by Chris Ward
‘Did I say that?’ Serenna suddenly changed her tone. ‘I wonder what could have possibly prompted me to say such a thing? Could it have something to do with your propositioning my husband to purchase me like some bonded servant? Might your manners have been so poor that you thought not to tell me of your intention in this, assuming that I would quite naturally accept, even desire, such a pathetic deal, for that is what is was, a business deal, and me the object of the trade, and your passion?’ She stood with eyes blazing and hands on her hips glaring at the captain who stared back haughtily, clearly not appreciating her onslaught. His eyes narrowed; he thought and then he smiled, if it could be called a smile, for only one side of his mouth went up a little.
‘Hmm,’ he said stroking the untidy beard, which grew solely at the tip of his chin, ‘I suppose I deserved that. You’re right, I should have offered more. I did not judge your husband well. I thought he would have his price, and I set mine too low.’ Serenna made a fist with her right hand but just as she went to strike the Captain, Rema spoke.
‘Perhaps we could talk about a cabin for I cannot stand much longer.’ He went and rested against the barrel, which shortly before had been Wormwood’s resting place. For the first time Captain Tyne looked more closely at him.
‘You say he is your cousin, Lady Serenna?’ She went to Rema and placed a supportive hand upon his back.
‘He is, but we cannot talk now. I need the cabin and a passage as I mentioned. It is urgent. Please Lethyne.’ She softened and he enjoyed the moment. Rema had the distinct impression that whatever the relationship was between his red headed cousin and the strange captain, he was not used to hearing please very often.’
‘And what do you offer, Lady Serenna in return for such hospitality on my behalf?’
Serenna reached under her cloak and pulled out a small bag. She threw it to him. He caught it instinctively.
‘Gold, enough there to cover your next voyage. I know how much you like gold, Lethyne Tyne.’ The captain smiled again.
‘I like the idea that the Lady Serenna knows something of my desires.’ He weighed the bag in his palm thoughtfully for a moment. ‘Alright it is a deal, but we have much to talk about. Wormwood! Take these guests to Scion’s cabin. He can move out and join you in your little pigsty.’ Wormwood went to protest, but one look of thunder from his Captain silenced any thought of that.
‘And one more thing,’ Serenna spoke coldly. Captain Tyne looked at her closely for he sensed her mood. ‘We leave now.’ A look of shock crossed the captain’s face.
‘Now, in the middle of the night?’
‘Now in the middle of the night.’ Serenna echoed his words. ‘I told you this is urgent, a matter of life and death, a matter in which you are now heavily involved.’
Rema heard the Captain grind his teeth in anger.
‘And you will pay me for this, how?’ he almost roared.
‘I will dine with you tonight. Alone.’
Captain Lethyne Tyne said nothing, for he had no words, but his mind was working overtime. Such possibilities. Wormwood smiled knowingly, and Rema felt distinctly uncomfortable, at a loss to understand what Serenna was playing at. He had no time to think for suddenly his legs buckled and only the barrel and Serenna, saved him from falling to the deck.
‘Alright, I agree.’ The captain hissed in resignation.’ Wormwood, take them below, and get Scion up here; we have a ship to ready.’
‘Yes Captain.’ There was a slightly mocking tone in the old man’s voice, for he was carefully letting his master know who he thought had gotten the upper hand. He walked off hastily before he felt a booted foot for the second time that night. ‘Follow me Lady Serenna.’ He did not mention Rema who felt quite left out of the whole arrangement.
Rema stumbled blindly down a short companionway unto a lower deck and along a passage towards the ship’s stern. There were several small cabins on either side, and Wormwood ushered them hastily into one of them, calling out as he went.
‘Scion, on deck now. Captain wants to get moving. He needs you immediately. This cabin is offered to guests. You are to share with me. He kicked at a large man lying snoring in one of the simple bunks. Scion sat up and swung two very large thick legs over the side and into his sea boots in one easy motion. He said nothing but gathered a few belongings and pushed passed the small crowd, ignoring them, although he grunted at Wormwood as he went.
‘I will kill you quickly little old man if you snore like last time.’ And then he was gone.
‘Don’t mind him,’ said Wormwood, ‘he’s just a gentle giant really. Wouldn’t hurt a fly! Get some sleep. I’ll see what we can do about food after sunup. If you want to do your business, through that door but be careful, you might end up falling into the water.’ He chuckled malevolently, and leaving the lantern hanging on a hook, disappeared after Scion.
Rema let his small bundle of possessions fall to the floor, and then he collapsed onto the nearest bunk, and stretched out as best he could. Serenna knelt at his side.
‘How is your neck?’
‘I can’t hardly move,’ Rema whispered. ‘There is something out of place. In the morning, we can have a look at it, but now I need to lie still.’ He shut his eyes and fell quiet. Serenna lay on the other bunk, recently vacated by the giant Scion. It was still warm, but smelt strongly of tar and salt and sweat. She too lay back with a thousand thoughts screaming in her head. It was not long before she heard Rema’s breathing settle, and she knew he was asleep.
What becomes of us now Rema Bowman? She thought, but there was no fear in her heart, for at last she was free.
Scion, the Mate, quickly roused and organised the crew of almost two score men, and within a span the ship was ready to leave. As it was pointing upstream, he held the stern rope fast and gave orders for the bow line to be cast off. As the steady current took the bow away from the jetty, it pivoted around the stern line, and as it did Captain Tyne ordered two sails hoisted, one on the foremast and one further forward over the bow, a jib of sorts. There was almost no wind, which made any manoeuvers very difficult, and he knew it would be the current which decided where his vessel would head, at least until they were clear of the Port. Fortunately, the Scoria was berthed furthest out at the end of the longest jetty in the Port of Ramos, so there was little danger of hitting any other craft.
In a rather ungainly fashion, the large ship disappeared into the night, sailing on a sea of white mist under a moderate moon. Once moving with the current, the breeze, which always travelled up river, caught the sails, and the helmsman was able to fill them with enough air to allow a course to be set at an angle out into the centre of the river, where the Scoria stayed, swinging drunkenly about, but safe enough until the City of Ramos disappeared behind them and the early light of dawn crept low into the eastern sky.
Down below in their bunks, Serenna finally fell asleep as the gentle motion of the ship lulled her into unconsciousness, whilst Rema remained as though one dead, unmoving, only the gentle rise and fall of his chest giving any indication that life was still present.
Rema slept through the night and well into the morning. He woke to a familiar feeling, which at first he could not identify. He lay staring at the low-decked ceiling of the dingy cabin trying hard to understand his body’s sensation. Then it hit him. He was on the river once more. The ship was travelling sluggishly but peacefully to the rhythm of the mighty waters which searched, as all rivers do, for the sea. He smiled at his memory of Gymble’s humble barge, his first real experience of being on the water. After a time he went to stand, and realised with a sudden surge of cold panic that he could not. He could not move at all. Overnight his body had frozen solid. He tried to lift his head, which was just possible, with sharp pains shooting down his back. His limbs were limp and unresponsive. He began to panic. Wild thoughts rushed through his mind.
What if I never walk again? What about Sylvion? What about the prophecy? What about …?
At the height of this panic
Serenna suddenly entered the cabin, and Rema realised that she must have been up for some time. She looked down on him in alarm for she saw the fear in his eyes.
‘Are you alright Rema?’ She knelt and held his hand.
‘I cannot move,’ he whispered in reply, ‘I am frozen. Help me Serenna. Please.’ Even these few words were an effort. A shadow crossed his cousin’s face.
‘I feared this, some worsening in your condition. It was as much as you could do to stand after we escaped last night. I hoped that the night’s rest would refresh you, but it seems that has only caused your injury to make captive your whole body.’ She squeezed his hand and Rema took some small comfort knowing that he could feel her touch. ‘I don’t know what to do Rema but I will do all I can. It is possible they have someone on board who knows the skills of the healers.’ She gently kissed his forehead and was gone. Rema gave himself over to trying to calm himself and control his panic.
It will pass. All I need to do is rest. I am young and able. This cannot be the end…
As he lay there, full of inner turmoil, he realised that he was slipping further. His breathing was harder, and suddenly he missed a breath. Try as he might, Rema could not will himself to breathe. A great pain erupted in his chest as his body fought for air. He could feel his heart thumping ever harder, but nothing happened. His vision blurred and vanished altogether, replaced by an evil darkness. Just at the moment he knew he would lose touch with all reality, his chest heaved and took another breath, then another, until he counted five. Five great lungfuls of air which kept him alive. Then nothing once more, until the cycle repeated itself. He knew his life was hanging by the merest thread. A jumble of images raced through his tortured brain. Sylvion, alone and captive so far away. Mentor, so amazing and gently powerful. Dark creatures of the night howling in his pursuit. Serenna.
He heard her voice. He realised she had returned.
‘Rema,’ she cried, ‘can you hear me?’ She was on her knees and shaking him gently. Suddenly a voice commanded.
‘Do not do that girl. You may kill him. Stand back and let me see him.’ It was a powerful voice, not one Rema recognised, but there was some comfort in hearing the authority that lay within it.
Rema felt a hand upon his neck; it was a mild pressure, but he could follow their gentle but powerful investigation of the bones just below his skull. He heard a grunt and the fingers stopped their walking.
‘Here’s the problem.’ The voice came clearly once more. ‘Whatever hit you lad, must have been as big as a horse and moving like an avalanche down a mountain. I’ve seen a few necks like this, but never so out of place. Miracle your head’s still on your shoulders.’ Rema knew the truth of it. The Wolver had hit him with enough force to take the head off a horse. Only Mentor’s cloak had saved him. He tried to speak, but once more his breathing failed and he passed out for a moment. When he came around his chest was hurting and he had no energy for anything beyond lying in the dark, helpless to face his fate. He heard Serenna speak with concern.
‘Scion, can you do anything?’ So that was who it was, the man whose cabin they had taken.
‘I can do lots of things my girl, but miracles are beyond me.’
‘We can’t just leave him like this; there must be something we can do.’ Serenna was pleading. Rema felt deeply grateful for her concern. They had drifted apart after she had left the Highlands, and now their re-acquaintance had been so full of danger and the unknown. He realised just how much he had missed her, but all speech was beyond him. He lay trapped, blind in a private world. Scion spoke again and Rema found it hard to match the voice with the large and hairy seaman whose path he had crossed so briefly the night before. He sounded so much wiser than a casual glance had suggested.
‘Well it’s dangerous, but there is a chance that I can get the bones back into place, but I could do far more damage as well. His breathing is barely present. A slight slip the wrong way and he will die. Do you want me to take that risk girl?’ Rema waited for Serenna to speak on his behalf, for he could do nothing. There was a long silence, in which he could hear her breathing deeply. She was obviously weighing up the situation. Rema willed her to say Yes, do whatever it takes, for he could not bear to be like this for another moment.
He felt her hand upon his forehead and her gentle voice in his ear. ‘Rema we always took risks. Forgive me but we must do something. You cannot stay this way.’ She paused. ‘All right Scion, do whatever you think is best, but do it carefully, for this man means much to me. I cannot bear to lose him again.’ Perhaps she said it quietly beyond his hearing, but Rema had a gift, and he heard every word, and wondered.
Suddenly there was a deep and searing pain down his left side and he wanted to scream. His leg was on fire and the arm with it. The other side felt nothing. Scion was a big man and he lifted Rema up, a large hairy hand under each armpit until his feet were on the floor. He directed Serenna to help hold as best she could. In a sudden movement Rema felt himself thrust upwards, the hands left him for an instant, and then he was hanging by the neck as Scion caught and held him under the chin and by the base of his skull. Rema’s full body weight was suddenly suspended by the neck. The relief was amazing. As the bones in his back separated some evil pressure was released, and he could breathe freely once more. Scion grunted with the effort, but saw the improvement.
‘Just as I hoped,’ he hissed through gritted teeth. ‘We may win this battle yet.’ And with that, he gave Rema’s neck a sharp twist to the left. All three heard a sharp crack. Serenna gave an involuntary cry of anguish fearing the worst. But whatever bone had been displaced had snapped back into place, releasing the deadly pressure, and Rema felt a fire engulf his body as feeling returned. Scion stood firm, unsure of what had happened. If a stranger had entered the tiny cabin at that moment they would have sworn that a very large black and hairy man was throttling another, one who dangled helplessly by the neck, from a huge and powerful grasp. Rema found he could speak once more.
‘I think you’ve done it. I can feel myself returning.’ It was a bare whisper, but the sound of it brought Serenna to tears. Scion released Rema gradually as his legs found a new strength. In a short time Rema found he was able to stand unassisted, although the pain throughout his body was excruciating. Scion finally set him free, and stood back shaking from the effort. All three stood without speaking for quite some time, only Scion’s heavy breathing broke the silence, for the effort he had expended was considerable.
As Rema regained his feeling and movement, he was able to think more clearly. He held out his right arm carefully and extended it to Scion. ‘I am in your debt, for you have saved my life and I have taken your cabin. I am deeply grateful.’ Scion engulfed Rema’s hand in his, shrugged dismissively and spoke with a generous ease.
‘Sheer luck it was. If I’d twisted the other way you’d be dead.’ But he smiled broadly, evidently relieved that he had not. Rema slowly moved his shoulders and arms, quickly realising that he had not suffered any permanent damage.
‘Your choice was good. I am Rema Bowman, and I am in your debt.’
Scion smiled, and nodded in acknowledgement. ‘I may have cause to remind you of that one day. I’ll be about my business then. Captain Tyne will be missing me.’ And with an unexpected grace, which belied his size and girth, he left. Serenna stood looking at Rema who realised that she had tears in her eyes.
‘And I thank you too dear cousin, for you too made the right choice. I could not see, but I heard you speak.’ And they embraced in tearful relief.
The weather was fine, with a strong wind blowing up river as it always did. The sun was warm and the smell of newly ploughed fields filled the air. Below the city of Ramos the river was wide, nearly two leagues, and it flowed at a steady rate, almost two leagues to the span. The Scoria sailed gently across the wind, using the current for distance, and the sails for control. The crew was all on deck ready to turn the ship about once the shore came too near, but the motion was easy for there
were no waves, nor other craft with which to contend. Captain Lethyne Tyne stood by the huge wheel on the aft deck giving curt instructions to the heavily muscled helmsman who stood barefooted and braced against the pull of the rudder. Rema realised that he was on a ship which knew its business, and was well sailed by a confident crew, led by a captain whose very stance demanded absolute obedience.
He stood with Serenna at the starboard midrail, enjoying the enormous relief of knowing that he was physically restored. Serenna stood a little apart from him, aware that the captain’s gaze lingered long upon her whenever it got the chance.
‘Last night,’ said Rema, ‘those two who rode off on the horses. Who where they?’
‘My only two friends in all Ramos,’ Serenna sighed. ‘I met them three years ago at a feast which Jycob sponsored. They were invited because of their small but growing business interests in imported hemp. They had just been married and were also friendless in the city, having only recently arrived from Sheldon to the north. Jason is his name and Myra his wife. Gentle and loving both, I could not have survived without their kindness. They live but a street away. I did some favours for them when they first arrived, and they have always looked for some way to repay. Last night in desperation, I asked them to ride a false trail so that we might escape. They were willing without question.’ She paused. ‘I do hope they will be alright,’ she continued fretfully. Rema thought of the shadow creature which pursued him, and knew they would be in great danger, but said nothing.
‘You did well Serenna, to put such a bold plan into action with so little time.’
Serenna scoffed sarcastically.
‘Huh, I had plenty of time, for I organised it while you were away on your fool’s errand at the Tavern. I knew it would end badly. I was prepared that was all.’
‘How could you have known this?’ Rema asked defensively.
‘How?’ Serenna turned on him with fiery green eyes. ‘How? The Tavern is the one place someone wanted by the king should not go. Wolvers, King’s guards, Wizards I hear. They are all there, each night, congratulating themselves on the power they wield, and the fear they create. Did you think you could sneak past them all? And besides,’ she shrugged, tossing her magnificent red hair in the breeze, sending it rippling like fire across her shoulders, ‘Besides, I am a woman. We know these things.’
