by Jeremy Dwyer
“That took you longer than usual,” Pradrock said.
“I thought so, too,” Akantha said. She was used to her brother, and the delay was a bit unusual for him.
“It was a bit unclear,” Akylas said.
“Are you confident that the chart is correct?” Pradrock asked.
“Yes. The chart’s correct,” Akylas said.
“Then I’ll set the course by it until all our passengers have reached their destinations,” Pradrock said, and he set the ship’s course according to Akylas’ star chart. He sailed the ship southwest across the Dead Waters Ocean until reaching the Crypt Trail land bridge. There, he converted the ship to its airship configuration, elevated it to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude and traveled southwest over the land bridge, returning to sea level in the Nabavodel Ocean. He sailed southwest until reaching the Bazavadoran Isthmus land bridge. Again, he converted the ship to airship configuration, elevated it to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude and traveled over the land bridge, returning to sea level in the Ursegan Ocean. He then sailed the Everlasting Pain southwest toward Emeth.
“After that, what’s next for us?” Akantha asked. She knew her way around on a ship, and was hoping for more work. It didn’t have to be anything related to spirits – just turning a profit in some legitimate seafaring business.
Pradrock turned to Farovaxen and Va’Qileren and asked: “Where would you like to be taken? I’m sure you have commitments to return to.”
“It was Loravixian Island in the Ikkith Tar Ocean. That was our outpost, and the time has come to return. There, we can be of service to travelers once again,” Farovaxen said.
“In calmer seas, where the hazards of navigation are those to which they are accustomed, and not the tempest,” Va’Qileren said.
“That will be our next destination,” Pradrock said.
“What’s next for us, then?” Akylas asked. Like his sister, he knew his way around a ship and was eager to get back to business and to make a living.
“I want you to keep your senses attuned to the suns. Whatever this darkness is, however slight, we have to keep aware. And you need to keep navigating as best you can. We’re going to Javanda. It’s time for a new ship – something more suited to cargo transportation,” Pradrock said.
“Back to business, then. I’d like to actually turn a real profit,” Akantha said, remembering her time swiping the treasures from Captain Keallach. He was a pirate, and she knew he deserved to be on the receiving end of some grabbing hands, so she felt no sympathy or remorse. Still, turning an honest profit for a captain who wasn’t a killer was a better way to make a living.
“So would I,” Akylas said. He was his sister’s primary business partner – in good times and in bad. They would probably retire together, he thought, as neither of them had any romantic prospects – mutual survival and friendship was their only motivating force.
“There’s not much I can do for you anymore. Javanda was my home, though. Maybe I should go back,” Torin said.
“Your skills go beyond repairing sails, and even that is still very valuable. Additionally, your navigation abilities are still with you, so long as you practice them and continue drinking the Atrejan waters. Remember that a new ship doesn’t mean there won’t be maintenance required,” Pradrock said.
“If you want me to stay on, I can,” Torin said.
“The choice belongs to you, of course. But you can call anywhere home, can’t you?” Pradrock asked.
“You don’t sound like anywhere is home to you,” Taesa said, reading Torin’s facial expressions and tone of voice.
“Ever since my parents were killed, there really hasn’t been a place I can call home. Traveling the ocean was a good experience, I guess. But then, the inferno made me sick. I got better, but then, my eyes were cut. It’s been a rough life, and I’m only eighteen (18). If I were old, and it didn’t matter, I guess it wouldn’t be too bad – there wouldn’t be much time left to put up with it,” Torin said.
“I lost my father to cancer when I was twelve (12). He was a good man – always reading books and teaching me and the other kids in the area everything that he knew. He never went to Emeth himself. But he paid to have books brought from there,” Taesa said.
“You still have your mother. That’s one (1) more parent than I have,” Torin said.
“I know. Even losing one (1) parent is horrible. When my dad died, all I remember was thinking that there wasn’t enough time to learn everything or do everything. Maybe there was a cure to be found in the books – if only he had the time to find the right books. But he didn’t. I have a home in Meridianus – where some friends are. I also have a home in Emeth – where I study. Maybe you need to have more than one (1) home. You could find different parts of who you are in different places,” Taesa said.
“Javanda has the best shipbuilding business. I can try to learn a few more things there – things I can do without seeing anything. I can practice star reading, but that’s going to be difficult when I can’t make the visual adjustments,” Torin said.
“Mathematics can help you with that. Once you know the calculations, and practice doing them mentally, you don’t need vision. I can teach you that,” Pradrock said.
“As far as Emeth goes, I’m not sure what I can do there,” Torin said.
“There are readers in the halls who can assist the blind. From time to time, you should go back,” Pradrock said.
“I think I need to go back,” Claudia said. She no longer had to protect Pradrock because he was no longer holding a binding over the ghost of Captain Tychon. Without that liability, her assignment was logically ended. She had only stayed on longer to help bring down Victoria.
“Back to Emeth? Or to Revod?” Pradrock asked.
“Emeth. From there, I can go where I need,” Claudia said.
“We’re approaching now,” Pradrock said.
The Everlasting Pain soon arrived in the docks of Emeth where Claudia quickly departed.
Then, Pradrock converted the Everlasting Pain to its airship configuration, elevated it to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude and traveled over the Scholar’s Path land bridge, returning to sea level in the Pirovalen Ocean on the southwestern side of the land bridge.
The ship sailed toward the southwest and arrived at the continent of Meridianus where Caroline and Taesa departed.
As they went to leave the ship, Akantha turned to them and quietly said: “For your sake, lay low. Be quiet for a while. There may be a few…grudges and bad feelings.”
“I will do the best I can,” Taesa said.
“We can’t live in hiding. For now, though, we need to spend time as mother and daughter. Not go on any adventures,” Caroline said.
“That’s what I mean. No adventures. Just in case…” Akantha said.
At that, the Everlasting Pain left the coast and Akylas slowly plotted a course for Loravixian Island.
CHAPTER 5: Search for Knowledge in Emeth
In Emeth, Lavakara found a new curiosity to amuse him. The surprise passenger – who went by the name Xavier – had shown himself to be combat trained. Lavakara was intent on discovering just how far that went. Lavakara drank of the Nabavodel Ocean waters from the ornate vial that he carried. The waters then gave him speed and strength, as they would have anyone who drank of them and had the innate potential for using them. Additionally, the ornate vial imparted another advantage: that of the Zovvin Ocean waters, even though it did not contain them. The spirit powers that were associated with those waters were also with him, and Lavakara exercised these to move into the spirit world, where he hid and followed Xavier.
Xal’Kativok/Xavier traveled around the city of Emeth, looking to understand the significance of it. His assignment was to bring back the samples of the waters, and he was determined to carry it out. However, he became convinced that this place was a great storehouse of knowledge that was not to be ignored. He saw a fountain with many waters jetting what seemed to be
a thousand (1000) feet into the air. He looked at the fountains – there were thirteen (13) of them – and saw that each had a stone foundation and was marked with a different symbol. He began filling his vials with samples of the waters, thinking that these may be the waters of interest, although he could not be sure. He used a small writing implement to etch the symbols onto the sides of the vials, and capped them and returned them to the pockets in his coat.
Lavakara watched Xavier’s strange behavior and found it to be unbecoming of a warrior. An alchemist would have cause to collect samples of each of the waters for purification. So would a courier who was bringing various waters to the infirm. A ship’s captain, who needed to accommodate a variety of passengers, might also do this. Yet, this was a warrior, who would drink only one of them, and he had no ship or passengers. It was almost as if Xavier had no idea what these waters were. It troubled Lavakara to think that – in fact – he was the one who had no idea what was going on. He was now determined to discover more. Still, Xavier didn’t drink any of the waters, according to the conversation he had overheard.
He wasn’t the only one who was interested in Xavier’s actions, however. The Chronicler named Tofa also observed the man’s unusual behavior. She was a beautiful woman – and looked to be only thirty-nine (39) in appearance despite being one thousand three hundred fifty-three (1353) years old. Tofa had a very peaceful mindset, driven by curiosity and unburdened by worry. She found Xavier’s water collection curious, if only because his mannerisms suggested a lack of familiarity with Emeth.
After gathering the water samples, Xal’Kativok/Xavier walked down a narrow city alley between some smaller buildings – ones whose function was to house skilled craft workers and ship captains who brought passengers to Emeth for study. Tofa walked behind Xal’Kativok/Xavier. He sensed her presence and turned to look at her and was delighted by her attractive appearance.
She merely looked at him, with no facial expression, thinking that it was strange that this man – who did not appear to be a captain of a ship with passengers’ needs to attend to – would be collecting all the waters.
“Why is that you are gathering all the different waters? Where will you take them?” Tofa asked. She opened her book and prepared to write his answer in it.
Xal’Kativok/Xavier realized that this woman was like the two (2) scribes on board the ship – she was clearly interested in recording whatever answer that he wrote, and gathering it into some sort of historical archive. Rather than answer directly – or argue – he considered that this might be an opportunity for charm.
“Can I get your name, first?” Xal’Kativok/Xavier asked.
“I am Tofa, Chronicler of one thousand three hundred fifty-three (1353) years,” the woman said.
“What is it that you record?” Xal’Kativok/Xavier asked.
“Under the Oath, I am to record all events, great and small. It gives me the authority to ask questions of anyone, yet I cannot interfere,” Tofa said.
“What I’m doing is…confidential. If I told you, and the reason was written into your book and released, that would be interfering with my assignment,” Xal’Kativok/Xavier said.
“Then, tell me quietly, under confidence,” Tofa said, and she approached him closely.
Xal’Kativok/Xavier then stepped down a narrower alley and Tofa followed him. He was attracted to her and kissed her and she immediately held up her hands and pushed him away.
“No. I am here to ask questions. Unhand me now,” Tofa said. She was upset by this – but was not surprised. This wasn’t the first time that a man had made a move on her. It was an inconvenience that she endured in a world with many headstrong men who, in the close presence of a Chronicler, assumed an intimate friendship that did not exist and was not implied. Yet, nothing had ever come of them. She was protected, and never violated, though some had tried.
“My apologies. I’m here to study the waters, but you’re so much more interesting,” Xal’Kativok/Xavier said.
“What about the waters? What is it you are trying to learn?” Tofa asked.
Lavakara then seized the opportunity and appeared in front of Xavier and punched him directly in the face.
Xal’Kativok/Xavier was in shock – not at the punch, but at the sudden appearance. He did not know how this person had stealthily concealed himself and then suddenly revealed himself. He drew forth a weapon – a light beam projector – and prepared to use it to burn Lavakara. However, Lavakara simply maneuvered himself and stunned Xavier’s arm, knocking the weapon out of his hand.
Tofa began recording all of this. She was hoping to learn what it was that the man was studying and then to record his findings for the archives. Yet, this combat was also part of unfolding history.
Xal’Kativok/Xavier swiped at Lavakara but was far too slow – the Nabavodel Ocean waters made Lavakara quick and strong – and he dodged the blows with ease.
Then, Xal’Kativok/Xavier dropped to the ground and kicked Lavakara’s legs out from underneath him, knocking Lavakara to the ground.
Lavakara laughed delightedly and said: “finally, a warrior appears before me.”
Xal’Kativok/Xavier stood up and kicked Lavakara directly in the face and Lavakara felt the pain and smiled. His face was bloody now and he rolled out of the way and flipped himself back to his feet.
“Excellent! Something worthy of the history books, rather than to bring this trustworthy Chronicler to boredom,” Lavakara said, addressing both Xal’Kativok/Xavier and Tofa, whom he could see as she was recording it all.
Xal’Kativok/Xavier knew that he was outmatched, however, and he made a motion to evade.
Lavakara picked up the weapon that Xavier had dropped and examined it, being in no particular hurry to catch Xavier, as he knew that the upper hand belonged to him. He pressed a button on the device, but nothing happened. He then placed it into a small pocket of his armored vestments and returned to the spirit world and pursued Xavier further, waiting for his next move. The supposed warrior was trained, but clearly did not have the necessary speed to match a drinker of the Nabavodel Ocean waters.
Tofa began to follow Xal’Kativok/Xavier. “What is your name?” she asked.
“I am Xavier,” Xal’Kativok/Xavier said, coldly and dismissively. He did not care to have her see him under these circumstances, as he wished to win her over. Yet, many worlds were dangerous, and this one was no exception.
“Who is that man?” Xal’Kativok/Xavier asked.
“I am not here to answer your questions. That could impact the outcome of historical proceedings, and would thus be interference. However, you must answer mine. What are you trying to learn about the waters?” Tofa asked.
“I am endeavoring to determine which is best,” Xal’Kativok/Xavier said.
Xal’Kativok/Xavier turned his mind to the battle of moments ago. He was concerned now – he was thoroughly outclassed in stealth, and the physical confrontation was a draw, at best. He was not prepared to combat this mysterious attacker, who had previously appeared on board the ship during the battle against the woman called Victoria – the woman who brought the storms at sea. Now that Victoria had been defeated, it seemed that this warrior was interested in using his powers to test Xal’Kativok/Xavier’s combat prowess.
Xal’Kativok/Xavier was not afraid of a fight – he considered it a challenge. But when he was against a vastly more capable adversary, it was necessary to secure an advantage. However, this world was not his home, and the ocean waters seemed to grant powers that were staggering: presumably, those waters were the source of this warrior’s advantage.
Xal’Kativok/Xavier needed to act decisively and procure an advantage of his own before this warrior decided to strike again.
“By what measure is ‘best’ determined?” Tofa asked
“Only by understanding the true powers of the waters can I answer that question,” Xal’Kativok/Xavier said.
Tofa recorded the answer in her book, and she felt his eyes probing her fo
rm. Long ago, she had taken a husband and bore children for him. Since neither her husband nor the children drank the Ursegan Ocean waters, they died over a millennium ago. She had occasional boyfriends since, but only as she was passing through different regions in her studies. She preferred scholarly men, and definitely did not care for anyone who would be so rude as to steal a kiss. A man should have manners, and await a friendly disposition and an invitation. This Xavier was a nasty and presumptuous man, and definitely should not be expecting a date anytime soon.
Besides – Tofa thought – Mitchell had more than caught her eye, and she was hoping for an opportunity to get back to him, if the course of history carried her back to Revod soon, while he was still young enough. That was a problem that most Ursegan Ocean water drinkers faced – they long outlived most of their potential mates. Mitchell was handsome, smart, and quite polite. Even better, he was only twenty-four (24) when they were last together. But her commitment to the Chronicler’s Oath carried her to distant lands, and his responsibilities as an alchemist kept him where he was. Before she left, he had provided her with highly purified waters – and an enticing goodbye kiss that made him the most difficult ever to leave. She longed to go back to him, in fact, and she was looking for a reason. That made Xavier’s unwanted kiss all the more disgusting.
“What do you understand about the waters now?” Tofa asked. She had to be thorough, as the Oath demanded recording all details she possibly could.
“There are thirteen (13) ocean waters, but only twelve (12) give power when you drink of them. They’re all different – providing strength and speed, control over creatures, or light or crystal or other advantages; yet, I can drink only one (1), so it has to be an optimal choice,” Xal’Kativok/Xavier said. He had listened to the testimony and learned that the so-called ‘Dead Waters Ocean’ was not a source of power, despite what had happened during the final battle against the woman known as Victoria.
Tofa wrote all of this down, dutifully recording the details she observed about the man who answered them. She also wrote down the fact that he kissed her – and that she had not invited this. She was chronicling his actions, not her own. She did not write down her personal feelings on the matter, which would have been a harsh judgment. Personally, she wanted Xavier to go somewhere and disappear, never to be seen or heard from again. Turning her mind away from judgment to hopefulness – as she was a positive person, and focused on the good in life – her mind kept going back to Mitchell.
