by Keith Walter
Barclay looked to Grace who seemed to shrink within herself. “What did that demon tell you?”
“I was going to tell you before, but we were in such a rush,” Grace admitted. “When she spoke to me, the Entregon, she offered her protection if I gave up Charles. She said I had tonight to decide.”
“Wait, seriously?” Leslie asked, confused.
“Don’t go getting your hopes up,” Barclay answered quickly. He motioned to Grace as he continued, “At best, that protection would only extend to Grace. Gotta think even ships like that can give a damn about their own kind.” He sighed, a rumbling sound from his damaged throat. “You think the Entregon told the Union where we are?” he asked.
“I doubt it,” Grace answered seriously. “She will want to hunt us herself.”
“Looks like we don’t have much choice then. They are going to squeeze us until we’re surrounded,” Barclay declared. “And even if we slip between their fingers, there’s no getting away from the Entregon.” The old fey tried to think. This wasn’t like the war, he had no allies to spring a trap nor the element of surprise to spring one of his own. He briefly wished he’d taken up the crew on the dock’s offer to come with. Pretty boy would have been able to come up with something to get them out of this.
“Couldn’t we try another portal?” Leslie broke into his thoughts. “I mean, it almost worked before, and we could be more prepared this time. There…there have to be lots of them around a lake this old.”
Barclay sighed, but it was Serin who answered. “No. The Union would be more prepared, too, and they have a lot more resources at their disposal.” The shorter woman began to pace at the foot of the captain’s bed. “In all likelihood, once their forces finish getting here, the Union will close the rifts to every portal on the lake. They won’t make the same mistake twice.” She stopped, as though a thought had suddenly occurred to her. “The only way in or out now is through human channels.”
Barclay couldn’t help the smile that pulled at the edges of his mouth. In another life, he would have been glad to have a soldier like Serin on his ship. Thinking back, he would’ve liked a proper brawler like Leslie, as well. “The locks northeast, they eventually lead to the ocean. There’s also a canal back west, but that just takes us back to Lake Erie,” Barclay stated.
“Right, we can’t go back. There’s just not enough space to maneuver around the Entregon. So we have no choice but to head to the locks.” Serin turned to Grace. “How fast could you get us across this lake?”
“Well, I’m still recovering a bit,” Grace answered self-consciously, “but I should be back to full speed within an hour. I could make the locks in another three hours from then.”
“Good, let’s do it,” Serin replied.
“Wait,” Leslie cried, “won’t the Union be watching the locks?”
“The locks aren’t a great plan anyway,” Barclay chimed in. “We’d be sitting ducks.”
“Do we have a better option?” Serin questioned. “If we can make it through the Union net, Grace can outrun the lot of them to the Ocean. We can figure out the Entregon when it comes to that.”
Barclay frowned, and Leslie put an arm around her bond’s shoulders soothingly. “Love, I…um, I don’t think you understand how locks work.” At Serin’s confused gaze, Leslie continued, “It’s a system of raising and lowering water levels like stairs, and the ships within are stuck standing in place while it happens.” Serin flushed, realizing her plan was more complicated than she originally thought. “Besides,” Leslie added, “I think we should wait until dawn before making any serious moves.”
“Why?” Barclay demanded. “Night gives us the most cover.”
“Only if we’re trying to hide,” Leslie replied. She eyed Grace. “We’ve got an ace that can hide in plain sight. It’s our enemies that benefit the most from the dark. The Union will be hesitant to show their full force in broad daylight in front of a human population. But if they catch us at night, when there are few if any humans to see, they can bring the full brunt of their weapons wherever we are.”
Barclay mulled that logic, for the second time amused at just how much he liked this pair. Serin was a fine leader, clever and decisive, but it was Leslie who was the more grounded and knowledgeable. They were comfortable enough to challenge the other without offending, and humble enough to accept new information without getting defensive. “You make a good point. We don’t want to reach the humans until they can see us. I still don’t like the idea of being boxed in, but we might be able to have a small chance in the daylight, perhaps with a little cosmetic upgrade.” He addressed that last comment to Grace.
“Oh, right, I could…change again.” Grace tapped her chin as she considered her options. “It will take a bit longer to build up enough strength for that, though.”
“We’ll give you the time you need,” Barclay declared. Addressing the bonded pair, he ordered, “I want one of you at the helm. We’re going to pull back to human speeds and Grace—” he directed his gaze to the woman already awaiting his orders nervously “—is going to go relax as much as she’s capable while she builds up her reserves.” He glanced back to the entwined pair. “That means the two of you are fully in charge of where we go. Stay ahead of the Entregon, and away from the Union.”
“But—but I don’t know how to drive a ship,” Leslie stammered.
Serin wrapped an arm around her bond as she replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll show you how.” Winking at Barclay, she added, “It’s easier than it looks.”
“Good, the sooner Grace is ready, the better chance we’ll have of slipping passed the Union.” He took a deep breath before addressing Grace. “Now when I said relax, I meant it. Pull back the engines to no more than fifteen knots, and cut off everything else you’re maintaining outside of the radar.”
“But, Captain, that would include this,” she said, and gestured to the green glow on his sheets.
“I know, damn if I don’t know it. But you’re the most important one here.” Barclay avoided the pained expression in the young fey’s eyes. “If it helps, one of these two can put me under with a simple sleep spell.” He turned his gaze on the bonded, who nodded in response.
“But, what if something else comes up and we need you?” Grace pleaded.
Barclay closed his eyes. That was something he didn’t really want to think about. The boys back at Ulsimore’s used to call him a hard-ass at the way he always needed everything to be his way all the time. He’d never been great at delegating, either, but it was time he learned to expand his skills. “Grace, you’ve been carrying us through this thing more than I think you’d like to believe. It’s time you stepped up and earned that title of first mate. The girls here will handle navigation, but you’re in charge of decisions while I’m out.”
Grace’s eyes widened as the weight of responsibility was passed to her shoulders. She shook her head futilely. “But, wouldn’t Serin perhaps be a better choice?”
“No,” Serin said apologetically. “We’ll be here to help, but you deserve to choose your own fate.”
Leslie smiled at the nervous woman. “We trust you, Grace. Come hell or high water.”
“It’s settled, kid.” Barclay coughed once as he spoke. “Now somebody knock me out and get to it.” Leslie reluctantly obliged, drawing a quick design on Barclay’s forehead before forcing him to sleep.
◆◆◆
Serin took Leslie’s hand and led the way back to the bridge, their feet heavier than before. Leslie could feel uncertainty pouring through the connection she and Serin shared. But if Serin had her own concerns about this, she wasn’t letting them filter out. Leslie knew she was trying to be strong, to stay focused—likely because she didn’t want anyone to see her worries.
It was subtle at first, but Leslie could sense Serin closing off her feelings from the bond. She shook her head. She loved Serin, but the petite woman had a tendency to let her emotions build up and burst. It may have been the nature of her inner fi
re, but Leslie had always taken it upon herself to relieve that pressure as best she could. That Serin was trying to hide her fears meant she was under tremendous stress. Less than five paces down the hall, Leslie stopped abruptly.
“What do you say we take the long way,” the tall woman offered with a smile.
“We shouldn’t dawdle,” Serin replied seriously.
Leslie squeezed her bond’s hand and tugged gently. “It will add almost no time.” She winked. “Humor me.”
Serin seemed to wrestle with her thoughts momentarily before nodding sharply. Leslie led her partner to the far back end of the ship, where a thin metal stairway led up. The pair ascended, lifting a metal hatch at the top. They were immediately assaulted by the cool night air. At their current speed, the air was no longer filled with spray, but they inhaled the smells of the lake all the same. Leslie waited for Serin to fully emerge from the stairwell before kneeling and replacing the hatch.
The moon was still full enough to illuminate the deck, though no running lights were on. Besides wasting Grace’s precious power, the lights gave an unnecessary opportunity to be seen by passing ships. The only light that came from the ship was a dim red glow emanating out of the bridge. Leslie stopped after a few paces and scanned the horizon. Small specks of light flickered on the shoreline and she realized they must be passing by a larger city.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” she asked her companion.
“Yes,” Serin admitted dismissively, “but we should get moving.”
Leslie stood firm, holding Serin back when she tried to walk away. “We can afford a few moments,” she replied. Serin furrowed her brows and Leslie pulled her into a gentle hug. “I love you,” she whispered in her bond’s ear.
Serin relaxed slightly, allowing her arms to slide up Leslie’s back. “I know,” she whispered, a little harsher than she intended. She was about to utter an apology when Leslie stared with a knowing smirk. Serin had at times complained that Lesliewas a little too good for her, more sweet and understanding than she really deserved. Leslie didn’t quite agreed, but she tried to live up to that image anyway.
“I just want to make sure you know,” Leslie added, a tiny giggle escaping her lips. She bend down low and captured Serin’s lips in her own. It was soft, almost uncertain at first, but Serin pressed back quickly. Leslie could feel the raging emotions through that kiss. She could feel the fear, the stress, the uncertainty, and the anger all swirling. And she took it in. She let those feeling wash away under the unstoppable avalanche of her love. Serin melted in her arms slowly, and Leslie finally pulled away, still holding the smaller woman in strong arms.
“I love you, too,” Serin whispered, her words airy. She squeezed the taller woman mightily as she came back to her senses. She pulled back, realizing just what Leslie had done for her. She smirked, matching her bond. “And there is nothing our love cannot do,” she announced.
Leslie said nothing, simply adding a quick kiss to Serin’s forehead before grabbing the shorter woman’s hand and walking toward the bridge. As they neared the rear door to the lower bridge, they noticed the faint red light from the bridge appeared to be moving, shifting from one end to the other quickly. The pair caught each other’s eyes before mouthing in sync: Talmer.
◆◆◆
Talmer had been scouring his mind for ideas as to where Grace’s heart could have been. He was almost satisfied that it wasn’t in the bridge. He had conjured sensory magic into his fingertips and run them over every inch of the place. While he had been unable to follow the veins of magic around the map, he was confident the heart itself would not have escaped his notice. He had to do something to change Grace’s mind, to show her the life she was throwing away by staying with this group. He was just about done with his search when his senses alerted him of interlopers.
Serin and Leslie rushed up the stairs, expecting to catch him in some damning act. Years of training from his family made that impossible, and he was already lounging lazily against the map table when their heads popped up. “My dears,” he began, “is there an emergency? You appear to be in great haste.”
Serin didn’t waste any time with pleasantries. “You can stand down, Talmer. Barclay gave us orders to navigate the ship from here on.”
“Navigate?” Talmer asked, unable to hide his shock. “Surely Grace is the one navigating. At her tremendous speed, even a minor course alteration could result in wasted time. Time, I do not think I need to mention, needed to escape the Entregon.”
“We’re going to try something different,” Leslie explained politely. “In case you hadn’t noticed—” she raised a single eyebrow “—Grace has already slowed down. We’re giving her time to recover.”
“That is lunacy! The Entregon is right behind us!” Talmer’s voice wavered as fear bubbled to the surface. “Slowing down will be the death of us all.” He could feel himself getting worked up again, flabbergasted by the childish mistake.
“Grace is going to make another change,” Serin tried to explain. “She can’t keep running at full speed and change her appearance. It’s too much, too soon. We have no choice but to slow down and let her recharge.”
Talmer was visibly shaken. “That cannot be. Grace is a Spirit of the Sea. Her strength is limitless.”
Leslie tried to calm the situation. “Talmer, Grace is still a fey. She has limitations just like all of us, and she came very close to them after the portal.” She tilted her head, and added with sincerity, “More important, she is our friend and she needs to gather her strength. Whatever risk we take with this is worth it to ensure she is fully revived. As someone who cares for her, surely you can respect that.”
Talmer didn’t bother to answer as he waved a hand and walked out the door. There had to be something else the girls weren’t telling him. A true Spirit of the Sea was invincible, and he just knew Grace had that power in her. Yes, he understood that Spirit of the Sea was just a title, but he also knew strength when he saw it. Grace was destined for great things, far greater than saving the rabble below decks.
Resentment filled his thoughts as he imagined how much different it would have been had he and Grace just left the others. He definitely wouldn’t be running away right now, that was for sure. Grace believed she was not within the same class as the Entregon, but he would have made her understand the truth. Together, they would have challenged and defeated the Entregon. The victory would have been monumental, his name carrying to the furthest reaches of the Union. It would have been the first of many legends he would have written with Grace at his side. But now those bonded harlots had gotten into Grace’s head. They had convinced her of weakness, of a plan that she never would have needed.
◆◆◆
Serin wasn’t surprised when Talmer rushed out the door. From her time with him, she’d noticed his habit of running from the truth. Leslie, on the other hand, showed real concern. “Do you think he’s all right? He seemed a little frantic.”
“That arrogant jerk’s feelings don’t even make the list of things I care about right now,” Serin shot back callously.
The two women huddled around the map table examining the now 2D image that Grace could provide. Lake Ontario was a 7,340 square mile freshwater haven to those looking for wildlife, islands, and most importantly shipping. At 193 miles long and 53 miles at it widest, there was no way to slip around the Entregon. Any attempt would put grace within the next ring of sensing and her location would be know immediately.
Throughout the lake, groups of yellow dots shimmered and moved as their ships began to crisscross the waters. Duller dots intermingled as human ships made the track from west to east, destined for the St. Lawrence Seaway and the ocean beyond. Grace was currently on course for the seaway, as well, just off the train of ships taking the shortest route.
“Well, at least we’re headed in the right direction,” Leslie declared, relieved.
Serin zoomed the monitor’s view into the northeast end of the lake. The lake formed almost a bay, with
a line of islands extending from the east and a peninsula coming from the west. Nestled right in the middle of the twenty-mile gap, a small island with the word Wolfe above it sat almost guarding the entrance. Behind the east islands, a portal icon hovered in a secluded bay, while the peninsula side showed the clear mapping of a human city.
“I wonder what kind of weather we can expect?” Serin mused out loud. Immediately, flow lines appeared, showing speed and direction of the wind. In the far southeastern corner, a cartoon rain cloud hovered.
“Can she hear us?” Leslie asked suddenly. The bonded shared a glance and heat rose to their faces.
◆◆◆
There was something calming about the engine room. Perhaps it was the natural aura Grace seemed to exude. Maybe Charles had subconsciously grown accustomed to the sound while he lay awake in her room. Whatever the reason, he was glad for the reverberating hum. It was just soft enough that he could appreciate the constant beat, but strong enough to block out the thoughts that often came from the back of his mind.
He felt the ship slow, but the sound of the engines didn’t change. He wondered briefly whether they were just for show, if Grace just liked the sound, too. He had lain down between the two rumbling motors after he’d finally pulled himself out of the hallways. At one time in his life he’d thought there weren’t any tears left, but this adventure was teaching him many new things—too many, perhaps.
As he stared at the ceiling, a golden mop of hair suddenly invaded his vision. He didn’t hear her come in, which shouldn’t have surprised him given his position between the two loudest points on the ship, but he never seemed to be ready for her. He just watched her green eyes study him, the way they widened when she realized he was staring. “Hi,” he uttered to break the silence.
“Hi,” she responded, a light heat spreading across her cheeks. The engines calmed considerably, still running but seemingly conscious of interrupting the conversation.
