by Heath Pfaff
I hated Lucidil for that. Had it been the right choice? I grit my teeth and pushed that thought aside. It was easier not to look at such an ugly question.
One of the crew of the ship approached the center mast, took hold, and ascended the wood beam with smooth grace, climbing as though unhindered by a fear of falling, or the strain of their own body weight. My eyes were transfixed by the sight, and I noted that the others were also watching with some curiosity. Our mast had a ladder, and our crew had never ascended so quickly.
"From what you know of the creep, do these look like men infected by a disease that is eating away at their bodies?" I asked Telistera. I was unaware of what the progression of such a disease did to one's body, but I couldn't bring myself to believe that it filled men with such vigor.
She shook her head in negative to my reply. I looked to the others, and they also shook their heads, no. None of the crew moved as though they were debilitated in any way. In fact, most of them were unusually agile and precise in their motions. I felt that we were being deceived, worse, I felt that there was something dangerous being hidden from me. It felt as though there was a knife at my throat, and the only thing stopping it from cutting me, was that I didn't know that it was there. However, leave a knife at your throat long enough, whether you see it or not, and it will cut you.
"Ethaniel," I spoke to the four-eyed Knight. His attention, which had seemed to be focused elsewhere, shifted back to me. "I need you to keep track of our direction of movement. You're the only one of us that knows how to track our progress. I need to know if we start going off course."
Ethaniel replied by bowing his head slightly. He said nothing, but his eyes, all four of them, became distant again. A wave of worry swept through me, but I swallowed it down and forced myself to stay sharp. I had to trust that Ethaniel would do what was in our best interest.
"As long as we're on course, it would be foolish to do anything that might get us cast back out to sea. Right now we have access to a ship, but everyone needs to remain alert to the possibility that the situation could become hostile at any minute. I want us all to remain close together, and constantly vigilant. I don't believe that Shay 'Fiiel is telling us the truth, and even if she is, that is no reason not to keep an eye open. We'll avoid the crew unless absolutely necessary, so if there is disease aboard this ship, it will not spread to us." I gave the others my orders, fully aware of the risk I was taking. We could have returned to our life raft, but that was another type of risk, and one that I felt stood a greater chance of failing, than the one we were already facing. The ship was an unknown quantity. The small raft on the open waters was just a matter of waiting for death to find us. We might survive in the raft if it was too small to draw notice, but otherwise we would be dead for sure. I wondered, and not for the first time, what had become of the others. Obviously they were not aboard the ship that had saved us. Had they all been lost to the storm? I thought of Liet, Captain, and the new lives born to the black cloaks. They had not deserved such a fate. I could do nothing but hope that they would find land safely, and hope was such a fragile thing.
"We could take the ship by force." Silver suggested, freeing me from my cycle of worries, and echoing a thought I'd had earlier myself. It was always an option, but as long as the ship was going in the right direction, we would not need to take such a drastic action. I was about to open my mouth and state just that, but Ethaniel spoke up before me.
"They have turned us about in the right direction. It would be foolish to fight them when they are just trying to aid us. None of us can be certain of their motives. Caution is our best option." The old Knight said, offering advice that, for a change, seemed sound. For some reason that only made me more wary of him. Ethaniel had been only too eager to put down the black cloaks, but in the case of the strange crew and their captain, he was taking a radically different stance.
"You don't usually suggest caution." I said, deciding it was time to voice at least some of my concerns. "Would you care to explain why you've had a change of heart?"
The gray smoking eyes above his Knight's eyes seemed to grow dark with rage for a moment as they looked at me. However, when he spoke, his voice was relatively calm.
"The situation has changed, King Noble. This ship is not our own, and these people were kind enough to pull us from the very hands of the sea. Unlike the Brigade, there is no reason to suspect them of having ulterior motives." His reply was delivered too calmly.
"No reason to suspect them? You mean to tell me that you don't find it strange that they just happened to find our tiny boat amidst this entire expanse of sea? It isn't suspect that they are sailing in waters normally avoided by Telistera's people, and you don't find it the least bit strange that, despite allegedly having a terrible sickness, the crew moves as though they are all well trained acrobats at the prime of their health?" As I spoke, I had to constantly struggle to control the volume of my voice. Anger gnawed away inside of me.
"Luck is with us for a change, and as for their disease, do we really know enough about it to make any judgments as to what state the crew should be in? Perhaps those suffering the worse are below deck, and those managing the ship are only recently afflicted." Ethaniel answered, again his reply seemed too smooth, too easy.
"You knew they were coming." I said the words as the thought occurred to me, and immediately wished I could take them back. I wasn't afraid of Ethaniel, but my suspicions would have served me better if kept to myself. Ethaniel's eyes, all four, shot open wide, though he hid the surprise almost as quickly as it appeared. Had he seen the ship approaching with his eyes, or was there something more than that? I didn't know for sure, but I felt certain that he'd at least known it was coming. Of all of us, he'd been the only who'd not seemed surprised. In fact, he had been calm through our entire ordeal.
All eyes fell upon the old Knight. "I may have seen the ship, with my far vision, but I didn't know for certain it would meet up with us. My vision doesn't work like that, when it works. I can see things far away, but I can't tell how far they are, or exactly in which direction." This explanation did not seem as readily prepared as the last. We'd caught him in something, though I wasn't sure exactly what it was. I remembered a time when he had used his eyes to guide the armies of Lucidil. It seemed that recently his vision had been far less cooperative. At least, he claimed it was.
"If you knew there was a ship, why didn't you tell us so that we knew to watch for it?" It was Malice who asked. There was an edge to her voice that I had not heard there in years. My eyes snapped to her. Her expression was firm and angry. I knew that expression well. Laouna had never used it.
"If we had not crossed paths with the ship, you would have cursed me for giving you false hope. I couldn't be certain we would even come within sight of the ship, so I did not intend to tell you about it. What does it matter? They found us, and now we can finish our mission." Ethaniel's ire was rising. I could hear the anger coming into his words, as his control over the voice slipped.
"You withheld information vital to our survival, and you expect us not to be angry with you?" This time it was Silver, she looked on the verge of rising.
"I did what I deemed necessary." Ethaniel growled his reply, and he looked like he might rise and draw sword.
"Enough." I said, deciding to head off any conflict that might erupt if that line of dialogue was allowed to continue. "For now we will have to bide our time and see what happens. We are headed in the right direction, that's what matters. We will have to settle these other problems at a better time." Even as I spoke those words, I realized just how foolish they were. If Ethaniel was somehow involved with the people on the ship - though I didn't know how that could be - and if they were a threat to us, he would not tell us if we were traveling in the wrong direction. Our problem was more immediate than it initially seemed. However, a fight between the Knights of Ethan and Ethaniel would win us nothing but a further loss of lives. I would need time to think.
"We'll take shif
ts sleeping. After all the rowing we've done, we're all in need of a break. Once we're well rested, we'll decide what to do next. I'll take first watch." I announced.
"I'll stay up with you." Snow volunteered before any of the others did.
"Alright," I answered. "The rest of you bed down, I'll wake you in six hours."
The other Knights, and Telistera, lay down on the deck and curled up under their cloaks. Malice lay at my side, a warm presence next to me as I sat and watched the movement of the crew aboard ship. . . . so familiar, yet so unusual. Snow watched from the other side of our sleeping companions, looking out in the opposite direction. I didn't say anything, but I found it difficult to relax with her at my back. I knew that was foolish, and that in our situation, I had no reason not to trust the other Knight, but I couldn't shake that feeling of betrayal that she stirred within me. I sat with my eyes outward, and forced myself not to check back over my shoulder. I needed to think. There were many issues that needed to be addressed, and I felt that time was growing short.
The hours drifted by, and though I was attentive, I never saw any member of the crew move in our direction. For that matter, I never saw any member of the crew speak to another, or do anything other than the task they were assigned to do. In a way, their actions reminded me of the black cloaks before they'd broken free from the magic that had bound them. They went about their business with complete focus, and with no appearance of camaraderie. They never even glanced at the other Knights, Telistera, or me. The longer I watched them the stranger it all seemed, a dance in harmony, accompanied by silence. The silence was broken. A quiet song drifted to my ears, hummed so softly that even my sensitive hearing had to strain catch it. The tone was familiar, a snippet from a dream that had been too real.
I turned, and saw that Snow was sitting with her white furred arms wrapped around her legs. She was humming softly. I'd only heard that song once before, yet coming from Snow it seemed to carry an entirely different emotional weight. I listened to it for a time as she repeated the melody over and over again. The pattern of music was simple, but beautiful, and for some reason it filled me with soothing calm. I stood up from where I'd been sitting, moving carefully away from Malice so as not to wake her.
"That's a pretty song." I told Snow as I approached. She looked up at me, and smiled. Her expression was sad.
"My mother use to sing it to me as I'd drift off to sleep. When I'm worried, it always comes back to me again. I don't remember much of it anymore." Her eyes left mine and passed over the ship, watchful. I turned to look back at my own side of the vessel. All was as it had been. Still, quiet. The strange crew went about their work with a complete disinterest for their extra passengers.
"Sing it for me." I told Snow, the impulse to hear more of the song springing from some deep need within me to be comforted, or perhaps to better understand the song that had haunted one of my vivid and surreal dreams. It wasn't right of me to ask, but I had found the melody enchanting. I turned back to the pale-furred Knight.
Snow's cheeks were cast lightly red as she answered. "I couldn't, Lowin. I don't sing."
"You've done a good job at humming. I'd like to hear the words, at least the ones that you remember." I insisted. I was glad she did not press me for any explanation for my sudden desire to hear the song, because I couldn't have given her one. There are times in a person's life when they simply need something, more than food and drink, in order to go on. At that moment, I needed Snow's song. I needed the words to match the melody that swirled through my mind, easing away the troubles that threatened to rise up like some great monster and overwhelm me. Listening to Snow hum the tune had made me relax, even if only for a short period of time. It had been too long since I'd felt such relief. Was the song magic? I didn't think so, but at the same time, I knew that its harmonies were a different type of spell entirely. No magic was weaved, but music could have its own variety of power.
Snow smiled shyly, an expression I had never really seen on her face. For a second, a brief second, I forgot about her betrayal entirely. She was my old friend again. That moment passed quickly, and my foul associations returned to my mind, tainting the moment.
"If you insist, Lowin." She said, before clearing her throat. She hummed the melody once, and then she began to sing.
In the morning, in the light,
no more worries, no more fright.
For the evening, close your eyes.
Tomorrow comes with sunny skies.
In your dreams, where heroes play,
sword and shield, you safely lay.
Sleep now child, rest and dream,
in that place of fields green.
Dream of dragons, dream of knights,
dream of brilliant, wondrous sights.
Dream of heroes, dream of flight,
dream of wrongs, all set right.
No more fear, little one.
Sleep my sweet, until the sun.
Rest your head, and be at ease,
drift and float on whimsy's breeze.
In the morning, in the light,
no more worries, no more fright.
Eyes shut softly, peace and calm,
no more troubles, night has gone.
Someday, I knew, I would write the words to that song, as she sang them there, but in no way could I ever hope to write those simple words and attach to them the depth of emotion they carried in the way she sang them. Snow's voice was not the greatest singing voice I'd ever heard, but it didn't need to be, because she was the embodiment of that song, at that time. She lent an energy to the words that I didn't believe any other ever could.
"There were other words," She explained as the song trailed off. "I don't remember them anymore. It seems like that was a long time ago, and I didn't think I would need to remember it all."
I smiled. "That was enough. Thank you, Snow." I said, as I turned and walked back to my post. I took count of the other Knights, and made sure the area was clear, and then I sat down again, next to Malice. Snow's song. I would never forget it.
"Noble, Ethaniel is gone!" Those panicked words pulled me from sleep like a dousing of cold water. I was on my feet, and reaching for my weapon before my eyes had even come fully open. Of course, my weapon was gone, and as my vision cleared, I realized there was no immediate threat to my safety. Tower was standing over me. Even though I was on my feet, I still had to look up to meet his eyes.
"What do you mean he's gone?" I asked, attempting to draw the fog of sleep from my brain. I checked the position of the sun. Two hours had passed since I'd finally been relieved of the watch. Snow and I had been the only ones sleeping.
"I took a head count less than five minutes ago, but when I checked again, he was missing." Tower explained as calmly as he could. He was obviously agitated, and I couldn't blame him. Ethaniel had been acting strangely, and his sudden disappearance did not settle well with me either. I scanned the deck looking for where he might have gone. There was no sign of him.
"Malice, I'd like to borrow your sword." I picked her because she was nearest to me other than Tower, who, like me, did not have a weapon. I wasn't sure what I was going to do yet, but I had no intention of doing whatever it might be without a sword. Steel, cold thought it may be, is as warm a companion as any in times of strife. "I'll need the scabbard as well." She hesitated only a moment before unfastening the weapon and passing it to me.
"Thank you." I said as I took the blade from her and fastened its scabbard around my waist. It was a difficult process with one hand, but one I'd grown familiar with over the years. I placed my hand on the weapons hilt. It was immediately comfortable and familiar to me. That sword of fine king's steel was as tried as an old friend, one I had not seen in a while, but one I would never forget and could always trust. It was a standard sword of the Knights of Ethan, and probably would have served much better in Malice's hand than in my own. However, I would not send the others into danger if I did not have to.
All eyes were upon me. "
I want you to stay here. I'm going to find Ethaniel. In the mean time, keep a close watch on one another. No one leaves the group for any reason. This whole ship, and everyone aboard it, sets ill with me. Be vigilant." I turned quickly, and walked away from the others, not giving anyone time to protest. I knew some would want to. They would tell me I shouldn't go alone, and perhaps they were right. I'd never been great at taking the advice of others.
I moved quickly across the deck, passing along the wood planking while keeping my eyes open for any sign of Ethaniel's passing. I approached one of the crew, cautiously moving in until I knew I would be near enough for them to hear me without having to yell.
"Have you seen one of our men - a little taller than me, with wings - did he come by here?" I asked. The crew member did not even lift his eyes to look at me, nor did he turn in my direction as though he'd heard me. He failed to acknowledge my presence at all.
"Hey, did you see a tall man with wings come through here?" I repeated my question again, with more volume. Nothing.
I grabbed one of his shoulders, and turned the figure towards me. There was no resistance, but the man did not look up at me at all. He kept his hooded head bowed low. The shoulder I'd grabbed on to was bony to the point of famine through the cloth, but firm and I could feel the muscles move as his arms shifted. Sinew, bone, and muscle. Once more I felt a sense of familiarity wash over me, but I put it aside.
"Please, I just want to know if you saw our friend pass this way." I released the shoulder, and the crewman turned away from me and went back to his job without a single word. My ire rose, and I was assailed by a sudden urge to strike out in violence. I had to restrain the impulse, though it was quite a difficult thing to do. The urge to maim and kill raced through my blood, causing my hand to twitch towards my weapon. It took a strong effort on my part to resist. How much time had passed since Ethaniel had vanished? Five minutes? Ten?
