way to the door, and then he ducked inside. The captain's cabin looked untouched.

  He'd hoped he might find someone hiding in here, but the room was empty. He peered out of one of the cabin's windows, watching the battle on deck. It was still too dark for him to tell who anyone was, but he couldn't do anything else. If he got involved in this battle, he'd end up dead. He wasn't meant for battle, even with a sword in his hands.

  But fate had other plans.

  One of the pirates raced by the window while Berig was peering through it. The pirate's eyes widened when he saw Berig, and then the man raced through the door. Berig pulled out his sword as the pirate charged toward him.

  The pirate moved with alarming speed, but Berig was quicker, ducking to the side moments before the man would have stabbed him through the chest. Berig spun around, slashing at the pirate with his word, and the man flinched away. A narrow escape.

  The man charged again. Acting on instinct, Berig ducked, and the pirate's sword passed where his neck would have been. The attack left Berig's attacker off-balance, and Berig took advantage, slamming against his opponent with all the speed he could muster.

  They both hit the ground hard. The pirate's sword clattered to the floor. He reached for it, but Berig held him off, surprising himself with his strength. They wrestled for the sword. The man was much larger, but Berig held his own. Life on the streets had taught him a few lessons.

  They delivered a flurry of blows at one another. Each blow made Berig's head hurt worse, but he ignored the pain. Blood flowed from his nose. It felt as if one blow cracked a rib.

  Berig's strength wasn't enough. The pirate thrust him aside, and they both clambered back to their feet. Wavering on his legs, Berig blocked his opponent's path. Just as the pirate tried to lunge past Berig, he scooped the sword off the floor. Holding two swords felt foolish, but it was enough to deter the man, who turned and fled.

  Heart pounding, Berig leaned against the wall. He wanted to rest but knew he couldn't. Surely the pirate would return with reinforcements. Wiping blood from his chin, Berig stepped through the door. The battle still raged on the ship's deck.

  Berig wanted to help, wanted to find his friends, but fear had tightened its grip upon him. He wished he could close his eyes and pretend the world didn't exist.

  After a few deep breaths, he made his way toward the battle. He wasn't going to find his friends if he hid from the battle. Besides, death couldn't be any worse than life without his friends. Or at least that was what Berig told himself.

  "Berig!"

  Danica was racing toward him.

  "Thank God!" he said. "You're all right."

  She had tears in her eyes. "I can't find Aric."

  "I couldn't find him either," Berig said. "He wasn't in the cabin." He glanced toward the battle. "Is Lara in the middle of the fighting?"

  "I don't know. I haven't seen her for a while."

  "We need to get away from the fighting," Berig said. Now that he'd found one of his friends, he knew his first instincts had been right. He and Danica could not be part of this battle. They lacked the skill and would end up dead.

  "There she is!" One of the pirates was pointing right at Danica.

  Berig and Danica took off together, but the pirates were close behind. Too close. Berig and Danica reached the back of the ship, and there was nowhere else to go. Berig's heart pounded a mighty drumbeat.

  "Come with us," said one of the pirates, "and we'll leave you in peace." He stared at Danica.

  Danica's eyes were wide. "I don't understand. Why do you want me?"

  Horrible images flashed behind Berig's eyes. He wasn't the only person who could see how attractive Danica was. Did these pirates intend to rape her? He couldn't let that happen.

  But now five pirates had surrounded them. Berig's sword felt useless.

  "I can't let you rape her," he said, surprising himself with his boldness.

  "That isn't what we intend," said one of the pirates. He had a strange accent. "Our captain has his orders. We're only following them. If your captain here had agreed to give her over immediately, none of this bloodshed would've been necessary."

  Danica's voice sounded small. "I-I still don't understand. Why would you want me?"

  "I don't know," said the same pirate. "Just come with us. Please."

  Danica glanced at Berig, her face pale in the moonlight. "If I can keep anyone else from dying, I have to do it." She met the pirate's gaze. "I will come with you. Now end this attack."

  The man took her by the arm, but not too roughly. "We will."

  Berig couldn't let Danica go with these men, but all he had was a sword, and even a skilled swordsman would struggle against these odds. With a heavy heart, Berig watched the pirates lead Danica away. He stood at the back of the ship, leaning against the railing and trying to understand what had happened.

  Over the next few minutes, the battle ceased, and the pirates returned to their ship. In the aftermath, Berig walked the deck, feeling as if he were stuck in a nightmare. Dead sailors lay all over the deck, their blood staining the boards.

  Some of the men groaned feebly. Berig didn't know what to do for them, didn't know how to help anyone. He felt sick to his stomach, and his head pounded worse than ever.

  "Berig!" It was Lara.

  He rushed toward her, and they caught each other in a firm embrace.

  "I was sure you were dead," Lara said. She had a few cuts on her arms, and blood had soaked much of her clothing. When she saw Berig's concern, she said, "Most of it isn't mine."

  Berig wished he could have felt relieved. "You seen Ari
c anywhere?"

  "No, I thought he'd be with you."

  Berig felt a sudden rush of tears. "No one's seen him. What if he's dead? What if we've gone through all this for nothing?"

  "Did they really take Danica?"

  "Yeah," Berig said, barely able to speak. "I-I don't know why."

  "I'm gonna help you find Aric. Let's head back to your cabin."

  Berig had no idea how Lara could remain so calm as they returned to the ladder leading below deck. They descended into the chaos. The smoke had grown thicker, the fires brighter. Keeping their heads low, they navigated the debris-clogged corridor.

  By the time they reached Berig's cabin, he feared he'd suffocate. They searched inside but found no sign of Aric.

  "Where could he have gone?" Berig asked, feeling the crushing weight of fear upon his chest. That, combined with the smoke, made it almost impossible to breathe.

  Lara moved to the hole at the side of the cabin.

  "You see him down there?" Berig asked.

  "No, I can't see much of anything."

  "We've gotta find him," Berig said, tears streaming down his face. He'd already lost Danica. He couldn't lose Aric too.

  A feeble voice came from the corridor. "Help."

  Berig's heart leapt, and he raced out of the cabin. To his left, much of the ship had come crashing down upon the corridor. He hadn't even considered going that direction when he'd first woken. But there it was—a hand poking out through the debris.

  Berig fell to his knees beside rubble. "Aric, is that you?"

  "Please, Berig, get me out of here."

  "Come on, Lara!" Berig shouted. "We've gotta clear this debris."

  They worked together, moving the pile of splintered wood as fast as they could. They couldn't go too quickly, though, or they might bring more of the ship crashing down upon them. It was a slow and terrifying process. More than once, an avalanche of debris erased much of the progress they'd made, but that didn't stop them.