Chapter Twenty-Three

Invier

 

It’s my first day off since I’ve been here. No training with Torin. No other commitment. There’s absolutely nothing I need to do and I plan to keep things that way.

 

Originally, I thought I’d go to the mess hall, get a ton of food, and spend the rest of the day in my room. Then, I realized a swim would be good. Especially if I get there before everyone else. Sundays are a popular beach day and Koroda Quay gets crowded by late morning. People camp out all day, awaiting the Sunday night bonfires.

 

My thoughts travel to my last meeting with Karax. It included a group of advisors, Minim lieutenants, Ragni, and Abi. I learned about several other Minim-controlled cities. Moreni. Valleyon. Branpit. Another meeting focused on Koroda’s growing population and plans to expand. Karax and I are yet to discuss the specifics of my return to Pichelin and how many forces I’ll have. I’ll bring it up when next I catch him alone.

 

Having made up my mind to enjoy a relaxing swim at the beach, I remove orange and yellow swim shorts from the drawer. Though my room here is Spartan, it’s comfortable. There’s a narrow bed that my feet hang over when I sleep and a chest of drawers that rocks back and forth on uneven legs whenever I as much as breathe its way. On the drawers are three shells given to me by Emilia. I cringe thinking back at how unwilling I was to carry her when I first arrived. Now, I’m one of her favorite people. Second only to Kande, as far as I’m concerned. She expects me to carry her whenever I’m around and I sometimes get shells for my service.

 

Also on the chest of drawers are colorful drawings from Aster. One is of him and me, though he drew us to be the same height. Another is his artistic interpretation of Lake Koroda. I assured him it was a masterpiece even though his art teacher had several suggestions on how to improve it. He’s also given me a few tiny pieces of driftwood and rocks, which I have placed in a small wooden bowl.

 

I slip into my trunks and grab my towel. Sadly, I open my door to see Ragni’s lopsided grin.

 

This can’t be good.

 

“Good to see you’re ready, yeah.”

 

“Ready for what?”

 

He’s walking off when he replies, “A trip! Come on.”

 

“Hold on a second!” I change to denim pants, a t-shirt and shove my feet into boots. Fortunately, the clothes were laid out on the bed for my return from the swim which won’t happen.

 

When I race out of my room, Ragni is waiting down the hall. His back is to the wall and he’s tapping one foot on the wooden floor.

 

Seeing me, he marches down the stairs. I follow him across the Savannah and to the beach, where a speed boat awaits. It looks like the exact one which ferried me over to Koroda Quay the day I got here.

 

Icy needles prickle my spine even though the sun is warming everything around me.

 

A squint later and I hope my eyes are deceiving me but I see the skipper from that fateful day. He’s strolling along the beach. I rub my eyes, just in case I’m seeing things and when they open, my worst fear is confirmed. The man walking up and down, grumbling to no one in particular, is the skipper. He's waiting for his passengers, one of whom will sadly be me, it seems.

 

“Not again.”

 

Ragni gives me a curt look over his shoulder as he trudges through the sand. “Did you say something?”

 

Choosing not to answer his question, I ask one of my own. “Where are we going?”

 

“Don’t you like surprises?” Is his response. “I love surprises. They’re the best.”

 

Whatever surprise he has in store for me, is bound to be far from something I would love. I’m sure of it.

 

Abi arrives and bundles into the small boat. I carefully wade through the water, hesitant to get in.

 

If I had any doubt before, a whiff of the skipper reminds me I’m in his presence. His stench reaches me and leaves a mawkish tang on my tongue which I desperately want to scrape off. There’s no mistaking it, he’s the one who brought me to Koroda. I only hope I won’t have to smell him for long.

 

Taking my mind off the troublesome man, I angle my head away from him and inhale the salty air. Sea gulls caw overhead, swooping into the water on occasion to scoop food out of the water. Two other boats and a large ship bob on the water. The largest of them all stands dominant above the rest. It’s the ship which brought me to these parts.

 

“Why does the narl look like a child sucking a lemon?” Abi asks, scowling directly at me.

 

“Do you feel queasy?” Ragni asks quietly when I sit beside him.

 

“Is he gonna throw up?” Abi asks, her tone full of alarm. She moves out of her seat in front of Ragni, moving closer to the front of the boat.

 

“You’ll be fine, yeah,” Ragni reassures me, his voice low. “If, you do need to puke, though …”

 

“I’ll do it over the side,” I tell him. “Don’t worry, I’m well practiced.”

 

The left corner of his mouth rises in sympathy and I settle in for what I expect will be a tough couple of minutes.

 

“We ain’t waiting on anyone else, yeah?” the skipper yells from the very back.

 

“Bah! Let’s go,” Abi says and the engine sputters to life.

 

***

 

I don’t know how I did it, but I managed not to barf on the ride over.

 

We climb up a ladder on the side of the ship and make our way to the bridge. Rows of buttons, flashing lights, and other instruments welcome our arrival.

 

“Hello, Invier,” Karax says with a friendly smile. “I know the invitation was sudden, but I’m glad you agreed to join us.”

 

I don’t mention that I didn’t know there was a choice.

 

“Today is going to be a great day for the cause and you will be a part of it.” He points at me for emphasis, taken up by whatever plans he has. “You will never forget this day, I promise.”

 

Sadly, his excitement isn't infectious and I feel nothing but dread at the prospect of a long ride on this vessel. Memories of my last voyage are fresh on my mind.

 

“Captain!” Karax says to a man who must be ship's captain as he’s wearing a prehistoric, white captain’s hat. “We're ready to go to Tangor when you are.”

 

The ship’s engines rev up and I feel it move beneath my feet. My mouth dries at the thought of what’s to come.

 

As if reading my mind, Karax says, “I heard your last time on the boat was tough.”

 

“That’s an understatement. I was doubled over the entire trip.”

 

His smile is apologetic. “Sorry about that. Hopefully, it will be better this time around.”

 

“Let’s hope.”

 

We step out onto the ship’s starboard side, where he fills me in on stories about the sailors who traveled this part of the world centuries ago. Pirates, the lawmen who hunted them, and looted treasures apparently still line the sea’s bottom, covered by the sands of time.

 

Eventually, I ask, “Why are we going to Tangor?”

 

“We’re going to destroy a couple of buildings.” He must see the change in my expression because he adds, “Don’t stress, it’s a Sunday so there’ll be no workers in them.”

 

I face him squarely. “Karax, I have told you I’m not interested in violence as a tool of change. You agreed.”

 

“I certainly did, Paladin. Which is why we shall only bring down empty buildings. None with people in them. I’ve spoken to my operatives on the ground and am convinced no innocents will be impacted.”

 

My mouth opens, ready to argue but I can’t manage to utter a single word. Instead, I focus on the blue waters and their white caps rushing past the ship. I grimace against the spray of sea salt and the wind on my face. The combination keeps my upset stomach at bay.

 

“We’ll arrive in about three hours. You should get some rest.”

 

Three hours? I gulp at the thought of spending so much time on the sea. “Why didn’t we take an airship to this place? We’d have gotten there in much less time.”

 

“True, but sea travel is the best way for us to get around.”

 

“Why?”

 

“The nomes don’t bother with maritime travel. Take an airship high enough and they can track you. We prefer moving by water. It takes longer, but it’s much safer.”

 

He reminds me of a conversation I had with Lord Van Thach when he explained why his airship flew low to the sea. I watch Karax enter the ship’s cabin and speak to the captain.

 

This is bound to be interesting.