“Honestly I don’t know what to say.” Rose shrugged and kept her gaze focused on the waves around them instead of looking into his evocative cerulean eyes. She wouldn’t last long if she met them and she knew it. “I know one thing that’s bothering me, it feels like everything around me is unraveling. I can’t seem to trust anything or anyone. It’s not like me to be so paranoid but if a person I trust implicitly can betray us all so easily what should I expect from everyone else?”
“One of the things that intrigued me about you and drew me in was your love of life but more than that your sense of humanity. You defy all that is this world with every breath you take. Your innocence is refreshing but I fear that such things never last forever. You should not let that affect you so deeply as to change yourself.” Liostro looked out at the water for a moment to let that sink in. “My purpose until I met you was to follow the orders of my superiors without question. I was their divine reasoning, the hand of the ebon dragons and my sword their vengeance.”
“I almost let that sense of duty consume me.” Liostro turned back to Rose and smiled. “It was one of your people that pulled me out of that darkness and it was you that led me into the light. That might be why I hold a special place in my heart for the naarabi.”
“I think I understand but how am I going to keep myself if I keep changing?” Rose said questioningly more to herself than to Liostro. On her shoulder Talisbane shifted a little to get more comfortable.
Liostro grinned trying to add some levity to the situation. “The key is to change but remain the same.”
Rose snorted in amusement and shook her head at him continuing the pay attention to their course. He was right, she knew that, but it was not as easy as it sounded. The lives she had taken, the things she had done, all of these things were a big part of her; that and the Spellrage. That strange part of her mind that she knew was there but just couldn’t grasp fully. “Who’s the mad desert scholar now?”
“That would still be your department.” Liostro shrugged offhandedly and turned around to have a look at the wall in the distance. “We’ve been sailing this sea for a mere few days and already I feel as if I’ll miss it. The feeling of floating atop a body of water was strange at first but somehow I find it comforting and exhilarating at the same time.”
Rose felt the same. “I agree, maybe once this is over we can do it again.”
“Keep your ships and sailing I just want to see dry land.” Nina quipped as she crested the stairs and approached them both, taking a seat at the rear of the quarterdeck. “I tried resting but it’s not working. I just can’t take this constant motion.”
“Do you need something to help you sleep?” Rose asked her in as friendly and non-amused voice as she could muster. “I could always put you under a magical sleep for a few hours to give you that rejuvenated feeling you need.”
“No I’d prefer not to indulge in artificial sleep thank you. My grandfather used to do that for me when I couldn’t sleep as a child. I never got used to it.” After she was done saying that she regretted it, the last thing Rose needed was a reminder about the person that may have betrayed them all. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to mention him it’s just…”
“No don’t worry about it. We don’t know anything yet so we’d best not speculate. After tomorrow we should be able to reach the council chambers and find some answers to our questions. Until then, like I said, we don’t know anything for sure.” Rose knew she was kidding herself. In the back of her mind she knew what the answer to the question was but part of her wanted to hold on to something good. When everyone got quiet again she reached over and put her hand on Talisbane’s head stroking his smooth scales as if to soothe him but she knew it was more for her benefit than his. When he started to purr like a cat she giggled. “Oh you like that do you?”
After a while Nina, Avreel, Liostro and even Talisbane had left her. The night wore on slowly with nothing but the waves lapping at the sides of the mushroom-carved ship. The air grew chilled again but she didn’t mind the alien feeling of cold and wet, she was built for survival. The others had retired to the captain’s quarters and were most likely sleeping soundly. The calm seas gave way to a calm mind and she was thankful for that. It wasn’t often that she felt at ease but she figured that Liostro had a part in it as well. As if he knew she was thinking of him Liostro appeared from the captain’s quarters and walked up the steps toward her lacking the usual armor and arms with a simple tunic, breeches and a dagger strapped to his waist he joined her again.
“Can’t sleep?” She said with a smile.
Liostro shook his head and stood next to her putting his arm around her waist and leaning in toward her to kiss the nape of her neck. “I’ve had my fill of sleep.”
Rose let go of the wheel and turned around allowing him to wrap his arms around her and she did the same leaning her head against his chiseled chest. He had a slight smell of sweat and brine about him from being on the ship so long but she found that mildly pleasant. She looked up at him for a moment then stepped out of his arms and put her hands on his chest. “Then you’ve come to keep me warm my dark champion?”
~~~~
Avreel had opted to take the bed while Liostro and Nina used the bedrolls they had carried with them. When she swung her feet over the side she was surprised to find Nina still slumbering even though it was obviously morning from the light pouring into the cracks of the window and door. Before she stood she spied Talisbane sleeping at the edge of the bed and crept up upon him silently. Her first thought was to flick the little lizard off but she instead pulled the soft sheet over his body and grumbled something about becoming soft-hearted.
With a loudly huffed sigh she stood up and stretched herself out as far as she could go. After marching so long and going through such an ordeal it had been nice to sleep peacefully on the ship. Because she had at least a marginal amount of trust for these people by way of her god’s own decree she had slept better than she had ever been able to in her home city. Spying Liostro’s armor and sword still in the far corner of the room near the door she arched a brow. In the short time she’d known him she had never seen him go far without having them on.
Her belt contained weapons and pouches for things she thought she would need for the journey and she definitely would not be going far without them. There was something amiss but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it for some reason. Taking her time to look around she once again surveyed the room letting her eyes go from a slumbering Nina over to Liostro and Rose’s equipment. Suddenly she realized what it was, the ship was not moving so she exited the comfort of the cabin to investigate.
Her surprise was genuine when she found the ship securely tethered to the dock. The rope ladder had not been lowered so she walked up the stairs of the quarterdeck hoping to find Rose and Liostro. When she reached the top she stopped and turned around attempting not to blush at the sight of the two of them in nothing but a bedroll. Avreel cleared her throat loudly and could not help but laugh as the both of them scrambled to gather their clothing. “Good morning, I see we made port.”
“Aye, we tied it off last night.” Liostro replied while belting on the last of his clothing.
“I see you did but I was referring to the ship.” Avreel replied in jest. She found herself surprised; she could not remember the last time she had made a joke. Brushing it off she turned around just as Rose tugged her tunic back over her head. “Now that we’re ashore we can make a meal before we continue on. Don’t get too used to the land though; we need the ship to go a little further before we can leave.”
“I thought we were to go on foot from here.” Liostro was the first to speak though he didn’t sound disappointed. He was trying not to make it obvious that he was attempting to deflect the initial commentary.
“I just wanted to stop to cook some of that meat in the hold before it goes bad. We can replenish our traveling rations using mainly mushrooms but I want to fill my belly before I’m subjected to that again.” Av
reel turned and started down the stairs and tossed a wink over her shoulder at Rose who merely blushed. “Certain appetites have to be sated am I right?”
After Avreel had gone Rose and Liostro both shared a quiet moment before she left him to wake Nina and Talisbane. The lack of interruptions was serving to further her suspicions about their generous benefactor. When she reached the captain’s quarters she found Nina already up and mulling around looking refreshed and rejuvenated. “Sleep better?”
“I haven’t slept that good since we left the palace.” Nina smiled as she almost bounded around gathering up her things. She suddenly realized that it was light outside. “My shift! I’m so sorry!”
“Hey don’t worry about it; we let you sleep in for a reason.” Rose declined to identify the reason she just smiled and walked over to the bed scooping up a bleary-eyed Talisbane and setting him down on her shoulder. “How about some breakfast Talis?”
She couldn’t help but laugh when his head jerked up suddenly and he licked his lips with his forked tongue. He was quite the eater for such a small dragon. Rose left Nina to her morning routines and walked down into the hold after Avreel. Once she was below deck she walked over to the crate of foodstuff and pulled out a few slivers of meat. “Eat, ravenous beast!”
Talisbane was quick to comply by snatching the meat from her and zipping out of the hold like a madcap miser. Rose shook her head and assisted Avreel in gathering up an oiled cloth full of meat, mushrooms and spices for cooking. “I hope you know how to cook because I never learned.”
“Cook? I had servants for that.” Avreel replied with arched brows. “Wonderful, I was hoping that one of you knew how.”
Rose shrugged her shoulders. “I doubt Liostro does so that leaves only Nina.”
“Well for all of our sakes I hope one of them does. Otherwise this stopover will leave naught but fouled stomachs in our wake.”
It didn’t matter to her, the small sampling of peace she had gotten while sailing was well enough to overcome any sort of bad cooking. Rose helped Avreel gather the bundle of food and carry it out of the hold where Liostro was waiting. He took it from them and fastened it to the crane while she and Avreel climbed down and guided it down onto the dock. Once they were done the five of them carried the burden to the end of the dock and onto the stone floor beyond. Avreel led them to the face of the wall revealing a depression that housed not only a shelter but a kettle suspended over a fire pit.
“If we’re lucky,” Avreel said as she walked over into the corner and lifted a burlap sack from the stone. “Wonderful! There are dry stalks in here.”
“I reiterate, who can cook?” Avreel questioned looking at Liostro, Nina and then Rose even though she knew the answer. To her surprise it was Liostro who stepped forward and unwrapped the bundle. “You?”
“Surprised? Long days on the road lead to many recipes, some failures and others a success. Give me time and I’ll make a stew for us.” Liostro collected what dry wood they needed and opened a pouch at his belt, striking firesteel to his dagger the flammable lump caught instantly. “I would like to ask if one of you will bring my armor and sword down here though, I feel naked without it.”
Liostro filled the kettle a little with water and a few of the marked spices Avreel had gathered. Once it set to boiling he cleaned his dagger off with a cloth and cut several of the meat strips and dropped them in along with most of the mushrooms. When he got to some of the unknown vegetables he began sampling them by biting a piece off of each. Satisfied he used half of what he had and topped it off with a salty-but-sweet tasting sauce he had found among the gathered food. “Now we let it sit for a while and cook.”
Taking the opportunity to care for his equipment he pulled a flask of oil and a rag from his pack and a whetstone from his belt. Liostro set to tending to everything while watching the rest of them. To his surprise Avreel pulled a pipe and a leather fold of something from her own pack and stuffed the bowl of the pipe full.
“Might I borrow your firesteel?” Avreel questioned, holding out her hand. When he obliged she caught it midair and nodded her thanks.
“I would not brand you as one who smokes.” Liostro commented while polishing the embossed breastplate.
“In my home there are whole dens dedicated to smoking various types of pipe weed and drinking the finer forms of alcohol. It’s a cultural must as many gatherings are held around a table with a large smoke pot.” Avreel lit the delicate-looking pipe and sucked on the stem a few times to get the fire going. “If you don’t partake you will most definitely offend the host. My favorite is a type derived from slicing and drying up the cap of a lydra mushroom.”
“Lydra? I’m not familiar with that species.” Nina asked curiously. “Not that I’m an expert in underground flora mind you.”
“It goes down quite smooth and it has a sweet aftertaste.” Avreel replied by throwing the closed pouch to Nina. “Careful not to inhale too much, it can make your head light and your brain fluffy if you’re not used to it.”
When Nina took a whiff and sneezed lightly they all chuckled a little. Avreel caught the pouch and tucked it away in her pack then leaned against the rock face behind her. She took in the smell of burning driftwood and pipe weed mixed with the boiling stew. “That smells divine.”
“The right mix of herbs makes the difference when cooking.” Liostro said with a shrug as he stirred the pot then returned to his armor. Every now and again he would glance at Rose and sometimes he found her looking back and they both shared a smile. “This is what a journey is about my friends. Good company in a foreign land just teeming with adventure.”
“I had thought you were determined to beat the adventuring spirit out of me.” Nina retorted, to which they all grinned.
“I much prefer a soft bed and a table of delicacies but even I have to admit that after the ardors of our journey so far it feels good to relax in contrast.” Avreel pulled the pipe from her lips and used the stem to point to Liostro. “I can almost see why you adventurous types do it.”
“The thrill of the hunt, the satisfaction of the score.” Liostro’s simple reply was his real logic and drive.
“Indeed.” Avreel replied coining a phrase he had used a few times. “I’m sure Rose agrees with you.”
When the two of them blushed Avreel laughed loudly and snickered at Nina’s confused look. Talisbane fluttered into the cave and settled down by the fire on Liostro’s pack. And silence once again took them. She took another pull on the pipe and offered it to Rose who refused it then to Liostro who took a sizable pull with only a slight cough. “Nina?”
“No thank you, I’d rather not. I think what little I got from smelling the bag was enough.” Her giggle was surprising to only her. “When is that food going to be done?”
“Soon.” Liostro sat back and puffed out a long tendril of thick smoke and leaned back, running the whetstone against the length of his long blade. The scraping sound relieved his tension more than the smoking could.
Rose, as an afterthought pulled an ink pen and well from her pack along with the journal Nina had given her. Since they had some time she figured now would be a good time to write down her thoughts.
When it was done the food was dished into bowls and eaten slowly, savored by all. Coupled with the pipe weed the stew seemed like ambrosia. Liostro was thankful because he did not recognize half of the ingredients he had put into it. It dwindled down to nothing rather quickly between them. Even Talisbane ate an entire bowl that looked to be more than his bodyweight. “You’ve a hearty appetite little friend.”
The dragon-ling burped loudly and licked his lips then settled back down on the pack. His sides huffed out as he drew in and let go a breath. Rose giggled at the volume compared to the small scaled creature and shook her head; she had just finished off her third bowl of the hearty meal. “My compliments to the chef.”
“Thank you.”
Liostro had finished his own meal and the fire was burning down to nothing and to Ros
e that signified their short rest was at an end. What Liostro had not used in the stew they gathered back up and sullenly the lot of them returned to the ship to carry on. A feeling of dread passed over her as they rolled up the boarding ladder and secured the crane. She almost wanted to beg them all to stay a little longer but she knew their mission was too dire and in her heart she had already figured out what they all dreaded to say. Leonidus, the former king of the elves, was a traitor to his people.
Nina took the wheel this time and Liostro cut the mooring lines. The nimble ship turned toward the large opening in the wall where the water flowed and followed eagerly as if it knew the journey by heart.
The dark cave looming before them only served to intensify the unease for Rose and as the shadows won the day she instinctively summoned a series of small glowing orbs to light the deck. Dozens of them flitted about the boat chasing shadows and flying between the four of them. She felt an unfamiliar sensation as she summoned the light that made it difficult to cast the simple spell.
With the diminutive dragon perched upon her shoulder she scanned the face of the rock wall. A sense of familiarity washed over her the closer they got to the exit. Rose could see the light at the end of the tunnel and it was growing. Deep within the recesses of the hidden walls of the cave echoes danced across her ears filling her with fancies of horror. She imagined creatures sitting in wait for an unsuspecting meal and worse. As quickly as they came the feelings were swept away when she finally laid eyes on what Avreel had called the astral fade.
The sea they had been sailing flowed into a river floating in mid-nothingness. As far as her eyes could see the silvery-purple horizon stretched out. It looked to be a seemingly infinite distance. Floating rocks ranging from palm-sized stones to moving mountains flowed across the expanse. Clouds of dust, debris and other matter drifted along only being disturbed when stones would hit them. Even then, as if the debris was a living being, it would reform and continue on its journey into oblivion.
Demiourgos Page 36
