The Aspect: The Cessation's Harbinger

by Ajax Lygan

  Tempest felt the fear rise throughout his body as he stared at the massive head above him. He gripped his right arm, expecting it to be clutching his swordstaff, but he had nothing. No weapons and no clothes. He felt himself completely exposed. For the first time since he began having this dream, the burning face addressed him.

  “I have finally found you...the one who has been causing all this trouble. Three of my champions you have killed in a matter of weeks. It seems someone else has thrown another piece into my game.”

  “Who are you!” Tempest shouted.

  “Oh, it’s not time for that revelation, yet, but I imagine in due time you will figure it out.”

  “Why am I here?”

  “That’s a significant question. Even I am confused by your existence. There’s no way you should exist given the events I have set in motion...unless.” The smoke billowed around the fire, creating a furrowed brow like the face was lost in the thought. The surrounding darkness fractured like a cracked piece of glass that spanned the entirety of the dream.

  “If you’re the one attacking Iðna and its people, know that I’ll be there at every turn to stop you.”

  The face of flame laughed, its laughter echoing all around him like he was in some sort of chamber. The reality around him cracked with pieces of glass shattering around him. “Good, young warrior, come and try. I love a good challenge.”

  12

  Bound by Tragedy

  Tempest gasped as he awoke from the nightmare. His hand dabbed the top of his forehead, feeling the cold sweat that covered his entire body as he took several deep breaths. He rolled his tongue around his mouth, noticing it was rough and felt as if he’d eaten a pile of sand. It made it difficult to swallow.

  “Can one of you hand me a glass of water?” Tempest asked, stretching his arm out. When he didn’t hear anything, he raised his head up. The light shining through the back windows hurt his eyes. He placed his hand over his brow as his blurry vision focused. No one was in the room with him. That’s when he noticed the shouting coming from the deck.

  Tempest rolled out of the hammock, slamming his chest into the ground. He picked himself up and pulled his swordstaff from the wall with his force magic as he sprinted onto the deck. When he stepped from the hallway, he raised his arm, trying to shield his head from the sun’s warm glare.

  The crew was on the deck, screaming around in a circle. As Tempest got close, he could see Riika and one of the crew competing in an arm-wrestling contest. Ella, Saïgra, and Captain Helmrunner were on the opposite sides of the ring screaming for each of their compatriots. Tempest let out a gigantic sigh as he watched the spectacle unfold.

  “Come on Killer, you gave all your boys shit for not winning, but here you are struggling.” The black and white skinned ubian was the largest crew member on the ship. Initially Tempest thought his eyes were these white dots on the side of his head, but when he blinked, he noticed he had two black eyes just on the edge of those. He was gritting his teeth and his massive shoulder bulged as he tried to press Riika’s arm.

  However, Riika was all smiles. If it wasn’t for her arm twitching, you would think she wasn’t even trying. She gave a fake yawn with her freehand.

  “Come on, you’re going to have to do better than that or I’m going to count you out.” Tempest saw for the briefest of moments the fear in Killer’s eyes. At that moment, he screamed with all he had as he pushed his entire frame into Riika’s arm. It did nothing. Riika laughed as she began moving her arm toward the table. As she counted, the crowd did so with her.

  “One!”

  “Two!”

  “Three!”

  With the final count, Riika slammed Killer’s arm into the top of the table. She flexed as she let out a battle cry. Riika rotated into different poses as the crowd shouted her name. Coin shuffled hands among the crew as the winners shouted in excitement while the losers left the circle, losing the day’s pay. It was Captain Helmrunner who let everyone know the festivities were over.

  “All right, you had your fun, you sorry sack of sailors. Every one of you has a job to do.” The crew mumbled as the circle dispersed, leaving Tempest standing alone in front of the four women. They all immediately noticed he was holding his swordstaff. He was certain their eye rolls could have toppled the ship. Captain Helmrunner glared as she approached him.

  “What did you plan on doing with that?”

  Tempest let out a nervous laugh and rubbed the side of his face. “Sorry, it’s a bit of a habit. I heard screaming coming from the deck and got worried.”

  “Worried about what? That we were hurting your poor girls?” The Captain scoffed. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about. They all can take care of themselves. And personally, I am offended that you would think so lowly of my crew.”

  Before Tempest could respond, Captain Helmrunner did her best impression of a noble by sticking her nose in the air and stiffly trotting away. When Tempest had turned back toward the cabin, she gripped his shoulders and swung to his side.

  “Oh, before I forget. You better hold on to that one,” she said, pointing to Saïgra. “Just look at what she did to my ship!”

  Tempest had paid little attention when he sprinted onto the deck, but when the Captain pointed it out, he noticed the stark difference between what they’d seen the previous night. Every piece of wood had been completely restored. There was no mold, rot, or snapped boards. The masts had been completely repaired, and the deck’s floorboards didn’t bend when Tempest shuffled his feet back and forth.

  “You did all this?” Tempest asked.

  Saïgra looked up for a brief moment, smiled, and nodded. Captain Helmrunner ran over to Saïgra and placed a huge, wet kiss on her cheek before running back to Tempest. Saïgra’s eyes went wide as she pressed her hand up to her cheek. Her chalky skin turned a shade of red as she swung in place.

  “She’s my lucky charm, that one. I’ve never seen Amnesty look so good. She looks brand new, like she’d just come off the rails!”

  “I can see that,” Tempest said, smiling. “She’s beautiful.” Tempest and Saïgra’s eyes locked as he said the words, both knowing they were for her.

  “Damn right she is,” the Captain said, elbowing Tempest. “Well, I better get to a few things. Cookie should be ready with lunch in an hour or so. Pretty sure she said it was something with vegetables. Have fun.” Captain Helmrunner waved as she returned toward the back of the ship. When Tempest approached the other three, Riika was the first to say something.

  “I don’t care what Helmrunner said earlier, there’s something sexy about a man coming to your rescue,” Riika said, biting her lip.

  “It’s true,” Ella said, leaning up against the table.

  “Don’t make me start thinking the wrong things; otherwise, you’ll all be in trouble.” The three women giggled as they all thought how nice it would be to be alone right now. Tempest let go of his swordstaff and it fell into place along his back.

  “How long was I out?” Tempest asked. Ella looked up in the air, nodding back and forth as she counted.

  “Six hours or so.”

  “Has everything been okay so far?”

  “Yeah, everything’s been great,” Riika said smiling. “Cookie wasn’t lying. Her and the Captain keep the guys in line, but they really are all sweethearts. After Saïgra spent the morning revitalizing the ship, they worshipped her like a Queen. You saw how Captain Helmrunner acted.”

  “Yeah, she seemed very appreciative.”

  “That’s an understatement,” Riika said, laughing. “She asked her to stay aboard the ship right then and there.” Tempest crossed his arms as he looked over at Saïgra.

  “What did you say?”

  Saïgra rubbed her arm as she stared up at Tempest. “Well, I didn’t take her seriously, at first. I thought she was joking, but then she said she wasn’t.” Saïgra threw her arms out and slapped her side. “I-I told her I would think about it. I’ve always wanted to get out and experie
nce the world, and this would certainly be one way to do it. But you, Ella, and Riika asked me to join you and…and I…” Saïgra trailed off as she stared out at the open sea.

  Tempest approached her and laid a hand on her shoulder. He looked deep into her ruby red eyes and smiled. “Like I said back in Halairim, it’s your life and your choice. No matter what choice you make, we’ll be here for you.”

  Saïgra’s lip trembled as she placed her hand on top of Tempest’s. “I know that, and I appreciate it. I’ve always felt like I never had a choice, and now when I do, it feels impossible to make.”

  Ella and Riika joined the pair at their side. “Take your time,” Ella said, placing her hand around the pair’s waists. “There’s no rush.”

  “Is this a group hug?” Riika shouted. “It feels like one.” She wrapped her massive arms around everyone, squeezing everyone tight.

  “Ugh, Riika, you’re soaking wet with sweat,” Tempest grumbled.

  “Oh, shut up; you love it,” she said, starting shouts of laughter amongst the group.

  After Cookie served up a lunch of salted meat and cabbage, the group split up into their own activities. Ella found herself invested in a book she had stolen from the patriarch’s library, while Saïgra and Captain Helmrunner discussed what it was like growing up in the Firegrove. Tempest and Riika resumed their daily exercises, drawing a crowd of the crew when the two sparred.

  They both decided to use their new weapons, giving Tempest the opportunity to see what the runes did when activated against an opponent. Unfortunately, after many hours of testing, they didn’t come away with anything of relevance. Both felt good about the progress they’d made, though, each having learned something new.

  For Tempest, he found a suitable backup weapon, giving him more flexibility in close quarters combat. Riika, on the other hand, walked away with activating the second rune on Lightning Breath, giving her the ability to engulf the blade in electricity when she so desired. Tempest found out the hard way when he attempted to parry one of her swings and got the jolt of a lifetime.

  The crew of the Amnesty took the charade as a challenge. Many of the crew showed their prowess in the water. Jumping overboard and performing acrobatics as they swam through the sea. What impressed Tempest and his companions the most was the speed at which they could cut through the water.

  It was a great opportunity for Killer to regain some of his honor when he challenged her in a race that ended up with Riika nearly drowning when she began drifting off into the sea, unable to keep up. Her embarrassment was profuse as Killer had to carry her back to the boat. It was a simple lesson in humility, one which she did not find all that enjoyable.

  As the night went on, things did not slow down. The crew began spreading out on the deck as Cookie served dinner. Great food, conversation, and plenty of booze flowed as the sands of time spilled. After dinner, the crew was in uproar, pressuring an ubian mate to sing for the crew. Tempest could have sworn he was Captain Helmrunner’s brother save for his height and pinkish skin. The man jumped on the side of the ship’s railing, leaning into one of the ship’s shrouds. He cleared his throat before entering into song, with the crew joining in soon after.

  I thought I heard the Old Man say:

  “Leave her, Johnny, leave her.”

  Tomorrow ye will get your pay

  And it’s time for us to leave her

  Leave her, Johnny, leave her!

  Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her!

  For the voyage is long and the winds don’t blow

  And it’s time for us to leave her

  Oh, the wind was foul and the sea ran high

  “Leave her, Johnny, leave her!”

  She shipped it green and none went by

  And it’s time for us to leave her

  Leave her, Johnny, leave her!

  Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her!

  For the voyage is long and the winds don’t blow

  And it’s time for us to leave her

  I hate to sail on this rotten tub

  “Leave her, Johnny, leave her!”

  No grog allowed and rotten grub

  And it’s time for us to leave her

  At the end of the song, everyone erupted in thunderous applause. The crew quickly cleared the tables and several of them began pulling out various instruments.

  Riika, Ella, and Saïgra quickly found themselves pulled into a dance. As Tempest looked on, he heard a whistle coming from up on the quarterdeck. Captain Helmrunner jingled a bottle with two silver goblets. Tempest quickly looked around before pointing toward himself.

  She gave him a look, making him laugh but also feel like an idiot. He dashed up the side stairwell before joining her near the ship’s wheel. Tempest picked up the crates with his force abilities that she was pushing with her feet. As soon as he set them down, Captain Helmrunner straddled one and began pouring the drinks.

  “That power of yours comes in pretty handy,” she said, handing Tempest a goblet.

  “It can be, but it’s only been recently that I’ve had enough control and stamina to use it regularly.”

  “You know, I was surprised by you and your companion’s abilities. Gods, it wasn’t even until Saïgra repaired the ship that I even knew that you all were magically gifted. Based on the rumors I had heard, I thought everyone in Halairim with magic was wiped out save for the hydra.” Tempest paused in the middle of his drink before rotating the cup in his hand.

  “Yeah, it was not a good situation.”

  “You were there?!” Captain Helmrunner asked, wide-eyed. Tempest slowly nodded his head as he rubbed the markings on the goblet. “I heard…”

  Tempest cut her off before she could continue. “If you wouldn’t mind, I’d rather not talk about it. Whatever you heard is probably wrong, anyway.”

  Captain Helmrunner raised her hands and leaned back. “Okay, sensitive topic, I get it.” The two sat in silence, drinking from their drinks, catching glances at each other.

  Tempest let out a sigh as he looked back up at the Captain. “Sorry, it’s just, I lost a lot of friends that day. Every moment I have time to myself I see their dead, disfigured faces. I couldn’t even tell who was who, in the end.”

  “I know how you feel,” Captain Helmrunner said, leaning back on her hands looking up at the sky. “I don’t know what it is about you, but I feel compelled to tell you this. I would appreciate you taking this one to your grave.”

  Tempest leaned up and placed his hand on his chest. “You have my word.” Tempest watched as she fumbled with her cup before finishing it off with a few large gulps.

  “Helmrunner is not my real surname, at least not the one I was born with. My actual name is Mele Ka’uhana.” Tempest pursed his lips as he heard the name. It was familiar, but he couldn’t quite remember what it was from. “I was once a handmaiden to Emperor Poliko.”

  Tempest’s eyes lit up as he now remembered the story. “You’re the one who assassinated the King,” Tempest said.

  “Blamed for,” Captain Helmrunner corrected. “I didn’t kill him. He was poisoned, and they blamed me because I was the one who prepared the meal.” She brought her knee up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her leg. “I knew I was going to be blamed for it as soon as it happened. There was no one that was going to believe that I didn’t do it. I ran with my husband, Hani.”

  Her face brightened as she looked out to sea. “He was the light of my life, always making me laugh, even when I was at my lowest.”

  “He sounds like a great man.”

  “He was…” Tempest could see the pain behind her smile as she floated through her memories. “When the soldiers finally caught up with us, we had met up with Killer,” she said, nodding to the deck.

  “Hani and Killer killed three of them, but not before the fourth had split Hani in half. I killed the last one before holding his hand. I kneeled there with him as I watched the light fade from his eyes. He was still smiling as he died.”

  Captain
Helmrunner wiped a tear from her cheek as she leaned back. “I spent the next five years gathering my crew and hunting down the person responsible for the King’s death.”

  “Did you find out who did it?”

  “Yes,” she said with a smug smile. “It was the King’s brother. That idiot was hoping to kill the King and Queen, then assume the throne. Only he didn’t realize that the Queen is a vegetarian and wouldn’t have eaten the dish in the first place. It didn’t take the Queen long to realize who had done it, but they lost track of him because he went landside.”

  She shook her head, lost in the memory. “We found him in what’s now Twin’s Crossing, but it was nothing but a few shacks back then. It was actually pretty pathetic when I found him. I almost felt sorry for him.”

  “What did you do when you found him?”

  “I brought him back to Ubi to stand trial. He didn’t put up a fight the whole way back. I think he was exhausted from running. When I brought him before the Queen, she thanked me, but I wasn’t having any of it. I shouted, screamed, cursed, and spat. All of my emotions from Hani’s death came out when I saw her again. If it would have been anyone else, I would have been put to death right then and there, but I think she resonated with my loss. Once it was all over, I just turned away and never looked back.”

  “Wow, that’s quite a story,” Tempest said. “I am sorry for your loss, Mele.”

  “You can call me Samara,” she said, smiling. “That person died with her husband.”

  Tempest smiled and nodded. He sat there a moment contemplating if he was ready to address the darkness that had been with him since that day at The Academy. He could almost touch the warmth from Samara that made him want to share.