Harvest of Dreams (The Gods' Dream Trilogy) (46 page)

“But the men…” he protested, gesturing toward the ship’s side.

“Only whoever can scramble up that ladder. The rest we leave behind.”

The man leaned over the rail and shouted commands at the sailors below

By slow degrees, the ship ponderously began to turn.

The new captain ran to her. “Where to, lady?”

“I’m the Trine Priestess, fool!” She pointed to the open water. “Away from here. When we’re safe, head for Penutar.”

The sails filled, and the vessel leapt forward.

The waves around them grew higher and surged.

Pasinae could feel the chains around the SeaGod wear away.
We’re not going to make it!
As she ran to the bow, she passed sailors rushing about their tasks, fear radiating from their movements.

Once she reached the bow, Pasinae crowded against the rail and touched her pearl. With her othersense she shouted to Ontarem. Using quick mental pictures, she made her need known.

In her mind’s eye, she saw Ontarem’s expression turned stormy. The God reached out and grabbed the ship, towing the vessel toward Penutar.

~ ~ ~

Once his initial gladness at the SeaGod’s release passed, Thaddis realized that he could very well be the next target of the wrath of Yadarius. He released Sadie’s hand, avoiding her curious glance, and eased out of the crowd of rejoicing people.

Wenda climbed down from the lookout. “I’ve communed with Gar on the flagship,” she told him. “Some of your ships will sail to pick us up. We should go down to the harbor.”

“There may still be fighting,” he warned. “Some seadogs are descended from captives taken from our countries. Yadarius may have sensed their mixed blood and spared them.”

“Before we can move, there are those who need healing,” the priestess said. “With Yadarius restored to His power, He can fuel me to do so.”

“Good. Start with Philan.” Thaddis walked away from everyone, needing space in case Yadarius wanted to throw a thunderbolt or something else lethal his way. He didn’t want harm to come to anyone, especially not Sadie. He hurried down the steps and paused on the path.

Yadarius stood hip-deep in the water with a piece of His trident in each hand. He raised His arms in front of Him, aligning the ends of the handle, His forehead knitted in concentration.

Thaddis had a sense of the Goddesses joining with the SeaGod. With a ping like a spoon striking a crystal glass, except far louder—the sound rang across the ocean—the two sections of the trident fused into one.

The SeaGod glowed with power. His eyes turned to Thaddis.

Thaddis dropped to one knee and bowed his head. “I have wronged You and Your people, Ruler of the Sea.”

A gentle breeze ruffled his hair.

Rise, Thaddis of Ocean’s Glory. You have not wronged me, nor my people. On the contrary, you sought only to save Indaran, my prince.
The SeaGod’s shoulders sagged as if weighted by grief.

Thaddis stood.

My own neglect that is the cause of what has happened. I knew Ontarem was displeased with me for accepting His people as my own. I did not think His feelings would turn to enmity against me and mine. I should have refused my permission for Indaran to make the journey to Louat. When Indaran fell into Ontarem’s hands, the God had the first of His tools to use against me. For that oversight, my people have suffered. Would that I could undo time. But even we Gods lack that particular power.

Thaddis glanced up at the people on the ledge. From their expressions, he could tell they, too, heard the SeaGod’s words.

On each side of the path, his soldiers straggled back from the fighting.

Boerk, a bloody slash across his arm, bowed. “The seadogs are no more, my Lord Commander. Those we didn’t kill ran down the pathway and were caught in the tidal wave.”

“Well, done.” Thaddis raised his voice so everyone could hear his praise.

Yadarius waved His trident.
I will work with my priestess to heal all who are injured. Bring all the wounded to this area.
The SeaGod pointed to where Thaddis stood.

I will also visit those who reside in my hall and welcome their spirits, as should have been done when they passed. Give any who have died into my hands and I will carry them home to My hall.

Some of the walking wounded, helped by their companions, began moving in his direction.

The SeaGod straightened, His expression lightening.
There are more of my people, Seagem’s citizens, held captive over there
.” He pointed to one of the other islands.
I sensed their presence and spared them from the tidal wave. When the ships come, they must be transported home. I will ensure their safety.

Thaddis exchanged glances with Philan, who’d joined them. “You and your men have a choice to make. You can go to the captives and sail home with your people. Soldiers from Ocean’s Glory are on the ships. They can take your place. Or you can continue on with me. I advise you to go.” He thought of Adama, and his throat tightened. “Stay safe. Rebuild.”

Philan, a hand clapped over his shoulder wound, shook his head. “As much as my heart longs to go to the captives, to see if any of my family or friends live, I want…
need
to be part of taking down Ontarem. I
will
have my revenge.”

I know the feeling.
But the next stage of their plan called for them to sail into the heart of Ontarem’s territory.
Revenge, if we achieve it, will come at the cost of more bloodshed.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

With Ontarem’s tow pulling the ship swiftly toward Penutar, Pasinae should have relaxed. Instead, she paced the deck, uncertain of how far the power of Yadarius would extend. After all, He was God of the ocean, but the waves that came were as violent as those during a storm. But they failed to capsize a vessel held in Ontarem’s hands.

After several hours, the water smoothed. She’d just started to relax, when the lookout called, “sail,” and pointed behind them.

Pasinae whirled. The speed of the ship, the canted deck, prevented her from running to see their pursuers. Instead, she had to scuttle, soft-kneed and bow-legged, to keep her balance, grabbing the rail or a mast when her feet slipped.

When she reached the wheelhouse, Pasinae scrambled up the ladder and yanked the spyglass out of the captain’s hand. Lifting the instrument to her eye, she adjusted the lens. A ship sprang into view. She searched for the flags, and the orange and black of Ocean’s Glory leaped out at her, but…? She squinted to be sure of what she saw. The familiar banner sported a W, instead of a B.

They’ve displaced Besolet. With the people of Ocean’s Glory worshiping Withea, She’ll soon gain in power
. Pasinae thrust the spyglass at the captain so strongly that the end smacked against his chest.

Without a word, he took the instrument from her.

She changed her mind and grabbed it back.

Not caring to remain in close quarters of the man, Pasinae climbed down the ladder. Carrying the spyglass in one hand, she struggled to the stern, often having to grasp the side with her free hand.

When she reached the stern, Pasinae watched the enemy ship for a while, trying to discern if the vessel could catch them. Before long, she became impatient and paced back and forth. The speed of the ship made her steps ponderous, and she often had to grab for the rail to steady herself. After a time of restless movement, she stopped to lean against the rail and peer out to sea.

More triangles appeared on the horizon. Fear clenched her stomach.
Ours or theirs?
She lifted the spyglass to her eye. Fuzzy images of ships came into view. She adjusted the eyepiece, and the lines of the vessels and the banners flying from the masts gave her the answer.

Theirs.

~ ~ ~

In the darkness of early morning, Arvintor’s army continued their celebration of the SeaGod’s return while they ate. The glow of the campfires provided their only illumination. No one bothered to set up the lanterns when dawn was only an hour away. Indaran, sitting between Khan and Jasmine, with Daria on the other side of his brother-in-law, finished his bowl of some kind of grain mixed with meat and studied the people around him. Knowing the battle lay before them, their spirits were more subdued from the wild jubilation earlier, but on each face he saw a peaceful expression at odds with the circumstances ahead of them.

Roe-al walked over and crouched in front of Jasmine. He touched her knee, and gave Daria a friendly glance. “I thought when I connected with Arvintor that I had the most blessed of experiences. I didn’t know that my encounter with the Good God could grow to a meeting with another One. What happened today took my breath away in awe and made me weep with joy. I want to thank you all for bringing such light to the Che-da-wah.” He shook his head, an expression of wonder on his face at the memory. “You have given us a gift that’s beyond words.”

Jasmine directed her gentle smile at Roe-al. “We all have shared in the gift. You and your people have given, as well. Without your energy, Arvintor would still be powerless, and I wouldn’t have escaped from Ontarem’s clutches. And if I hadn’t stayed free, then I wouldn’t have been able to free Indaran and his crew. And he freed the slaves. If Ontarem possessed the slaves’ power when Daria and Khan came to the rescue, they too might have been taken captive.” She spread her hands in front of her body, palms up. “So you see, we’re connected—all our people and the Deities of Kimtair.”

Wishing he could prolong the peace and calm, Indaran handed his bowl to one of the adolescents collecting the dishes. “It’s time.” A gust of hot wind flared the flames of the fires and blew his hair across her face. With an impatient gesture, he pushed back the long strands.

Daria laughed. “Wait, brother.” With the grace and strength characteristic of her, she rose to her feet. “I remember how you were always pushing your hair out of your face. How Cihkel would tease you, threatening to shave your head. You retorted that the ladies loved your hair. And you were right. You had more girls admiring you…” As she recounted the story with only a slight hitch in her voice at Cihkel’s name, Daria finger-combed Indaran’s hair. Then she deftly began to braid the sections into a long tail. When she came to the end, she pulled off the leather tie from her own plait to secure his. “Keep it, I have more with me.”

The sisterly gesture moved Indaran. They were missing fourteen years of teasing and taking care of each other. Even an act as simple as braiding his hair was not something he could take for granted.
Especially on the brink of going to battle.

“Thank you, Little Bird.” He gave her a hug, stepped back, and glanced around. “I don’t want to grab everyone’s attention with strident bugle blasts or anything else that would jolt as a call to order. That doesn’t fit with what happened earlier…with the mood. So instead, quietly pass the word. Have everyone ready themselves to march in thirty minutes.”

~ ~ ~

Thaddis stood with Sadie in a corner of the wheelhouse of the
Wind Racer
, Cheta sitting at her feet. One hand held the side of the ship, and the other grasped the rail in front. He braced himself as the ship crashed through the waves, sending powerful sprays of water into the air.

Sadie rocked into him, then righted herself.

Feeling the speed of their journey, the leap of the vessel through the water, sent elation racing through Thaddis. He’d accomplished what he’d set out to do—the first major step in overthrowing Ontarem. And, equally important to him at this moment, Sadie had stopped pushing him away. For a few hours he could relax, savor the victory and enjoy the company of the woman in front of him. All too soon he’d pick up the responsibility of command. He, along with those he cared about, would be plunged into the midst of battle.

The sail of Pasinae’s ship steadily grew larger. He spied the first smudge of gray land and a flood of apprehension changed his mood, making his body heavy with dread and flashing him back in time.

Prince Thaddis stood in the wheelhouse of the royal flagship, spyglass to his eye, watching the first sight of land appear after several long weeks at sea. As each day passed, he’d grown more concerned that he wouldn’t be in time to rescue Indaran from whatever trouble his foster brother had gotten himself into. But after the first flush of relief, the sight of the land growing ever closer depressed his spirits, and dread grew within him. Only his certainty that Indaran yet lived and needed his help kept him from ordering the ship to turn about.

A squeeze on his arm brought him back to the present. “Returning to Louat must be difficult.” Sadie had to raise her voice to be heard over the sound of the wind, the flap of sails and rigging, and the rhythmic smack of waves against the hull.

“You have no idea,” he replied through clenched teeth, holding in the anger caused by the memory. Then realizing she hadn’t heard him, he leaned closer to her ear. “This time I know what I’m sailing into, who my enemy is. And when I catch hold of her, I’ll wring her neck.”

“Pasinae?” Sadie’s eyebrows pulled together. “Can you really do that? Kill her?”

“Of course, I could.” But even as he said the words, Thaddis wondered if they were true.

“Have you ever killed a woman?” Her eyes widened.