by PT Hylton
Another lightning bolt struck Summer Wind. Then another.
It was chaos aboard the enemy ship. The crew was running frantically, trying to put out the fires that had sprung up around the ship.
A fourth lightning bolt struck, and Abbey heard a loud crack. Then the mast of Summer Wind fell.
A few moments later, crew members began jumping overboard, abandoning ship. The Storm Caller still stood at his place on the prow, bellowing orders to a crew that had long since stopped listening to him. The fires had spread, and it was clear the ship was going down.
Dustin turned toward the astonished crew gathered on the deck. “Captain, I’m ready to depart. Let’s go to Holdgate.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Benjamin and Jarvi sat at a long, stone table in the Magistrate’s office, their hands shackled. Six Storm Captains and six Storm Callers sat with them, all the ones currently in Holdgate. The only notable absences were the Storm Caller and captain of High Tide.
Every person at the table wore a troubled expression.
After the arrival of High Tide, Benjamin and Jarvi had willingly agreed to be placed into custody while the Magistrate investigated their claims. They’d expected nothing less. Once they’d presented their case, they’d known it would be out of their hands.
What they hadn’t expected was the arrival of High Tide. Benjamin didn’t know what yarn the captain of that ship would spin. It was just another wild card; one he didn’t need right now.
The Magistrate cleared his throat, then began. “Benjamin, Jarvi, we’ve brought you here to discuss the story you told me yesterday morning in my home. I’ve followed up on your claims. I personally spoke to Cybil and the storyteller woman, and I found their responses consistent with what you told me. However, there is a further complication.”
Jarvi raised an eyebrow. “Do tell, Magistrate.”
Benjamin almost laughed. He was amazed at how his friend always managed to appear so in control, even as a prisoner.
The Magistrate continued. “As you know, High Tide came home yesterday. Captain Uther told a very different story from yours. It seems the voyage north did not go smoothly. They arrived in Bode to find the city in flames and the Barskall in control of it. When they moved in to fight the Barskall, they were attacked by one of their own ships. The Foggy Day.” He looked pointedly at Benjamin. “I seem to recall that their new Storm Caller Dustin spent a good deal of time in your blacksmith shop as a boy. Is that correct?”
Benjamin didn’t see any point in denying it. “It is.”
“When your daughter left Jarvi’s home after assaulting my guards, it seems she went to see her old friend Dustin. He smuggled her aboard. Somehow, over the course of a two-day journey, she managed to convince Captain Roy and the crew to betray their allies. Against all odds, The Foggy Day somehow managed to escape after attacking the other three ships. Captain Uther can’t be sure, but he suspects they’re on their way back here to Holdgate to attack the city.”
Jarvi chuckled. “If you’ll excuse my saying so Magistrate, that sounds like a rather implausible story. The kind only someone desperate to cover something up would dare tell.”
The Magistrate looked at the Storm Callers and Storm Captains before continuing, as if making sure they didn’t have any objections. “Actually, Jarvi, we felt the same way.”
Benjamin sat up a bit straighter at that. Was it possible the Magistrate believed him?
The Magistrate rubbed his chin as he spoke. “You have to understand, this puts us in a very difficult position. Either Uther’s story is true, and a young woman somehow convinced one of the most even-keeled captains in the fleet to betray his allies over the course of a two-day journey, or Uther is working with Tor, which means at least two of our best stormships are engaged in a conspiracy to kill my son, frame a blacksmith for the murder, and work with the Barskall for some unknown purpose. Both are equally difficult to swallow.”
Benjamin leaned forward and looked the Magistrate in the eye. “And yet, we’re sitting here. I take it that means you’ve come to a conclusion.”
The Magistrate nodded. “Obviously, we’re a bit more inclined to believe the Storm Captain than the Arcadian blacksmith, so we called Uther here first. After he’d told us his story one more time, I asked him how Tor had taken Captain Roy’s betrayal. He said that Tor was shocked and disappointed, but that he hoped we would show Roy some mercy when we caught him, in appreciation for all his years of service. That was when we knew for sure Captain Uther was lying.”
One of the captains, a man named Stephen, shook his head. “I’ve known Tor a long time. He had many great qualities, but forgiveness ain’t one of them. If another captain betrayed Tor, he’d want them devoured by sharks. Slowly.”
Benjamin and Jarvi exchanged a glance. Jarvi looked as surprised as Benjamin felt.
“We arrested Uther, his Storm Caller, and his first mate immediately,” the Magistrate continued. “It took a while to round up his crew, but we got most of them. The jail is absolutely packed with those bastards. I’m not sure what we’re going to do with them long term, but we’ve got them for now.” He let out a sigh. “If they really are traitors, if Thunderclap has betrayed us and maybe Summer Wind has, too, we are in real danger. Thunderclap alone could do some serious damage to the city. We need to work on preparing our defense.”
“Perhaps we can be of some assistance,” Jarvi said. Benjamin shot him a look, but the older man ignored it. “My blacksmith friend doesn’t like to brag, but he’s a powerful magician in the Arcadian style. In fact, I’d venture to guess he could have broken out of that jail cell you had him in any time he wanted to.”
The Magistrate looked at Benjamin, the surprise clear on his face. “We knew you could do some parlor tricks and that you knocked down some of the city guards who came to arrest you in your shop. But this is going to be a real fight against dangerous individuals.”
Benjamin raised his hands and stretched them apart, so the chain between his shackles became taut. His eyes turned black, and a link near the middle of the chain turned red, then yellow, then white with heat. He pulled his hands wider, and the chain broke. The deformed, white-hot link fell onto the stone table in front of him.
The Storm Captains and Storm Callers stared at him, mouths agape.
“I think I can handle it,” Benjamin said. “If you want me to play a part in fighting Thunderclap, I’m happy to lend a hand.”
The door to the office flew open, and the Magistrate’s bookkeeper, Cybil, ran into the room.
“Good seas, woman, have you forgotten how to knock!” The Magistrate pushed back his chair and stood up at the interruption.
Cybil put her hands on her hips. “You’re going to want to hear this. A ship just pulled into port. It’s The Foggy Day.”
Now, it was Benjamin’s turn to leap from his seat. Abbey was home!
****
Abbey watched from the deck of The Foggy Day as they sailed toward Holdgate, and it grew from a speck on the horizon to the marvelous city where she’d spent most of her life. It was true that the people there hadn’t always—okay, ever—treated her like one of their own, but she still felt ownership over the place. She wanted to visit Arcadia someday to see where she’d come from and where her mother had spent her life, but Holdgate would always be home.
She turned to find Captain Roy standing at her shoulder.
“There you are. I’ve been looking for you.” Captain Roy paused before continuing. “Listen, Abbey, I think you should stay on the ship after we pull into port. We know the city guard is looking for you, and I’d rather not see you hauled off to jail.”
“Same here,” Abbey said dryly.
“Even the Magistrate wouldn’t dare board my ship without permission. As long as you stay aboard, they can’t arrest you. Syd, Dustin, and I will go to the Magistrate and make our case. When he understands the situation and after he’s released your father, then we’ll come get you.”
If h
e understands the situation. Abbey wasn’t confident it would be easy to convince him that the best Storm Captain in Holdgate was a traitor. “All right. I’ll stay aboard.”
The captain paused. “Well, that was certainly easier than I’d expected. I thought you’d argue that you wanted to be there when we explained things to the Magistrate.”
Abbey smiled. “I guess I’m starting to trust you.”
Roy laughed heartily and clapped her on the back.
They pulled alongside the dock, and a crowd began to gather. That was normal when stormships returned. Even the smaller ships like The Foggy Day received a hero’s welcome when returning from the north. But as the crew began to leave the ship, Abbey noticed the crowd was filling with more familiar faces. Storm Captains and Storm Callers, and soon even the Magistrate. And then she saw someone else.
“Dad!” Ignoring Captain Roy’s instruction, she raced to the gangplank, ran onto the dock, and headed straight for her father.
When she reached him, she grabbed him in a big hug. Neither of them spoke for a long moment. They just embraced, delighted at the reunion neither thought would happen so soon.
Finally, Abbey pulled away. “How’d you get out of jail?”
Benjamin nodded toward Jarvi, who Abbey hadn’t noticed up until now. “He and I did a little investigative work. Nothing special. Just solving murders and stuff.”
Abbey gave Jarvi a quick hug. “Thank you. For everything.”
Captain Roy appeared at her shoulder. “So much for waiting on the ship.”
Abbey grinned. “I figured if my father’s name was cleared, mine must be, too.”
The Magistrate looked at her. “Nothing’s clear quite yet. Let’s go back to my office. We have much to discuss.”
****
Dustin sat at the long table in the Magistrate’s office, on the left side with the Storm Callers. Captain Roy and the other Storm Captains sat across from him, and the Magistrate was at the head of the table.
Benjamin, Syd, Jarvi, and Abbey sat in chairs gathered near the foot of the table.
It took more than an hour to explain what had happened during The Foggy Day’s journey. Captain Roy and Dustin did most of the talking, since their positions gave their words an added weight. But when it came time to tell about the raid of Bode, Abbey took over. The faces around the table grew dark as she explained in great detail the destruction the Storm Raiders and Barskall Warriors had wrought upon the northern city.
Dustin then resumed the tale and told about how he, Syd, and Abbey had gone on the run, and about how they’d defended the mountain village from the Barskall’s attack. Captain Roy gave the details of their capture by Thunderclap.
“How the hell did you escape?” the Magistrate asked.
Captain Roy, Syd, and Dustin turned to Abbey.
“I, uh, sort of set Thunderclap on fire,” she said.
When they’d finished telling their story up through the sinking of Summer Wind and their return to Holdgate, the room fell silent.
Dustin considered the last time he’d been in this room. It had been after his Testing, when he was given his staff and his cloak, along with the disappointing assignment of working on The Foggy Day. He remembered how they’d been interrupted by the clap of thunder that signaled the return of Tor and his crew.
Dustin had been so in awe of Thunderclap then. How quickly things had changed.
After a few moments of silence, the Magistrate slammed his hand on the table. Everyone turned to him in surprise.
“Son of a bitch!” the Magistrate shouted. He took a deep breath, and his voice was quieter when he spoke again, though it sounded no less angry. “I was really hoping you’d say something that would contradict our suspicions. But unfortunately, I believe you’re telling the truth.”
Heads nodded around the table.
Dustin probably should have felt relief that they believed him, but instead he just felt anger. Tor had let these people down in the worst way possible.
Harald, Dustin’s old mentor, spoke next. “Tor’s gathering a Barskall army? He wants to conquer nations? How crazy is he? Doesn’t he know it was shit like that that brought down the old world?”
“The real question,” the Magistrate said, “is what we’re going to do about it. If I know Tor, he won’t let this affront stand. Burning his mainsail was smart, but it’s not going to delay him for long.”
Dustin raised an eyebrow. “Do you really think he’ll come back here?”
The Magistrate nodded. “I do. And it won’t be for a friendly chat. Now that the cat’s out of the bag as to his Storm Raiding, he has no reason to play nice. He’ll come to Holdgate to conquer it. And we need to be ready.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Dustin made his way down a familiar street. As a kid, he’d played there nearly every day, but as he’d gotten older and his Storm Calling apprenticeship became more important to him, he’d avoided it. Those days were over now.
As he reached the blacksmith shop, he paused in front of the door. It had been a long while since he’d been in there, too. But Benjamin had invited him, and he wasn’t about to turn the man down.
He took a deep breath and stepped inside.
Benjamin greeted him with a nod. “Not wearing your Storm Caller cloak today?”
Dustin looked down at his plain clothes and smiled. “You know, when I was an apprentice, I thought I’d never take the cloak off once I earned it. Now… I guess things are a little more complicated than I thought.”
Benjamin nodded. “Believe me, I understand. There was a time I wanted to be part of a magical organization, too. It didn’t turn out so great for me. The good news is, the Storm Callers are redeemable. A lot of them truly want to do good. We just have to weed out Tor and his friends.”
“Easier said than done. The last time I faced Dahlia, I didn’t do so hot. I’m lucky we made it out of there.”
“That’s sort of what I want to talk to you about. Come with me.” Benjamin led him to the back of the shop, past the forge and the anvil, to the storeroom. The shelves were lined with swords, helmets, horseshoes, and iron tools, all neatly arranged by type. He turned to Dustin, a serious look on his face. “You told us about the battle in the mountain village. How you stood on a tower and used your storm magic while Abbey fended off the Barskall Warriors.”
Dustin nodded. “She saved my life that day. It wasn’t the only time, either.”
“From the way she tells it, you repaid the favor once or twice.”
“I guess we make a pretty good team,” Dustin said.
Benjamin smiled. “Always have. Ever since you were kids. You two have been outsmarting bullies twice your size from the time you could walk. Now, with Tor… Well, I’m glad to see you’re still fighting bullies.”
Dustin hadn’t thought of it that way, but the blacksmith was right.
Benjamin held up a finger. “I want to show you something. I made it a long time ago, when I first came to Holdgate, and I think it might be useful.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a weapon of sorts.” Benjamin turned toward a shelf covered with a variety of items, the only one in the room that wasn’t carefully organized. “When I first got to the city, I was fascinated with Storm Callers. The way you do magic is so much different than the way I’d learned it. Storm magic is powerful, but it has a fatal flaw.”
Dustin cocked his head. “What’s that?”
“Controlling the weather is great if you’re on a ship fighting another ship from a distance. But Storm Calling is crap for up close combat. That’s why Abbey had to defend you in that tower, right?”
“I suppose so,” Dustin allowed.
“I know it’s here somewhere.” Benjamin continued rummaging around on the shelf. “Anyway, I got to thinking, what if you don’t have people protecting you while you’re Storm Calling? Shouldn’t you have a way to protect yourself up close? So, I built this.”
He pulled something off the shelf a
nd held it out to Dustin. At first glance, it looked like a normal, wooden Storm Caller’s staff. But then he noticed the blue stone at the top and its iron setting.
“What is it?” Dustin asked.
“It’s magitech. It’s an Arcadian method of building magical devices. You can use it as a Storm Calling staff. But if anyone gets too close, check this out.” He pointed to a line of iron running down the back of the staff. It ended in a tiny hook. “Simply point the staff at them and pull this hook. It’ll knock them back so hard they’ll think twice about getting back up again.”
Dustin ran his hand along the length of the staff. He loved the idea of being able to defend himself from attackers on the battlefield.
Benjamin gazed at the staff and shook his head. “When I made this thing, I intended to give it as a gift to Dahlia in hopes the city would accept me and Abbey. Thankfully, I came to my senses.”
Dustin winced at the thought. “Why’d you change your mind?”
“I started dealing with the Storm Captains. Honestly, they were such assholes that I didn’t feel much like giving them anything. Plus, I decided it might not be wise to advertise my magical abilities.”
Dustin smiled. “You certainly never hid them from me.”
“That wasn’t on purpose. You were around so much, I’d often forget you were here.”
The young Storm Caller laughed. He hefted the staff, and it felt right. “Thank you for this.”
Benjamin nodded. “The power in that crystal won’t last forever. Use it sparingly.” He paused for a moment. “Just promise me one thing. When the battle comes, do everything you can to protect Abbey.”
Dustin almost laughed at that. “Sir, if there’s one thing I learned on our voyage north, it’s that Abbey doesn’t need any protecting. It might be Thunderclap who needs protecting from her.”
****
Abbey and Syd walked through the center of town, where a ragtag group of fifty men and women was gathered.
