Dragonvein (Book Two) (14 page)

“So you saw what happened?” asked Ethan.

“Oh, do you mean that enormous flaming dragon?” she mocked. “Yes. Of course we saw it. Heard it too. Scared the hell out of the crew.”

“Impressive,” added Lylinora. “Using magic in battle isn’t easy.”

“At first I was only able to create hot air,” Ethan explained. “But that frightened the soldiers long enough for me to concentrate and try again.”

Ganix touched his arm. “Come. Now that we know that these shores are patrolled, we must decide what to do next.”

Ethan’s elation instantly evaporated. He knew what the king was thinking, and at once his expression darkened. While crossing the deck he glanced up at the captain standing behind the main wheel. Fear was etched deeply into Jeridia’s face. Perhaps even deeper than what could be seen on most of the crew’s.

By the time they reached the cargo hold, a deep fatigue was seeping into Ethan’s muscles. Lylinora sat beside him and placed her hands on his forehead.

“You’re weakened,” she said. “I can tell. Powerful magic does that.”

He felt a rush of energy pass into him. At once, the fatigue vanished. He nodded his appreciation.

“You know what must be done,” Ganix told him. “There is now no other choice. If this ship approaches Borgen, my people
will
kill everyone on board.”

“You could stop them,” Ethan said. “You’re the king aren’t you?”

“I am. But I
won’t
stop them. If the location of Borgen is discovered, years of work will be lost. Along with more than three-hundred lives.”

“Why is Borgen so important?” asked Kat. “What’s there?”

“Things beyond your wildest imaginings,” Ganix replied. “It is where we keep all that is left of my people’s former glory. There are wonders which, in time, could change the face of Lumnia. They may even be the difference between victory and defeat.”

Lylinora leaned forward until she was directly meeting Ethan’s eyes. “If King Ganix is right, then this is a small sacrifice to make.”

Ethan averted his gaze, this time from anger rather than any attempt to hide his feelings. “I don’t care. I won’t allow this slaughter.”

“You didn’t mind roasting those soldiers,” remarked Markus. “In fact, I think you enjoyed it.”

“That was different,” he shot back. “They were going to kill us. These men here mean us no harm.
That
makes it murder. And I’m
not
a murderer.”

“Well I am,” Markus said. “Many times over. And I can promise you that I’m not alone. I bet most of the crew are as well. We’re talking about smugglers…not a ship full of innocent children.”

Ethan thoughts turned to the young boy in the galley. “I don’t care. I won’t let you do it.”

“Could you erase their memories?” Kat asked Lylinora.

She flashed the young girl a warning glance. “No. It doesn’t work like that.”

“
What
doesn’t?” asked Ethan.

“I know a spell that can alter a person’s perception,” she explained. “But it only works when the person is either asleep or almost asleep. And it isn’t completely reliable.”

“You could take them prisoner,” Ethan suggested, now becoming desperate in his search for a solution.

“And keep them where?” Ganix asked. “Borgen? That’s not possible. There are barely enough supplies for the people already there.” He sighed. “No. I’m afraid the reality is clear. If we don’t do this deed, then we must leave the ship immediately. And that means we will almost certainly be captured or killed, and our purpose exposed.”

Ethan snorted. “You saw what I just did. We can fight the soldiers off.”

“Don’t get overconfident,” Lylinora warned him. “You managed to cast one spell in battle. But make no mistake, there are ways to kill a mage.”

“If the enemy has dwarf weapons, then you might not fare as well,” added Ganix. “Even sheer numbers could be enough to stop you.”

“You could also draw Shinzan right to you,” said Jonas.

Ethan fumed. At that moment he loathed every one of them. Even Lylinora. Not because of the brutal nature of what they wanted to do. But because he knew they were right. He looked at them one by one, hoping for someone to say something to alter this course. Only Kat regarded him with any degree of sympathy.

His shoulders sagged; he was defeated. “Can you at least spare the boy who works in the galley?” he asked weakly.

Ganix gave a labored sigh. “Very well. I’ll find room for him somewhere on the island.”

Ethan couldn’t bear to look at any of them for a moment longer. He rose to his feet and left the cargo hold. Ganix followed him up on deck soon after to inform the captain that they would be changing course. He watched the abhorrent scene from a short distance away. The dwarf king handed the captain more gold for his troubles – gold that Ethan knew the man would never have a hope of spending.

He’d expected Kat to join him. She was the only one who seemed to understand his feelings over what was soon to happen. But it was Lylinora who appeared. He could smell her perfume, even before he saw her approaching. But no longer did his heart pound wildly. And when she leaned against the rail beside him, he inched away from her.

“I do not see the same revulsion in your eyes when you look at Markus,” she remarked.

Ethan said nothing for a long moment. It was true. He saw Markus differently. The darkness within his friend made his attitude almost a forgone conclusion. “I suppose I held you to a higher standard,” he eventually responded. Glancing over, he could see that his words had stung her.

“I’m sorry,” she replied. “Truly. But this is not the first time I’ve been faced with this choice. Nor will it be the last time for
you
.”

“When were you faced with it?” he asked, his tone incredulous.

Her eyes grew distant. “It was shortly before my father and I fled from our home. Shinzan’s army was almost at our door, and we knew for certain that everyone in the house would be subjected to terrible torture. So my father told me what had to be done.” She faced Ethan. “I reacted much like you did. I had known some of those people for my entire life. My father waited until I agreed…then killed every soul who lived under our roof.”

“But you were saving them from torture,” contended Ethan. “What we plan to do now isn’t the same thing at all.”

Lylinora huffed a laugh. “That’s what I told myself. But there was more to it. I just couldn’t say it out loud.” She drew a deep breath. “Those people knew where we were going. They knew our plan to take refuge with the dwarves. And they died for it.” A tear slowly rolled down her cheek.

The revulsion and anger in Ethan gradually gave way to pity. “I’m sorry,” he said.

Lylinora shook her head. “Don’t be. Though I didn’t know it at the time, it was important that I survived. My father only did what had to be done to protect hope for the future.”

“And to protect his daughter,” Ethan added. He took her hand as they stared at the shoreline. “I can’t help the way I feel about all this. And I’m not sure I can make it right inside. But I’ll try not to take things out on you and the others from now on.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder. “I hope you can never make it right,” she said. “Because it’s not. It’s a very long way from that.”

Chapter Twelve

G
anix instructed the
captain to steer well away from shore so not to be seen by passing merchant ships. Or, more importantly, Imperial patrols.

The remaining two days of the journey saw Ethan become increasingly depressed and withdrawn. Although managing to keep his promise about not taking his anger out on the others, he found solitude to be the only salve for the pain he was feeling. Not even Kat could shake him from his melancholy. The crew, now as terrified of him as they were of Lylinora after seeing his display on the beach, were a constant reminder that he was not strong enough to save them. Even overhearing them talking of the men they had killed and the unwilling women they had ravaged did nothing to lessen his sense of guilt.

By the time they were due to arrive, his nerves were stretched to the limit. The wind had all but died, and an unnatural fog that lingered just above the water had set in. Only the creaking of timbers and anxious whispers of the frightened crew could be heard as he and the others gathered their belongings on deck.

Ethan didn’t know exactly how the slaughter would be done. He didn’t
want
to know. But he knew it would happen soon. He peered into the fog, but could see only a few yards beyond the bow.

Ganix was standing beside Captain Jeridia at the main wheel. After an hour, a small globe in the king’s hand begin to pulse with green light. The captain rang the ship’s bell, signaling the crew to drop anchor. As the landing boat was lowered into the water, Ganix nodded to Lylinora.

She sat cross-legged on the deck and began chanting softly.

“What’s she doing?” Jeridia demanded.

“Just lifting the fog,” the king replied. “Nothing to be concerned about.”

Ethan could hear the lie in Ganix’s voice, causing his anger to resurface. Lylinora continued with her chanting for several more minutes. Soon, Ethan noticed that the crew was becoming disoriented. Some stumbled and fell onto the deck, unable to rise. Others walked around in circles, mumbling incoherently.

Beads of sweat formed on Lylinora’s brow as she started slowly swaying from side to side in time with the motion of the ship.

The captain was the very last to lose his senses. Panic-stricken, he bolted toward the stern railing, but fell to his knees a few feet before reaching it.

With the entire crew sprawled out unconscious on the deck, something locked inside of Ethan finally found its release. A primal scream flew from his mouth, after which he began pounding the center mast repeatedly with his fists. He felt a hand touch his shoulder. It was Jonas.

“Come,” the old man said. “Let Markus finish this.”

Ethan looked at him with tear filled eyes. “Finish it?”

“They’re only sleeping,” he explained. “Lylinora refused to kill them with magic.”

Ethan regarded Lylinora for a moment. Kat was at her side, helping her over to the ladder going down to the landing craft. Her face was somber and she looked as if she hadn’t slept in days.

“She’ll be fine,” Jonas said. “The spell has taken a lot out of her. She just needs some rest.”

Ethan nodded. Having spent hours worrying about the matter, he was now greatly relieved to know that it would not be Lylinora who killed these men. If she had taken it upon herself, he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to feel the same way about her again. He spotted Markus standing at the bow, his aspect dispassionate and calm. This would not be the first time he’d killed helpless men. But Ethan had always held onto the hope that his dear friend would never have to do so any more. That hope was now gone.

“What about the boy?” Ethan asked. “We agreed that he’d be spared.”

“Markus will bring him,” said Ganix. “You have my word.”

Ethan climbed down into the boat. Lylinora had her head resting in Kat’s lap, her eyes shut. Once everyone but Markus was on board, they waited in solemn silence. Ethan tried not to imagine the carnage that was occurring up on the deck at that very moment. But ghastly images flashed through his mind anyway, causing him to shudder with disgust and regret.

*

Markus waited until the others were all in the boat before starting his deadly work. And for this particular task, he knew he was well suited.

He took a moment to survey the main deck, taking note of where each unconscious man was, then headed below. On checking the main cargo hold he found a smuggler lying close beside where they had slept.

“Probably looking to see if we’d left behind anything of value,” he mused.

While sliding cold steel across the man’s throat he heard the familiar gush of air, followed by a faint gurgle. He almost sighed with satisfaction.

That’s right, Specter. This is what you really are, isn’t
it?

Markus shook his head and waved his hand as if shooing away a fly.

You can fool the others, but you know what’s in your heart. Don’t you? You can pretend to be Markus all you want. You can pretend you’re the man Ethan wants you to be. But deep
down…

He looked at his blood soaked blade, then made his way back to the upper decks.

“Better go front to back,” he softly advised himself. “Or I’ll track blood everywhere.”

Or the others will see the blood on your boots. They’ll look into your soulless eyes and know how much you enjoyed
it.

“Shut up,” he grumbled, continuing with his work. “Just shut the hell up.”

You’re off your game, Specter. Killing sleeping sailors is not a challenge. You had better be glad Gault spared you in Port Hull.

“He didn’t spare me,” Markus responded. “I spared him.”

If that’s what you need to tell yourself, so be it. But we both know better. Ethan has turned you into a coward. A weak, worthless coward. Him…and the girl, Lylinora.

“That’s enough,” he snapped. “I’m tired of you.”

He took a mental note of how many smugglers he’d so far killed. Six. The next sailor he came to was old and grizzled. The man stared vacantly up at him through one eye that was still open. Markus’ anger began boiling over. This was no way to kill. No way for men to die.

That’s right. Let a farmer slaughter helpless cattle. Men should be given a fighting chance. Not that they have one when Specter comes calling. It’s all
his
fault. He’s the one who wants you to change. He has taken your courage. He has taken your life. And he’s taken
her
.

Markus plunged the dagger hard down into the open eye. The body jerked and convulsed for a few seconds before becoming still. “Ethan’s my friend,” he growled. “And she was never mine to begin with.”

She wants you, and you know it. But you’re too weak to do anything about it. How could she love a pathetic boy like Ethan? Tell me! How? You’re twice the man he’ll ever be. You’re Specter!

“You’re wrong. I’m Markus.”

Is that so? Would Markus slaughter these men? Would Markus have the stomach for such a thing? Look at the blood. Look at
it!

Unable to resist, he watched as blood spilled from the dead man’s eye socket and pooled around his head. A malevolent grin crept up at the corners of his mouth.

Have you ever seen anything so
beautiful?

Markus shook his head violently. “I won’t let you do this to me!”

He reached the galley. The young boy he was supposed to spare and bring with him was crumpled in the corner. He sat on his heels beside the youngster.

Prove that you’re still the man I know you are. No one will need to know. You can say he woke up and attacked
you.

Markus grabbed the boy’s hair and lifted his head.

That’s it. Do it. You’ve killed far younger. You know you want
to.

He placed the tip of his blade directly above the boy’s heart. All he had to do was lean forward. Just apply a little bit of pressure. His blade was sharp and he knew exactly where to put it. It would be so easy.

“Markus?”

He spun around to see Lylinora standing in the doorway.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded.

“Ethan was getting worried. I didn’t want him seeing…” She paused to eye him suspiciously. “Isn’t that the boy we’re taking with us?”

He nodded. “I was about to bring him up.”

Her eyes drifted to the bloody dagger in his hand. “Then you should hurry.” With that, she turned briskly away and left.

Lifting the boy easily onto his shoulder, Markus carried him to the top deck. After securing him to a rope and lowering him down to the others waiting in the boat, he then quickly set about completing his gruesome task.

The moment he was done and in the boat, Lylinora started whispering a spell, the effect of which was almost instantaneous. Markus had rowed them for only a few yards when the big ship began to burn. Seeing the scowl on Ethan’s face as his friend watched the flames intensify, he tried to force a smile and think of something to make himself feel better. But a white hot rage was steadily growing in his chest.

The voice persisted.

You can’t keep me away forever…Specter.