Eddred’s sleep had been marred by nightmares ever since returning to his ship. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Adam and Lilly’s dead bodies lying on the floor of the pyramid. He’d abandoned them and couldn’t let it go. He didn’t want to let it go. Their deaths were just one more reminder of everything that had gone wrong since that fateful day at the Conclave.
If only he had the strength to stand up to the other kings. He could have stopped all this before it happened. But he’d stayed silent and followed Valtan’s lead, just as he always did, and now thousands were dead. If he never enjoyed another sound night’s sleep, it would be a just punishment. He dearly hoped Otto Shenk suffered as many sleepless nights as he did.
Somehow he doubted the young wizard suffered from the same doubts. No one could do what he’d done if they suffered from any sort of conscience.
He finally rolled out of his narrow bed and got dressed. The Scroll sat on top of his strongbox. It seemed to cast a shadow far too big for its size. That was Eddred’s imagination of course. It was just a rolled-up piece of parchment, whatever its secrets.
Eddred tied his boots and took a step for the door. Immediately he turned back and picked up the Scroll. He couldn’t leave it lying there where anyone might pick it up. Not that anyone was apt to. He trusted his crew absolutely and a scroll made of human flesh wasn’t the sort of thing a thief would grab.
Up on deck, the wind blew his hair and the salty mist hit his face. The sails snapped overhead as the wind gusted. He blew out a sigh and looked over the water. The sea still soothed him, at least a little bit. They were only a couple days out from Lordes. On his right, towering cliffs protected the island from invasion. Soon he’d be free to dump his problems at Valtan’s feet and return to the little village he’d called home before this most recent misadventure.
At the helm, Captain Carter kept a tight grip on the wheel. They’d been at full sail virtually nonstop for days. That nothing had happened was a testament to both the captain and crew.
Captain Carter nodded at Eddred’s approach. “Majesty. Did you sleep?”
“Some. How much further?”
“Two days, give or take. We’d have been there by now if we’d set a direct course.” There was no rebuke in Carter’s tone, just a statement of fact.
“The wolves will be watching the direct route,” Eddred said. “My hope is that by coming in wide and making a loop to the north, we’ll sneak in behind them.”
They’d had the debate a handful of times already, but it made Eddred feel better to say it again out loud. Like if he kept repeating it, he’d make the theory a reality.
He shivered, and not from the northern chill.
A moment later a voice from above rang out. “Sail off the starboard bow!”
Eddred ran to the front of the ship and stared out over the water. Please let it be a fisherman.
Even at a distance he could tell there was too much sail out for a trawler. No merchants traveled this way, not on business. It had to be a search vessel. If Otto had deployed ships this far northeast, he must have requisitioned every ship in Lux. As long as it didn’t have any war wizards aboard, they should be okay.
“She’s changing course!” the lookout called. “Moving to cut us off.”
Eddred ran back to the helm. “Can we outmaneuver them?”
“Probably.” Captain Carter looked up at the crow’s nest. “Can you make out what kind of ship it is?”
“A two-masted trader. No weapons I can see.”
“Unless they plan to ram us, there’s no way they can stop this ship.”
Reassured by the captain’s confidence, Eddred relaxed a fraction. This lasted just long enough for the lookout to shout, “She’s turning hard southwest.”
“They’re running to warn the rest of the hunters.” Eddred wanted to punch something. “There’ll be a dozen ships between us and the harbor. All of them armed and manned by wizards. May they all burn in whatever hell awaits them!”
“There’s another option,” Captain Carter said. “There’s a small inlet about twenty miles from here. We can put you ashore there. While the ships wait for us, you can sneak off to the city.”
Eddred shook his head. The curse that killed everything on the main island would finish him off before he took ten steps. But there was another option. Valtan had proven he could appear as far as the barrier islands in spirit form.
“Make for West Barrier Island. Hopefully Lord Valtan will sense our arrival and meet us there before anyone that wants to sink us shows up.”
“Yes, Majesty.” Captain Carter adjusted their course a few points west.
Eddred really hoped he was right about this. Getting so close to the end only to fail now would break him.
And the world.
By some miracle, Eddred reached West Barrier Island without interference near sunset. A short pier jutted out into the ocean, too short to accommodate their ship. His luck had been so rotten, any moment now Eddred expected to see a Garenland ship rushing up to sink them. Happily, the ocean remained free of sails.
In the rigging, sailors rushed to take down sails as Captain Carter brought them around to anchor. Even though he knew the men were doing their absolute best, Eddred couldn’t shake the feeling that every second was a second they couldn’t spare.
At last the anchor clattered over the side and splashed into the water. He didn’t even wait for it to set before ordering a rowing party into the dinghy. The men appreciated his desire for haste and they were pulling for shore in record time.
Eddred clutched the Scroll in his fist. Please, please let Valtan sense their arrival.
On shore, at the end of the dock, a handful of villagers stood waiting to greet them. He tried to remember if he’d ever actually visited the island before. He must have. When he inherited the crown, he made a full tour of the kingdom. He was equally sure he hadn’t been back since. That was a bit embarrassing really, but no one ever came to court to complain.
When he reached the end of the dock, an older man with a white beard and wearing homespun brown trousers and a frayed tunic bowed. He had to be the leader of the nearby village. “Welcome, Majesty. What brings you to our small island?”
“Nothing good I'm afraid. I was hoping—”
The ether crackled to his left and a moment later an image of Valtan appeared. “You have it?”
Eddred held out the Scroll and waved it at him like it was a sword. “They all died to get this. Adam, Lilly, and Uther, they're all dead. I hope it was worth the price.”
Valtan hung his head, suddenly seeming all of his thousands of years old. “To keep this out of Otto Shenk’s hands is worth any price. But I would not have seen those three die. That it was for a good cause is small comfort, but I do hope you take some.”
“The only comfort I want is for you to take this cursed scroll as far away from me as possible. Do that, and I will be happy never to see you again.”
Valtan’s face twisted like Eddred had stabbed him. “Everything I’ve done has been for the greater good. I gave up everything to protect you mortals, both from my former friends and from yourselves. Am I truly so deserving of your disdain?”
“I have no strength left to care.” Eddred made a dismissive wave. “Take your prize and leave me in peace. I’ve done all I plan to do for you.”
Valtan’s expression fell. Whatever response he’d hoped for, Eddred hadn’t given it to him. “So be it. Good luck to you.”
Valtan’s form dissolved into a pool of light that dragged the Scroll back toward Lordes out of sight. Eddred mustered some satisfaction from that. Lilly and Adam hadn’t died for nothing. He’d very much like to see Otto try and claim the Scroll now. If the curse didn’t kill him, Valtan certainly would.
“Back to the ship, everyone,” he said. “Our work here is finished.”
“Will you not at least stay for the evening meal?” the chief asked. “It will be ready soon. While I admit it’s not much, it would surely be better than ship’s rations.”
“Thank you for your generosity.” Eddred felt moved nearly to tears by the offer. How long had it been since someone offered him simple kindness without wanting something in return? Not since South Barrier Island. “Unfortunately we need to leave.”
Eddred held out his hand and the village chief seemed to debate which would be a bigger insult, touching his king or refusing the handshake. At last a calloused hand wrapped around Eddred’s and gave it an enthusiastic pump.
“Even this short visit was an honor for us, Majesty.”
Eddred smiled. At least he’d made one person happy. He led the sailors back to the dinghy and they rowed back to the ship.
Captain Carter met him at the rail and pulled him aboard. “Orders, Majesty?”
“Set sail, make for the capital.”
“Are we not likely to encounter a number of enemies there?”
“I guarantee it.”
“Then, perhaps it would be best to flee? We have more than enough supplies to make it back to the City of Coins.”
“I’m done running. Besides, when that ship reports our location, someone will come here looking. Even if they don’t find us, they will find the village. Nothing our enemies have done makes me think they’ll be gentle with their questions. If you want to leave behind all but the minimum crew, I’ll allow it.”
Captain Carter drew himself up. “We’ve been by your side since the beginning of this mess, Majesty. We’ll be there at the end as well.”
The crew all gave enthusiastic shouts of agreement.
Eddred had expected no less, but he wanted to make sure everyone knew that he wouldn’t think less of anyone that wanted to remain behind. “Thank you all for your loyalty. When you’re ready, Captain, take us home.”