Ruin & Reliance

by Jeremy Dwyer

  Ressa’Bidrik drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from her vial to be further energized with the powers of light and far sight. She focused her power to peer around the hills along the road and see the island’s western coast. Her face turned pale and she said: “No! It’s already too late!”

  “What!?” Gil’Arix asked.

  “We have to run back! The farmers are all lying down, sick, and their faces are burnt! They’re vomiting, bleeding and passing out! The fields are destroyed!” Ressa’Bidrik said.

  “Run!” Gil’Arix said. He ran back toward the lighthouse, dragging Ressa’Bidrik with him. She stumbled but then pushed herself to match his pace out of fear of meeting the same fate. She bent the light to look behind her and saw that the low-lying red cloud was going along a different path because its movement was blocked by the hills. They hurried into the lighthouse and closed the door behind them.

  Ressa’Bidrik entered the side room and lay down on the bed to catch her breath. Gil’Arix went in to see that she was safe, but then concentrated to communicate through the red stars. He transmitted a signal, describing what Ressa’Bidrik had told him.

  “I sent the signal. I warned them. Catch your breath. You’re going to be fine,” Gil’Arix said.

  Ressa’Bidrik struggled to catch her breath. After fifteen (15) tense minutes, she finally calmed herself enough. Then, she laid back on the bed and said: “hold me.”

  “You’re going to be fine,” Gil’Arix said.

  “Yes. I’ll be fine if you come over here and hold me,” Ressa’Bidrik said.

  Gil’Arix sat down on the bed and held her hand.

  “Lay next to me and hold me,” Ressa’Bidrik said.

  “I’m going to look after you. Like you said, we’re a team. I want to make sure you didn’t push yourself too hard during that run,” Gil’Arix said.

  “Being a team means we have to be close. Let me feel you close to me,” Ressa’Bidrik said.

  Gil’Arix laid down on the bed next to Ressa’Bidrik and hugged her.

  “That’s nice,” she purred.

  “You’re going to be fine,” Gil’Arix said.

  “Only when you get closer…a lot closer,” Ressa’Bidrik said.

  ~~~

  In Western District Nineteen (19) of the continent of Ihalik, Fantine finished examining the newly constructed crystal city. Niven recorded images of three (3) of the new buildings into the facets of yet another lightkeeper crystal, for a total of fourteen (14) such gems.

  “I’m convinced the city is structurally sound. These lightkeeper crystals should convince the commissioners,” Fantine said.

  “If the inspection and imaging are done, then I insist on being provided with a copy of the lightkeeper crystals, under the authority of the Oath,” Ximenez said.

  “Yes, we already agreed to that. The commissioners will need a copy, and I want the originals,” Fantine said.

  “There are fourteen (14) of them. Let me get to work,” Niven said. He produced another set of fourteen (14) blank lightkeeper crystals from his coat pocket and held them up so that the light of the many suns shone through the originals – whose facets bore the images of the cities – and emblazoned a copy onto the blanks. He did this a second time, and handed that copy to Ximenez.

  Ximenez said “thank you” and began to examine the lightkeeper crystals he was handed, turning them and gazing into their facets. He then placed these into a pocket in his own coat.

  “Let’s get back to the ship,” Fantine said. She took Niven’s hand into her own and walked back toward the Sandstone Cutter, which was docked in an open area nearby. Ximenez followed them as they went up the boarding ramp and stepped on deck.

  “Where to next?” Captain Arata asked.

  “We’re done the inspection and imaging process, Captain. Let’s go back to the coast and meet the commissioners,” Fantine said.

  “On our way,” Captain Arata said.

  Fantine and Niven followed Captain Arata as he entered the wheelhouse, and Ximenez followed them.

  Captain Arata pulled levers to elevate the vessel to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude. He steered the Sandstone Cutter westward, back towards the coast, and returned to sea level in the Gradaken Ocean. He sailed the ship into port, next to the Industrious Metal Miner North Eleven. Arata then pulled levers to extend the boarding ramp and drop the anchor. He exited the wheelhouse and walked out on deck, followed by his passengers. “Something’s wrong! Look! Those dock workers are sick!” the captain said.

  Ximenez looked over the side of the Sandstone Cutter and down to the pier below. Dozens of dock workers were hunched over, coughing, vomiting and moaning. Some appeared to be burnt, and some of the vomit looked like it might contain blood. A faint red mist hung in the air and he looked in every direction to see its size and position.

  Niven followed the Chronicler’s gaze and saw what was happening. He pulled Fantine close to him and ran across the deck, into the wheelhouse. Captain Arata hurried after him, followed by Ximenez.

  Fantine started coughing as Niven held her. He pulled her closer and said: “No! No! Don’t you get sick on me! You’re going to be fine!”

  Captain Arata fell to the floor, coughing and vomiting blood.

  Ximenez felt no sickness, but he did see a trace of the red mist.

  “It’s this red mist or something. It’s a poison!” Niven said. He drank anew of the waters of the Trerada Ocean from his vial and was further energized with the powers of health and vitality. Niven felt the mist touch his skin but was unaffected by it.

  Fantine nearly fell to the ground, held up only by Niven’s grip. She began to vomit, and there was blood.

  Niven got down on the floor and held her tight and said: “You’re going to get better! Don’t give up! Just hold on! I love you!”

  “He..help…help…help me,” Fantine gasped.

  “Please tell me you didn’t see this before and refuse to tell us! I know you’re a Chronicler but I swear I will punch your face in if you knew what was happening and didn’t warn us because of your stupid Oath!” Niven said.

  “My eyes are no better than yours. I didn’t see this until after Captain Arata mentioned it,” Ximenez said.

  Niven held Fantine close and watched her struggle, coughing and vomiting, and there was still blood.

  Captain Arata coughed intensely, vomited much more blood and then passed out.

  Ximenez recorded all of this into his book in horrifically exquisite detail.

  ~~~

  From the spirit world, the Guardian Angel Ondothel continued watching over Ximenez. He protected the Chronicler from sickness and harm while he performed his duty under the Oath.

  ~~~

  Niven held Fantine close, despite her sickness, and he supported her while she coughed and retched. He noticed that there was only a bit of blood, unlike in Captain Arata’s case, which was more intense.

  Ximenez drank anew of the waters of the Ursegan Ocean from his vial to be energized with the power to slow the passage of time within and around himself. He touched Captain Arata’s wrist, felt his pulse and recorded it into the book.

  “Well? Is he dead?” Niven asked.

  “If you want to know what’s going on, you’re going to have to examine the matter for yourself. As a Chronicler, I am bound not to give assistance or helpful information. Even if I want to, I can’t. There are times I’ve wanted to,” Ximenez said.

  Niven looked around and saw no more traces of the red mist. “I don’t feel it anymore. The red mist thinned out a lot. I can’t even see it,” he said.

  Fantine spit up a mixture of saliva and a bit of blood to clear her throat. She said: “I don’t feel the red mist anymore. But I feel sick. I don’t think I can walk without help. I’m tired.”

  “You want to see what’s going on?” Niven asked.

  “I just want to get better. Don’t leave me,” Fantine said. She then spit up again, but there was a little more blood this tim
e.

  “I mean the Chronicler. Do you want to see what’s going on? Wake up the captain, if he’s not dead already, and get him to sail out of here. It’s no good just floating around here, waiting for things to change. We can see more if we move the ship around, and figure out where the problem is, and where it’s going to. Wherever the wind blows, this poison mist is going to go,” Niven said.

  “I agree,” Ximenez said. He walked back to Captain Arata and measured his pulse, finding it weaker. “Can you sail a ship?” he asked.

  “He’s dead, isn’t he?” Niven asked.

  Ximenez said nothing.

  “Never mind. I’ll try,” Niven said. He lifted Fantine to a standing position and helped her to sit on a bench behind the ship’s wheel. He then steered the Sandstone Cutter but it didn’t move. “Oh! Right! The anchor! The boarding ramp!” he said, realizing his error. He pulled levers to retract the boarding ramp and raise the anchor. Niven then steered the ship, awkwardly maneuvering the vessel.

  The door to the wheelhouse opened suddenly and Commissioner Hannah entered, followed by Commissioner Wallace and his twenty (20) armed guards, then Captain Gijsbert and Romey.

  “How did you get through that…that red mist or whatever it is? These people are sick? Why aren’t you?” Niven asked.

  “We’re sick! Believe me! But it’s not as bad if you don’t stand still. The poison burns worse when you rest. I don’t know why,” Commissioner Hannah said.

  “What happens when you have to sleep?” Niven asked.

  “There’s no time for sleep!” Commissioner Wallace said. He coughed repeatedly and brought up some blood.

  “You’re no sailor. Let me take that wheel,” Captain Gijsbert said.

  “All yours, Captain,” Niven said.

  Captain Gijsbert took hold of the wheel of the Sandstone Cutter and steered it carefully and skillfully out of port. He consulted the charted course, written on a note that Romey gave him earlier, and began sailing the Sandstone Cutter southwestward across the Gradaken Ocean.

  “Where are you sailing?” Ximenez asked.

  “To the Provincial Isles. They’ve got the best herbalists in the world. If there’s a cure for this poison, they’ll be the ones to find it,” Captain Gijsbert said. He coughed and spat up a few drops of blood.

  “If…there’s…time,” Romey said. She coughed intensely, cleared her throat and spat up a few drops of blood.

  “There’s no time to wait. We talked about this already,” Commissioner Hannah said. She coughed and spat, bringing up a drop of blood.

  “Yeah, I know. I was the one who charted the course,” Romey said.

  “We’ll take turns sailing and walking around. That way, we can both fight this thing off,” Captain Gijsbert said. He coughed and spat up a drop of blood.

  “I’ll walk first,” Romey said. She exited the wheelhouse and walked around the deck of the Sandstone Cutter.

  “I’ll take turns if needed. I’m no sailor, but I can navigate with math and read a written star chart,” Commissioner Hannah said.

  “Help by checking if he’s dead,” Captain Gijsbert said.

  Commissioner Hannah knelt down beside Captain Arata and felt his pulse. “His pulse is very weak,” she said.

  “Let’s wake him up, get him on his feet and get him walking around,” Commissioner Wallace said. Two (2) armed guards from among the twenty (20) helped to lift up Captain Arata. “Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!” one of them said. The other guard somewhat gently shook the captain.

  “Wha? Huh?” Captain Arata mumbled with his eyes barely open.

  “See! It’s working!” Commissioner Wallace said.

  “Let’s walk him around outside,” Commissioner Hannah said. She exited the wheelhouse, followed by Commissioner Wallace and his twenty (20) armed guards, escorting the semi-conscious Captain Arata.

  Niven turned toward Fantine and helped her stand up. “Let’s go out on deck and walk around,” he said. He escorted Fantine out of the wheelhouse and they walked around the ship’s deck, slowly but surely.

  “This isn’t good. But it’s a little better,” Fantine said.

  “Keep walking. I’m with you, all the way,” Niven said. He held her with his right arm around her waist and his left hand on hers. They walked back and forth across the deck of the Sandstone Cutter. “They’re going to find a cure,” he said.

  “You think so? You trust them?” Fantine asked. She coughed and spat up a drop of blood.

  “They were right about walking. I’m willing to trust them,” Niven said.

  “I trust you,” Fantine said. She spat up again, and there was significant blood mixed with the saliva.

  “Let’s keep moving,” Niven said and he continued to walk with Fantine, holding her tightly, fearing the worst, but believing that there was at least some hope for a cure.

  Commissioners Hannah and Wallace, Captain Arata, the twenty (20) armed guards and Romey paced around on deck nearby, all struggling to work off the effects of the poison.

  Ximenez walked out on deck and observed everything that was done and said. He recorded the events into his book, and looked for signs of the red mist that seemed to bring the sickness, but saw no sign of it as the ship sailed southwestward across the Gradaken Ocean.

  ~~~

  Sedavidian Island in the Gradaken Ocean lay twenty-nine (29) miles north of the Provincial Isles.

  Colonel Lodokus knelt on the sandy shore, vomiting up blood. “The traitors! They made this poison!” he gasped.

  Lieutenant Mazavida knelt beside him, coughing but with little blood in the mucus she produced. She drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from her vial to be energized with the powers of light and far sight. She gazed out over the ocean waters, turned slowly and looked out one hundred twelve (112) miles in every direction. “Yes, Colonel Lodokus, the traitors are to blame for this. I don’t see their ships just yet, but I will see them in time,” she said.

  “Why…aren’t you…sick…like me?” Colonel Lodokus asked. He coughed and then vomited again, bringing up more blood.

  “I do feel slightly sick, Colonel. I don’t know why you are worse. But I will remain loyal to you as long as you are fit to command,” Lieutenant Mazavida said. She spat up more mucus, and there was a small amount of blood in it.

  Colonel Lodokus struggled to stand up. He drank anew of the waters of the Gradaken Ocean from his vial and was energized with the power to control plants and animals. He walked to the edge of the shore and into the shallow ocean waters. He exercised his powers and a sea serpent approached. The creature lifted its head, revealing the upper third of its one hundred fifteen (115) feet of length. He gave it direction and the sea serpent swam out to sea. Colonel Lodokus repeated this process, eleven (11) more times. He then returned to the shore and said: “The serpents will find the traitors and strike them with a deadlier poison than they have used against us. If we must die, so must they, and even worse.”

  “Colonel! You seem to have your health back!” Lieutenant Mazavida said.

  “No, Lieutenant Mazavida. I still feel quite sick. I am only less sick, but I am still very weak,” Colonel Lodokus said. He walked past Lieutenant Mazavida and further inland. He then walked back towards her and said: “Get up, Lieutenant! Walking lessens the poison’s effect.”

  Lieutenant Mazavida struggled to stand up and asked: “How?”

  “I don’t know yet. This is unlike venom, which gets worse when you move. I should think this is something else. Just keep moving, to lessen the potency,” Colonel Lodokus said. He walked around in circles near the shore, with Lieutenant Mazavida following him for two (2) hours.

  “I don’t feel quite as sick while walking. If this poison can be lessened, it can be cured, can it not, Colonel?” Lieutenant Mazavida asked.

  “That is a reasonable idea, Lieutenant. However, the strike that I have ordered cannot be cured, except by the Trerada waters, or the finest herbal medicines. Sea serpent venom kills quickl
y,” Colonel Lodokus said.

  “I do feel tired from the walking. What happens when we need to sleep, Colonel?” Lieutenant Mazavida asked.

  “The sickness will likely worsen again. Your new orders are not to sleep until a cure is found,” Colonel Lodokus said.

  “How can I do that, Colonel?” Lieutenant Mazavida said.

  “The enemy never sleeps. Neither shall we, Lieutenant,” Colonel Lodokus said.

  ~~~

  The red mist rolled over the Port of Sedurabrith, in western Meridianus, passing among the crystal buildings of the newly constructed city. Men, women and children were dropped to their knees in the city streets.

  Inside the wheelhouse of the Plenteous, Consolata remained on her knees but continued using her powers of light and far sight. “As the red mist passes over the people, they’re all falling ill, my lord,” she said.

  “Remain calm, Consolata. Tell me what else you see. Drink fresh waters if you must, but focus,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  Consolata drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from her vial and was further energized with the powers of light and far sight. She focused her powers and said: “It’s not just the people becoming ill. The fields of wheat and corn on the city’s eastern side are spoiling. The crops are rotting and burning before my very eyes.”

  “Are the people burning or dying?” Duke Rowan asked.

  “A few people are burnt. A lot of them are coughing up blood. None seem to be dying…yet. The red mist is moving eastward, very quickly,” Consolata said.

  “This is a poison. We will find the cure, and they will thank us for it,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “Where can we find the cure? Where should I sail? They need us to act quickly!” Allegria asked. She was still kneeling, holding the ship’s wheel.

  Duke Rowan stroked Allegria’s hair and said: “Be calm, Allegria. Do not panic. We will do what we must.”

  “I don’t ever want you to be sick, my lord. I love you, and I long for you,” Allegria said.

  “Allegria, chart a course for the Provincial Isles. The finest herbalists in the world are found there, and they can formulate a cure to any poison,” Grand Duke Braden said.