“I brought you a bucket if you need a new one,” Kira says as she climbs up to the crow’s nest. The dark-skinned woman shivers in the high winds, her black tunic and matching pants designed more for desert travel. “We should be reaching Anpress within an hour or two. That means you and I don’t have much time left. Ready to talk about what’s been on your mind or are you going to leave me wondering until we meet again?”
“What makes you think I have something on my mind?”
Kira rolls her emerald eyes and drops the empty bucket at the forest tracker’s feet. “Let me think about that for a second. You’re bunking with Timoran instead of me because you claim he misses his wife and wants company. You could have fooled me considering how happy the big guy is when up on deck or at meals. I see you rubbing your palms against the rubies in your saber hilts when you think nobody is looking. That’s the sign that you’re nervous. As someone who suffers from seasickness, you’ve repeatedly picked the place with the most amount of jerky movement. My crew is on edge because they think you’re going to throw up on them as they pass below. Finally and most importantly, contrary to how I acted when we first met, I’m not an idiot, Luke Callindor.”
“Well if you’re so smart then what am I thinking about, Ms. Grasdon?” Luke asks, hoping to salvage some of his pride or get a laugh. Instead, he receives a withering glare and hears a faint sizzle from the red streak going down the middle of Kira’s ebony hair and onto her back. “Fine. I feel guilty about Sari being in danger. One of the reasons she went with Delvin is because she wanted some time away from me. As much as I understand that, it should have been me that went to the jungle. I’m a forest tracker and the spirits would be just as useful as Sari’s naiad powers. For the life of me, I don’t remember why we divided the way that we did. Sorry, but I know how you feel about her and I didn’t want to upset you.”
Kira sits on the railing and hooks her feet around one of the dowels, the urge to look down stronger than she imagined. The heiress considers letting Luke believe she is annoyed, but the hint of anguish on his face stops her from playing games. Instead, the young woman patiently watches a pelican soar by the boat and dive into the ocean. The bird returns with a large fish wriggling in its mouth and the two battle for a minute or two before the prey is swallowed. A group of dolphins pass under the boat, the agile beasts leaping from the water while giving chase to a school of silver herring. Not much further away, a serpentine body briefly breaks the surface and vanishes with the flourish of a wide, fan-like tail. Everywhere Kira looks, she finds something to keep her attention and delay her answer, but she can no longer take Luke’s blank stare boring into her back.
“Sari and I made some peace before she left the ship, but I’ll admit it does hurt a bit to see you so torn up about her,” the heiress says, deciding to be honest. The forest tracker winces as if she has punched him in the side, which does not make her feel any more comfortable about the conversation. “Please don’t take it personally because it’ll be a while before I get used to the situation. I understand the guilt and you second guessing everything. Not that it does any good, which is a lesson you simply refuse to learn. Do you really think this mess would be so different if it was you lost in the jungle instead of Sari?”
“It might have been,” Luke argues, not sounding so sure of his answer. A sudden lurch of the ship turns the half-elf green and he grabs the bucket as a precaution. “Seems most decisions I make end up getting people in trouble or killed. Especially you and Sari, which makes me think my love is cursed. Are we still on a break?”
“No idea since we slept in separate rooms, but still shared a few salty kisses,” Kira says with a shrug. The jerk of Luke’s body gives her enough time to turn away while his seasickness gets the best of him. “Stop looking at this as being about you. I mean, it is a little about you since Sari needed distance. Though most of it revolves around Nyx and Delvin, which is why the silly gypsy went with him in the first place. The romance with you has run its course and she wants to make sure her big sister gets a happy ending. All of this went over your head, Luke, but one only has to look outside of their own ego to see the truth.”
“Why do I feel like you just insulted me?”
“That would be your guilt since I meant in general.”
“You sounded oddly specific.”
Kira slides off the railing and starts to reach for Luke’s face, stopping when he heaves into the bucket again. “Maybe there was a tiny barb in there. After all, things involving women tend to elude you unless they hit you over the head with a blunt object. Ego might have been a bad word to use since I think it’s more that you never consider every emotional path. Love keeps taking you by surprise, which is both adorable and frustrating. Perhaps it’s time to stop thinking of how you could have changed the past. There’s nothing any of us can do about Sari going off with Delvin and getting captured. Only thing left to do is get them out of trouble and learn from our mistakes.”
“All of us certainly have a lot of those,” Luke says with a wry smile. He rummages in his pockets for the last ginger pill, but a sudden jolt to the ship causes him to drop it to the distant deck. “Then again, there are times I believe the gods are having fun at my expense. Gabriel once said that destiny still allows for free will since he can’t predict how we’ll react to a planned event. Now I wonder how that works in regards to the champions. We’re part of a prophecy that has been going on for so long that it’s possible to either have lost all free will or it’s become the dominate force. Guess what I’m saying is that I have a bad feeling things are more unbalanced than we realize.”
“How does this relate to your guilt about Sari?”
“I’ve no idea, but I’m getting worried that it means something bad.”
“Like someone is going to die bad?”
“We already know at least one of us is doomed.”
“And you think it’s you.”
Before Luke can answer, a whistle rings out from the wheel and the burly captain calls for his men to prepare for docking. Turning to the shore, Luke can see that Anpress is close enough for him to make out the wooden huts among the trees. Several smaller vessels are nearby, their barely clothed owners shouting at the larger ship for startling the fish. Many of them pack up their gear and head for the interior since the incoming storm will hit before their prey returns. Luke watches them disappear into the trees where he assumes the mouth of a river is hidden. An unexpected stirring in the back of his head makes him want to leap off the ship and plunge into the jungle. At first he thinks it is the griffin spirit, but the desire to slither through the trees reveals that the snake fiend is excited.
“Pike is actually getting used to being a spirit form. Though I think Lucy and Stiletto are still unsure about him,” the blonde half-elf says, a forked tongue darting out of his mouth. He can see the question on Kira’s lips and coaxes the reptile into a restless slumber. “I’ve been using the snake fiend spirit more often. You’d be surprised what a snake fiend is capable of since we tend to think of them as cowardly scavengers. Anyway, he wanted a name and Pike is the best I could think up. He doesn’t really like it. I promised to ask Delvin for something better once we rescue him. So . . . do I get a kiss before I leave?”
“Not with that forked tongue,” Kira replies with a smirk. Luke opens his mouth to prove the change has been reversed, but a faint odor makes the heiress hold her nose. “And especially not with that breath. Too bad you lost that ginger pill since it have helped your case. Better luck next time, hero.”
“The gods really do have it in for me,” he mutters before the ship makes a jerky movement and his attention is back on the bucket.
*****
Their desire to not draw attention fails immediately as the hardworking locals cannot stop gawking at the champions. Nobody is sure if it is the towering barbarian, who secretly has an invisible drite on his shoulder, or the silver-haired woman that gets the most amount of wide-eyed stares. Several people are c
urious about the black fur vest that Timoran wears since he is not sweating from the heavy-looking garment. The sickly forest tracker garners a few looks of pity, but the people of Anpress keep their distance due to Luke clutching his sabers. With most of the attention diverted to the other three, only a handful of workers notice Nyx walking toward the dockmaster’s shack. The slender, tattooed man gives the smiling half-elf a quick glance before returning to the tedious task of repairing a broken fishing net. As he works, his eyes remain focused on the incoming storm even when the young woman is standing a few feet away and bowing her head.
“Excuse me, but I’m looking for two friends of mine that came through here about a month ago,” Nyx says in a polite voice. With her hands behind her back and an innocent twinkle in her violet eyes, she seems no more dangerous than a child. “One of them is a blue-haired girl that wears pretty skirts and flirts a lot. The other is a handsome man whose shield has a winged deer on it. He might have seemed unnaturally relaxed if you talked to him. You see, we were supposed to get together with them and they never showed up to the meeting. I’m worried and would really appreciate you pointing us in the right direction.”
“I vaguely remember them,” the man replies, his eyes falling on the channeler’s pouch. A roll of his tongue makes his cheeks puff out before he spits over the side of the dock. “It’s hard to recall since I’m busy handling a crisis. Fishing has been pretty poor, so the locals don’t have much to share. My job nets me a bit of everyone’s catch, but that’s nothing if everyone is suffering.”
“I completely understand what you mean,” Nyx claims while subtly glancing at the shack’s open door. Three large bushels of fish are in plain view, but makes no sign that she sees them or that she is annoyed by the man’s attempt to trick her. “Unfortunately, I don’t have much money on me. Kind of have a tiny spending problem. You should see my shoe and matching dress collection back home. So my companions have to hold onto the money and I don’t think they’d be happy to part with even one gold coin. They’re already angry about the situation, especially the really big guy. He’s a barbarian from the northern mountains, so you can imagine what the heat is doing to his temper.”
The dockmaster looks at Timoran in time for the large man to turn around and give a clear view of his tiger-striped great axe. “That would be a problem. You seem like a nice woman and I remember the two strangers, so I’ll point you in the right direction. We have a local ferry system that begins at the Worming River, which you’ll find on the northern side of the village. Just be careful who you talk to because they transport convicts more often than guests. Make sure you talk to the forgiver and not the executioner.”
“Thank you, sir. Good luck with the storm. Seems like it’s going to be a mean one.”
Nyx skips back to her friends and motions for them to follow her toward the northern side of the village. Suspicious of the outsiders, the locals remain in their simple homes and watch from the shadows as the champions pass through the vacant streets. Most eyes are on Dariana, who picks up on the tension and fear directed toward her. An undercurrent of hate hits her from a few sources, but the telepath is sure it is not specifically about her presence. As they get closer to the river, she catches sight of barely clothed prisoners being loaded onto boats with bells adorning the front and back. She pries into a defenseless mind to catch a glimpse of their friends boarding one of the vessels and disappearing into the jungle. Driven by a sense of dread, the silver-haired champion delves further into her unseen and unaware target. Look thumbing through a book with sticky pages, she discovers every possible danger along the river and the person’s deep hated of anyone who comes from a fae lineage. By the time the adventurers turn the corner of a building and stop in front of three spear-wielding guards, Dariana knows exactly what is going on in the village of Anpress.
“May I help you?” a cloaked woman says from behind the warriors. Her features are hidden by the large cowl and her billowing sleeves conceal her hands, making it impossible to read her body language. “We are in the middle of organizing our next pilgrimage to the Judges. Please come back another day.”
“We’re here to see the forgiver. Are you this person or are you the executioner?” Nyx asks with another warm smile. At the mention of the two titles, the guards lower their weapons and move back to allow their leader through. “I was talking to the dockmaster and he told me to come here. Three of our friends came this way and we haven’t heard from them since they entered the jungle. One was a blue-haired girl, another was a young man with a fancy shield, and the third was a purple drite. We were told you sent them down the river along with some prisoners.”
“I remember them and they were going to ask the Judges for directions,” the woman explains, her arm rising to stop a group of warriors from flanking the adventurers. Her head turns to Dariana and cocks to the side in mild curiosity. “I am the forgiver and we can make a special trip for you. The Judges are always willing to help those who are in need. Give us a few minutes and we can prepare a ship to take you down the river.”
Nyx darts forward and catches the woman by the sleeve for an excited shake, a few tears rolling down her cheeks. “Thank you so much for helping us. I’m really worried about my friends. Especially the man because he and I are . . . expecting. Very early and this stress is not good for the baby. So I’m very thankful that you can help us out. Do you have any idea what could have happened to them? My fiancée is a highly skilled warrior and this isn’t his first time in the jungle, so I’m surprised he hasn’t come back.”
“I’m afraid I know nothing about the workings of the Judges. They are a mystery to all of us who work at the river mouth.”
“The Judges are predators, there’s no such thing as a forgiver, and this woman plans on feeding us to her pets. These people are part of a cult called the Order of the Kehryhor and they hunt down fae-blooded like Sari,” Dariana reports, causing the warriors to aim their weapons at her. Unconcerned with the mild threat, she yawns before locking their bodies with a mental pulse. “I’m sorry, but we shouldn’t be wasting any time with tricks. Although the pregnancy and missing fiancée lie was impressive for a spontaneous idea. Now, my friend here is about ready to explode from being so kind and polite when she really wants to hit something. Then set it on fire before hitting it again.”
The cracking of knuckles can be heard as Nyx squeezes the cultist’s hand and forces the woman to her knees. Timoran and Luke draw their weapons as Fizzle materializes and takes to the air, a trail of rainbow mist left in his wake. None of the champions get to fight since Dariana has the opposing warriors drop their spears and stiffly line up against a building. Dragging the screaming woman toward a nearby well, Nyx flips her into the opening and maintains her tight grip. Flailing wildly, the cultist’s cowl falls back to reveal a young face and red eyes that are bulging with terror. With her boots turning red, the half-elf heats the water below until it is a bubbling soup that sends steam flowing into the open sky.
“I’m not that strong, so I might drop you if you don’t talk quickly,” Nyx claims, pretending to have her legs buckle. She licks her lips and casually swings her enemy in a circle. “This is going to leave a bad taste in my mouth later, but I’m sick and tired of people messing with my family. If I have to be a terrifying monster to keep them safe then I’m more than willing to fill that role and laugh while doing it. By the way, which building is the one that you and your friends work out of?”
“The one that my men are lined up against,” the woman answers without hesitation. Her shoulder pops as she pulls herself high enough to clasp the half-elf’s other wrist with her free hand. “My order will hunt you down if you lay waste to us. A few foreigners with tricks won’t stand a chance against our army and pets. For your own survival, you should consider your friends dead and leave the jungle. Otherwise, we will go to war with you.”
“Then let me show you what you’ll be up against,” the channeler whispers as a fireball appears between he
r eyes. The destructive spell bloats and is about to launch toward the building when Luke steps in the way. “What are you doing, little brother? Let me put a little more fear into these people.”
“I know you’re angry, but you shouldn’t set fire to their building,” the forest tracker states, taking a step to the right when the spell shifts. “Remember that we have no problem with the other locals, Nyx. We’re in a jungle, so a fire can spread pretty easily. So maybe you should let someone else have a little fun at our enemies’ expense.”
Dariana has the cultists move away from the building as Timoran approaches the mud and wood structure. The barbarian tightens his grip on his great axe, turning the weapon so that he will strike with the blunt side instead of the edge. He stops abruptly and moves to the other side of the building, not wanting to risk any nearby homes. Focusing on his desire to destroy the small headquarters, Timoran can feel a magical serenity seep from the Ring of Aintaranurh and spread throughout his body. Orange energy flows from the relic, which becomes blood red as it bonds to the spark of aura inside its owner. Instead of relaxing his muscles, the enchanting calm makes them stronger and more flexible. When he is ready, the barbarian roars and swings his great axe at the building. With a boom that scares flocks of birds into the sky, the cultists’ headquarters snaps around its base and is sent rolling toward the river. A handful of cloaked members are cowering inside and they remain hiding even after realizing they have been exposed.
“Guess that was more entertaining to watch than fire,” Nyx mutters before turning her attention back to the woman in the well. She dips the cultist low enough that it looks like both of them are about to tumble into the sweltering shaft. “Are you ready to tell me everything you know about my friends? I like the heat, so you’re going to pass out long before I do. Not sure I can hold onto you after you go limp.”
Charms of the Feykin Page 5
