by Guy Antibes
“I think that is why we are here,” Tanner said, looking intently at the patriarch. “I am a very good swordsman and a quick thinker.”
“In your dreams,” Helen said. “He is a tolerable swordsman when he isn’t preening for the attention of the ladies.”
Tanner dropped his jaw. “Preen?” He looked at Jack. “Have you seen me preen at any ladies? I have been particularly chaste.”
“For this trip,” Helen said. “I am also more than competent with a sword, and since I am a female, I might have opportunities to capture the orb that a man might not have available to him.” She looked at Quist.
“Perhaps I can help train Jack,” Quist said. “He has the power of a helper, but the mind of a hummingbird that can’t stay still for a second.”
“A unique group to support you, Jack. Brains, beauty, and brawn,” Aramore Gant said. “I can augment two of the three. If you were to set aside my ecclesiastical aspect, I would be counted an adept wizard. I can provide power along with the knowledge to use it.”
“For three of the Five Manipulations,” Quist said.
The patriarch grunted. “It is enough. I am a trained healer, as well, should the two wizards penetrate our defenses.”
“What are you expecting? A war?” Jack asked.
Gant raised his eyebrows. “A man has already been killed for the bauble. Do you think a Black Finger wizard will just hand over the orb if you ask nicely?”
Jack shrugged. “Maybe after a funny joke and the offer of a tankard of ale,” he said. “Maybe we will only have to intimidate her.”
“Intimidation will be a good start,” the patriarch said, “and so I will help with the intimidation.”
Jack nodded. How could he put down such an august personage’s offer? “So we are agreed?” he said, looking around at the others. They appeared to give their assent, but none of them spoke.
“Then let’s see where the orb is,” Tanner said. “I didn’t get a good look at it a moment ago.”
The blue pointed roughly toward the prow of the ship. They were heading in the right direction, and now, with the patriarch’s warning, Jack was wondering if they would be blundering toward their deaths without the churchman. “I don’t know what else we can do from here,” he said.
“There isn’t anything to do but wait,” Tanner said. “The voyage is close to ending, so—”
Jack looked up at the pounding of feet above their heads on the steering deck. Cries filtered through the door until someone pounded on it.
“Pirates!”
“What?” Tanner said.
The first mate poked his head in the door. “Get your weapons and get on the deck. The more fighters we have, the easier it is to repel them. Even five more will help.”
“Four,” Quist said. “I am worthless—”
“Indeed you are,” Helen said.
“With a blade,” Quist finished.
“Then stay here. It is better that you don’t get in our way,” the first mate said.
Jack retrieved his weapons and slammed his helmet on his head. He still hadn’t gotten a cuirass, that would have to wait for when they reached Lajia. He ran outside. The pirate ship was smaller than The Pretty Penny, but it looked meaner, painted red with black sails.
He stood gawking at it as Helen and Tanner joined him at the rail. The patriarch didn’t join them but climbed up to join the captain on the steering deck. He had a wand in his hand, similar to Jack’s.
“Are wands like mine common?” he asked Tanner.
“I don’t know what common is, but I’ve seen objects of power like yours before.”
Jack turned to look at the patriarch. “He has one.”
“Gant does?”
Jack nodded, but Tanner had already swiveled his gaze. “More power to him. I’m sure patriarchs don’t do sword practice.”
“But he is a priest.”
“I’ve met plenty of priests who weren’t pacifists,” Helen said. “Remember those that chased him to the ship?”
“I forgot,” Jack said.
The priests at Raker Falls were gentle men, so Jack had to remind himself that he wasn’t home. Everything was different.
Jack gazed at the ship. A flaming ball jumped out from The Pretty Penny and splashed to the right of the pirate ship, but that didn’t deter the pirates from advancing. They turned directly facing The Pretty Penny, so Jack could see how narrow the attacking ship was.
Another ball of fire hit the pirate’s mast.
“A lucky shot,” Helen said. “They won’t be turning away, so be prepared to fight.”
The ship came closer. Jack could see a man gesturing to the crew. It had to be the captain. Jack raised his wand and aimed at him. As he gauged the rise and fall of the two ships, he realized how difficult it was to land a missile on the other.
A fireball rose up from the pirate ship and nicked the edge of a sail before landing in the water on the opposite side of their deck. Jack couldn’t wait another moment and aimed at the pirate captain and spoke the activating word, “Zap.”
He saw the bolt of white extend across the space between ships in the blink of an eye and penetrate the captain’s thigh. Jack pumped his fist, but his excitement was short-lived as a crewman bound the man’s wound.
As the two ships came closer, the patriarch shot a beam from his wand, but it moved slower than Jack’s and splashed ineffectively against the front sail. Arrows began to fly in both directions, so Jack and his two companions lifted a hatch cover to use as a shield.
Jack aimed at the captain again, now wearing a cuirass and helmet. Jack had the random thought that the man’s crew took good care of him. He aimed for the man’s face, and his bolt struck the helmet, but he shot another bolt that hit the captain in the face.
Two of The Pretty Penny’s crew moaned not far from him, struck by arrows. He glanced at the patriarch who sent another red bolt into the pirate’s sails, but the strength of his flame had left him.
The Pretty Penny abruptly turned. The rigging groaned, and the ship leaned into the maneuver, nearly tossing the crew into the ocean before the pirate ship could respond. Two fireballs slammed onto the pirate ship’s deck, and suddenly the enemy was awash in flame.
The sails burned as the pirate ship lost headway and dropped behind them.
“I don’t understand it,” one of the sailors said. “We were ready for more fireballs, but none came. The pirates must have wanted something kept safe aboard our ship, but how could they have known who was aboard?”
Tanner nodded. “I suppose we were lucky?”
“None of us were worried,” the sailor looked down at his fallen comrades, “We haven’t been taken yet.” He shook his head before he was called away by a mate.
The patriarch joined them. “Is everyone all right?”
“They could use some healing,” Helen said, pointing to five sailors leaning against a hatch. There were two bodies covered right next to them.
“Of course,” Gant said as he walked over to the injured men and assisted the ship’s doctor in tending to their wounds.
The captain joined them after looking toward the pillar of smoke to the rear of the ship. “We fooled them this time,” the captain said. “I had expected more of a fight. Did I see their captain go down?”
Jack nodded. “I got lucky. It isn’t easy using my wand ship to ship. One bobs up and the other bobs down. I don’t know how injured he was, but he did disappear after I hit him.”
“I’ve never had two wizards carrying wands before. If I had to guess, I think your bolts were the stronger,” the captain said quietly. “I wouldn’t boast to the patriarch, though. He may seem serene on the surface, but inside, he might be very sensitive about being shown up by a young man. Powerful men generally are, you know.”
“Are you?” Helen said to Tanner.
“Of course. All us powerful men are.”
“Why don’t you leave the deck and let my men clean up,” the captain said.
“Am I safe?” Quist said, standing as soon as they entered the suite.
“We are safe,” Tanner said. “The ship’s fireballs ignited the pirate’s sails, and it dropped far behind us. So unless they have lots of spares, we won’t be worrying about them.”
Jack dropped his weapons and helmet in his room and returned. “I’m glad I didn’t have to use my sword skills.”
“Such as they are,” Helen said. “Your wand certainly discouraged them.”
“I’m not so sure. I think the two fireballs did the trick, but I’m glad Tanner and you used the hatch cover as a shield.”
“We are comrades, right?” Tanner said. “Of course, we had to protect you. I thought we worked rather well.”
“Without me?” Quist asked.
“We didn’t need you this time, Brains.”
Helen snorted. “I am the brains. You, Tanner, are the beauty, and he is the, the…whatever he is.” She waved her hand dismissively at Quist.
“I looked out the porthole at the pirate ship. I’ve been in one other pirate battle in my time. Why did they only shoot two fireballs? Before, both ships nearly burned each other down to the waterline,” Quist said.
“That is what we thought,” Jack said.
“A sailor told us that.” Helen corrected Jack.
“I said ‘we.’ I included him,” Jack said, feeling his face heat up a bit.
“It was as if they wanted something on board. Did the captain mention any unusual cargo?” Quist asked, but he shook his head. “If he had taken on something valuable there would be more guards cluttering up the ship. There had to be something the pirate ship wanted intact. A person?”
“How would they know who or what was on the ship?” Tanner asked.
“A strong wizard knowledgeable in the Fourth Manipulation would be able to communicate with another,” Quist said.
“Over long distances?” Jack asked.
Quist nodded. “From Lajia to Dorkansee, anyway.”
“Wouldn’t every wizard be able to listen in?” Jack asked again.
“Not if the two of them knew each other. I know it wasn’t you, Jack,” Quist said.
“So that would mean—” Helen said.
“Gant.” Tanner whistled. “He wouldn’t want to be burned, would he?”
“But why did he fight the pirates, then?” Jack asked.
“Maybe because he found he can’t work the seeker cube,” Quist said.
The door opened, and Aramore Gant walked in, his wizard robe spotted with blood. “I have done what I can,” he said. “One more sailor died, but two of the others live because I was here.” He looked at them. “You are uninjured?”
Tanner nodded, his face impassive. Jack had no idea how he looked to the patriarch.
“I’m a bit upset by it all,” Jack said. “I am going to lay down for a bit.”
He retreated to his cabin and locked the door before he put his ear to the wood, not trusting to be as passive as the others in the patriarch’s presence.
“The boy is a little rattled,” Gant said. “Understandable. It is his first action.”
“His second, but this was much different. When we plunged into the Third Ring, we were all prepared for a fight. When it came, it was all we could do to push ahead and escape. This is quite different,” Tanner said. Jack was impressed by the calm in the man’s voice. “It is nerve-wracking to wait for the battle to begin. I’m just glad it never really came.”
“It did for the sailors,” the patriarch said. “I have never been in a battle before.”
“You did marvelously well. I glanced up at the steering deck, and you looked cool enough,” Helen said.
“Ah, a compliment. Well, I will take it for what it is. As we discussed before the pirates attacked, we can all do our parts,” the patriarch said. “Was the boy upset during the raid?”
“Jack is sometimes hard to read. He is fine sometimes and other times…” Quist said. “He is still a teenager, and I’m not sure he has accepted an adult role in the world.”
“Ah. He is intimidated by me, then,” Gant said. “I can’t blame him. He comes from a remote village, after all.”
“And he has more power than is good for him,” Quist said.
“I think we all agree with that. I worry that the local wizard has entrusted three objects of power into the hands of a boy. If he becomes too unstable, I can take one of them from him. Probably the sword, since it appears the wand is keyed to Jack.” Gant sighed. “I must change. Perhaps we can continue this conversation after dinner. The captain has invited us all to dine with him.”
The door shut. Jack sat on the bed, trying to make sense of the conversation. He had thought the patriarch liked him, but after listening in, the man sounded more like Jack was being tolerated. After a few moments, someone knocked on his door.
“Are you asleep, eavesdropper?” Tanner said.
Jack rose and opened the door. “No, are you?” he said with a touch of belligerence and looked at Quist. “So I am a feckless teenager.”
“I didn’t mean—” Quist raised his hand.
“I know what you meant. I wouldn’t say that I am intimidated by the patriarch,” Jack said, quietly, looking at the door. Gant could be listening in as easily as Jack had done. “Perhaps awe might be a better term. I won’t give up my objects of power,” Jack said. “The snooper cube and the wand aren’t mine, they are Fasher’s. I can’t disappoint my village’s local wizard,” he said. Tanner and Helen laughed. Quist blushed. “I have no means of conventional defense without the sword.”
“I can’t disagree,” Helen said. “We will keep it that way.”
Tanner nodded. “I think Quist and I will be washing up if we are to eat at the captain’s table tonight.” He rubbed his hands. “The food is much better than the swill for the lesser cabin mates.” Tanner quickly opened the door, but no one was there.
Jack thought that listening in might just be beneath the patriarch. What he had thought was impressive about the patriarch just might be steeped in arrogance.
The four of them didn’t feel comfortable talking about Gant for the rest of the voyage. The patriarch had asked Jack twice if he would like to be relieved of the burden of carrying three objects of power. Both times Jack had responded with the same answer he had given his friends the afternoon of the pirate attack.
Chapter Fifteen
~
R eoja looked quite different than Dorkansee. The capital of Lajia surrounded a large bay. The docks were located on the south side of the city and extended into the bay. A breakwater of huge rocks protected the harbor’s entrance. The city looked different. The architecture was less severe, if that was the right word. Jack liked the feel of the place; it didn’t intimidate him like Dorkansee had.
The ship bumped into port. Jack and his friends carried all their possessions off the ship and dragged their things to the stable that the captain had pointed out. The patriarch had remained on the ship. He had brought significantly more baggage and would have to hire a cart now that he was down two assistants. The captain had also recommended an inn on the north side of the city, which he said was nicer than the rougher south.
Jack appreciated the advice after experiencing the Third Ring at Dorkansee. The horses were cheaper than they expected, and they rode to their inn. The patriarch would meet them later. He had told them he wouldn’t be staying in the same place. Somehow that added to Jack’s increasing feeling that something was wrong about the man.
Reoja had a different style than what Jack was used to. He made a few sketches in a notebook for his father; although, he didn’t think his father would like the roundness of Reojan furniture nor the flourishes that abounded on the buildings and made their way to decorations on the chairs, tables, and dressers in his bedroom.
The common room smelled different, likely a result of the difference in the cuisine. Jack looked over at the fo
od eaten on the next table to see everything smothered in sauces, mostly red. The patrons were drinking wine rather than ale. Everything was so different, and constantly reminded him that he was in a foreign country. Even the language sounded different in the Lajian accent.
“So what are we going to do about the patriarch?” Helen asked. “I don’t trust him.”
“Nor I,” Quist said. “His claim to be a powerful wizard is indeed a valid one, but when we talked to him aboard the ship, it seemed that he had cast off his ecclesiastical robes. I never saw him wear his horned cap once after his two aides were murdered. He also seemed a bit anxious about Jack’s sword. I am uneasy around him, but it might be because he is the patriarch of Alderach.”
“I can’t argue with things not adding up. If he was adept in Fourth Manipulations, he could have contacted an aide in Reoja, or some other Lajian port, and arranged to have pirates attack. The whole battle was bizarre,” Tanner said.
“Fourth Manipulations are forbidden,” Helen said. “If you are right, and I’m not saying you aren’t, then we bring him with us at our peril.”
Tanner looked at Jack. “Where is the orb?”
After pulling the cube out, Jack pointed south, or at least that was where he felt south was. “So what do we do about the patriarch? Can we just proceed without him?”
“Write him a letter and let’s get out of here,” Helen said. “I don’t want to be looking over my back every minute in a foreign country.”
“Where will I address the letter?” Tanner said.
“Leave it at the front desk,” Quist said. “I haven’t unpacked, yet. We could be gone in an instant.”
“I will ask the front desk for directions to the north,” Tanner said. “A little misdirection is warranted the way we all feel.”
Jack felt tendrils of fear take him. The patriarch might not intimidate him, but having the man angry with them did make Jack anxious, more than anxious. “The sooner, the better.”
~
