They arrived at Tercon a few days later. The city sitting on the edge of the giant lake wasn't very populous, but it seemed much bigger than even Morville. Trees had been cleared quite a ways back from the lakeshore, allowing for the city to spread out and act like a port city without actually being a port. Buildings were made of stone and brick, and streets were lined with boards rather than stone. The closer to the shoreline you got, the sandier the land turned.
People were surprisingly friendly as they saw the party entering, and several citizens immediately hurried to go talk to the mayor. Rihou let it be for the time being. His first priority was to find Theo and Mayo and try to convince them to sail him across the lake. They didn't all need to go, so he looked at Skyla and Naomi and said, "Can you two restock our supplies and see about arranging for a delivery once we grab the castle? We're going to need serious manpower, too."
"Sure!" The two females hurried off.
"Now let's see if we can find Theo," he decided.
Under his breath, Ewan muttered, "Try the local tavern."
"We can't necessarily assume that," his friend said reasonably. "Besides, it's a good excuse to explore the place and get a feel for the layout." He laced his fingers with Elissa's and smiled. "And we can act all loving and cute and make you two uncomfortable."
"Not much fazes me anymore," Kyle admitted ruefully. He tucked his hands in his pockets and smiled as he watched his Kaiten and Kentei walking together. Once, seeing happy couples had been salt in the open wound of his grief. It had only been during the last year that he had finally found himself smiling at memories of Ophelia instead of feeling those gaping wounds inside. If he hadn't had Tyrian to focus on in those days following her murder, he might never have survived.
They lucked out. The fifth person they talked to knew exactly where Theo was hiding. "Oh, him." The flower seller snorted as he sorted out his wares for the day. It was still early enough that the city was only just picking up speed. "That swindler can be found the same place, rain or shine, morning or night. Just look for Lena's tavern, and you'll find him cheating people at dice."
The color slowly left Ewan's face. "Whose tavern?" he asked, his voice slightly strangled.
"Lena Dixon." The older man arched a brow as he saw the look on Ewan's face. "Do we have a problem?"
Kyle had started to grin. "You don't. Ewan does. Thanks for the help." He grabbed one of Ewan's arms while Rihou grabbed the other and, with Elissa pushing, they hurried Ewan away from the scene before he said something he regretted. "What a small world," Kyle said dryly as they stopped around the corner of a street.
"Rihou," Ewan said with a note of pleading in his voice, "I'll stay here while you go, how's that?"
Utterly fascinated, Rihou stared at him. He had never seen Ewan so downright, well, terrified before. "Before I agree, why don't you tell me exactly why you're afraid to go meet this tavern owner? Is she an old enemy or something?"
"Worse." Kyle's grin grew more devilish by the second. "She's his old lover. As in the person that he thought he'd never have a second chance with because he was an idiot. They met when I was, hmm, seventeen?" He thought back and was fairly sure it had happened right before he had met Ophelia, so he had been barely seventeen. "Yeah, I think so. Ewan was nineteen, and Lena was eighteen."
"Annnnd . . .?" Elissa asked.
Ewan sighed deeply and raked a hand through his hair. "I was taking Kyle to visit the city of Gammine. We were intending to spend a month there. It was part of Kyle's training toward being an adult who could name his sword. While we were there, I decided he was at least old enough to get drunk for the first time. And better he be with me than anyone else, because I'd make sure he didn't do anything stupid."
Politely, Kyle said, "I didn't do anything stupid. Ewan did. And he wasn't even drunk. Lena was the bartender, working her way through her studies to become a strategist. When she and Ewan looked at each other . . ." He slowly shook his head. "It was surreal. They immediately started flirting with each other, blatantly, and in minutes they were laughing and talking as if they'd always known each other."
"Like me and Elissa," Rihou murmured.
"Or Tyrian and Cassie. Or a few others I've seen over the last few years. I felt something not too dissimilar when I met Ophelia. It wasn't instantaneous, but something was definitely there." He clapped Ewan on the shoulder. "So this moron almost literally falls over his feet in love with a beautiful, brilliant, and genuinely kind woman who thinks the moon rises and sets on him, and what does he do? Realize two weeks in that he's way over his head and probably only hours away from putting rings on their fingers and settling down."
"And you panicked," Elissa said. She tried desperately not to smile. She felt horrible for Ewan and Lena both, but it was funny. "How bad did you panic?"
"He left her in the middle of the night without saying a word."
Rihou groaned. "Ewan, you idiot."
Ewan pressed his fingers to his eyes. "Tell me about it!" he muttered. "I grabbed Kyle and hauled us out of there as if my life was in danger! Lena sent messages to the Commune of Soldiers, but I didn't answer them." He winced. "The last one wasn't very nice. Essentially, she threatened to beat me over the head with a frying pan if I ever showed her my face again."
"Well, here's your second chance," Rihou decided cheerfully after a moment of thought. He grabbed Ewan's wrist and began to drag him through the town. "I'll go inside first and see if she's inclined to attack. If she isn't, then you're going to suck it up, apologize, and be mature about things. Even if she doesn't want a relationship with you anymore, at least you two can clear the air and you can stop feeling guilty."
Neither Elissa nor Kyle believed for a minute that Rihou actually thought that would happen. They exchanged a quick grin and followed Rihou and Ewan as they made their way through the town toward the lakeside dock where Lena's tavern was located.
Even at this time of morning, it looked warm and welcoming. Ewan felt nostalgic as he stopped outside the doors. There was that feeling inside again. That same feeling he had felt five years before when he had walked into another tavern and felt as if his life would change. Lena. He could still see her in his mind, still taste her on his lips.
Rihou studied his face and knew that his friend was still in love. "Come on," he told Elissa. "Let's see what's what. Kyle can babysit Ewan."
Lively music played inside the tavern, and many tables were occupied. A lot of people looked like travelers, but others looked like they lived in town. If the scent was any clue, this was the ideal place to grab breakfast. It smelled heavenly.
Manning the bar with a casual sort of grace was a woman who rivaled Elissa for sheer beauty and sultriness. She was of average height, well built, and had nearly flawlessly put together features. Her eyes looked an interesting pale shade of brown, and her long black hair hung straight as a pin. When she laughed at something a patron said, the sound turned heads.
Much to Rihou's delight, and un-surprise, he knew on one look that she was a Destined Star. The tug was there again, that feeling saying he needed her help. He couldn't have been happier. He walked firmly over to the bar and told her, "Don't bite. I'm unarmed."
Lena Dixon quirked a dark brow at him and then began to smile as she wiped down the counter. "Oh, don't worry, Rihou," she said easily. "I'm not the type to go after innocent bystanders. If I was the temperamental type, then I'd have chased Ewan down the day after he left me." She poured out two drinks and slid them down the counter to waiting hands. "I'm a patient woman. I knew eventually our paths would cross again.
"You obviously know who I am, so I guess I don't need to introduce myself." He smiled. "This is Elissa. And the two of you should probably never be allowed alone together." He thought about that for a moment before deciding, "No, actually, you should. Because I have nothing to lose, and Ewan has something he should lose."
"His heart?" Elissa asked.
"Ha, too late. I was thinking more about his cold feet." He hopped up onto a barstool across from the grinning bartender. "I know the story," he told her. "Obviously, I'm on your side. And, actually, I need you to join me too. Ewan said you were training to be a strategist. Even if you never finished the schooling, that still means you've got one heck of a head on your shoulders. I really need that." He grinned. "And we need a bartender too. Our Storekeeper has been filling in and he's starting to complain."
"You can count on me," she agreed briskly. "My specialty was organization of troops, so I can handle keeping your unit leaders together or issuing orders. And, no, I did not finish school." She smiled serenely. "I got bored." She leaned on the counter companionably. "I promise not to hit Ewan with any frying pans. Not too hard, anyway. His head is too thick for much damage to occur. And speaking of thick heads," she pointed toward a corner of the bar, "over there is Theo. I figure you must be looking for him if you're looking for a way to the castle."
Elissa tilted her head slightly. "How did you know? Is it common knowledge?"
"No, but your informant came through." Lena grinned. "And, yes, she knows who I am, and yes, she deliberately didn't tell Ewan."
There was bound to be another betting pool begun, except this was one that Rihou wanted in on. He probably had an unfair advantage because no one knew his Stars better than he did, but he didn't care. It was just plain fun, and the gods knew he needed that fun. "Thanks," he told her as he got to his feet.
"Anytime! I'll start packing up."
As Elissa followed Rihou toward the table at the back, she murmured, "Ewan is really doomed. I've never seen a more perfectly matched couple! Well, okay, that's a lie." She grinned. "There's us. Now we just need to find Kyle someone, and I'd say we're set." Her eyes darkened with sadness. "After what he's been through, he needs someone to love again."
He wouldn't disagree with that. He was still awed by the fact that Kyle had managed to even heal after losing Ophelia the way he had. She hadn't just been murdered; she had been murdered by Tyrian's mother, outside of combat, against the laws of engagement, and in front of children who had no doubt been traumatized for life. Something Tyrian had once written suddenly tickled Rihou's mind and he murmured, "Tyrian mentioned something about soul mates never healing if they're torn apart. It was in response to my asking about him and Cassie. Thinking about that now . . ."
She took a little breath. "Ophelia wasn't Kyle's soul mate. Whoever is must be out there somewhere. If he's healed, then she wasn't the one." She remembered something else, something Kyle had only recently said. "It wasn't instant for them," she murmured. She suddenly smiled. "I hope we get to see him meet the one for him."
"Me too!" As he passed another table where a grizzled old farmer sat, he said, "Hi, Thalia." He didn't bother to check to be sure if he was right. He knew he was even before her soft curse confirmed it. She would have to try harder than that!
In the corner of the room, he found a busy table with several people sitting around it. Some looked like travelers. Two were identical twins, both with the weathered look that indicated a life on the water. They were both attractive, though not handsome, and while one wore his blond hair very short, the other had a small ponytail. The one with the ponytail busily whittled a swan out of a chunk of wood. The one with short hair was playing dice . . . and was very drunk.
He was also winning his game of dice, and when the three people playing walked away in disgust, Rihou smoothly sat down in one of the vacated seats. "Hello, Theo," he said calmly. "I'm Rihou Royaltine. I suspect you knew my father, but that's hardly relevant, is it?"
Mayo could only stare at Rihou in surprise. It was like that moment more than three years ago where he had looked at Tyrian and realized there was someone who needed him. That feeling was there again, urging him to fight by Rihou's side to make sure he was always safe and smiling. Divan's son. He felt no true surprise, not when Divan Royaltine and Donald Southerwind had been so much alike.
Theo was not nearly as accepting, or happy. He did not like the feeling he got when he looked at Rihou. He didn't want to endure watching another person he loved more than his own life be driven to the point of breaking but never able to break. "Whaddaya want, kid?" he demanded. "I'm busy!"
Elissa scooped up the dice and twirled one on the tip of a finger. "Doing what? Cheating with loaded dice?"
"Shh!" Theo forced his eyes to focus on her and realized she was a bard. He scowled. He had nothing against bards, but if there was anyone he would never play at dice, cards, or chesstac, it was those wandering entertainers! "Jush leave me alone!"
"I can't," Rihou said simply. He hooked an arm over the back of his chair. "For one thing, I need a captain with the nerve to sail us across to the castle. For another, your drunken ass is still a Destined Star and I apparently have need of you to be one. I need your help to fight back against Foresalia."
Theo slammed a hand onto the table and knocked over his glass of ale. "I don't want another rebellion!" he said belligerently. "I dun want to she—see!—more dest-destrucshun!" He glowered at Rihou. "Yer no Tyrian, kid! I don't think you got what it takes."
"You're right," Rihou decided. "I'm not Tyrian." He got to his feet. "I'd as soon not deal with a drunken has-been. You're a poor excuse for a man, let alone a Destined Star. What a waste of breath." He seemingly ignored Theo's sputtering and turned to smile at Mayo. "You, on the other hand, are more than welcome to join me if you like. At least you're sober."
Without further ado, he walked out. Elissa hurried after him, and she grinned to herself when Lena shot a wink at her. Theo sat at his table for several moments as unexpected pain blossomed inside his chest. It was a bitter pill to swallow that a Kaiten Star would think him so unimportant that he wasn't worth abiding by destiny.
Fury whipped up inside him and he leapt to his feet. He tried to run out of the tavern, he really did, but it ended up being more of a stumbling stagger. He got out the door, barely spared Ewan or Kyle a glance, and made his way toward where Rihou stood on the dock to study the boats. "You got no right to say that to me!" he told him vehemently.
"Why not?" Rihou didn't look at him and his voice sounded careless. "I'm no Tyrian, and you're no 'legendary' captain. You're a drunken cheat."
Without thinking of the consequences, Theo took a swing for Rihou's face with his fist. The Kaiten stepped to the side with casual grace and suddenly had one of his tonfa in hand. He twirled it rapidly and then bonked Theo right in the back of the head.
The blow was just strong enough to destroy any lingering balance, and Theo took a nosedive into the lake. By the time he surfaced, he was very sober, very cowed, and reluctantly impressed. "I stand corrected," he said on a sigh. "You're a lot like Tyrian."
"You actually swim corrected, but close enough." Rihou put up his tonfa and knelt on the edge of the dock with a grin. "Now that you're sober, you want to try again? I mean, we can continue the battle of wits, but I try not to fight unarmed people."
"I wish I could take offense at that." Theo hauled himself out of the water, which did indeed look much thicker than normal water as it dripped off his clothes. "Alright, Rihou, let's start this from the top. What the hell's happening in the City-States?"
Rihou told him what he knew, and Theo's stomach churned. It felt . . . worse, somehow, than what had happened in Taron. Fighting greed and tyranny seemed much simpler than fighting madness, and he had seen what had happened to Tyrian. And Rihou was a Healer. Theo couldn't think of anything much worse, except for maybe a temperamental Thaumoturge.
With a deep sigh, he said, "If you'll have me, I'm onboard. I'm not going to stand by and let you handle this without me." He looked at Rihou intensely. "And never doubt that I love you as much as I love Tyrian. I'm honored to be a Destined Star for you as well."
Rihou smiled. "I know." He looked up and grinned as Elissa approached with Kyle and Ewan. "You're late."
"You had it well handled," she told him dryly. She smiled at Theo. "I'm Elissa."
Theo eyed her with more appreciation now that he had sobered up. "Kentei."
"Good guess," Ewan noted dryly. "And, hi, Theo."
"Hi yourself." Theo got to his feet and then helped Rihou up. "Hi, Kyle. You two just can't stay out of trouble, can you?"
Neither swordsman commented on the hypocrisy of the statement, though they did exchange a wry smile. The simple fact was . . . he was right. Suddenly remembering, Kyle asked Rihou, "I forgot to ask. Is Lena going to kill Ewan?"
"Nope!" Rihou grinned. "And it's a good thing since she's a Destined Star as well. She'll handle some strategy stuff and take over bartending so that Xander can go back to handling our supplies." He didn't bother to mention that Lena fully intended to land Ewan for good this time. They would figure it out.
"Whelp," Theo rubbed his hands together, "I'll grab Mayo and we'll go over that boat of mine. She should be seaworthy in an hour, and we'll make our way to that eyesore of a castle."
Rihou glanced across the lake. He could just barely make out the shape of the castle in the distance. It looked suitably impressive in stature, but it was indeed an eyesore. It didn't appear to be anything that a decent cleaning wouldn't take care of.
"You seem curiously at ease for a guy about to claim a castle," Ewan noted.
"It hasn't sunk in quite yet," Rihou decided. "When it does, I'll probably stand gaping in the courtyard until someone snaps me out of it. Until then, onward we go! Let's catch up with Skyla and Naomi and then head to talk to the mayor. If we can at least get Tercon on our side, then we'll have a way of getting supplies in and out."
Leaving a surprisingly more chipper Theo behind, the party moved back into town and caught up with their missing members. Skyla and Naomi had been very busy. They had secured the assistance of many people to clean and repair the castle, and they also had several orders of supplies on hold. Skyla had sent a messenger pigeon to Xander, and he would be making his way to Tercon sooner rather than later to finish coordinating things.
That done, they started to follow the signs toward where the mayor lived. Partway there, a flutter of wings announced someone approaching via air, and they turned to see a lovely female Flier angling down to land beside them. Unlike Quill, this Flier had more avian features, with feathers covering more of her face. The feathers continued down her neck to her shoulders where they tapered into skin until her wrists. Her nails were much more like talons, but she wore shoes, so it was likely she had more standard feet.
Rihou found himself smiling for two reasons. One, she was a Destined Star. Two, if the Medicine and Resurrection Relics she wore were any clue, she was a Healer. "Hi," he said.
"Hi," she said back with a grin. She propped her hands on her hips and folded her wings back. "I'm Wyvern," she told him. "I'm a Healer, but I swing a pretty mean mace."
He grinned back. "I'm Rihou. I'm more of a Healer/Warrior hybrid, and I hit things hard too." He offered his relic hand. "One Healer for all of us is pushing it. I could use another person to keep these troublemakers healthy. I can't do this without you, Wyvern."
She took his relic hand and the two stars glowed from her shoulder. She smiled. "I wasn't sure I was one, but I'm not really surprised. When I saw you in town, I just felt as if you needed me." She squeezed his hand and let go. "If you're saving the City-States, then I'm going to help! And on that note, follow me and I'll show you where the mayor lives. She's waiting for you."
"I hope that's as promising as it sounds," Elissa murmured.
Wyvern led them through a few more streets and then gestured to a lovely house on the corner. "There you go! Mayor Hawthorne is her name. I'll go get my things ready to go out to the castle."
She took her leave and the party headed to the house. The door stood open in the universally recognized offer to enter, and Rihou stuck his head inside to call, "Hello?"
"Hello!" Mayor Hawthorne hurried around a corner and beamed. "Lord Rihou! Please, come inside!"
He liked her on sight. She was probably old enough to be his grandmother, but she was as fit and nimble as someone a third her age. She had even added streaks of red to her white hair, something only common among teenagers who weren't yet adults. He could only assume she kept her heart young. "I'm hoping that you being happy to see me means that you're willing to ally Tercon with me, and therefore with the other City-States who have joined me."
"The lives of my people are not worth ego," she agreed instantly. "We aren't big. We don't have our own militia! If we came under attack, we would suffer worse than Riverbaynk. The fact that you were there on the day the massacre happened is the only reason anyone lived. But we have a lot of builders in town and a lot of craftspeople. We may not be able to lend military might, but we can do our share to help our fellow cities and you as well."
"Done," he promptly answered. "And, hey, you don't need a militia! You'll have an army sitting right across the lake. If Malady tried to attack you, he might as well just attack me directly." Something cool moved across the glitter in his eyes. "I don't think he's that suicidal, though."
She felt a little chill run down her back though it was not of fear. It was in recognition of the power inside him. It wasn't just the Pure Relic he wore. The Kaiten Star wielded a wholly different power, one purely based on his indomitable spirit. If anyone could save the City-States, it was this man with the eyes of a hero.
Contact made, it was time to meet up with Theo at the dock. When they got there, they discovered he had indeed been busy. The ship sitting at the side of the pier was not only the biggest in the area, it was also by far the best. It simply looked better, and while Rihou would be the first to say he knew nothing about boats, he was fairly sure this one had been custom made for durability and speed.
Kyle whistled softly. "That's a nice looking boat, Theo! Is that Paula's work?"
"It is indeed!" Theo patted the side affectionately. "She spent a year yelling at me that I was too picky, then in the end, she had to thank me because it was the best thing she'd ever made." For the benefit of the newcomers, he explained, "Paula was a Star for Tyrian. Might be yours; hell if I know. But she's the best ship builder in the damn world." Interest lit his eyes as he spotted Naomi and Skyla. He had a fondness for women of all kinds. "Hello."
"I'm too young for you," Naomi said dryly.
"Ouch!" Theo winced even as Mayo did. "We're only twenty-seven, thank you," the elder of the two said dryly. He wiggled his brows at Skyla. "What about the lovely Elf?"
She grinned. "I'm too old for you. I'm fifty-eight."
Naomi's jaw dropped hard and fast. "You're what?!"
Rihou started laughing. "I thought everyone knew that Elves were like Faeries and Dragons in their lifespan! All three can easily live several centuries. At nearly sixty, Skyla's still only the equivalent of either you or me, Naomi." He grinned at his sister. "Well, you anyway. In two weeks, you're going to be a year older than me finally."
She took a swipe for him and he ducked nimbly. "Now, break it up," Elissa chided dryly as she pushed between them. She smiled wryly at Ewan and Kyle. "I think Cassie might have gotten off easy since Tyrian didn't have a sister."
"Not one like Naomi." Kyle grinned. "She's one of a kind."
"Thank god," her brother grumbled. He hastily ducked again when she tried to hit him, but she had been bluffing. Instead, her foot connected solidly with his shin and he winced. He loved Naomi like crazy, but there were times he really wished he had a younger sister too, just so he could be the older one for once.
Mayo just shook his head. He had long gotten used to temperamental types. They certainly kept things interesting! "All aboard. Let's get going before it gets later. We need to avoid that damned shark and get through the whirlpool."
Everyone hurried onboard and found places to sit. The only cabin on the ship was barely big enough to hold two people let alone six. Theo took the wheel and Mayo manned the sails. He wore a Wind Relic for just such a thing, allowing him to precisely pinpoint the speed they traveled. It was Theo's skill that controlled the ship through even the fastest speeds and choppiest waters.
"Wow!" Rihou leaned over the side of the ship as they zipped across the water. He could only imagine how fast they might go if the water had been of a normal consistency. This already felt like flying. He turned to grin at Elissa. "We'll have to go sailing to more places!"
The delight in his eyes clenched her heart. She framed his face with her hands and went on her toes to kiss him softly. He instantly pulled her closer, his hands lingering warmly on her waist and his relic hand tingling with that wonderful magic inside. "Never change," she told him huskily as she eased back. "I love you exactly as you are."
He lowered his forehead to hers and smiled. "Even if I'm directionally challenged?"
Her lips curved as she traced his lips with a finger. "Even then. As long as someone else has the map, I don't mind that much. And if you get lost in the castle, you can call for me and I'll find you."
"How about you just stay by my side? I don't seem to function well without you there, Elissa." He nipped at the tips of her fingers. "Who else but you could ever nag me into taking a break, or could safely bring me back from the edge of destruction?"
"I don't nag."
His lips slowly curved. "Yeah, you do. But you're really sexy when you do, so I don't mind."
She found herself laughing. It was hard to argue with that.
Watching them, Naomi sighed happily. She smiled at Ewan and he grinned back. To them, there was little that looked more beautiful than the sight of their Kaiten and Kentei together. They just seemed to glow softly when in close proximity. "Wait until they both have eternity," Ewan murmured. "It's amazing."
"Whirlpool ahoy!" Mayo called.
"I see it!" Theo called back.
"How can you miss it?" Skyla grumbled.
She had a valid point. The immense whirlpool was big enough at the widest point to almost reach both shores of the lake. It swirled too ridiculously fast to be made by nature. There was really no telling exactly what had caused it, but it was definitely not just opposing currents coming together.
Theo sailed right into the middle of the damn thing as if the waters were perfectly still and not spinning at eighty knots. "Hang on!" he shouted. Rather than fight the current, he went with it and sailed the ship in circles that followed the water. It took all his control to keep the ship straight, yet it still rocked violently. "Hope no one gets seasick!"
There was no room for nausea. It took everyone's concentration just to hang on and ignore the lake water that washed over them. Drenched to the skin, it wasn't until Elissa slung her hair out of her eyes that she actually noticed something unusual. "Hey!" She waited until the ship circled again and stared intently at the bottom of the vortex. "Skyla!" she shouted. "Do you see that?"
Skyla had to move her position to look, and Kyle hastily grabbed the back of her leggings to keep her from going overboard. She looked around sharply, and as they passed by the center again, she spotted what Elissa had. There was a glowing chunk of rock of some kind at the bottom of the lake, and it looked a damned lot like a Water Relic. "Keep me anchored!"
Kyle managed to slide closer and grabbed her ankles instead. He had no idea what she was doing, but he trusted that she had matters in hand. "Just hurry!" he told her.
She drew her bow and fitted an arrow. "Theo!" she called. "Aim us directly at the center!"
"Hot damn!" he crowed. "I like how you think, Skyla!" He spun the wheel and sent them careening against the tide toward the center.
There would only be one chance. Skyla waited for it, and when she saw it, she fired her arrow. It shot straight and true through the air and traveled all the way to the bottom of the vortex where it shattered the Water Relic. It released a wide pulse of power that obliterated the vortex so violently that the ship went spinning backwards across the surface.
Only when the rocking had slowed to a gentle motion did Rihou cautiously open his eyes. "Damn." He hauled himself to his feet and stared across the lake surface. It was calm and serene, if still seething slightly. The whirlpool no longer existed at all. "Okay," he said. "Who dropped the Water Relic?"
Skyla's shaking legs gave out and she sat down hard on the deck. "Oh my god."
"Nice job," Kyle told her. "And you have apologies in advance if I accidentally bruised you. I had to hold onto you tighter than I intended for fear you'd go overboard doing that."
She tugged up her leggings and found bruises rapidly forming. "It's nothing serious," she told him when she saw the look of self-disgust in his eyes. He was the type to loathe harming any friend, even in circumstances like this. "And I'd rather you have put bruises on me than let me go into the vortex! Think of it as practice for Lord Rihou."
Rihou had already been making his way over. "Okay, this I can handle," he decided. He knelt down and gently wrapped his hands around her ankle as he called on his magic. "Thank you for taking me at my word and starting small. But if you had gone over, I'd have gone in after you."
"Much appreciated," she said dryly.
The ship suddenly picked up speed and started zipping across the lake. "What gives?" Naomi demanded.
"It's just the man-eating shark chasing us," Mayo called back.
"Oh, yeah." Rihou winced. "I forgot about him." He got to his feet and moved to where Ewan and Elissa were looking behind the boat. There was indeed a shark pursuing them at high velocity, and the sheer size of the fin breaking the surface implied it was as monstrous as rumored. "He who fights and runs away . . ."
"Lives to fight another day!" Theo finished. "I'm way ahead of you!"
The same could not be said of the ship and the shark. The beast gained on them with every passing second, and the dock of the castle was not getting close fast enough. The shark abruptly lunged up out of the water and attacked. It went directly after Theo, and the captain ducked hastily. He lost his hat, but he kept his head, and he sent the ship into a tight curve that swung it around so that he had parked it backwards in the castle dock.
The shark was not very happy as it lingered just out of range. It couldn't swim into the more shallow waters of the dock area, but it also didn't want to let its lunch get away. Humorously wearing Theo's hat perched on its head, the shark slinked off toward the center of the lake again.
"All ashore!" Theo announced cheerfully.
On legs that still wobbled a bit, the party managed to disembark. Much to their immense surprise, Theo started sailing away. "Where are you going?" Ewan demanded. "Has the booze finally addled your brain?"
"That damned shark has my lucky hat!" Theo retorted. "I want it back! Don't worry. I'll be back soon! Have fun with the castle!"
"Tell me that he knows what he's doing," Naomi said to Rihou.
He smiled wryly. Knowing that Theo could swing a mean harpoon in no way meant that Rihou could be sure he would be fine handling a pissed off shark that liked eating stubborn captains. "I sure as hell hope he does!"
©Stacy J. Garrett. Do not reprint or redistribute without permission.
Chapter 11->
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