LUCIAN’S FURY DOCKED AT SAGUACH PORT. The Chosen and Forka were eager to leave the ship. They had been plagued with rough seas the entire trip, forcing everyone to take refuge below decks. Unfortunately, the rolling motion of the ship caused everyone to suffer the effects of seasickness. Kaelin feared she would never get the smell of vomit out of her nostrils.
And out of her hair.
“Captain Morden told us to head for the Sailor’s Folly. It’s not far,” Saemus said.
“As long as they have water to bathe in, I don’t care if it’s five miles from here,” Kaelin groaned.
The group made their way to the inn. The streets of Saguach Port were more lively than those of Vis Rellisa. The people strolled about on their usual business, greeting the group walking slowly down the street.
“They have not yet heard the news,” Morden said quietly.
“Surely Sheldon sent a bird as soon as he saw those things coming over the Hills?” Saemus said.
Morden shrugged. “I can’t say. If he did, the bird would have beaten us here.”
“Not necessarily. Those storms we passed through were quite fierce. The bird may have been lost.”
Morden nodded. “You could be right. I only hope Mordaen will agree to an audience once we reach Faerow.”
“He will see us. We saved him and the city from Fa’ Vel,” Saemus said, glancing at the dark magician walking behind the rest of the group with his remaining seven men.
They trudged on to the inn. Morden took the lead and spoke to the innkeep at length. The rail-thin man smiled and rubbed his balding head, bobbing his head up and down, reminding Saemus of a chicken.
Morden motioned to them all to come inside. “This is Metson. He has rooms enough for all of us.”
“And food too, I hope? Har!”
Metson’s face broke into a wide grin as Cook waddled into the room with the rest of the group trailing behind him. He hugged the big man before kissing him on both cheeks.
“I have something special, you wait and see! Now, off with you to clean up. You smell positively rancid!”
Cook managed to look hurt. “I ain’t the one that’s been sick! So you must be speaking of them.” He gestured to the others in the group.
Metson coughed delicately. “Yes, well, as to who exactly is to blame is not important. What is important is to get you all cleaned up before you scare off the other patrons, yes?” He clapped his hands and ordered a young serving boy to run out and get clothing for the nice folks.
“Oh, that’s not necessary. We can wash—” Saemus began, but was interrupted.
“Those clothes are beyond the aid of washing I’m afraid,” Metson insisted.
The serving boy sized each of them up quickly before rushing out the door clutching a bag full of coin.
“Now, we only have two tubs so you’ll have to take turns. And considering how dirty you all are, I suggest bathing in the stables.”
“Ladies first!” Keera shouted as she grabbed Kaelin by the arm.
The stable was warm and clean. The girls stripped down to their bare skin and waited for Metson’s wife to fill the single washtub. Keera insisted Kaelin go first and washed the girl’s hair for her. She tried not to gag as she rinsed off a week’s worth of vomit and filth.
As soon as Kaelin was done she dried off and helped Keera wash her hair.
“I wish I had curly hair,” Kaelin said wistfully.
“Are you crazy? Your hair is so glossy and shiny. Mine looks like a rats nest most of the time!”
Kaelin rinsed Keera’s fiery locks, sighing as they curled of their own accord.
Metson’s wife brought them some clean clothes. The girls scrambled into the simple dresses, sighing in contentment as the clean clothing caressed their clean skin. They combed their hair quickly, not wishing to keep the boys from their baths.
Metson settled the girls at a large round table in one corner away from the door. It was semi-private, with three half-walls surrounding it. There was a merry candle burning in the center of the table and a cup that held wild flowers.
A serving girl brought them each a cup of water and milk. She asked if they wanted food. Though starving, Keera and Kaelin told the girl they would wait for their friends.
“I hope they hurry. Whatever is cooking in the kitchen smells divine!” Keera said as she tried to peer over the low wall.
“There are a lot more of them than there are of us. My guess is, it’s going to take them awhile,” Kaelin said.
“Perhaps they wouldn’t mind if we at least had some bread and fruit or something. It’s not like we would be eating the whole meal without them.”
Kaelin laughed and called the serving girl back to the table. “If it’s possible, we would like some bread and perhaps some fruit while we wait for our friends.”
“Of course.” The girl bustled off and returned quickly with fresh hot bread and a plate of apples and pears.
The two girls tore into the bread, gulping it down so quickly they barely tasted it. When the men returned from their baths, they found the bread all but gone and both girls with fresh pear juice running down their chins.
“Nice to see you waited for us,” Saemus teased.
“We were starving,” Kaelin said.
“Ah, here you all are!” Metson said as he approached the table. “I will bring you drinks and a meal that is sure to please everyone.”
“If it’s half as good as it smells it’s sure to be wonderful,” Keera said.
The group sat in silence while they waited. Stomachs growled and mouths watered as plates heaping with unfamiliar dishes were placed before them.
“Here we have fish served with cumin, oregano, roasted purple peppers, oil and butter, and topped with tart cheese. And here we have chicken roasted with spicy mustard...”
As the man rattled off the dishes before them, servers scooped portions of each onto everyone’s plates. The group dug in with gusto before the server had even managed to move the spoon out of the way.
“This is damn near good enough to serve on my ship!” Morden called out to Metson.
“Now, Captain, that be hurting my feelings,” Cook said even as he grabbed second helpings of everything on the table.
“I have to keep my options open, Cook. After all, you could choose to work on some other ship. Or go to work for some rich fat lord and leave me hanging with only my own cooking to sustain the crew.”
“Har! You’d starve to death inside a day, you would. I reckon I’ll stay with you until the day you give my body back to the sea.”
“If you keep eating that way, it will be sooner rather than later!” Morden said, laughing.
“I’m a big lad and it takes a lot of meat to keep me strong!” Cook said as he patted his large belly.
Metson left to go attend to other customers, leaving the group free to speak in low whispers. Most agreed that they should head for Faerow on the morrow, but there was some argument as to how best to get there.
“We must have horses. Walking will take too long,” Jon said.
“And where will we get the coin? Morden has been more than generous and I refuse to accept any more coin from him. Besides, with the extra men we seem to have acquired,” he said, glancing pointedly at Fe’ Vel and his men, “I’m sure even Morden can’t afford to pay for horses for the lot of us.”
“Who says we need to pay?”
Saemus glared at Fa’ Vel. “I refuse to steal horses enough for all of us.”
“I never said anything about stealing.”
“Then what exactly did you mean? Can you use your foul magic to conjure some demon steeds for us to ride?”
Fa’ Vel laughed. “No, I cannot summon demons nor their horses. What I can do is make someone think the small bits of metal I give them are gold or silver.”
“That’s the same as stealing and I won’t do it,” Saemus said.
“So you mean for us to walk the whole way to Faerow?” Sloan asked. “I’m not from this world, but I assume that it isn’t a few days journey?”
“No,” Saemus said.
“And if we walk we will have to forage for a longer period of time, and we also run the risk of running into brigands and the like?”
Saemus nodded reluctantly, knowing where Sloan was going.
“The way I see it, Fa’ Vel’s plan is the only way.”
Saemus glared at the dark magician who sat with his hands behind his head, looking quite pleased with himself. Seamus hated the idea of relying on the man for anything. It only allowed him to wiggle his way into their good graces. He couldn’t put his finger on it but he knew the Fa’ Vel had some plan other than just accompanying them to see the Patriarch.
“Are we agreed then?” Sloan looked around the table. “Fa’ Vel, why don’t you and your men see to getting the horses? We’ll gather provisions.”
Fa’ Vel nodded and left the table, followed closely by his seven men.
“Maybe I should go with them,” Jon said as he stood.
Kaelin whirled and faced Jon Stone. “Are you mad? Why would you want to spend time with that man?”
Jon’s face reddened. “Why do you care who I spend my time with? You’re so busy with him, I’m surprised you notice anything but his face crammed against yours.”
“How dare you?” Kaelin tossed her napkin on the table and stood so abruptly that her chair toppled over.
Saemus tried to intervene. “Kae—”
“Don’t you ‘Kae’ me, as though I’ve done something wrong! I’m only saying what everyone else must be feeling. And let’s not forget he killed those people. Are you really saying you’re okay with Jon spending time with Fa’ Vel?”
“I’m not a monster!” Jon shouted.
Kaelin backed away from Jon. “You’re just as bad as he is. I wish we hadn’t rescued you from Queen Cheye.” The girl turned and walked away.
Brad followed after Kaelin, giving Jon a hard look as he brushed past.
Jon stood unsteadily and lurched outside, needing to be alone. His eyes followed Kaelin and Brad as they made their way down the busy street. Jon’s jaw clenched and unclenched as he fought the urge to burn the haughty girl to a crisp, or draw from their life forces until their hearts stopped beating, or slice Brad in half with a sword of air.
Maybe with him out of the picture, I could make her see who I really am, make her love me.
He grinned as he began pulling the dark magic into himself, melding it with his own life force. He could feel the two opposing magics fighting one another, as incompatible as oil and water. And yet they were different sides of the same coin, tied together, each dependent on the other.
The rage burned through him when he saw Kaelin melt into the Earthman’s arms, their faces melding into one. As suddenly as the murderous urge had come up on him, it left, along with the power, leaving him empty. Kaelin Barlow would never look on him as anything more than a freak, a beast to be feared and loathed.
Is she wrong?
Jon closed his eyes, determined to ignore the voice of the dark magician in his head. He wanted to chase after Kaelin and Brad to explain that he couldn’t help being what he was, that it wasn’t his fault, that all he had wanted to do was help get the group to the ship. He longed to plead with Kaelin to try to understand, so she wouldn’t fear him, or hate him. His hands hurt where he gripped the railing, and hot tears coursed down his cheeks.
Why don’t you love me?