Mage Threll looked at Rezkin. “You were under water a long time. How did you survive?”
Rezkin tilted his head and looked at her curiously. “I was under water, but I was not. At times, it was as if air surrounded me. I thought you had cast a spell.”
She shook her head. “No, not I.”
Her eyes widened, and Rezkin turned to see what had captured her attention. A river of water that had climbed the ship began to flow across the deck in a narrow stream. As it slipped back into the water on the other side, the deck became dry. What it left behind was the greatest surprise. Rezkin strode toward the item with caution. After close examination, he lifted it from the planks and held it aloft. Blue swirls glinted across a silver edge in the last of the day’s light.
He looked toward Nanessy, and she shook her head again.
Captain Estadd stopped a few paces away and said, “The nereids look kindly upon our blessed king.”
Rezkin looked at the captain. He sheathed Kingslayer and then surveyed the rest of the ship. He said, “Shezar, find Reaylin so that she may treat Mage Threll before she loses consciousness. Then, see to the hull repair.” He looked back at the captain. “What is our status?”
Estadd said, “We will not be going anywhere without a mast. With the help of the mages, we may be able to salvage some of that debris out there for a temporary mend.”
“Do we have an accounting of the crew and passengers?”
“You will not like it. Several were injured in the collisions. Others went overboard. We are fishing a few out of the water, but two crewmen are missing, and one is dead.”
Rezkin nodded. He had expected worse.
“Ah, there is more. It is about Lord Malcius and Knight Yserria.”
Rezkin’s gaze hardened. “What is it?”
“They are missing. One of the crewmen remembers them coming out of the cabin just before the first strike. We believe they were thrown overboard, but we have found no evidence.”
Rezkin turned to the mages. “Can you search the water for them?”
Wesson waved toward Mage Threll. “That is her expertise.”
Nanessy shook her head. “I am holding the water back from multiple leaks, in addition to the ward on the hull. If I were at full strength, I could search the immediate area, maybe fifty yards in every direction, but no more.”
Captain Estadd said, “The current is swift here. What sails we have left are preventing us from being pulled back into the bay. If they have been in the water since the onset of the attack, they will be beyond her ability to detect by now.”
“That is assuming they are still alive,” said Rezkin.
“Well, yes, but I did not wish to say—”
“We should not avoid the truth because we do not like it.”
Estadd nodded to the other ship. “We could take that one to look for them.”
“No,” said Rezkin. “It would take time to transfer ships, and Malcius and Yserria will have been swept that much farther. We also do not have enough personnel to sail both vessels, and the people on the other ship cannot be trusted.”
“What do you want to do?”
Before Rezkin could answer, Celise came streaming across the deck. She knelt at Wesson’s side and held him in her arms. “My puppy! You were not in the room, and I think you are on the deck in danger, and I am so … um …”
“Frightened?” said Mage Threll.
“Um … I do not know is this the word,” said Celise as she hugged Wesson. “I am scream inside my heart.”
Rezkin watched as she stroked the battle mage’s hair and cooed at him in sweet words and soft tones. Why anyone would genuinely express such weakness for all to see was beyond him, and Wesson did not seem to appreciate the affection. After a few minutes, the battle mage shook her off, claiming he needed to help with the repairs.
Rezkin knew Captain Estadd, who was hollering orders to the crewmen at that moment, was still waiting for an answer. What was he going to do? He doubted Malcius and Yserria had survived the attack, but he felt an obligation to look for them. He had no idea how he would find them, though, considering the size of the bay. It took weeks to cross under ideal conditions; and, by the time temporary repairs were made, Malcius and Yserria could be anywhere.
He said, “Captain Estadd, these temporary repairs, how much can we expect from them?”
The man rubbed his beard and glanced at the broken mainmast. He said, “If the mages are any good, we can limp to port in Ferélle—Havoth, maybe. I would not risk being out any longer than we must. One storm and we will all be swimming with the nereids.”
“Very well. See to the repairs. Shezar and Lus will take a team to secure the other vessel. The journeyman will go with them.”
“Do you think that is a good idea?” said Mage Threll. “He is very upset.”
“You know there are at least a few mages on that ship. He can handle them. I will be in my quarters.”
Rezkin entered the cabin and took the steps to his berth. Once there, he searched the entire room and was frustrated when he did not find his quarry. He sloughed his wet clothes and put on a dry set then sat on his bunk. He said into the air, “Bilior. Bilior, where are you?” He stepped over to the porthole and again called, “Bilior!”
He knew the ancient would still be aboard since it seemed to follow him everywhere. He turned from the porthole and nearly collided with a face bearing orange eyes. The tree creature had stretched to Rezkin’s height and was staring at him intently.
“Your part of the deal is broken. Two of my companions are gone, and we have not yet secured our sanctuary.”
Bilior’s feather-leaves shook, and the sound of thrashing limbs suffused the room as he leapt backward. “We are here, and they are there; but safe they be, among the we.”
Rezkin felt a shudder of relief. “Where are they?”
“Uspiul did save you, with Hvelia in his embrace. Water to air so that you may live. He did bring your metal scepter, the blade that makes you king of men.”
“What are Uspiul and Hvelia?”
“Wind and air, Ancients of Ahn’an they be.”
“And they have Malcius and Yserria?”
The katerghen’s arms wrapped around his truck, and he shivered to the sound of raindrops on a pond. “With you, not they.”
Rezkin felt his frustration rising, and the stone on his chest began to heat. “Then, where are Malcius and Yserria?”
“With the lessers of the sea, they be,” said Bilior as he tilted his head curiously to one side.
“These lessers are sea spirits, like the nereids of legend?” Bilior looked at him as his leaves twirled in the breeze from the porthole. Rezkin said, “Can they can bring Malcius and Yserria here?”
The creature shook again. “Nay, the sea is strong, the lessers weak. Shift them, guide them, toward the tide. On land they set them free.”
Rezkin sat back on his bunk. “The coast is long, and they will not sit still. Even if we found their landing spot, they will be gone.” He looked at the curious katerghen. “Those were Ashaiian ships. It was a demon controlling that sea creature, was it not?”
Sounds of lightning and rain echoed around the berth. “Daem’Ahn spread, in human host, Seeking you, in shadow, the shattered light.”
“What does that mean?”
Bilior shook in silence and did not explain. He began to shrink, the wooden flesh sprouting fur, the browns and greens turning to a mottled brown and black.
Rezkin frowned. “I do not like it when you take Cat’s form.”
Then, he thought about what he had said. Why did he care what form the creature took, and why did it bother him that it was the form of his cat? He donned the guise of Dark Tidings, strapping the mask to his belt, and headed toward the main deck. Then, he paused. He had not checked on Frisha. She had been angry with him when he had not sought her after the attack on Cael. He headed back toward her berth and rapped on the door.
“Yes?” Frisha said as she opened it. She looked at him in surprise. “Oh, I didn’t expect you. Is everything okay?”