The ship suddenly rocked, and Ninian and Jhond both gripped the table, looking at each other. Abruptly, the ship slammed sideways, and with a cry, Jhond got to his feet, stumbling toward the cabin door.
Ninian grabbed his arm. "Hold, Jhond. Where are you going?"
Jhond looked confused at the question. "Why on deck, of course, to help."
"Don't you think if Amired wanted our help he would've asked for it?"
Even more puzzled as the ship rocked violently again, Jhond asked, "Why should I wait? I could've stopped this by now."
"Because you can't do everything for everyone," Ninian said, his grip tightening.
Jhond glanced down at Ninian's hand on his arm before lifting his gaze to meet Ninian's questioningly.
"Save yourself for when you are really needed. If the Eynan is always available, people will learn to rely on you, then when you're no longer at their beck and call, they'll have forgotten how to cope."
Frowning, Jhond replied, "This is not 'people;' this is Amired!"
Knowing full well what Jhond meant, Ninian raised an eyebrow as he asked, "And Amired is incapable of handling his own ship?"
Jhond made as if to reply, but instead he closed his mouth without uttering a word. He glanced down at Ninian's hand again, and this time Ninian released him. Jhond returned to sit at the table, taking up the metallic library and beginning to read again.
* * * *
On deck, Amired held fast to the wheel as he yelled orders at his crew, trusting Aldous to carry them through as he fought his own ship, forcing the
Horologue
through the narrow passage between the roiling seas and the shelves of rock that rose to form the coastline. Too close for comfort. It had been some years since Amired had sailed in this direction. It had been shortly after he'd joined the crew, when his uncle was captain of the
Horologue,
but he could've sworn the maelstrom wasn't as close to the shore as it was now. Amired had already ordered Warkist to add his strength to the wheel, and the man was braced at his side. Amired prayed he hadn't made a fatal miscalculation bringing his ship on this route.
Amired had half expected the magi to come on deck by now. He was tempted to send a sailor below and ask for their help, but pride stayed his hand. He knew that if it became a matter of life and death, he would call for their help, but this was his ship and his responsibility.
His muscles were screaming for release, but instead he tightened his grip on the wheel and re-doubled his efforts to fight the currents pushing his vessel closer to the shore. Occasionally, a yelled order from Aldous would reach him over the thunder of the pounding waves, and Amired was profoundly grateful he had such a reliable first mate.
"I can't hold on much longer," Warkist suddenly cried.
"You damn well will! If I can, you can." He spared a quick glance at his sailor. "Do you want to die, man?"
Wild-eyed, Warkist replied, "Hellas, no! But look, Captain. We can't beat that!"
Warkist pointed off to the east. Amired didn't follow his gaze--he didn't need to--but what he did need to do was keep his eyes on where the ship was heading. And so did Warkist.
"Warkist, obey my orders. Get your attention on the wheel. Now!"
Warkist obeyed, but under his breath, he muttered, "Why don't they help? They could do something."
Knowing to whom he referred, Amired said, "Because I've not asked them."
"Hellas, why not?"
Amired didn't bother to answer. He wasn't sure he knew what to say. Was he just letting his pride get in the way of common sense? The muscles in his right arm were quivering with strain.
Lords, what am I doing?
He was about to call for Aldous to send a sailor down to the cabin when a short ways ahead he spied the coast edging west, only a little, but enough to make the channel between the land and the maelstrom that bit wider. Amired saw the map of the coast in his mind's eye and knew just where they were. The large bay of Hootsmais was just around the headland and the
Horologue
would be safe from there on. By the time they cleared the bay, the maelstrom would be left behind and then it was plain sailing north.
As relief flooded him, Amired said to Warkist, "There's your answer."
"Captain?" Warkist didn't understand.
"That's Hootsmais Point," Amired explained. "We're safe once past there."
"Thank the Lords!"
"Indeed." Amired was filled with pride that he hadn't needed to rely on the magi after all.
There was a knock on the door, to which Ninian called, "Come on in."
A smiling Amired entered. "I trust you weren't too disturbed by our close run in with the maelstrom?"
"Ah, so that's what it was. The Maidoloss maelstrom. I gather you didn't take the long route around the islands," Ninian said.
"You made it quite clear you needed to reach the north in the shortest possible time. Though I admit the maelstrom appeared much closer to the coast than the last time I saw it, and it made the passage more dangerous than I expected."
"It's not just closer; its size has increased," Jhond said absently, his concentration still on the metallic library in his hands.
"How can you know that?" Amired asked, immediately flushing as Jhond glanced at him with an eyebrow raised. "Ah, of course. I wish you could've warned me before I made my decision," he said, almost under his breath.
"You didn't ask," Ninian commented, and Amired looked embarrassed again.
"I thought to let you alone to do..." Amired frowned. "Do whatever it is you're doing."
Jhond laughed. "To be honest, I didn't know it was larger until we were passing it by and I sensed the growing energy."
Amired looked alarmed. "Are you saying the maelstrom is being influenced by something, someone?"
"No, no. I wasn't sensing any outside source...just that nature is never static. The vortex was surging, growing in power. It may fade and again be how you knew it or it may remain as it is now."
"I could wish it chose another time to surge," Amired muttered.
"How much longer do you think you'll be able to keep sailing north?" Ninian asked.
"Hard to be certain until I have more information about what's happening with the northern wastes," Amired said. "Your comment about nature not being static is what's been on my mind about the ice sheets. I want to put in at Ordisk. I'll be able to gather more accurate information there." Amired glanced from one man to the other. "Unless you want to use your power to look? Save us the time?"
"Bypass Ordisk and sail on to Waildon. We'll leave the ship and travel on from there," Jhond said.
Amired looked confused. "Waildon? But I can get you farther north than that by sea. Not only that, but Waildon is on this side of the northern highland range. You don't want to travel over there if you don't have to."
"Yes. I've traversed that range before, and it's not something I wish to repeat. What aren't you telling me, Jhond?" Ninian queried.
Tapping the metallic sheet under his hand, Jhond said, "This is even more useful than I imagined. It gives a thorough description of Leon, the capital city of Garileon, and in particular, a very detailed one of the castle of the ruling family of the state. It gives the name of the ruling family as Thail."
Ninian's eyes widened. "Why didn't I know that? The only information I gleaned from the Hartees records was that the Thail family was well regarded in their home state of Garileon. I can't understand why something as important as that they were the ruling family was omitted."
Jhond shrugged. "I can only assume that in all the confusion around the time of the Withdrawal, certain information was missed, or maybe lost over time." Ninian still appeared upset, and to distract him, Jhond added, "It also talks of the annual visit taken by a representative of the family to pay respects to the king in his palace at Waildon."
"But there's not been a king at Waildon for over two centuries," Amired said.
"True, but that's not the point. Using this detailed information, I can use the Strands of Time from the palace in Waildon to view the castle in Garileon, and once I have more detailed knowledge of the castle, we can travel there using the pendant."
"Couldn't you use the Strands from here now you have points of reference?" Amired queried.
"Probably, but I prefer the added certainty of being in the vicinity of the palace in Waildon when I do so."
"How long before we reach Waildon?" Ninian queried. He seemed to have regained his equilibrium.
"If this weather holds, tomorrow evening," Amired said.
"It will hold." Jhond's statement left no room for doubt. After a moment he added, "You're concerned, Amired." It was not a question.
"What do you want me to do while you are...travelling?"
"We don't know how long our mission might take," Ninian commented.
"So we wait here in case you need us?" Amired asked.
"Is that necessary?" Ninian asked Jhond. "Amired could take his ship back, perhaps pick up a cargo."
It was Amired who answered, "I have been well paid, so a cargo is not necessary. I was thinking it might help if I continued on north, in case that would be useful?"
Jhond smiled. "And what would your crew think of that plan?"
"I care not what the crew thinks. I'm the captain, and they know it." A simple statement of fact, not a boast.
Jhond smiled again. "I think that would be an excellent idea. It may not be necessary, but I'm always glad to have you in attendance, my friend. And if it helps keep your crew sweet, I'm sure we can offer you a bonus."
"You're very generous," Amired said, with a slight bow. "I'd better make sure we have extra warm clothing ready, though," Amired added thoughtfully.
"How far north can you sail?" Ninian asked.
Amired shrugged. "I won't know for sure until I get there. The ice travels farther south some years than others. I'll be able to pick up hints as I go, calling into ports as I think fit."
"When you've sailed as far north as you can, just pass a finger quickly over the gemstone of my ring and think of me. I'll know where you are. Don't press it firmly, though, as that's an indication of danger."
Ninian glanced down at the special ring now residing on his finger. "And if I'm in trouble and need help, I rub it twice?" He looked up at Jhond with a grin on his face.
Jhond smiled back, but said, "I'll assume the more often you rub it, the more you need me."
* * * *
It felt good to walk on solid ground again. Jhond enjoyed being at sea, but the land was his domain. He stood and took a deep breath, taking in the smells of the docks and surrounding buildings, a mixture of rough stone, baked brick and dark wood, brightened by large paned windows. It was very different from his home in the countryside of Timendra, but he'd learned to appreciate the differences that foreign lands brought.
Ninian laughed gently beside him, and Jhond turned to look at him. "You're amused?"
"Oh, yes. Your expression was a mixture of distaste and pleasure, quite the combination," Ninian said.
Jhond couldn't help but smile. "I can imagine, but now we have no more time to waste."
"What do you need? I admit to being a little surprised when you said to Amired that you wanted to be in Waildon before attempting to use the pendant. You've never before needed a specific starting point, only a firm knowledge of the destination."
"True, but that's the point. I don't have a
firm
knowledge of the destination. Garileon was little more than a name to me, and I knew next to nothing about it until you mentioned it."
"Yes, and it's now apparent I don't know as much as I thought I did," Ninian said.
Jhond decided to ignore the reference and said, "Everything I know I've learned from the metallic library. It would definitely help to have a detailed path to follow. I wish to commence my trip from the starting point in Waildon of the long ago journey home to Garileon."
"Now I understand; that makes perfect sense. And where is this starting point?"
"The gates of the king's palace."
"But there is no king, no palace any longer," Ninian said.
"I know, but what was once the palace is now the halls of justice. If I can find the place where the gates once stood--"
"It wouldn't be wise to use the pendant in the open, Jhond," Ninian interrupted.
"And I won't. Let's go check out the area and then we can make firm plans."
It didn't take long to reach the sprawling halls of justice, and Jhond marveled at the sight the palace must have been when a king ruled these people. Even now, the building was impressive. At each end of a large, central, semi-circular building of light-colored stone, was a tall, thin tower in a darker stone, topped with bright metal cupolas. The central building consisted of two stories and at the front the curve of the semi-circle was lined with two sets of three tall, thin windows either side of a wide entrance with double doors edged with the same metal as the cupolas.
The last king had been overthrown as being a cruel tyrant, and with his recent experience with the Illurian emperor, Jhond only had sympathy for the people's action. It also made him appreciate how lucky his own people were in the ruling family of Timendra.
The palace gates themselves were no longer there, but the stone posts still stood proud, now supporting an intricately carved wooden sign indicating that justice was available for all who walked between the posts and through the doors beyond. There were people milling about everywhere, some standing in groups just talking, while others walked past entering or leaving through the stone pillars.
"Too many people," Jhond said quietly to Ninian, who nodded as he glanced around.
"Yes, and there's nowhere near enough to hide," Ninian replied.
Jhond sighed. "Let's slip behind that building"--he indicated an inn nearby--"where hopefully we can find a quiet spot. I'll make us invisible, then we'll come back here and I can take us to Garileon."
"
I'll
make us invisible," Ninian corrected. "You don't need to do everything. There's no knowing what else you might need your power for. Being the Eynan doesn't mean your power is inexhaustible."