Suddenly, a bony arm burst through the water’s surface, the skin covered in what looked like bubbling tar.
My eyes widened. I’d seen that tar-like effect once before when I’d spied on the Sire and Lady. Back then, the Sire’s hand had glowed with hybrid power before he spoke the words that still haunted me: “hybrid power always corrupts.” After that, the Sire’s hands turned as black and bubbling as the ones before me now.
I didn’t like that, not one whit.
The hand dug into the water’s surface with claw-like fingers. Whatever this thing was, it treated the water as if it were solid instead of liquid. After that, a creature dragged itself out form under the surface of the water. It was tall and bony with an oversized head. Every inch of its body seemed to bubble and sag with tar. All-yellow eyes peered at me from a massive face with drooping features.
It strode across the surface of the water, staying a few arms lengths from the side of the ship as it slowly lumbered along the surface of the water, keeping pace with the ship.
Jicho scooted behind me a bit, his grip on my hand tightening. Using my Necromancer training, I schooled my features into a semblance of serenity and confidence.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“We are the Rushwa.” The creature’s voice was a deep gurgle. “I am the Rushwa.”
My brows lifted. “You are a we?”
The creature chuckled as six more creatures broke through the surface of the water. Like the first monster, these all hauled themselves onto the water’s surface and then walked over.
“We,” repeated the Rushwa.
At that moment, the ruddy bird let out another ear-piercing squawk. The sound sent waves of movement through the Rushwa. The creature hissed in pain.
I pursed my lips. So loud noises affected the Rushwa. Interesting.
Jicho shook my wrist. “Look, Elea!”
Spinning around slowly, I scanned the waters nearby. Together, these seven monsters now surrounded our little vessel, stepping along in unison as they followed our journey along the river.
Now, I couldn’t cast a spell, but the Rushwa didn’t know this. Focusing my mage senses, I pulled in Necromancer power from around me. Bones lined the riverbed and lay embedded deep in the jungle floor. To me, they all seemed to vibrate with magickal echoes of their lives. I drew the power into my soul and focused it into my limbs. My forearms soon glowed blue with Necromancer power. I made sure to show them off as I spoke.
“If you value your existence, you’ll go back where you came from. Leave us alone.”
The Rushwa gave another gurgling laugh. It stepped around the MAJE until it reached the next Rushwa in line.. A short burst of violet light encircled the two Rushwa as they merged into one, larger entity.
I blinked hard, not believing what I was seeing. The creature didn’t appear to be solid, but some kind of liquid lighter than water and just as malleable.
This was magick unlike anything I’d ever heard of before.
Jicho buried his face in my side. “What are those things, Elea?”
“Listen to me carefully. This deck is lined with doors. Do any of them lead somewhere you can stay safe?”
The merged creature stepped into the next Rushwa in line, getting larger.
Four creatures remained.
Jicho nodded. “Most of them are big enough to hide in.”
“Good.” I exhaled. “Then you need to go into one and stay put until I’m done here.”
“You’re going to fight them, aren’t you?”
Only two left now.
“I’m going to try. That’s why you need to get someplace safe.”
“I’ll try.” Jicho’s voice warbled with fear. “But I need to run the ship aground and turn off the stream engine.”
“Do whatever you—”
Before I could finish my thought, a massive hand wrapped around my waist, hauling me off the MAJE’s deck. Before I knew what was happening, the thing had jammed me into its mouth, swallowing me whole.
One moment, I was struggling against a monster’s grip. The next, I was surrounded by oily slop, unable to breathe or see. Panic boiled through my bloodstream, but I was able to lean into Necromancer training once more. With force of will, I kept my mind and body calm.
After that, I pulled even more Necromancer power into my body.
It was true that I couldn’t cast a spell, but that didn’t mean there was no benefit to pulling in power. Before I got trained as a Necromancer, I used magick to help with chores like chopping wood. Later on at the Cloister, I channeled the same power to climb the Zelle mountain. Petra said it helped my focus.
Petra. I pictured her once-beloved face tightening into a lined scowl. What would she say if I became this creature’s meal instead of Tsarina? The answer came from the pit of my soul.
Petra would say nothing because the Rushwa are not going to kill me. I’m climbing out of this monster’s stomach and then…
And then, I’d think of something.
Maybe.
Hopefully.
In reality, I had no plan here and very little chance of survival.
Even so, my lungs burned for air as I pushed all my magick into my forearms. After that, I scaled upwards. The creature’s throat was slimy and bubbled with the same sick energy. My power thrummed through my hands as I blindly crawled higher. When I got to the monster’s mouth, it let out a loud roar of frustration and pain. A welcome burst of air surrounded me. I took in a deep breath and held it in tightly.
That’s when I remembered the ruddy bird. The Rushwa had shivered with pain when that animal screeched. A plan formed in my mind. I had a lung full of air and magick that could enhance anything physical that I did. What if I tried some screaming of my own?
It wasn’t the best scheme, but it was better than nothing.
Using all my focus, I channeled my magick into my throat and voice box. My neck glowed with blue light as I set loose the mother of all screams. The gooey structure of the creature shivered around me.
After that, it burst apart.
I landed in the dark waters with a splash. Kicking my legs, I propelled myself through to the river’s surface. Bits of oily goo floated around me.
Now, I’m a death mage, but even I found that disgusting.
The ship was aground, so I paddled over to the side of the boat and hauled myself onto the deck. If there was one consolation in this battle, it was that my quick post-fight swim served to wash off most of the black tar from being ingested by that hybrid monster.
The moment I set foot on deck, one of the small doors on the floor flipped open. Jicho popped his head out. “Did we win?”
He seemed so excited, I couldn’t help but smile. “We did.” I rubbed my forehead. “There’s no time to celebrate, though. We need to get this ship back in the water and find Nan.”
“Sure thing,” said Jicho. “I have a toolkit that can help.” He knelt down and pulled at one of the small doors set into the deck of the ship.
All of a sudden, an arrow whizzed an inch away from Jicho’s nose, landing with a thunk on the metal deck.
Jicho hopped to his feet. “What was that?”