“
And what about you Justin? How have you fared?”
Justin was still dealing with Loranda who stood there teasing him, playing in his ear.
“
I have had more experiences fitted into my life in the past two weeks than the previous year. It has been an eye opener. And what about you two?”
“
Oh you know, traveled with the King’s entourage and got fed the finest quality foods. Then we sat back and got brought here by ship, being waited on hand and foot.”
Loranda interjected,
“
Oh she got into a sword fight with a man on board too you know, had to run him through!”
Night shook her head,
“
I didn’t run him through he was only nicked.”
Justin and Keera were interested in this.
“
Well come along we can’t stand here all night. Let’s go talk about it back inside.”
Keera turned on her heel and led them back along the jetty and to a large building near the center of town. It was a very quiet place, almost eerie.
“
Where are all the people?”
“
We evacuated them all down to the new port. All those non-essential to maintaining this outpost are out of harm’s way, most of them women and children. We have about 300 men here keeping an eye out and also a lot of the fishing boats are still here to keep up appearances.”
Once inside Keera motioned them to kick back and take it easy. She walked over to the pot on the fire and began spooning out some broth into a few wooden bowls.
“
Get some wine for these poor travelers Justin.”
Keera smiled, Justin quickly did as he was told. Handing the bowls between them Keera then sat down and began eating. Night brought up Dark.
“
So what of Dark? Does she really hope to track down Wollfen somewhere out there in the ocean?”
Keera didn’t look too positive.
“
I don’t hold out much hope. That ship got almost a half week’s head start and, well it doesn’t look good. We can only hope Dark and Vaughn return safely.”
“
Vaughn? I’m afraid we don’t know of a Vaughn.”
“
I’m sorry. He joined up with us in Port Cholandra. In fact you probably don’t know of Eldoron either do you?”
“
No I’m afraid I don’t, please tell me more.”
“
He is an elf and seemed to know Wollfen. Actually, I should start at the beginning really there has been a lot happening.”
They settled in for what would be a long evening.
The following morning found Keera up and organizing packs for the horses. Justin was off giving last minute recommendations and orders to the garrison soldiers. Sergeant Burkhard was being left in command. A wagon train had gathered at the eastern gates to the town with 200-armed horsemen to cover their journey down the inland road to Port Volarus. Night and Loranda were watching on as preparations to move out were completed. Keera approached them.
“
I have taken the liberty of having two horses made ready for you. I hope you like them. I expect the trip to take about six to seven days to reach just north of Port Volarus where we will be embarked on a few boats to take us the last stretch into the Port itself.”
Night nodded looking at all the people on the wagons, mostly women and children, families of the fishermen and trades people of the city most of which were now impressed into the army.
Keera explained to Night that they were the last of the townspeople and with them moving out and basic training to continue down in the new port there was no need for the four to stay.
Lord Raz came to the city gates to bid everyone good luck and a promise of a new life in the deep-water port. It was the last speech he was making as Lord of the town. Then Raz nodded to Justin who was at the front of the column. He raised his hand and signaled forward and called out ‘Ho!’ The column started to move off. Keera turned to Raz.
“
I will see you in Port Volarus, keep a beer waiting for me,” She said smiling.
“
Not if I see you first.” He winked.
Then he turned on his heel and moved off to the jetty where his cutter was waiting to cast off. He had a fleet to catch up with and much to do.
Night and Loranda stood there watching as the procession of wagons and troops slowly trundled by, looking to Keera beside them.
“
Shall we join them?” she motioned.
Night looked at Loranda who spoke,
“
I guess we have gotten a little soft this last week haven’t we? A good long ride in the wilderness should take care of that.”
Night smiled. They both preferred the life out under the stars. It had been one of the reasons why they had rejected the court life originally.
Pulling themselves up into their saddles the three moved off running parallel with the wagons already on the move. Night looked across at one and spied a pair of eyes staring at her from under a canvas flap on the wagon. The small boy was checking her out. She smiled at him and the eyes disappeared. That made her grin. She had forgotten how children could make you feel good with the simplest of things. Night looked to Loranda, would either of them ever have children? Would Keera? In fact would any of the five of what was now ten she counted have any at all? Maybe Dark, she was a passionate woman even if she did appear cold to others. Solynne, poor Solynne, she remembered now. She may have fallen, all signals to that conclusion pointed to it. Not a thing by mind touch and not even a sense of her presence at all.
She thought about her future now, where was she going? What was she to do? Wollfen wasn’t there and she had completed her last duty. She felt a little lost, the direction was gone and their original plans for changing the nation were out the window as they fought for the Kingdom. But what was her role now? To just go with the flow like the others? Loranda was happy just being with Night, that part was obvious. Keera and Justin had found their place guiding and teaching these people at the behest of Lord Raz. But Nightwing herself, there was no specific task. Was it a mistake to be here? Could she have done better for the cause if she had returned with Prince Alard? There was no point mulling over that now she decided. Anyway if Dark returned with Wollfen in a couple of weeks then everything would be set right again.
She realized all of a sudden, she needed him. It was hard to put a word to it, but he was somehow her reason to be. And what if he didn’t return? Then what? Dark would need her then, Dark would be lost too.
The next few days became a routine of riding all day then collapsing after a meal onto the bedrolls and falling asleep, then up again the next day to do it all over again. Eating while riding, they couldn’t stop during the day as the wagons didn’t need to. She so wished sometimes to be in one of those wagons laying in the back resting. There was fat chance of that happening with all the supplies that were being carried.
All the days became hazy as the dull set in, the mind wandered and the time went by. There was nothing to break the monotony, the undulating hills with scattered trees and sporadic underbrush was mind numbingly consistent and endless. She couldn’t wait to get to the port and at least be kept busy with something; anything had to be better than this.
On the seventh day they approached the beach. It was such a welcome relief to see those crashing waves, smell the fresh sea air and feel the cool breeze on her face. Night decided that the coast life was the one for her once all this was over. No more wandering the lands as she had for the last couple of years, yes that was definitely what she would do.
She dismounted and took off her boots, slipped off her sword belt and strode straight into the ocean diving under the waves. Loranda and Keera were close behind and doing exactly the same. It wasn’t long before quite a number of the townspeople joined them, splashing about the waters edge. Naked children running back and forth from the waves chasing them up the sand. Their mothers were sitting and smiling, watching on as the water flowed over their legs and feet. Did it get any better than this?
UNDERSTANDING
Dark stood at the bow of the fishing cutter as it sailed ever on over that vast empty ocean. There was nothing but choppy waves and a distant horizon meeting the sky. Not even a single cloud could be seen today and the sun was biting. They had spent a week out there on the sea sailing further and further away from the only home she had ever known. But it didn’t concern her. Her only thoughts had been for Wollfen the entire time, ‘I’m coming my love.’ She had been saying it each morning when she awoke and each evening before she slipped into sleep.
Dark was pretty sure he could hear her, her mind touch abilities had been developing more and more as the voyage progressed. It was surprising really, when they had been together he had tried to teach her time and again. Endless evenings of him touching her mind and Dark not feeling a thing. They had finally decided that she didn’t carry the ability at all.
But four days into the journey she had felt him. It was a warmth, a comfort wrapping around her like some sort of ethereal hug and it felt good. It was Wollfen and she could sense it. Since then she had done nothing but reach out to feel it, explore it and the more she did the easier the mind touching became. Even now she could sense him, all she need do was close her eyes and the feeling was there.
But what was she to do? She still didn’t know where she was going. They had been out here sailing along with no real idea if they were on course or not. Then it occurred to her, send him the need. Make him feel your need to know which way to go. Dark stood there a good twenty minutes focusing on that very thought, nothing much more than, ‘Which way?’ Then it came, not a direction or words but a little glow.
At first it wasn’t much more than a haze, she opened her eyes; was the sun getting to her? Lifting the flask on her hip she splashed a little water on her face, it was cool and refreshing. Closing her eyes again she focused. The haze solidified very slowly, almost imperceptibly but she could see it happening. This is taking so long, she thought impatiently. It became a little golden orb of light in her mind’s eye; it was Wollfen. But what now? She turned her head and realized the orb stayed in place. If Dark turned, the orb appeared to move to the side in her mind. Turning the other way the orb shifted in the other direction. So that’s how the others always knew where to find Wollfen when he had moved and they returned from a task. Calling out loudly she turned,
“
I know where he is!”
Dark walked back towards the helm at the rear addressing the Captain of the boat,
“
I can point out which direction for you to follow. Just watch my arm and I will guide you the way.”
The Captain looked to Vaughn beside him who nodded, shrugging his shoulders.
“
Show me the way milady.”
He still thought this entire voyage was a waste of time. Dark stood in front of him and raised her arm. Holding it out horizontally, she closed her eyes and pointed to the orb. The captain turned to starboard and Dark swung her arm in line with the orb. Once her arm was parallel with the boat’s direction he straightened the rudder and they sailed on this new heading. They had been sailing too far south of Wollfen’s position and would have missed him completely.
Dark turned to the captain.
“
He is still a far way off and I would say many days sail, but I will check his position every few hours and we will be able make corrections as we go.” Vaughn leaned towards the captain’s ear,
“
Mind touch.”
The captain’s eyes widened a little. He knew it existed but had never seen it happening. He was impressed.
On board the Man O War, Wollfen was sitting in the darkness. Sore and stiff, he had been kept in the confines of a cage in the hold for two weeks now. His eyes so accustomed to the gloom that he could see quite clearly around him. The cage didn’t measure much more than five foot square and five foot tall. At six foot two inches it was just too short for him to stretch properly unless he leaned forward onto the front of the cage and placed his feet back. He had to be careful though as a few times he did that his bare feet had slipped on the damp floorboards and he had managed to skin his knees a couple of times, it was annoying.
The bed, if you could call it that, ran down one side of the cage. It was a wooden frame with leather straps running down crosswise along its length, it worked but not much more could be said for it. At only five foot long it wasn’t very comfortable at all. At least it kept him off the damp floor.
Sometimes water would flow through, especially when there was a storm outside. Oh and there was a bucket too for him to relieve himself in. They were so thoughtful. Once a week they had given him a bucket of fresh water to wash. It did nothing more than wash off his sweat and stink as there was no soap, but he was grateful for it.
When he had first come on board they had made him strip and given him a loincloth to wear, it didn’t do much except give him a bit of modesty. The heat of the hold kept him warm at night though and during the day he did nothing but sweat. The rest of the hold was basically empty and from the number of men he had seen he was pretty sure they were running a minimal crew.
In the two weeks he had been sitting there he had a lot of time to think, he might not work things out in an instant but he would almost always get there. This whole voyage was put on for him, he was the cargo and it didn’t exactly make him feel warm inside with the thought of what sort of reception he might get at the other end of the line. The vial of foul liquid he had forced down his throat each morning had dampened his mind skills but he was managing to keep a tiny amount in his mouth when they checked it and after they would leave he would spit it out. It didn’t count for much but it was something and he thought he might actually be building up a resistance to the effects. The stink of it was rank, he had to be careful he aimed at a pool of water around the cage to make sure it would be diluted otherwise they would know he was spitting it out from the smell.
All he knew was he couldn’t feel any of the others, it was like his whole mind was in some sort of funk, obviously the drug and the way it acted. The sorc on board had been testing his mental shields from time to time too, but luckily they were all intact. Very lucky indeed, that other presence on the ethereal plane had returned and it felt like it was shadowing him, along for the ride almost. Whenever he awoke it was there, like a traveling companion he chuckled to himself. Hardly a kindly one though, he had tried to feel it out, tried to get an understanding of its essence but to no avail. The mental sedative was working well, even if he didn’t have it in his system, he wasn’t sure it would make much difference. That thing out just beyond his reach simply didn’t want to be identified.
So he had sat there day after day playing simple mind games to keep up his proficiency and occupy himself for a time. There had been a change though a couple of days ago and it was subtle. He was becoming aware of the mental images of others on the boat. He could even tell now when the sorc walked overhead on the deck above. If he didn’t remain passive and let those vibes come to him, he was sure she would be down there in a flash administering bigger doses of ‘stinky drink’.
In the back of his mind he knew Dark was coming, he had heard the mental sound of her call about a week ago. He couldn’t call back, couldn’t do anything, as he still felt the full effects of the drug then. But even now he couldn’t put a call out. If he did, the sorc would know.
It had come as a surprise the day before when he felt a question come up in his mind, not the question itself but the source. The feeling of 'Where do I go?' had come through to him. The signature was unmistakable, it was Dark and she was mentally searching for him. He had always known she had the ability, but for so long they had tried and nothing had come of it. She had some sort of block in her mind at the time and try as he might he was unable to break it down. But now, somehow, she had managed to get past it. It had excited him.
Now he was able to do something. It wouldn’t be much but it would make all the difference to his situation. So he had sat there building his passive mental beacon. It could only be activated by outside mental waves, none of its energy was generated from him so the sorc would not be aware of it. Dark’s own mind would make it glow and she would know the way.
That left him with the problem of how to help in his own escape. There weren’t too many crew on board, but he was sure that with the sorcs help they would be able to repel any boarders. Wollfen also surmised that Dark would have to approach in the dead of night, which would be the most logical thing to do. If he could somehow be on deck at the right time and even manage to jump overboard well then that would make it easy indeed. To do that, to set it all up, he would have to start talking to the sorc, there was no other way. So what would he say to her? Care for a stroll around the promenade deck? Hardly, well he would just wing it once he had her in front of him.
Later that afternoon a man came down with a bucket of fresh drinking water for him. As the man approached, Wollfen looked up and made eye contact. Interestingly it made the sailor back up a little and hesitate before bringing the bucket close.
“
I need to talk to your sorceress, bring her to me.”
The man just stood there unsure of what to do.
“
Tell the sorceress I want to see her!”
The man made a quick retreat. Now that was different, they seemed quite wary of him. So what was the fuss?
It was only a few minutes before another sailor came down the far steps with a stool in hand, gray robes descended behind him. The stool was placed before his cage and the sailor left, it was the just sorc and Wollfen now. Wollfen watched as she approached quietly and smoothly, sitting in one fluid movement. It was interesting just to watch the grace with which she moved. As she pulled her hood back, black flowing hair spilled out and her beauty was revealed. Dark eyes and alabaster skin a perfect contrast Wollfen thought.
The sorc looked into his eyes and noted he wasn’t taken aback by her appearance; most men were at first when she revealed herself.
“
Good day, allow me to introduce myself, I am the High Priestess Madeira.”
That took Wollfen by surprise.
“
Pray tell, may I ask what a High Priestess is doing with the lowly task of escorting a prisoner?”
The priestess looked at him with a little smile.
“
It is certainly not a small task at all when we have the likes of you in custody my Lord Wollfen.”
She bowed her head as she addressed him by that title. What was going on here? How did she know of his hidden title? Eldoron he understood and acknowledged, but a stranger from a far away land? She knew his name. He thought back right to the time of his capture. No one had talked to him, no one had asked him any questions and he had offered no answers. And yet this priestess sat here knowing a lot more than she should have.
“
You are a bit confused I see. You have many questions, a lot more since I spoke, yes?”
Wollfen nodded, he was losing control of the situation fast. The Priestess looked him up and down. He was a fairly good-looking man by any standards. She supposed if she felt that way about men she might even be attracted to him. But that sort of thing was for normal women not Priestesses.
“
Have you eaten enough? Are you for want of anything?”
Wollfen contemplated what he might get away with but decided to keep it simple,
“
A set of clothes and a good meal containing meat and fresh vegetables wouldn’t go astray.”
The sorc smiled again.
“
I’m afraid you eat just as the crew does. The food has to last six months. Be grateful you get as much as you do. As for clothes, I am surprised you are so modest as to need to cover such a well endowed body.”
She nodded towards his legs, Wollfen instinctively closed his legs to cover himself a bit better. Men were funny beings,bragging about their own attributes one moment and pretending an air of respectability the next. She wondered if he was any different.
“
So, you called me down here, now I am here, what is it you wish?”
Wollfen thought fast. He was unsettled and wasn’t really thinking about what to do. Too busy trying to analyze what he had heard.
“
To tell the truth, I was after some sunshine. I really do need to stretch my legs.”
The sorc thought on this, what could he do? They were in the middle of an ocean where no land was to be found for at least two weeks in any direction.
“
You will behave yourself and not simply be a nuisance will you? No you won’t, you are a smarter man than that. Anyway I think it will do us both a world of good to spend a little time together talking and I certainly don’t want to do that down here.”
The sorceress moved forward, releasing the bolt of the cage and swung it open. Turning, she walked back towards the stairs and Wollfen followed. Once out in the light Wollfen had to practically shut his eyes the glare was so bad. His eyes hurt badly and it gave him a headache. The sun too hit him like a furnace. This wasn’t going to be pleasant at all. Squinting he moved off and followed the sorc who slowed down for him, it took a few minutes before he felt any better.