by Jeremy Dwyer
Captain Guillermo brought his ship to the coast nearest where he heard the song, and made his way inland on a trail through the forest. There, he saw two (2) women standing on a hill in a circle of trees, and a small city of tall crystal towers which climbed hundreds of feet into the air. He approached them and the towers, mystified and interested.
“What is this? A city of glass in the forested island?” he asked, looking all around.
“Captain Guillermo. It is so good to see you again,” Lady Onora said.
Lady Ismene saw his arrival, but she was concentrating on the spirit world.
“I heard a song out at sea, and thought this island might be filled with interesting things. Indeed, for the ears and the eyes, there are delights and mysteries,” Captain Guillermo said.
“This is an evil place. It is the Temple of the Sky’s Nine (9) Kings. It is a place of worship of the suns, and the terrible spiritual beings that surround them. Do not let the appearance dazzle you, lest it will deceive you and endanger your very soul,” Lady Onora said.
“You speak of dangerous and enigmatic things. I find that fascinating, and wish for you tell me even more,” Captain Guillermo said.
“I will tell you. However, I believe it is now time for me to leave this island,” Lady Onora said.
“I would be most delighted to take you with me. On the way, please tell me all that you know of the mysteries of this place, if only that I may share the tales of evil with others, and warn them away,” Captain Guillermo said. He was genuinely interested, rather than afraid. He believed in things that were strange and evil, and almost preferred things that had an air of mystery, if only to keep life interesting. Yet, he had no intention of dwelling in a place of evil – the story was what he savored.
“I would be most appreciative of a voyage away from here, in your good company, Captain – as long as the seas are safe to travel,” Lady Onora said.
“The tempest has died down, for the moment. Yet, it can never be said that the seas are entirely safe, certainly not the dark waters of this ocean. It has mysteries, and hidden places, that catch the unwary in their traps,” Captain Guillermo said. He found the Ikkith Tar Ocean filled with uncertainty and danger – and, for that very reason, irresistible.
“Would you like to join us?” Captain Guillermo asked the other woman, although he did not know Lady Ismene’s name.
“No. I shall remain here, and discover the mysteries of this place. It speaks to me, and I must listen,” Lady Ismene said.
“Be on your guard. Do not allow the evil to enter your soul. Place your faith in the One True God, and admit no visitors into your spirit,” Lady Onora said to her.
“I am forever on my guard,” Lady Ismene said back to her, sounding almost distant, as if she were halfway between the material world and the spirit world. She was, in fact, closer to three fourths (3/4) of the way.
At this, Lady Onora and Captain Guillermo headed back to his ship and set sail away from the island.
CHAPTER 19: Surrounded by a Swarm of Tempests
A portal opened and the Tidal Sovereign appeared on the waters of the Medathero Ocean. The seas were calm and the air was still. Victoria looked around and saw one (1) ship in the distance. “I see only one (1) ship nearby,” she said.
A light scout drank anew of the Lujladia Ocean waters in her vial and was energized. With her far sight, she looked around and said: “There are over forty-seven (47) ships within a ten (10) mile radius.”
“When I am ready, those nearby and those far away shall perish!” Victoria said.
At this, she rested in her quarters, renewing herself, and waiting for the tiara to be ready as well. Both light scouts and dark scouts stood guard around her quarters on board the ship.
During the night, Victoria dreamt of a hawk descending on her ship, and its talons dug into her neck. She awoke, angry and afraid, screaming: “Begone from me, foul bird!”
The light scouts and dark scouts rushed in and surveyed the room, but Victoria was alone and unharmed.
“I dreamt of a hawk, descending on me, and striking with its talons into my neck,” Victoria said.
“By my powers of light, I see no such animal hiding here in the darkness, or even far away,” one light scout said after looking around the cabin and out of the window into the distance.
“By my powers of darkness, I see no such creature in here, not even disguised in false light,” one dark scout said after looking around.
“The dreams are the fault of the enemy. I am ready to strike at the world. They shall be made to suffer even greater horrors for the pain they cause me in my sleep,” Victoria said.
The voice of the demon, Matatirot, spoke to Victoria, saying: “Let your mind be filled with truth. Kill the enemy in their youth. Think only of bringing endless death. With guile, steal their final breath.”
At this, Victoria left her quarters, stood on the deck of the ship and held out her arms. The blue diamonds in the tiara glowed, becoming brighter very quickly thereafter.
The still air began to move quickly, turning to a breeze and then to high winds. The calm waters began to ripple, and stir, and then waves rose up, higher and higher. Her mind was empowered, and she felt better able to control the tempest she was causing. In truth, the waters of the Medathero Ocean were being channeled through the tiara. When a person drinks of these waters in the ordinary way, they become more intelligent. However, through the tiara, the increased ability to reason was manifesting in greater control through careful concentration.
Instead of a large storm, there were many small ones – a swarm of many thousands (1000) of small tempests, both nearby and at great distances.
“It’s different this time. There are many smaller storms – a swarm of over three thousand (3000) of them,” one light scout said, looking out at a distance.
“Are the ships being sunk? Are the lands being flooded?” Victoria asked, hopefully, wanting to hear of death and destruction for her enemies.
“Yes. At least two thousand seven hundred nineteen (2719) ships have been caught in the storms all around us, and no less than six hundred seventy-nine thousand (679000) of their crew have been killed,” the light scout said.
“Excellent! And the land?” Victoria asked.
“To the northwest, Revod is being struck. Nine hundred twenty seven thousand (927000) were swept out to sea by the wind and the water,” a second light scout said.
“To the northeast, Baradaxa is being thrashed. One million three hundred five thousand (1305000) were carried to their watery graves. In between them, in Prince Jalvin’s Crossroads, even that has been flooded, with another twenty-nine thousand (29000) being killed,” a third light scout said.
“To the west, the Glivoran Trail is flooded, and the bodies of no less than sixty-three thousand (63000) were taken into the waters,” a fourth light scout said.
“To the south, the Colossal March Warpath is under siege by waters. No less than thirty-nine thousand (39000) were drowned and killed by the waters, yet the colossal statues still stand,” a fifth light scout said.
“To the southeast, the Crypt Trail is becoming a crypt of water, as the floods and winds carry the enemy out to sea, with no less than fifteen thousand (15000) having been buried in the stormy seas,” a sixth light scout said.
“Yet, to the southwest, a wall of water has ascended near Emeth. I cannot see if it has struck them…it seems that it has not,” a seventh light scout said.
“Their time will come,” Victoria said.
~~~
In the land bridge containing the City of Emeth, the guardian angel, Nalvorel, once again held back the storm waters. Instead of crashing onto the land, the waters impacted a barrier that could not be seen, and piled high against that barrier, forming a wall of water.
The people in Emeth could see this and were afraid, but realized that something was different.
“We are protected here. This city contains the truth, and the true knowledge of the
ages. No enemy can purge that,” Danek said to many of them while he stood on the shore and watched the tempest.
~~~
The Everlasting Pain was sailing across the Medathero Ocean, with the ghost of Captain Tychon steering the ship under orders from Captain Pradrock. The Feasting Dragons fleet followed, all with ghost crew.
“I await your orders, mortal captain,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said, with disdain for the thought of what good-natured act Pradrock might require him to perform.
Also on board the ship were the star-reader, Akylas, who served as navigator; his sister, Akantha, the spirit-reader; Taesa’s mother, Caroline; the young blind navigator, Torin; the telepathic bodyguard, Claudia; the star-reading navigator named Farovaxen, of the Redfire Sentinels; and the light bender named Va’Qileren, also of the Redfire Sentinels.
“There are powerful storms in this ocean, and they are approaching, very rapidly, from that direction,” Va’Qileren said. He had recently taken a drink of the Lujladia Ocean waters from a vial that he carried, and was energized with the powers of light, enabling him to see long distances.
“That is where Victoria probably is. We need to sail in that direction to confront her,” Pradrock said.
“These ships are quite ordinary, not indestructible, mortal captain. Ghosts can resist the storms, but their ships cannot,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said.
“And at that point, the binding would be over – Tychon will be released from your command,” Akantha said, being aware of the circumstances, and well-versed in the matters of the spirit world.
“Is sailing directly into a storm necessary to defeat her?” Claudia asked.
“No. We’re going to fly above the storms,” Pradrock said.
“The storms are powerful and large. The waters have risen, in some places, to over five-hundred (500) feet in the air. No airship goes anywhere near that high,” Va’Qileren said.
“Five-hundred (500) feet high! These storms are intense! I’ve never seen that!” Akylas said.
“It’s almost certainly caused by the sort of power that the tiara is purported to have. That wave height is far above typical, in my experience,” Pradrock said.
“These ships will not withstand such powerful storms. We should not sail into this…of course, the decision is yours,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said to Pradrock, smiling deviously, hoping for a self-sacrificing act of courage by Pradrock that would bring the end to Tychon’s subordination.
“We will use the other ships in the fleet to surround this one, above and below. They will shield from the heat of the suns, as well as to deflect the rising waters,” Pradrock said.
“The heat of the suns grows rapidly as you ascend. Do not underestimate the danger, even from the cooler red suns. This is a dangerous undertaking. We can be of no assistance to you if we perish in this storm,” Farovaxen said.
“Yeah. I was kind of thinking the same thing. You’ve taken some big risks lately, but this might be a bit much,” Akylas said.
“Then we can wait and watch…as the storms grow in intensity. And we can accept the risks entailed by waiting,” Pradrock said.
“That’s a terrible way to put it,” Caroline said.
No sooner did she say that than bits of debris flew through the air from the distance.
Claudia grabbed Pradrock and brought him down to the ground to protect him from being impaled.
Everyone else on board dropped down, and then looked up to see what was occurring.
The ghost of Captain Tychon laughed, saying: “Other ships have gone and greeted the storms. And their crews have gone on to their next journey.” The debris passed right through his ghostly body, and he found it to be a pleasant feeling, knowing that death had come for others, as it had so long ago for him.
Akylas looked up, saw no more debris flying through the air, and then stood up. He looked out to see that the pieces of several ships were floating on the sea – minus the pieces that had flown through the air. There were thousands (1000) of dead bodies floating on the water.
“I wish I could see this,” Torin said, although his blindness shielded him from some of the more unpleasant sights.
“No. You don’t. Believe me. You don’t wish you could see any of this,” Akylas said.
The others stood up and looked and saw the wreckage, and the carnage.
“There’s a water cyclone headed this way,” Va’Qileren said.
“That’s probably what did the other ships in,” Pradrock said.
“Move? Now?” Claudia asked, abruptly.
“Airship! Immediately!” Pradrock ordered.
At this, the ghost of Captain Tychon converted the ship to airship form, whereby the main masts pivoted to the sides of the ship, so that the sails became like wings. The Everlasting Pain then ascended as quickly as it could. All the ships of the Feasting Dragons fleet did the same.
“Have them surround us, above and below, as we ascend,” Pradrock ordered the ghost of Captain Tychon.
The ghost of Captain Tychon gestured toward the other ships of the fleet, and their ghost crew saw his signal. Their ships were positioned above and below the Everlasting Pain and they all ascended nine hundred (900) feet up, to be above the waves and water-cyclones, which were numerous.
“There must be ten thousand (10000) of them! The water-cyclones are everywhere down there!” Akylas said looking at the chaos below.
“Sounds like we’d be dead if we sailed right into it,” Torin said.
“Indeed. It does not appear survivable…for mortals,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said, with a grim satisfaction of contemplating the demise of the living persons around him. His cruel nature never died, despite his material body having long since given way. Now, he was only occasionally in material form, so as to steer the ship.
“If you look closely, is there any part that appears safe?” Pradrock asked, looking toward Va’Qileren.
The light bender concentrated, and drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from the vial that he carried. He was energized and able to see great distances, around corners, and even through the visual distortions caused by the circulating high winds.
“Yes. In the middle of it all. There is a ship there, with a woman standing on the deck of it with outstretched arms,” Va’Qileren said.
“Great. If we make it through the storm and get close enough, maybe we can get a hug,” Akylas said.
“I wouldn’t count on that,” Akantha said.
“Guide us by the light,” Pradrock said.
Va’Qileren then indicated the direction in which to travel, all the while keeping a close eye on the ship in the distance where the woman was standing on the deck.
The ghost of Captain Tychon followed the directions he saw and positioned the Everlasting Pain directly over that ship. The other ships in the Feasting Dragons fleet followed, maintaining their relative positions.
“Let’s get closer. Go straight down, and get as close as possible,” Pradrock said.
“Closer to losing all of these ships is what you are ordering. If her power is over the wind and the water, she can strike us even here,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said, not truly wishing to dissuade them, but enjoying being able to deliver the message of doom.
“Everyone has a blind spot,” Pradrock said.
“That may be true. Yet, there is room for only this ship – not for the entire fleet,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said.
“Correct. Just take this ship down,” Pradrock said.
“What are you thinking? Are you trying to get killed?” Claudia asked. She knew what he was thinking, by telepathically reading him, and she considered it to be risky – this enemy was not typical, given the purported ability to conjure storms.
“No. I am depending upon my assessment of your combat skills. Specifically, your ability to strike a target while you are on a moving platform,” Pradrock said.
“The target being that woman?” Claudia asked. She had read his mind telepat
hically, and knew the answer, as she was a drinker of the Elanatin Ocean, and could thereby easily read thoughts. She also knew that he wanted to see, for sure, if the woman had something on that looked like a tiara – that would be evidence that she was the one.
“I believe so. Look carefully,” Pradrock said, looking toward Va’Qileren.
Claudia readied two (2) of her many daggers and prepared to plunge them into the woman who had been spotted. She was highly trained, and believed that it was possible, albeit difficult, to make the strike. Escape would be the tricky part, as she could see that there were many people on the deck of the target ship, some armed with bows and arrows.
As the Everlasting Pain descended into the narrow safe area amid the many storms, to get near the other ship, Akantha spoke up and said: “No! Wait! I sense something horrible! This woman below has demonic assistance – she is being protected by a demon, and will not be easy to strike, or be easy to kill.”
“These storms are real, and deadly. There’s no time for more of this religious fantasy with talk of demons. These storms have a natural cause,” Caroline said.
The ghost of Captain Tychon said: “She is correct. There is a mighty demon here. He is Matatirot – the demon of the sea. You would do well to admit the dangerous realities of the spirit world, rather than wishing them away in your fear and ignorance.”
“All this talk of ghosts and demons is just talk of leftover energy from the living. It goes away after a while, like an echo,” Caroline said.
“The energy of life goes on forever, even after the body dies,” Akantha said.
“You keep believing that. I prefer to believe in reality. And there are no demons. That’s just nonsense to scare people into believing their religious cult leaders and turning over their wealth,” Caroline said.
“You are due for a most dreadful awakening to reality, foolish woman. Demons do exist. And they await the fool,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said.
“Are you ready?” Pradrock asked as he looked to Claudia.
