by A F Stewart
“Do you think everyone just sailed away? Got on ships and left?” Short Davy kept on with his questions.
Pinky sniffed. “It’d be odd if they did. And why not use their own fishing vessels? They’re seaworthy enough. Get them to another island at least. I mean, if they were evacuating or something.”
“You’re right, that would be odd.” Rafe suddenly spoke up. “But they may have evacuated all the same. There’s an inland settlement.”
“I remember hearing about that. Old Town they call it now, don’t they?”
“Yes. It used to be the hub of this place, until Blue Bay and the temple was built for the Oracle. The place even had a road leading to landing docks for ships. Then everyone migrated to the new port, and the place all but died out.”
Pinky nodded. “That makes sense. With the attacks, people moved out of harm’s way. For the time being.”
But Rafe was not convinced, and his apprehension slipped out. “It doesn’t explain why there was no harbourmaster or no sounds from the temple. We’re close enough to hear voices or singing.”
“No, it doesn’t.” Pinky frowned, any relief draining from his face. The others captured similar looks.
After that, no one voiced any question or said another word. They arrived at the temple gates in silence.
The entrance was slightly ajar as they approached. The group ignored the bell and pushed through to an empty courtyard. Not a soul hurried out to greet them. They could see that main hall doors were, like the gates, partially open.
Rafe’s skin shivered at the sight of it. He nodded towards the hall. “That’s where we’ll be needing to go, boys. For good or ill.”
The three crewmen chorused, “Aye, sir.”
The men walked into the grand hall, their boots clacking on the marble floor. The room was dimly lit by sunlight flickering through a line of windows, but they could see chairs, sculptures, and people.
“Glad you could finally join us, Captain Morrow.”
Eva Erikson, the captain of the Black Bastion, stood in the middle of the hall, sword drawn at the ready. Scattered around the hall were many of her crew, and some of the temple acolytes, bound and gagged. To Erikson’s left, the Oracle knelt on the grey marble floor, head lowered.
“Do you like my welcome, Captain Morrow?” Erikson smiled. “I prepared it especially for you. Dressed all your pretty dolls up right.” She laughed. “Your temple and all your precious half-wit believers are in my control now. As are you!”
Fury and magic stirred in his blood, but Rafe kept his calm, as—he was proud to see—did his crew. Nerves twitching, he said with a touch of mockery, “Quite an accomplishment, Captain Erikson, taking the temple. Few would dare, let alone succeed.”
“You would think so. Not that it matters. I’m in charge now.”
“Still. I wonder how you accomplished it? Was it just luck?”
“Luck! What arrogant drivel! It was my plan that did it! I outsmarted you, and your people!”
Rafe repressed a retort. She was still as arrogant as ever. He took a deep breath and continued to engage her. “So how did it happen? Exactly?”
“Now wouldn’t you like to know, but I’ll keep mum for now.” She took a step forward. “Have your lot on their knees, and no surprises.”
Striker Angus bristled. “Say the word, Captain, and we’ll rush ‘em. We can take this rabble.”
“I’m sure you can, but people might get hurt. Do as she says, for now.”
His men knelt as bid, though Captain Erikson scowled. “Your crew is as bloody arrogant as you! I’m in control! They need to do as I say!”
“Of course you are.” Rafe’s voice came at her as calm as a sunny day at sea. “You’re in charge. But I would like to know what you did with the townsfolk? Where are the people of Blue Bay?”
“Oh, so now you have concern for the common folk, do ya? Well, I ain’t going to tell ya!”
“Did you kill them?’
“Did I...why you—”
“They’re safe!” The Oracle shouted, interrupting Captain Erikson. “They’re in Old Town!”
“Shut up!” Erikson backhanded her, making her mouth bleed at the corner. “Or better yet, why not tell him about your complicity. How you helped me lay this trap.”
The Oracle remained silent.
“Not talking? Don’t blame you. Did you know she and the port made this practical evacuation plan? Ship ‘em all out of Blue Bay to Old Town if there was an attack? Ever the dutiful servant, her.” Erikson sneered. “When we arrived last night, I brought word of approaching sea creatures. Lied of course, but it got the port deserted enough. In a couple of hours, all’s left were the harbourmaster and a few of his men. Easy as scraping barnacles to round them up and use as hostages to open the temple gates.”
“You threatened to kill those people!” The Oracle snapped, her eyes dancing daggers at her captor.
“The threat worked didn’t it?” Erikson laughed and scoffed at Rafe. “She even helped me keep the Blue Bay folk down in Old Town settlement. Told them to stay put this morning and not return. Still too dangerous, she said. You should have seen her, messaging them by spellcaster. Selling a tall tale of creatures sighted off the coast. Put the fear of the damned into them, she did. You would have been proud of her, I suspect.” Erikson smiled. “Why, she’s even the reason we knew you was coming. Told us to expect you today.”
Rafe glanced at Amaratha, who stared at the marble floor.
“Ah, disappointed in your little pet. You should be. It’s her that let me set up this scene for you. I sent up spotters to the ridge after she revealed your imminent arrival and the minute they spied your ship coming I set up my greeting.”
“Well, aren’t you the clever one.” The sarcasm slipped out at the sight of Erikson’s smug expression.
“Yeah, I am.” Erikson spat. “Clever enough to have you at my mercy. Now you have to do what you’re told, for a change. Have someone in charge of your life instead of the other way ‘round.”
Rafe flexed his fingers, trying hard not to hit the woman. Instead, he asked, “Well then, you have me here. What is this all about? What do you want?”
She glared. “It’s about living in fear. Every damned moonrise, waiting on the storms, on those beasts. I lost four men last storm, and two the moonrise before that. And now...now they’re coming whenever, hitting towns, killing...” Her voice cracked, and her jaw clenched. “And now you’re closing off portals, scaring folks. You’re a damnable menace.”
“I know the portals sealing was traumatic, but—”
“Shut up!” She shouted down Rafe’s attempted explanation. “I don’t want your excuses! I want you to fix this! To do something! Make all the bloody sea creatures go back to their dark pits and leave us all be! Fight that damn Goddess of the Moon!”
That surprised him, and his control slipped. He snapped back, “What do you think I’ve been doing?”
Erikson snarled. “Bloody nothing, that’s what! This ain’t going to be solved by sailing about with warnings and soothing feelings! You need to take action! You need to fight! Or do you just like lording it over the rest of us? Prancing about as if you were better than everyone? If you’re so much in charge, then put it all right. Now!” Her voice snapped in bitterness and frustration. “You’re a menace. Hoodwinking the innocent into believing your lies. You probably started all this.” Captain Erikson shot daggers at him with her stare. “My sister was a priestess at Star Reef Temple and now she’s gone.” She moved her hand to the hilt of her sword. “Can you bring her back? Can you?”
Rafe hissed in a breath and released it into the thick tension. “No. Nothing can bring her back.”
“I know. But it’s your fault. And you’re going to make it right. And here’s why.” Erikson reached over and grabbed the Oracle by the arm, pulling her to her feet. She pushed Amaratha in front of Rafe.
“She’s yours, right? The precious Oracle with all the visions! All the answers?”<
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Rafe nodded. An uneasy sensation crept into his bones. “She can’t help you. Let her go.” He extended a hand, but Erikson yanked Amaratha out of reach.
“Now, now. Don’t touch.” Captain Erikson released the Oracle and took a step back. “I’m not asking her to help. She’s the one who’s going to pay your toll.”
Amaratha turned half a step, obscuring Rafe’s view. Her voice echoed through the room, “What are you doing? How do you expect—”Her words broke off with a choking noise, and a sucking squish. A rasping hiss followed from the Oracle’s throat, and her body twisted. Then Rafe saw. Blood covered the front of Amaratha’s dress and Erickson’s sword was stabbed into her gut.
“Paid in full, Captain Morrow” Captain Erikson smiled and withdrew her blade from the Oracle’s belly. Small drops from the weapon fell in red stains upon the marble.
The Oracle collapsed to her knees, clutching her abdomen. For a moment, she looked at the God of Souls sadness etched on her face. Then Amaratha’s eyes glazed in the frost of death and Rafe watched her life drain to its last breath. Her body fell to the floor and blood slowly seeped across the marble.
Then a shimmer shadowed the body that rippled against flesh and the surrounding air. Time slowed, tick by tick, with every mortal breath becoming endless in length. Only Rafe stood unchanged as he watched death unfold its last phenomenon. He shoved away his dread and sorrow and waited. Gently, the Oracle’s spirit rose from her corpse and drifted to him.
“Don’t blame yourself for this. I know you’ll try, but don’t.” She smiled, words gliding softly to his ears alone. “Death comes to us all, and it simply is our time to say goodbye, Captain Morrow.” She sighed, a little regret mixed with affection. “I can feel the After World calling to me. I can’t linger long lest I remain bound here. I just have one last message for you.” Her ghostly hand stroked his cheek. “Face the past. Go home to the gods. Tell them that war has come. Your father holds the key.” And with a smile she faded from this world, breaking another corner off Rafe’s heart.
“That was payment for my sister.” A voice jolted the captain back to the world of the living. He stared into the smirking face of Captain Erikson. She took a step forward, her sword trailing drops of blood.
“Now, you will open the portals and destroy those sea creatures! Or she’ll be just the first one of these foolish followers to die!”
Rafe glared at Captain Erikson with a stare colder than the bottomless depths of the sea and harder than the bloodied steel in her hand.
“No.”
He spoke one word, but it sent a shiver deep into the bone of all present. “However,” Rafe summoned the magic from the quintessence of his being and shone with a dark sapphire radiance. “Someone else will die. You.”
The light bolted free in snaking tentacles, stabbing Captain Erikson through the throat and chest. She didn’t scream. She didn’t bleed. She went stiff and pale. Gurgling whimpers emanated from her throat. The sword dropped from her hand, clanging onto the marble floor. Not one person rushed to her aid. They all seemed mesmerized.
Then Rafe ripped out her soul.
Erikson’s spirit stood, open-mouthed, and watched her body crumble to the floor beside the Oracle’s corpse. Rafe smiled at her. “Welcome to the world of the spirits, Captain Erikson. Enjoy your stay. It will be a long one.”
Chapter Sixteen
Riptide
SHOCK SHATTERED ACROSS the hall with the eyes of every person fixed on the body of Captain Erikson and the manifestation of Rafe’s godly form. Erikson’s ghost collapsed, shrieking. Rafe chuckled, and the temple acolytes winced.
He then turned on the rest of his adversaries. “This is what I can do to all fools who challenge me!”
His words ruptured the disbelief, and one of the crewmen of the Black Bastion charged forward, his sword halfway out of its sheath. Rafe flicked his wrist, and the man immobilized in mid-attack. Rafe slithered a tendril of light outward and pierced the man’s chest. He drew the man’s soul out slowly, letting him gasp for breath. Another sword fell with a clang, the fingers holding it, now useless.
With a smile, Rafe withdrew his magic. The man fell to his knees, soul intact, and sobbing. He crawled away, the fight in him vanished. The rest of the assembled crew took a step back.
Rafe took a breath, letting his anger flow. The sapphire colour surrounding him deepened, adjusting to indigo. “The crew of the Black Bastion will leave this place! You will crawl back to your ship and slink away like the treacherous curs you have proven yourselves to be! You will spread the word of your Captain’s fate! Let the islands know what happens when you cross me!”
Faces blanched, but not a soul moved. One brave man ventured a question. “What about Captain Erikson’s body?”
“It stays here! No one touches the murderer!” Rafe took a step forward and bellowed, “Go now! Leave this place before I change my mind and you share your captain’s fate!”
Terrified sailors scattered, fleeing the captain’s wrath and abandoning plans and erstwhile hostages. The echo of running footstep and the jeers of Rafe’s crew bounced off the walls.
Erikson’s ghost screamed, “Don’t you abandon me!” She spirited forward after her men. Rafe closed his fingers into a fist and yanked her tethered spirit to a halt. Another jerk and she tumbled along the floor. She gazed into the fury of Rafe’s eyes and crawled into a corner. She huddled, arms wrapped around her knees and loudly wept, her cries crashing through the hall.
Rafe released a breath and let his magic slowly fade. “Men, get those acolytes free of their bonds.”
The crew hesitated, and then Short Davy addressed his captain, “Gladly, sir, but those men...they’re escaping. We need to warn the Jewel, get—”
“I gave an order! Now get to it!”
His startled crew hopped to obey, slicing ropes that bound hands and untying gags. Rafe found a cloth and covered the Oracle. Her congealing blood seeped into the white fabric. Then he looked up to see his crew gathered before him, hands on hips with rather distressed expressions.
Rafe sighed. “Something wrong, boys?”
“By the bones, there is! I can’t believe you’re just letting those scallywags go!” An aggrieved Pinky snapped the question into the air, breaking the tension. “They need to pay! Just like that piece of bilge water caterwauling in the corner.” He flipped his head at Captain Erikson. “And speaking of her, can you get her to shut up? Her wailing is hurting my ears.”
“I can obligate you on that front.” With an amused smirk, Rafe summoned a touch of magic, and nothing but silence came from Erikson’s throat. She buried her head in her hands and cried harder. Tears with no sound.
Rafe looked at his crew, their waiting faces still upset. They did deserve an explanation. “I know you don’t like it, but, yes. I am letting those men go free.” A hiss, a gasp, and a “bloody hell” tumbled from the crew’s lips.
Rafe squared his shoulders and continued. “I do this because I want them to spread the story of what happened here. I want people to know what I did. To make them remember who I truly am. Something like this cannot happen again. Especially not now.” He glanced down at the Oracle’s shrouded body. “I think I’ve been hiding behind my facade too long.”
“So the God of Souls will show his true face to the world?”
A tiny feminine voice joined the conversion. A petite dark-haired priestess stepped forward. She stared at Rafe with awe and expectation, rubbing her wrists.
Rafe gently smiled at her. “I think, for a little while at least, he will. What’s your name, child?”
“Rayla. I’m a senior priestess here.”
“Good. You can help me then. We still have things to put right.” He swung on his crew, who now appeared slightly more mollified. “You too, boys. There’s still work to finish. Angus. Hightail on down to the port and signal the Jewel. Get her headed back into the harbour. Short Davy, find the spellcaster and send a message to Old Town. Tell the folk
what’s happened and that it’s safe to return to Blue Bay if they wish.”
He glanced at Rayla. “As to that, where are the harbourmaster and his men? And the remaining acolytes. I know the temple housed more people. Were they killed?”
“No. Tied up and locked in the wine cellars. That one,” She shot hatred at the blubbering remains of Erikson, “wanted only manageable numbers in the hall.”
“That’s a blessing, at least. Pinky, take a few priests and go free them. We’ll need shore crew to dock the Jewel.”
“Aye, Captain.” He hurried off, joining the crew already at work at their assigned tasks.
Rafe gave Rayla a strange look. “That only leaves the bodies.”
Yes.” Unspoken grief for the Oracle and mutual loathing for her killer hung between them. “We will prepare the Oracle’s body and see to her burial. The temple has its own graveyard. I would ask you to stay, but I suspect you have more pressing matters.”
“I do.” He sadly smiled, wanting to stay. “And what of this?” He prodded Erikson’s corpse with his foot.
“I say toss her off the cliff into the sea.”
The ghost abruptly jumped to her feet and silently screamed, unvoiced anguish streaming out in a pitiful, soundless plea.
“Apparently, she’s not in favour of this plan.” Rafe raised his hand and triggered his magic. He glared at Erikson. “I’ll let you speak. But no screams, and no weeping.” He gestured his fingers.
The words poured out of the ghost. “Please don’t. Please. Don’t toss me into the sea. Send my body back to my family or bury me here on the island. Don’t condemn my remains to the cold depths.”
Rayla sneered. “That almost sounds like you’re afraid.”
“She probably is. Many sailors dread being buried at sea. Being lost forever under the waves with the ghouls and the monsters. It’s almost tempting to do it.”
Erikson went pale, even for a spirit. “Please, no. You know the stories. What can happen to sailors’ bodies...” Her spirit shuddered. Her voice, begging. “You know there are things worse than monsters waiting under the sea. Whatever I’ve done, don’t condemn me to that.”
