Cloak of the Two Winds (31 page)

"Yes," Glyssa answered. "It's not far."

Ahead of them the passage narrowed for a distance, then curled to the left. Amlina and the Iruks climbed a set of steps carved in the rock, then crossed a wide, rugged cavern. Down a second flight of steps they passed through a thin cleft and emerged in the open air.

The fiery stars of Glimnodd winked and glittered through the arms of the cloud spiral—which had begun to fray, dispersing with the wind. The Iruks and the witch Amlina stood on a narrow strip of beach, black gravel laced by rime. At their backs the sheer promontory of the Long Acropolis sprang up a hundred feet or more to the grand plaza and its ring of temples. Before them, the ice of Kadavel's back harbor glistened with witchlight.

They stole along the deserted shoreline until coming to a small inlet, where a row of fishing skimmers lay dragged up on the shingle. A few huts and shacks stood nestled on an overhanging crag, one of several small fishing settlements that hugged the cliffs of the back harbor. But no one was up at this hour to spot the intruders as they loaded their treasure into one of the boats. The prows were all chained together, but it took Eben only a few seconds to open the padlock with the point of his dagger. At Amlina's insistence, he locked the remaining boats back together, and left a garnet necklace in place of the craft they were taking.

The Iruks dragged the boat over the gravel and pushed it out onto the ice. The fishing skimmer, smaller than the cargo boats of that name that plied the Shipway, was just large enough to hold them and all their loot. Draven and Karrol unreefed the sail and hoisted it on the short mast, while Eben took charge of the tiller.

Lonn's side was throbbing now, and he was content to let the others sail the boat. When he started to shiver in the frosty air, Amlina made him put on Draven's wool cloak in place of his own, which Glyssa still wore.

Eben steered directly out from shore, until the bulk of the Long Acropolis and the lighted domes and steeples atop it were veiled by glimmering mists. Then he pointed the skimmer southwest, heading around the western tip of the city.

By the time the boat entered the Shipway south of Kadavel, Lonn was shivering constantly. The ache in his side had sharpened and swelled to fill his chest and belly. Brinda was leaning on Karrol's shoulder, holding her arm and wincing. Near fainting with the pain, Lonn thought he heard the word "poison" murmured in connection with Beryl's sword-drogs.

The skimmer sailed behind the first row of anchored ships, keeping for the most part out of sight of the city docks. At last the Iruks raised the
Plover
, resting quietly on the dry dock. Even as their boat pulled alongside the concrete ramp, Amlina was shouting for all hands to awaken and get the ship underway.

The mates had to help Lonn and Brinda scale the accommodation ladders. Several crewmen of the night watch assisted in hoisting the baggage on board. As the witch and the Iruks reached the main deck, Captain Troneck was stepping from the forecastle, buttoning on his coat.

"Get your men moving, captain," Amlina told him. "We must be away from Kadavel by daybreak."

"As you say, Lady," Troneck answered. "What's our course?"

Amlina glanced at the flags blowing overhead. The wind was fresh from the South.

"West," she answered. "Into the Arms of the Sea. Hurry, now. We might be pursued."

The witch led the Iruks to her cabin where they put down their weapons and sacks of treasure. She told Draven to light a fire in the stove, while she went to get medicines from her sea chest.

The cabin lurched and shuddered as the ship rolled down the ramp and slid onto the ice. Lonn lost his balance and dropped to his knees. Lightheaded, he clutched Karrol's arm as she helped him to a bench.

While Eben cut open Brinda's sleeve, Karrol unstrapped Lonn's harness. When she pulled the leather from his side the wound tore, spurting blood. Lonn gasped as a wave of pain and sickness welled darkly into his brain. Distantly, he heard Karrol calling for help as he slumped over, all perception fading.

Of the next several days Lonn remembered little. He was racked by nightmares in which his klarn was burned alive before the palace of Prince Hagen, or chased by Beryl's drogs through unending tunnels full of corpses. He would waken drenched in sweat, gagging with thirst but unable to swallow more than a sip of water down his swollen throat.

At least one of the klarn was with him each time he woke. Lonn vaguely recalled Amlina sitting beside him at times, laying cool, healing hands on his chest and forehead.

In the latter part of his illness the nightmares became fixed on Glyssa. By turns he was convinced that she was dead, or that the klarn had given up the search for her, or that the search was doomed to continue forever. Finally, in a lucid moment, Lonn became aware of someone seated beside him, stroking his head. He opened his eyes and saw that it was Glyssa. After that, he knew she was alive and with them, and he rested easier. That night the fever broke.

The following afternoon Lonn awoke. He was lying under furs, on a bunk in a ship's cabin. Draven was leaning over him, feeling the back of his neck for fever.

"Hello." Draven smiled. "How do you feel?"

"Where am I?"

"Oh, the cabin across from Amlina's. She wanted you near, so she could visit every few hours and place hands on you for healing."

"How long was I unconscious?"

"Four full days plus a half. You had us worried, mate." Draven stepped over to the oil stove and returned with a steaming mug. He helped Lonn sit up and sip the broth.

"Amlina said you would probably come out of it before evening," Draven said. "She went into deep trance today, after your fever broke. It seems the swords of those monsters we fought were poisoned. Luckily, most of it had rubbed off by the time we took them on. Still, Amlina was impressed that you and Brinda managed to stay conscious so long after being wounded. Brinda had a touch of fever also, but she's fine now."

"And the rest of you?"

"Splendid." Draven grinned. "Feasting, drinking, counting our riches over and over. Karrol's eye is much better. Amlina said the patch can come off in a few days."

"What about Glyssa?"

Draven's exuberance flagged. "She's been … distant, almost dazed. She spends a lot of time staring at the wake of the ship."

"Have you talked with her?" Lonn demanded.

"Of course. She seems frightened, Lonn, but more of the past than the future. Amlina says it's natural for her to be this way, that her spirit was starved of life and that it'll take time for the life to return. She said not to worry, but to keep an eye on Glyssa, and we are of course."

Lonn settled back on the pillow. From the tilt of the cabin and the smooth glide of the ship, he could tell they were still sailing on ice.

"I take it we got free of Kadavel," he said. "Was there pursuit?"

Draven lifted a shoulder. "None that's caught us. The wind's been steady, and Amlina wove some magic. With that, and the maze of channels we're sailing through, she's confident the Prince-Ruler's lads won't catch us."

"Maze of channels?"

Draven grinned, spreading his hands. "The Countless Arms of the Sea. That's what this web of waterways is called. And such a place you've never seen, Lonn—one winding passage after another, all bordered by cliffs of white and silver stone. And there are grand towns everywhere. The port where we stopped for provisions yesterday was on a small isle, but the town was as big as Fleevanport. Kizier says these channels are the main sea route between Larthang and Nyssan. Oh yes, Kizier sends his regards. The little one-eye was as happy to see us all safe as if he were a klarnmate."

Lonn finished the broth, and Draven set the mug aside.

"Where are we bound?" Lonn asked.

"That's undecided. In five or six days we'll reach the open sea, then we'll have to chose. When Amlina comes out of her trance, she wants to meet with us and talk it over. That book she stole from the serd's lair is a magic book, a
talking
book. It's given her some ideas. She has it in mind to go after Beryl, rather than wait for Beryl to come after her. She wants us to decide if we're willing to sail with her."

"Perhaps we should, " Lonn muttered. "Better to hunt than be hunted."

"Exactly." Draven smiled as he clasped Lonn's wrist. "But we'll meet with the klarn when you are stronger—the whole klarn, Lonn. Isn't that wonderful? We are together again."

After supper, Lonn felt strong enough to rise from his bed. All of the mates came to his cabin, and they performed the ceremony to put the klarn to rest. They set their spears against the bulkhead, poured libations, and declared the hunt to be over. They sent the klarn spirit into the timbers of the ship, to guard the whole company until they called it again.

As the group spirit passed from his body, Lonn slipped to his knees. He had overestimated his strength, and the mates had to help him back to the bunk. They left him to rest, and he slept deeply.

When he woke it was night, a small lamp burning in the cabin. Glyssa sat on the edge of the bunk, staring down at him.

"How do you feel?" she whispered.

Lonn grinned. "Better, now that you are here."

"Oh, I am glad. I've been frightened for you."

"No, Glyssa. I will be well, I promise.

Tears welled in her eyes. "You nearly died, because you protected me, because I was weak in the fight …"

"No." Lonn reached for her hands, found them icy cold. "You were brave to stand with us at all, after everything you suffered."

She bowed her head. "I was afraid for so long. I had given up hope of seeing you again ..."

"It's all right, my Glyssa," Lonn stroked her hair. "The klarn is whole again."

"Yes, I know. And yet … everyone seems so different to me. Brinda is solemn and withdrawn. And Karrol's the same, not her old self at all. Draven and Eben are elated, full of boasts about the treasure and the witch. They all seem like strangers to me … But then I realize,
I
am the stranger. Oh, Lonn, you can't imagine what I've been through. We tell ourselves we are Iruks, strong and fearless. But we're really so small, so easily broken and lost …. No, you can't know what I mean …"

"I do know," Lonn answered, recalling the terrifying visions he had seen when the witch first initiated him. "The world is vast and fearful, more than we can imagine, even now, and we are small and weak. And yet we are here and must live. I tell you this, Glyssa: Right now I don't care about any of that. I don't care about the treasure, or the witch, or what the next voyage might bring. I don't even care very much about the klarn. I only care that you are safe and here with me. That is enough."

Glyssa stared into his eyes, her face wet with tears. After a moment, she lifted his hands to her lips and kissed them. Then she pulled aside the cover and lay down beside him.

A deep peace and contentment entered Lonn's heart. He slept that night in Glyssa's arms, in the Countless Arms of the Sea.

Glimnodd has two moons. Grizna, the larger, has a period of 32 days. The small moon, Rog, has a cycle of 11 days. A
month
always refers to the 32-day Grizna cycle. The cycle of Rog is called a
small-month
or simply a
rog
.

A year has six seasons, each two months or 64 days long:

First Winter

Second or Mid-Winter

Third or Late Winter

First Summer

Second or High Summer

Third or Late Summer

A
map of Glimnodd
is available online at the Triskelion Books website.

aklor - a tall, six-legged animal used as a mount in the Three Nations

Archimage - official title for the chief witch or mage of a nation

bostull - see
windbringer

cantrip - a minor spell or 'mind trick'

Deepmind - the formative realm of which reality is a reflection

deepseer - one skilled in seeing outside the boundaries of time and space

deepshaper - one skilled in the arts of shaping reality through magic

design - any magical working

desmet - a hanging trinket used to enhance mental power

dojuk - Iruk hunting boat, agile on sea or ice

drells - a delicate winged people whose land lies to the south of Larthang

drog - literally 'shell', a creature formed of magic, animated by the will of a deepshaper, guided by a single purpose

drommon - a Tathian warship, propelled by sail and oars

ensorcellment - a great act of magic

falchion - curved hunting sword used by the Iruks

fire turtles - sea turtles that breathe fire. Normally considered non-sentient.

Fleevan - Tathian colony in the South Polar region. The capital is Fleevanport.

flizzard - a small winged reptile

Iruk (Iruks) - hunting people of the South Polar region

kiia - edible fern of the tundra; leaves are used to wrap dried fish

klarn - Iruk sacred hunting group, consisting of five to eight warriors. Members of a klarn share a group-soul that gives them strength and protection.

lamnocc - large deer of the Polar region

Larthang - Westernmost of the Three Nations. Home to a race of powerful witches.

mage - a skilled witch or magician

myro - sentient sea-creatures spawned from dolphins

Nyssan - Easternmost of the Three Nations. Home to several races. Normally spoken of as Near Nyssan and Far Nyssan.

Ogo - Larthangan name for the Deepmind. Literally, 'drift.'

serds - a sentient race evolved from deep-sea fishes; powerful sorcerers who ruled Glimnodd during the Age of the World's Madness

skimmer - small boat for ferrying cargo

Tath - Middle realm of the Three Nations. A group of islands, home to a race of seafarers and traders.

thrall - a sentient being whose mind and will have been subjugated by sorcery

torms - winged people spawned from birds

trinket - any object fashioned to contain or enhance magic power

trinketing - the art of constructing trinkets

Tuan - the ruler of Larthang, a sacred king or queen

volrooms - tusked, white-furred bears

wei-shen - Larthangan art of deepseeing

wei-xing Larthangan art of deepshaping

windbringer - a sentient fern-like plant; skilled at attracting winds and therefore prized by mariners of all nations.

yulugg - giant sea mammals, similar to whales