Derala stared glassy eyed at the bed she had slept in for the past year.
“Child! Answer me!”
She swung her gaze to Krentiss and mumbled, “I’m sorry…”
Panic lit across old Krentiss’s face as she whispered urgently, “Word for word, tell me exactly what was said!”
Derala answered in a dazed, thick voice. “They called my name. I stood. I looked to Lord Metfel to call me to Hensaryn, but it was Lady Utair who spoke in his place. She said, “I will have her at The Alcazar.”
Krentiss sucked air in between her teeth as Derala’s words hovered in the air, dangerous, like stray embers from a fire.
Derala’s mind was clouded with thoughts of disbelief, betrayal and crushed dreams. “It must be a mistake…”
Krentiss shook her head, “No, child. The Magisterium does not make mistakes. And Lady Utair takes what she wants.” Her breathe was shaky. “You know what she does with the girls she claims. Nobody returns from The Alcazar.” The old woman paused for just a moment and then whispered. “You have to run.”
The words seared through Derala’s thoughts. “Run? I’m tired of running, Krentiss! I’ve worked so hard for this!” The young woman’s eyes began to well.
Krentiss had cried her last tear long ago, but she had no desire to see the young woman she had governed lost to The Alcazar.
“There’s nothing for it, child. You almost made it, but it’s not to be. You’re still in uniform. Go to the stables and…” Derala looked away, but Krentis grabbed hold of her shoulders and locked eyes. “Listen to me! You go to the stables and tell them you’ve been assigned to the farms at Hensaryn—everyone knows what you can do and they’re expecting that. Then you ride for the stables at the docks. Not in a rush, mind you, so as not to attract attention.”
Derala’s confusion nearly overwhelmed her. “I don’t understand…”
“Let me speak, girl! Go to the dockside stables and wait. Look for tasks to keep busy. I will have someone find you.”
“Krentiss, I can’t… “
The old woman shook Derala, “Yes you can! Girls don’t return from The Alcazar, child! There’s no time to be foolish. You must leave now if you are to have any chance…”
She spun Derala to face the door, but Derala cried out, “Krentiss!“
“No time!” Krentiss pleaded. “Lady Utair has claimed you and she will be waiting. Quickly now, save yourself!”
In a daze, Derala felt her feet slide across the floor as Krentiss pushed her.
“To the dockside stables, girl. Go!”
Derala began to protest again, but Krentiss was more forceful now, nearly throwing her outside. The young woman turned to plea, but the door slammed shut.
When this day had begun, Derala was a hair’s distance from having a patron, to finally having a place in this world. Now she had nothing and was right back where she started, crying alone in the streets of Elsidol.
But Krentiss was right, she had to run, and when the lock snicked behind her, that settled it.
***
Derala had visited Hensaryn twice. Thoughts of those rolling pastures and networks of barns filled her thoughts as she pulled a comb through the horse’s mane.
“Are you well, Miss?”
Derala startled at the maid who stood next to her.
“I didn’t mean to scare you Miss.” The maid bowed slightly. “But you’re crying, and you’ve brushed that horse nearly to death.”
Derala straightened herself. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you...” She struggled for an explanation. “I’ve been comforting this animal. She was in panic.”
The maid took on a look of understanding. “Of course, Miss.” She paused and asked, “When you comfort them, do you feel their pain?”
Derala nodded. “At times, yes. It depends on how deeply I bond with them.”
The maid smiled and said, “She does look to be comforted now.” Her eyes darted to the stalls on either side before she pulled a carved wooden Ship’s Pass from her robe. “Perhaps this will help to comfort you. Be well, Miss.”
The maid turned and left Derala holding the pass. She’d never been on a ship, but she knew what it was, a berth number letting her know which ship she’d been granted passage too.
The berth was easy enough to find and a short time later, Derala met a dock worker standing in front of a narrow gangway that led up to the ship. She held up the pass, which he collected and asked her, “What’s your craft?”
“Herdminder.”
The man nodded, “Good, they’ll be happy to see you in the hold. It’s a twenty-sun sail to Dez Leera and the animals don’t fare as well without minding.” He stepped aside to allow her to board. “Up you go.”
Derala climbed the narrow planks hesitantly and when she reached the top, she looked once more upon Elsidol. The Alcazar stood tallest in the distance, and she knew she could never return.
Everything she had known was lost and she was nearly overcome at the thought of it when the sound of many pigs squealing below raised a tumult.
The man who took the pass lifted a hand to his mouth and called up to her, “That’s you!”
***
The quarters below were cramped and musty with the smell of brine mixed with barnyard scents. It took longer than usual to calm the pigs, she was so upset herself, and she dreaded looking to the rest of the animals. Horses, goats and chickens, all in spaces too small for their liking and the gentle rolling of the ship making it uneasy for them to stand.
In a corner, a hammock had been suspended, a sharp departure from the bed she had stared at some hours before. Derala tested it and closed her eyes, exhausted.
The sun was nearly down when shouting came from the dock and her eyes flew open at the thought that Lady Utair’s men had caught up to her. But then the ship lurched and was moving, making it clear that they had cast off.
Relief collided with the terror of having no idea where she was going, and she stayed frozen in the hammock, swaying with the motion of the ship.
***
The first few days were spent clinging to ropes while heaving. Several of the other passengers joined her and the crew gave them all side glances of disapproval. Derala tried to establish bonds with animals that were as upset if not more than she was, and none of it was going well, but on the fourth night that changed.
Derala had fallen into an exhausted sleep when the first reverberation sounded, humming through the timbers of the ship in a long echo, slowly building in pitch until abruptly dropping an octave and flattening out. Derala’s eyes opened instantly, her mind fully awake. But it was more than awake; she was fully aware and more deeply connected to the bond forming in her mind than she had ever been.
She could feel the creature’s massive body gliding through the depths below, with a slow, rhythmic heartbeat that grounded the bond. But it was the inquisitive mind that reached out for Derala’s that captured her in a state of intoxication. Strength like she had never felt, purity of thought and purpose that she would have never believed possible and a contentment with its place in the depths, all combined to send wave after wave of emotion and understanding through her.
She didn’t realize she had left her hammock until spray and the cool night breeze found her near the bow, staring over the water.
She could feel the creature as it rose, and it could feel her, both of their instincts sharing feelings of peace and curiosity.
The water was an endless vista to look at in the starlight, but the surface broke in the distance and a plume of spray was sent jetting into the sky.
Derala closed her eyes and held the rail as a massive breath filled her mind, her own lungs filling with air in reflex.
The creature dove again and continued its song as Derala stood holding the ropes. They existed together as the creature dove deep into the sea and she stood under the stars, both places merging in their minds, and Derala couldn’t imagine anything being greater until a new song echoed from the distance.
A third song joined as well and soon there were many, maybe a dozen, and the bond fanned out to each of them.
There were no words to describe the connection Derala felt and the effect they were having on her mind and emotions. What happened in Elsidol felt small and far away compared to this, and she wanted to never leave this moment.
But in time, as the creatures swam away, the connection with Derala receded. Eventually, the bond left her entirely, but the memory of it was powerful.
The feel of the waves gently rocking the ship was more natural to her now. She felt an intrinsic understanding of the water below and her discomfort to a strange environment was replaced with a contentment and feeling of belonging.
Derala suddenly realized that it was she that had been comforted by these creatures, not the other way round.
A group of crewman stood next to her, having come to listen as well. An older man said, “It’s a beautiful song they sing, no? A good omen as well. When the Cetaceans are about, the going is easy.”
Derala had never been so exhilarated, so in touch with everything around her. “What are they?”
He shrugged and spoke in an easy tone. “There’s lots of sizes and kinds of them, but they breath air the way we do, not like the other things down there. Some are smaller, but these tonight, they’re the largest. And their songs are the sweetest.” He looked again at Derala and grinned. “You found your balance with the sea. Sailing will be better for you now.”
Derala just looked out across the water, lost in the feeling of being at peace with everything around her.
***
There were many minds to bond with in this sea. The smaller cetaceans were frenetic, travelling together by the hundreds and Derala could feel them coming from far away. They were inquisitive as well, but not as focused or resonant as the larger had been. But these were happy, there was no other word for it, and Derala looked forward to their visits.
The reptiles were very different, furtive and sly. Their bond was more guarded, and their presence was hidden until they were close. They were sizable creatures, serpents as long as the ship according to the crew, but just as birds had always been difficult for Derala to bond with, so were these Trakoran.
And every once in a while there were other minds, swimming alone, hunting, and Derala would catch only a glimpse of them in her mind before the bond winked out.
Derala quizzed the crew for names and descriptions of creatures as well as details about the city of Dez Leera. The air grew warmer as the days passed and by the time they reached their destination, it was quite hot and the sun was a blazing presence above them. The heat was very different than the cold streets of Elsidol, but that was the least of the differences between cities.
Their ship moored to a square, wooden raft and the gangway was lowered. Below were men with smaller boats, ready to ferry them to the city that itself floated.
These cities had originally been called Prayer Cities as the monks that created them had chosen the sea as their desired place to meditate. But monks required provisions the same as anyone, and the floating prayer cities were a natural hub for all types of trade. Over time, they expanded.
Incense wafted through the air and the ferryman told Derala it was what the monks used when performing their meditation. It was a flowery scent, light and beautiful, and Derala savored it as she breathed it in.
The smaller boat reached a dock that connected to the primary city—thousands of rafts, connected by heavy rope bridges, some several stories tall and all covered by different shades and shapes of cloth that provided relief from the sun.
Everywhere there were brightly colored pendants and flags waving in the breeze, hung by the monks to remind all that this was a place of meditation.
The sailors who traded here hailed from all lands and cities, but in this place, they paid homage to the hosts. All respected one another and observed the peace and opportunity that the monks provided.
It was different than anything Derala had ever heard of, bustling with life but without the din and ruckus that Elsidol existed in.
“Hard to believe that this will all be gone in a couple of months, eh?”
Derala turned toward Mita, a hand from the ship she had befriended.
Derala was puzzled, “It’s so beautiful! Why must it go?”
Mita laughed, “Oh, it’ll return just as it does every year. But during the storm season, these waters will be no place for rafts, even as substantial as these.”
Derala was still trying to picture the idea of an entire city being moved. “Where will they go?”
“They’ll take refuge in one of the old volcano shells. The lagoons inside are safer.”
Derala was even more confused. “Old volcano shells?”
Mita smiled, “This really is your first time to sea, isn’t it?” The woman Mariner pointed to a cluster of islands on the horizon. The lands of the southern oceans are almost always remnants of old volcanos. When a volcano erupts, a mountain will rise from the sea, but when it cools, it will be hollow inside. When it dies, all that is left is a shell of the mountain with a lagoon at its center. Some are small, but large enough for a ship to take refuge in. And others are massive, more than large enough to house a city. You can’t see it from here, but there’s a big one nearby. That’s where they’ll go.”
The smell of grilled fish cut through the incense and made Derala’s mouth water. Mita’s as well, and she looked toward a raft on the very edge of the floating city. “Let’s hurry before the rest of the crew gets there first!”
Mita darted across the first rope bridge and Derala followed, very conscious of the fact that there were no ropes to hold onto.
“What if I fall in?!”
Mita laughed, “You get a bath, don’t you!” Then she paused and said, “But don’t fall in at night.”
Derala laughed nervously—she had no desire to fall in at all.
They crossed another handful of bridges before finally making it to the serving raft, set apart from the rest to be closest to the cooking raft.
Mita walked toward a man waiting for a portion, but Derala froze…
The man had dark markings of a serpent traced around one arm. He wore light clothing in the heat and was deeply tanned, wiry, and looked perfectly at ease in this setting.
Derala recognized the serpent... he was a pirate—a murderous, kidnapping villain that the old grams warned the young about to scare them into coming home before dark.
Mita noticed Derala’s expression and asked under her breath, “What’s wrong?”
Derala whispered, “He’s a pirate…”
A sly grin spread across Mita’s face. “Ohh, yes. You’ve heard the stories.”
Derala turned to answer Mita, but Mita was already addressing the man, “Hail the Corsair. How stands Sel Erratz?”
The man swung his gaze to Mita. “Sel Erratz stands bright, Mariner. From where did you sail?”
Mita answered simply, “Elsidol.”
The man’s face took on an amused expression. “Elsidol? How stands the Alcazar these days?”
Mita shrugged, “It looks the same as always from the docks.” Then she hooked a thumb toward Derala. “But this one is from there. Perhaps she has better news. Something worth trading for?”
The Corsair’s interest was piqued. “Perhaps.” He took in the measure of Derala. “Do you?”
Derala was frozen, “I don’t know…”
He smirked, “Well that doesn’t sound promising.”
Mita tried to help, picking up for Derala, “She’s a wonder of a Herdminder. Kept our holds quiet and happy.” She looked back at Derala, “Elsidol has many herds. I’d think a patron would welcome you, no? Why did you leave?”
Derala stared at them, slack-jawed, unable to speak.
The pirate cocked his head. “You’ve run away, haven’t you?”
Derala started to back away. The pirate lifted his hands in a gesture of peace and said, “The Corsair are no friends to the Alcazar, believe me. But if you’re a talented Herdminder, you would have been eligible to be governed and placed. Did you make it that far?”
Derala shifted her gaze to the horizon. “Yes.” A thread of resentment rose within her and before she could stop herself, she whispered with venom, “All the way to the Magisterium.”
The pirate’s eyes sparked at the name. “Then maybe you do have something to trade for.” He stepped and motioned for Derala to take his place in line. “Eat first and let some color come back to you.”
She was still hesitant, so he smiled and said, “You’re safe enough. The monks do not look well upon those who break their rules and we’re all just Mariners here. That includes you now.”
Mita gently guided Derala to the spot offered by the Corsair and then looked at the man and nodded. “Our thanks to you. I’m Mita.”
The man nodded and said simply “Rayl.”
Rayl and Mita then waited expectantly for a long moment before Mita finally spoke for her.
“Her name is Derala.”
Rayl smiled broadly, “Hail Mariner Derala. I believe it’s your turn.”
Derala turned to find the monk who served the food waiting patiently for her and her attention was suddenly focused completely on the bowl he offered her.
On the ship it had been dried provisions only.
But here was a thick steak of grilled fish, tender white meat charred at the edges. Juicy yellow and red fruits, cut and cubed, rested atop the fish and all of it was placed over rice in a steaming, savory broth.
The monk motioned toward three piles of spices: one of white crystals, one with several shades of gray and black flakes, and one a deep orange powder. Derala simply nodded and the monk sprinkled a pinch of each where it was intended.
With a gnawing hunger, she followed Mita to a corner of the raft and lifted the first spoonful to her lips. Flavor burst throughout her mouth, and she nearly inhaled the rest as waves of spice and succulent morsels commanded all her senses.
The three finished their bowls and returned them to a monk who placed them into a bin to be washed for the line that had now grown, just as Mita had predicted.
Warmth returned to Derala and she looked past the serving line to the cooking raft that had been built to house elevated banks of cooking coals in metal troughs. There were four people stationed around the raft with pails, keeping a steady flow of water streaming across the wood of the deck and immediately onto any spark or ember that escaped the cook’s tools.
Rayl broke Derala’s reverie as he made to take his leave. “I must return, but if you decide that you would like to speak to my Captain for trade, he will be happy to hear you out. You can find me at the Corsair ship until sundown. Farewell Mariners.”
The two women watched him leave and Mitra whispered, “What do you intend to trade for?”
Derala knew that this moment would come, of course. Food and shelter never came for free. But she was far from her element here and she looked at the shorter woman.
“He's right—I did run from Elsidol. And there wasn’t any time to plan...”
Mitra nodded, “Yeah, that much has become obvious. Okay, your first and best option is with the Corsair.”
Derala was silent, so Mitra continued, “They don’t boast, but everyone knows that they are the real power in the Southern Oceans. They’re the best to trade with too, and if you have something they especially value, they might make you a Swift.”
“A Swift?”
Mita nodded, “Those that are born to the Corsair are known as The Kin. Those that become warriors are known as Dragons, but anyone handy with a blade may petition to join as a Dragon.” Mita looked at Derala’s arms and hands. “I’m guessing you haven’t trained with a sword?”
Derala shook her head no.
Mita smiled slyly and laughed, “Right. Elsidol isn’t known for arming its populace. I’m Neitaren, so I was raised in the basics in case Elsidol invaded, but I was only ever good enough to not stab myself.” She sighed, “So, becoming a Dragon is out for both of us, but a Swift is different—they trade for information.”
Mita stopped there, noticing that Derala had once again turned a shade more pale, so she dropped that idea.
“No go, then. Alright, your second option is to hire on with a ship. Ships often have a place for ‘minders, but that’s mostly one-way jobs, so you would have to change boats at nearly every port…” Mita paused, “You should know that the Captain that brough us here is reputable, but that’s not to say that you can trust all of them.” Mita narrowed her eyes and scrunched the corner of her mouth. “You know, you are probably better off waiting to hire out until you know more about how things work. That leaves hiring on with the monks.”
Derala perked up at the thought of staying on the floating city. “What would I do?”
Mita rolled her eyes. “Work. Anything and everything that needs moving, cleaning, or repairing. Like I said, storm season is nearly here, and the city will migrate to the lagoon. But be warned, it’s hard work. And even after you make it to the lagoon, you wait and pray that the big storms pass you by. Sitting in a lagoon during a big one is something that not many souls care to repeat. I know Iwon’t.”
The words spilled past Derala’s lips without hesitation, “I’ll do it.”
Mitra frowned. “I had a feeling you were going to say that.” She shook her head, “If you ask me, the Corsair are your best option by far. Trade your info and at the least, the pirates will see you on your way in any direction. And nobody will bother you—they won’t cross a trade with the Corsair. You can go anywhere you want.”
Mita gave the moment it’s due, but Derala was silent. “Okay, I’m not you. Stay here and the monks will keep you safe from other people. You’ll get a hammock, there’s food every day and you may get lucky and avoid the storms. But you need to know, if a big one does hit, everything changes. It’s dangerous.”
Derala nodded. “I understand.”
Mita shook her head. “You really don’t, but like I said, the storms may pass you by. In that case, you’ll have lots of time to learn the ropes and figure out what you want to do next.”
“Maybe I’ll just stay here for good.” Derala’s mind was filled with the idea of freedom as her guiding star.
Mita smiled. “Maybe. If you do, you’ll see me a lot during trading season.”
Derala smiled at the thought.
Mita pointed toward a rope bridge. “Come on. I’ll show you to the center raft. That’s where you can speak with the monks.”
***
The following day, Derala watched as Mita’s ship faded over the horizon. The young Herdminder had signed on with the monks and now she was already well into the work she had been assigned for the day.
She had been assigned to the sluice rafts where the constantly changing currents and tides made for frequent repositioning so that the wells of the rafts could be washed out. Derala wore heavy leather gloves to protect her hands from the ropes, and even still there were blisters forming by the time the sun went down. She was exhausted and her hands were so cramped it was hard to hold a bowl, but she smiled to herself and was happier than she had ever been.
The following days and weeks were good for her. She had never worked so hard or been so sore. But it was easy to lose herself in her labors and the simplicity of this life was like a tonic to her nerves.
Ships from every port and city on Areth came and went. Twice she had seen men wearing insignia from Elsidol, but they went about their business and did not notice her. The Corsair were a constant presence, with many of their ships coming and going and it became clear that they had a special alliance with the monks. Often, they transported the monks themselves from Dez Leera to the other floating cities.
Performing her work, she often worked alongside the pirates, mostly overcoming her previous notions, but not yet completely. She even spotted Rayl once, but he was several rafts away from her and too far to try and voice a greeting.
The days working under the sun darkened her skin and lightened her hair to the extent that even Mitra nearly walked past her a couple of weeks later.
The nights were spent in the soundest sleep she had ever known with the exceptions of when the Cetaceans were near—Derala always woke to experience their songs and the bond she shared with them.
***
The first squall came early. It was not a large storm, but the wind and waves tossed the rafts about enough for Derala to understand what Mitra had meant about it being dangerous.
The monks met with the Corsair Captains that were present at the time, and it was decided that the migration would begin early this year. There was a sense of foreboding among some, but even the dauting task of moving the city to the nearby atoll was met with optimism and a sense of adventure from Derala.
The rafts had to be towed by ship, a handful at a time in single file, and there was little room for error. Derala had become a quick hand with the ropes and a good judge of wave movement, so she was assigned to the first line.
The day began with a massive pod of the smaller Cetaceans and Derala welcomed their energetic bond. It was halfway during the journey that she was so deeply focused on her bond with the creatures that she jumped when Rayl suddenly climbed out of the water and onto the raft.
“Hail Mariner! How goes the work of Dez Leera?”
Derala laughed and smiled, “Hail Corsair! The work goes well. How stands Sel Erratz?”
The man smiled in return and said easily, “Sel Erratz stands bright. I see you’ve gained a bit of color since last we met.”
She nodded, “That I have.” She looked back at the ship he had leapt from. “That’s a long swim considering what swims beneath us.”
He shrugged and motioned toward the Cetaceans leaping from the waves. “It’s safe enough with the Cets about,” He turned to look at her, “and I wanted to talk to you.”
Derala was still open to the bond with to the Cetaceans, making it was hard for her to read the Corsair, so she deflected his statement.
“You’ll have to talk while we work. Grab that line.”
Rayl took up the rope that connected them to the raft in front and unwound it from the nail, letting slack into the line to allow the distance between the rafts to grow.
Once the distance was achieved, he rewound the line onto the nail. “We’ll need to be positioned at the front and the back once we reach the island. The currents leading into the lagoon can be tricky with the tide and both ropes will have to be thrown at just the right moment.”
She looked to the distance, but the island was not yet in sight. “We have a bit of time before we reach the island, no?”
He took on a more serious tone. “We do.” He searched for his next words, but her expression distracted him to the point he had to ask, “Why do you look like that?”
Derala heard his words but was still holding the bond, relishing the feelings of so many minds joining with hers, rushing through the depths, water sliding over their skin and then breaking through into the air and sunlight.
But with her mind so open, she also felt a more distressed energy coming from Rayl. She slowly let her bond with the Cets fade into the background to bring her focus on the man and spoke. “You are worried… Is the passage into the lagoon so dangerous?”
Rayl narrowed his eyes in confusion. “No. I mean, yes, but not about the passage… you can feel them, can’t you? I can almost see them in your eyes.”
Derala nodded, “That’s what a Herdminder does.”
A look of understanding came over the Corsair’s face. “And you are an accomplished Minder, yes? The other Mariner said as much.”
“Yes, but never so much as with these animals.” Thoughts of Elsidol were still a bitter memory to hold. “I’ve always bonded well with livestock and common animals. But the life in the oceans is so much stronger… It resonates through the water.”
He hesitated a moment before asking his next question. “What about people?”
Derala took on a quizzical look. “That’s more difficult to explain. There are some who bond with people as deeply as I bond with animals, but for me a person’s mind has always been more clouded. I was very young when I learned how to block that bond. I can sense latent emotions, such as your distress right now, but I can’t tell you why you feel that way or do anything to calm you.”
Rayl nodded in partial understanding. “Would you be able to tell if a person meant you harm?”
A thread of concern lit along Derala’s nerves. “Maybe. I guess it would depend.” She instinctively reached out with her feelings but the man before her was no clearer than he had ever been. “Why do you ask?”
The look in his eyes was earnest but there was real tension in them as well.
“Before we came to Dez Leera, my ship docked at Dez Santra. There was a ship from Elsidol there. They were asking questions about a Herdminder… a young woman Herdminder.”
Panic surged through Derala’s mind and threatened to overwhelm her. Rayl stepped in to take her arm and keep her from falling but she held out a hand to stop him. A group of Cetaceans began to circle the raft, jetting spray in their agitation.
Derala steeled herself and began the arduous process of calming, easing the tension within her bond to the Cets as well as within herself. When she was stable, she closed the door to her bond with the Cets and looked up at the man who had just cast a terrible shadow over the serenity she had let herself slip into over these past weeks. It seemed Lady Utair meant to have her prize after all.
She stood as defiantly as she could muster. “And what did you tell them? Are you here to turn me in and claim what bounty they offer?”
A look of disdain came over the man’s face. “You misunderstand. I told you that the Corsair are no friends to The Alcazar. I came to warn you.”
The panic grew within Derala and had to sit before she fell. Rayl knelt beside her.
“They sailed before we did, in the opposite direction. None of the Corsair have any knowledge of you and wouldn’t have said anything if they did. The monk’s don’t speak at all, and the description the Elsidarian gave doesn’t match the way you look now anyway, so I think you must be safe for the moment. But the people asking about you didn’t say why they were looking for you, so I can’t know…”
Derala looked up to meet Rayl’s eyes.
“I ran away from the Magisterium. I was claimed by a Noble, and I ran.”
Rayl look puzzled. “It must be more than that… Noble or not, the cost of sending a ship so far is high and no matter how talented of a Herdminder you are, there must be others that can replace you? People on the run from Elsidol are not uncommon and they don’t send ships after them.”
Derala shook her head in upset, “I don’t know!” Her eyes began to well, “I was to be sent to the farms at Hensaryn—my Governess, thought so. All who I worked with in the stables thought so. But when I stood to be assigned, Lady Utair of The Alcazar claimed me instead. I don’t know why…”
Rayl sat in front of Derala. “You didn’t steal anything? You didn’t kill anyone? You just walked out of the ceremony and hopped aboard a ship?”
Derala shook her head again, “No… I went back to tell Krentiss, my Governess. She’s the one that told me I had to run—I couldn’t even think straight. She told me what to do and arranged for my passage. It all happened so fast…”
Rayl was more confused now than before and Derala was crying now. “Okay, just breathe.”
She ignored him. “What did you tell them?”
He scoffed at that. “I’m not a Captain and they wouldn’t deign to speak with anyone else.” His ire had also been stoked. “And despite your feelings about the Corsair, I can tell you that I imagine us to be a far more honorable sort than the people chasing you.”
His words stung and snapped Derala out of her deepening despair. She could keep running. She had already changed so much… she could change her name and just keep running until they forgot about her. She wiped her eyes and looked back at Rayl.
“I need to trade for help. I have to keep running.”
He nodded. “That makes sense, but you might be in better shape than you think. Once we get into the lagoon, the monks do not allow any other ships inside but the Corsair. We’ll ferry supplies and goods back and forth until it’s time to relocate back out to sea. Anyone inside is as good as hidden from the rest of the world.”
Relief washed over Derala. “Okay, that’s good. How long does storm season last?”
Rayl shrugged. “It varies, but usually a few moon cycles. The monks will decide when they want to be towed out again.”
He could see her calculating the time in her mind. Her voice took on a new resolve. “That will be time enough.” She paused and then asked, “Do I have information worth trading for? Mita said she thought I might and that the Corsair would grant me passage to any port. Is that true?”
Rayl considered her question. “Very likely, yes. My Captain will have to be the final judge, but any information pertaining to the inner workings of the Magisterium is of value.”
Hope had begun to build in her once again when she looked over Ray’s shoulder.
“Oh…”
He turned to see that the island atoll had come into view. It was still far in the distance, but they would be there soon. “There it is. It has no name, and you won’t find it on any map other than those of the Mariner trading ships, and they don’t share those.
***
The narrow channel leading into the lagoon as as treacherous as Rayl had described. They timed their entry to match that of the rising tide and the current grew fierce when it was compressed into the small space. Rayl tokk the front rope and gave the call to snap the knots untied so that at just the right moment, their raft was carried by the current alone.
The two then took up poles to ensure that they did not collide with the other rafts.
It was a short but choppy ride and before Derala knew it, they cleared through to the inner lagoon. It was unlike anything she had ever imagined.
Dense jungle had grown thick along the inner walls of the extinct volcano and was only interrupted by the white sand beach that formed a ring around the lagoon.
The inside of the hollow mountain was much larger than it looked from the outside and Derala imagined it was at least long enough to house a fleet of ships, bow to stern.
Many species of tropical birds filled the lagoon with noisy calls and flew back and forth as the newly arrived ships and rafts disturbed them.
Derala couldn’t help herself as she whispered, “It’s beautiful!”
Rayl laughed, “Yes, but also dangerous. There are new rules here.”
She looked at him expectantly and he continued.
“There are more things that live in that jungle than you would think, and some of them are big enough to eat you. The largest are reptiles with squat but powerful bodies and snouts full of teeth. They’re called Bantren and they’re solitary ambush hunters. The other dangerous species is half canid and half felid. Those are the Thylo’s and you’ll know them because they have stripes down their back quarters and hunt in packs. They are smaller, but equally dangerous. Nobody goes onto the beach alone and nobody goes into the jungle unless it’s an armed group.”
Deral nodded. Rayl continued.
“But, the real danger comes to the rafts at night.” Derala was taken aback by this and Rayl continued. “The open sea is one thing. The predators there are mostly large enough to see and there are usually Cets around. But here, the predators stay hidden. He pointed her to look over the edge of the raft. “See the bottom?”
The water was crystal clear, and the bottom was easily visible. It was deep, but not so deep that she couldn’t swim down to touch it.
Derala said as much. “It’s clear, so we can see things coming?”
Rayl shook his head. “No. Look closely… see the mounds in the sand?”
Derala did and after staring for a moment, she could see. He said, “Those are Myshir Trept. They’re flat and shaped like a triangle with a long, thin tail.
During the day they burrow beneath the sand and only attack if they are disturbed. But at night, they rise to hunt. They have tentacles with darts near their mouth and if they hit you, it’s fatal. You’ll thrash for a few moments, but it won’t be for long. They can’t climb aboard the rafts, but they can shoot those darts from under the water, so we stay inside at night and lower heavy cloth on all sides to form walls. Nobody leaves their tents until the sun is over the crown of the volcano. Do you understand?”
Derala nodded, horrified, but also mightily curious about these creatures she had never heard of.
Their raft slowed to a standstill, and it was time to work.
***
Over the rest of the afternoon, Derala and Rayls threw lines to other rafts and knotted them much closer together than they had been out at sea. Rope bridges were no longer necessary as the waters of the lagoon were always calm.
Derala was assigned to stay and lash the new rafts together as they were towed in and Rayl volunteered to stay as well, the two making an effective team in rebuilding the floating city inside of the exitinct volcano.
Days passed and the work was rewarding. In the evenings, they watched as the packs of hunting Thylos staked the beaches with the occasional Bantren stalking after them. But as darkness fell, they took shelter behind walls of thick cloth so as not to risk becoming targets for the things that swam below.
Before Derala knew it, the city had been fully reassembled and so began the waiting game. Rayl took his leave with the Corsair but promised he would during supply runs. He also whispered a promise that he would keep watch for anything resembling a ship from Elsidol.
There was still work, but it was far less than it had been out at sea and the monotony of the days was a factor Derala had not considered. A retractable bridge had been constructed to connect the rafts to the food pits on the beach, and that took some time to build. But after that, she spent most of those hours quietly forming bonds with the new creatures. Her results were mixed. The Thylos were easiest to make contact with, but they were a very closed society and did not seek her intrusion. The Bantren were reptiles and as always, difficult for her to find, much less connect too.
The Myshir Trept, surrounded by water, were easier to connect to, but they responded by rising to hunt Derala and the first few nights she spent hiding on the planks of the rafts as darts made soft, wet thumps striking into the cloth. She quickly learned to block their minds from hers completely for the sake of self-preservation.
The solitude and boredom had become tangible until the skies grew dark and the first storm arrived. It was then that Mitra’s words came back into Derala’s. thoughts, and the other woman had not exaggerated…
