Ruin & Reliance

by Jeremy Dwyer

  “Open up and drink the waters for daddy,” Taesa said.

  Emerond then gave the Trerada waters to Trent and the boy sipped them from the uncapped vial. He immediately perked up and smiled. “More water! Thirsty!” Trent said.

  “He’s waterbound,” Emerond said.

  “We need to get going. Please follow me,” Kaija said. She walked toward the Consecration of the Hopeful and Taesa, Caroline and Emerond – still carrying Trent – followed her up the boarding ramp.

  “Romana, can you show them to their cabin?” Kaija asked when the new passengers boarded.

  ~~~

  “Yes,” Romana said. She led Caroline, Taesa and Emerond – along with Trent – across the deck of the ship and into a spare cabin.

  “Do you actually have a plan to find a cure? Please don’t tell me about your religion, Romana. I just want to know about reality,” Caroline said.

  “We’re going to the Provincial Isles. The best herbalists in the world are there. They can help to discover the cure and I can follow their instructions to make more doses of it,” Romana said.

  “Why do you need my daughter’s help?” Caroline asked.

  “Do you remember her song Hope Lights All Skies? She cured the burning sickness in hundreds of children during the inferno. You were there. You know this is true. Any help we can get – any lives we can save – is needed. I don’t know for sure what form the cure will take. Maybe there’s more than one kind of cure,” Romana said.

  “This isn’t the life I wanted for my family,” Caroline said.

  “I don’t like this, either. The problems keep coming. We have to keep working to solve them,” Romana said.

  “Maybe if your God would step in and help, things would get better,” Caroline said.

  “I thought you didn’t want to talk about religion,” Romana said.

  Caroline just nodded her head and remained quiet.

  “If you really want it, we can have this argument later. For now, we’ve got work to do,” Romana said.

  “Let’s get some rest,” Taesa said. She sat down on the bed and Emerond placed Trent down next to Taesa before sitting on a seat. Caroline just stood and looked at them, not knowing what to say.

  “Emerond, thank you for coming. I feel better knowing that you can be here to help us,” Romana said.

  “We all need to do our best. I’ve got a family to take care of, so I can’t just wait around, or the problems will get even worse. Believe me, I don’t actually want to be here, either,” Emerond said.

  “I feel the same way. We need to meet under better circumstances. If things can ever settle down, I won’t complain about some rest and relaxation, especially if it lasts a long time. I’d rather have a family of my own at this point,” Romana said.

  “Then let’s get to work and get this over with,” Emerond said.

  ~~~

  Inside the wheelhouse of the Consecration of the Hopeful, Annaliisa pulled levers to retract the boarding ramp and raise the anchor. She then steered the vessel out of port and sailed it northwestward across the Pirovalen Ocean until reaching the Farmer’s Road land bridge. At that point, she pulled levers to pivot the masts and the sails to the sides of the ship and elevated the vessel to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude. She steered the ship across the land bridge and returned it to sea level in the Trerada Ocean. From there, she sailed the Consecration of the Hopeful westward until reaching the Admiral Ramalaxis Bridge. Again, she pulled levers to pivot the masts and the sails to the sides of the ship and elevated the vessel to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude. She steered the ship across the land bridge and returned it to sea level in the Gradaken Ocean. From there, she sailed the ship westward toward the Provincial Isles.

  Reko and Kaija both entered the wheelhouse.

  “Annaliisa, you’re still uncertain which island would be best to find an available herbalist,” Kaija said.

  “The notes on my maps don’t give a definitive answer. Hedraltic Island has the most commerce, but not necessarily the most skilled herbalists,” Annaliisa said.

  Reko drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from his vial to be energized with the powers of light and far sight. He gazed out into the distance and said: “We’re not going to be able to approach any of the islands easily. Sea serpents are coming this way. They’ve already started attacking other ships.”

  “Romana can help us. Go out on deck and watch them, Reko,” Kaija said. Reko and Kaija both went out on deck.

  ~~~

  Reko continued gazing out at sea, watching the movements of the sea serpents.

  Kaija telepathically detected Romana and found that she was still in the cabin with Taesa’s family. She entered the cabin and said: “Romana, I’m sorry to interrupt, but we’re going to need your help approaching the Provincial Isles.”

  Romana followed Kaija as she walked out on deck and stood next to Reko.

  “Three (3) sea serpents are headed this way. They’re approaching from the northwest, fifteen (15) miles away. I saw them earlier, below the surface, but they weren’t attacking,” Reko said.

  “We can’t outmaneuver them, but you can repel them,” Kaija said.

  “I can,” Romana said. She drank anew of the waters of the Gradaken Ocean from her vial to be energized with the power to control plants and animals. “I can’t see them yet,” she said.

  “You have something else in mind, don’t you?” Kaija asked.

  “What do you know about this poison? Could it have been extracted from the venom of sea serpents? That would be a likely source. Their venom is highly toxic. I’m assuming this was a deliberate act, so whoever formulated the poison would know where and how to get the most potent ingredients,” Romana said.

  “You want to follow the sea serpents back to their source,” Kaija said.

  “I want to go to the most likely source of the poison. That’s going to help us figure out the antidote,” Romana said.

  “Reko, when the serpents get close, warn us. I’ll stay ready, telepathically, in case they attack too quickly. Romana can help keep them under control,” Kaija said.

  ~~~

  Uzoma steered the Sky Lion northeastward across the Gradaken Ocean until he felt the ship lurch and realized he could steer the vessel no further.

  Munroe entered the wheelhouse and said: “It’s sea serpents! They’ve gotten hold of the ship and torn the sails! I didn’t see them approaching until they raised their heads!”

  “How many are there?” Captain Lusala asked.

  “I count two (2) serpents, and they’re at least one hundred fifteen (115) feet in length. I don’t know why I didn’t spot them earlier,” Munroe said.

  “What’s left of the sails?” Captain Lusala asked.

  Munroe used his powers of light and far sight to bend light around corners so he could look out of the wheelhouse and up at the sails. “All but one (1) sail is shredded. The rest are barely able to catch wind. The sailing stones are all gone,” he said.

  “Which means we can’t convert to an airship. That doesn’t leave us many choices. We’ll have to hope for a strong breeze in the right direction,” Uzoma said.

  “There’s an island twenty-two (22) miles south of here,” Munroe said.

  “You can see it. That doesn’t mean we can sail to it,” Uzoma said.

  “With that single good sail, maybe we can,” Captain Lusala said.

  “When the sea serpents let go of the ship, we’ll give it a try. Until then, we’re not going anywhere,” Uzoma said.

  “I wish I could disagree with you,” Captain Lusala said.

  “I could feed this assassin to the serpents as a distraction. That would be a fitting end to the man who attempted to kill the king. You deserve a painful death, Goyo,” Captain Duvall said. He pushed his prisoner hard enough to cause his head to whip backwards.

  “Serpents that large wouldn’t be occupied for very long eating a single person. But I might be able to distract them using
bright lights,” Munroe said. He drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from his vial to refresh his powers of light and far sight. He then created a beam of light, bent it around corners and shone it at the eyes of the sea serpents. Munroe focused the light intensely, and the serpents became annoyed and swam away after just five (5) minutes. “Let’s try now,” he said.

  Uzoma steered the Sky Lion but the ship moved very slowly. “It’s going to take some time, but I think we can make it,” he said.

  “We’ll repair the sails when we get to the island. We also need to inspect the masts and the hull, just in case there’s even worse damage,” Captain Lusala said.

  ~~~

  Two (2) sea serpents leaped up out of the Gradaken Ocean and crossed the deck of the Plenteous. The powerful creatures did this repeatedly, tearing through the ship’s sails and breaking all five (5) pairs of double-masts. The ship was thrown off course and crashed into the sandy northern shores of an island.

  “Consolata! You should have warned us about the sea serpents! How did you not see them coming? Were you distracted? Did you allow your mind to wander so that you lost your calm?” Grand Duke Braden asked.

  “I’m so sorry, my lord,” Consolata said.

  Allegria started crying and Duke Rowan said: “Now, dear Allegria, this is not your fault.”

  “What are we going to do? I love you! I don’t want you to be disappointed in me, my lord! Please let me satisfy you. Give me another chance! Please!” Allegria said.

  “Allegria, we will find time for personal affection later, after the ship is repaired. We have to get to work,” Duke Rowan said.

  “You still desire me, my lord?” Allegria asked.

  “Of course I do. We need to inspect the ship and direct the crew to repair it,” Duke Rowan said.

  “Consolata, please stand up and learn to concentrate. I need you to bend light and look around the ship’s hull to find all the damage,” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “Yes, my lord,” Consolata said. She stood up and drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from her vial to be energized with the powers of light and far sight. She concentrated her powers and used them to inspect the hull and the sails of the Plenteous. “The masts are all broken. The sails are torn, but repairable. The hull is ruptured, my lord, and the ship is taking on water,” she said.

  “We need to go ashore immediately!” Grand Duke Braden said.

  “Allegria, extend the boarding ramp and lower the anchor. Then, stand up and follow me,” Duke Rowan said. Allegria pulled levers to extend the boarding ramp and lower the anchor. She then stood up and followed Duke Rowan. He took her by the hand, led her out on deck and then they walked down the boarding ramp onto the sandy shore.

  “Consolata, follow me. We must lead the crew to repair the vessel. Then, we will wait on the island,” Grand Duke Braden said. He led Consolata out on deck and gathered his crew, issuing orders to repair the vessel. He then led Consolata down the boarding ramp and onto the shore of the desert island.

  ~~~

  Captain Gijsbert sailed the Sandstone Cutter as best he could, carefully avoiding the sea serpents. They leaped toward the ship, but then they seemed to retreat as quickly as they arrived.

  Commissioner Hannah entered the wheelhouse and said: “Your sails are torn. You need to bring the ship to shore so we can repair them before they rip all the way. There’s an island not five (5) miles south of here. I can see it with my own eyes.” She pointed out the wheelhouse window in the direction of the island.

  “We’re on our way. This business keeps getting worse,” Captain Gijsbert said. He steered the Sandstone Cutter southward and eased it toward the shore. When he was close enough, he pulled levers to lower the anchor and extend the boarding ramp. He and Commissioner Hannah walked out of the wheelhouse and found the crew and passengers pacing back and forth, including Captain Arata and Romey, Niven and Fantine, along with the Chronicler Ximenez.

  “You don’t look as bad as before. I guess all that exercise helped,” Captain Gijsbert said.

  “I don’t feel so great, but I can think, and I’m not coughing up blood…not as often as before,” Fantine said.

  Niven held Fantine close and continued pacing back and forth with her. “The ship doesn’t look too bad. Just the sails are torn. Get it fixed and get us out of here,” he said.

  The Chronicler Ximenez stood on deck and drew a sketch of the ship’s damaged sails into his book.

  Captain Arata looked up at the sails and said: “I don’t feel like I’m about to die. But I don’t feel like I can do a good job repairing those sails, either.”

  Commissioner Wallace approached them and said: “Pivot the masts to the sides. I can help repair the sails. I’m very good at working with fine materials, even sail cloth. I learned that as part of embedding solar crystals into sails.”

  “I’ll go do that. I still feel sick, but I can pivot the masts,” Romey said. She walked across the deck and entered the wheelhouse. Inside, she pulled levers to pivot the masts and the sails to the sides of the ship. She then came back out on deck and paced back and forth some more.

  “Time to show us that a bureaucrat can do some real work,” Captain Gijsbert said.

  “Watch me,” Commissioner Wallace said.

  “Let me take a look at the hull of the ship,” Captain Gijsbert said.

  “I’ll come with you,” Commission Hannah said. She followed Captain Gijsbert as he walked down the boarding ramp and stepped onto the sandy shore of a desert island. The Chronicler Ximenez followed them down the ramp and onto the island.

  ~~~

  Uzoma steered the Sky Lion toward the northern coast of a desert island. When he was close enough, he pulled levers to lower the anchor and extend the boarding ramp.

  “Captain Duvall, remain on board the ship and guard the prisoner. We may need to put him to good use. Punishing him further has no benefit,” Captain Lusala said.

  “If you can find a good use for him – hopefully his last – then I’ll put him to it,” Captain Duvall said.

  “Munroe, I need you to inspect this ship, but be sure to watch the other ships. They’re damaged, but that doesn’t mean there’s no threat,” Captain Lusala said. He went out on deck, along with Munroe, and they examined the Sky Lion closely. Captain Lusala walked down the boarding ramp and stepped onto the sandy shore so he could examine the hull of the vessel.

  Munroe followed Captain Lusala onto the shore and kept his eyes both on the Sky Lion and on the crew members of the other ships.

  ~~~

  As three (3) sea serpents raised their heads to leap on board the Consecration of the Hopeful, Romana stood on deck and touched their lower jaws. The creatures were immediately tamed by the powers of the Gradaken Ocean waters flowing through her. She commanded the serpents to return to the place they came from, and they went back into the sea.

  “They’re going back to their origins,” Romana said.

  “Reko, track them with your light,” Kaija said.

  Reko exerted his powers of light and watched the sea serpents swim across the Gradaken Ocean. Kaija probed his mind and then telepathically relayed the directions to Annaliisa, who steered the ship to follow the serpents.

  “We’re approaching a desert island. Three (3) damages ships are anchored along its northern coast – sails, masts and even hulls are damaged. I see people working at repairing the vessels. Some of them have gone ashore,” Reko said.

  “That’s the sign of sea serpent attacks,” Romana said.

  “That’s where we need to go. We may need each other’s help,” Kaija said.

  They approached the northern shore of a desert island and found three (3) damaged ships anchored there.

  Kaija drank anew of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean from her vial to refresh her powers of telepathy and empathy. She probed the minds of the crew and passengers of the other vessel and discovered who was on the island before them.

  “Follow me. I know who sent the se
a serpents to attack. Saku will be escorting us,” Kaija said. She telepathically instructed Annaliisa to extend the boarding ramp.

  Saku overheard his orders and drank anew of the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean from his vial to be energized with the power of darkness. He exerted his power and cloaked himself, Kaija and Romana. They walked down the boarding ramp and onto the sandy shore.

  ~~~

  “Colonel Lodokus, we are not alone!” Lieutenant Mazavida said as she stood still in a field of flowers, none of which had blossomed.

  “I know, Lieutenant Mazavida. You warned me about the other ships arriving. Warn me when they are close enough to kill. The black widows are ready to strike,” Colonel Lodokus said. He smelled the not-yet-blossomed flowers and found no fragrance. He touched the flowers, but they did not open, despite the Gradaken waters flowing through him. Three hundred seventy-eight (378) black widow spiders scampered around him, acting under his control and waiting for their next command.

  “I see someone moving in the darkness,” Lieutenant Mazavida said.

  ~~~

  “And we see you, Lieutenant Mazavida! Colonel Lodokus commanded the sea serpents to attack our ship, and several other vessels. You’ve endangered many lives because of your madness and delusions. You need to come outside with us and explain yourselves,” Kaija said from under the cover of darkness.

  ~~~

  “Who are you?” Colonel Lodokus asked.

  “I can see you in the darkness! You can’t escape me!” Lieutenant Mazavida said.

  ~~~

  “You can’t escape the danger. The poisonous red mist has spread across the southern hemisphere. Farmlands are failing and people are becoming sick. No one has found a cure yet. We are searching for an antidote to the poison. You are a Gradaken drinker, Colonel Lodokus. You could help us to discover a remedy and save many lives. Or you could attempt to follow through with this assassination, but we will stop you. The black widow spiders you have waiting to strike will not obey your command to kill,” Kaija said from under the cover of darkness.

  Standing alongside Kaija, and also cloaked in darkness, Romana exercised her own powers to influence the deadly arachnids. Saku moved behind the Colonel and the Lieutenant and tied ropes around their hands.