The Towers

Copyright (C) 1997 by Charles Tryon


7: Trouble

It had been a week since they had left Westgate, and the ship had rounded Gulthmere Point. They had made good time, and Berakus informed them that, if the weather held out like this, they would reach Alaghon in another two and a half days. Once there, the main threat of pirates would be behind them.
Early in the morning, GreyEagle went up on deck before breakfast to watch the sun rise. She had grown accustomed to not wearing her armor while on board ship, and she enjoyed the sense of freedom that it brought. The threat of danger seemed far away now. She found too that she enjoyed the sunrise over the sea as she never had on land. The sky was clear that morning and the air crisp as the first sliver of brilliance peeked above the tops of the waves extending off to the horizon. On mornings such as this, the horizon looked so close that she felt she could almost reach out and touch it, singeing her fingertips on the sun as it made its grand entrance.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft touch of someone's hands on her waist. She spun around and was greeted by Coyle's playful smile.
"Oh, it's just you," she breathed. "I suppose that if it had been one of those sailors, he'd have been going for my throat."
"Don't worry yourself about them," Coyle replied with a wave of his hand. "They make a lot of noise, but they are generally harmless."
"That is easy for you to say," GreyEagle shot back. "You are not a woman. They look up to you."
"Oh, that is easy for you to say," he replied, mimicking her tone. "You don't have to worry about them seeing a woman get the best of you in practice. Oh, don't look so hurt. I have no problem with someone, anyone, being a little quicker on their feet than me, especially if I can count on that person fighting at my side when things get rough, but still, it will be a long while before I live it down in their eyes." He gave her waist a little squeeze. "Enough of that. We're missing the sunrise." GreyEagle nodded.
"Ho, you two lovebirds, how goes it there?" GreyEagle instantly recognized the voice as Recuahc's, but when she turned around to greet him, he was nowhere to be seen. She peered into the darkened corners of the deck around them where the shadow of the night had not yet been chased away by the rising sun, but she could make out no sign of him anywhere.
"Where are you, you rascal?" Her question was greeted only by Coyle's snicker. She flashed a dirty look at him, but he feigned ignorance. Finally, she peered over the rail to see if the voice might have come to her from the waves. In response, Recuahc's familiar laughter broke out, high above her. She wondered suddenly if the boy had finally sprouted wings to fly. Looking up, she spotted him, high above her in the rigging, and her head spun with just the thought of it. "What are you doing up there?" she asked incredulously.
"Same thing as you, only I don't have the advantage of a companion to share the view with. Would you care to join me?"
"Thank you," she said with a pout, "but I think the view is just file from down here on the deck."
Finally, Coyle could contain his laughter no longer. "I'm sorry GreyEagle," he said, struggling to regain his composure. "I know I shouldn't laugh at your expense, but the expression on your face as you looked over the rail was priceless beyond words." He quickly regained control of his mirth, and a strange look of sorrow came over his face. "I will miss you, GreyEagle, beyond words."
She quickly looked away towards the disk of the sun, which had almost lifted itself above the line of the waves. Coyle's arm was tight around her waist, and she leaned her head into his shoulder. She wanted to say something, but could think of no words. She heard the sound of a bell announcing that breakfast was ready, but she had no desire to leave. She thought, perhaps if she could just freeze this moment in time...
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the crash of a door behind them and the sounds of shouting. "There he is! Get him!" a rough voice cried out. They both wheeled around in time to see a mob of sailors rushing towards them. Coyle quickly backed towards the rail and pushed GreyEagle behind him.
"He must have killed Jerry, or pushed him overboard or something," one of the sailors shouted. Coyle looked confused, but his hand went to his sword.
"What is going on here?" he growled, looking at the sailor at the head of the mob, who looked like he might be a leader. "I know nothing of what you speak." The mob edged forward, surrounding the pair, but they held a wary distance. GreyEagle swore silently as she looked around. The sailors were armed with an odd assortment of weapons, from sticks and clubs to knives and short swords. She realized now how careless she had grown. She now found herself facing an armed and angry mob with no armor on at all. She had her sword with her, and the knife in her boot, but nothing more to turn the edge of a sword than a light blouse. Coyle was likewise defenseless. Their best tact would be to avoid coming to blows, but the mob didn't exactly look like it had come to negotiate. She moved out from behind Coyle a little and gave the mob her most intimidating look. They didn't seem impressed.
The mob appeared to have no clear idea of what to do next, or who was in charge. They milled about for a couple of moments, yelling and jostling each other. Coyle and GreyEagle could make no sense of what they were saying. Finally, one sailor stepped forward, still keeping a safe distance between himself and Coyle.
"What'd you do with Jerry," he said, spitting in Coyle's face. "We haven't seen `im since he got off guard duty last night. We all know what happened the other day. You finally decide to finish the job last night, thinkin' no one would miss him?" GreyEagle suddenly recalled the incident between Coyle and the sailor, and gave Coyle a worried look.
"Jerry? So that's what his name is? I have no idea where he might be," Coyle answered roughly. "I had no further argument with him, as long as he has learned to control his tongue."
Another man pushed forward. "Where's your buddy, the one who's always acting so friendly? I'll bet he's in on this too, and maybe your lady friend." Someone else shouted from the back, "Cut the talk. Let's feed him to the fish. And while we're at it maybe we should toss this bitch in too." Someone else shouted from the other side, "Or maybe we can find something better to do with her!" This suggestion drew a loud cheer as the mob began to push forward. GreyEagle's face flushed with anger, and her grip tightened on her sword.
With a quick motion, Coyle drew his sword and held it out in front of him. The mob hesitated for an instant, but then it continued to press. Coyle tried to back up, but he could go no further with the ship's rail against his back. A couple of sailors poked at him tentatively with their swords, batting at the tip of his sword, testing him, trying his resolve. GreyEagle threw her cloak over her shoulder and stepped up beside Coyle, drawing her own sword, but as she looked into the hate, anger and resentment which burned in the eyes of those she faced, fear suddenly rose in her throat, and she almost stumbled. They were badly outnumbered and without armor. She would be able to fend off their attack for a time, but she was not sure how long.
She heard a sudden shout over the din of the mob and looked over to see where it had come from. A couple of soldiers, men under Coyle's command, had burst through the door and had thrown themselves at the back of the mob in an attempt to force their way to Coyle. The two of them were no longer alone, but there was still a long distance between them and the soldiers. GreyEagle began to panic as she looked out on a sea of unfriendly faces.
A shout came from high above them. "You fellas looking for me?" She had forgotten about Recuahc up in the rigging. "Any of you man enough to come up here and try to be my friend?" He smiled, but it was not his usual cherubic face. "Once we get to be pals, maybe you'll still be capable of telling me who this Jerry is and why I would care to harm him! What do you say?" A couple of the sailors leapt up into the rigging to answer his taunts.
Suddenly, it was like a dam breaking over GreyEagle and Coyle as the mob surged forward. Coyle's reflexes were fast, and his long sword flashed up to block one blow at the same time as his foot whipped around to catch over another attacker in the groin, knocking him to the deck with a crash, but he could not block all the attacks, and one sword slipped through and caught him in the side. He clenched his teeth as the red stain quickly began to soak his shirt. GreyEagle found her hands full too. She concentrated on blocking the attacks with her sword, preferring to not actually draw blood unless she absolutely had to, but she could see the stain spreading rapidly on Coyle's shirt. She spun around and brought her sword crashing down against a club which one sailor was swinging, and it burst into splinters in his hand. Out of the corner of her eye she saw another sailor, armed with a long knife, coiled and ready to spring. She dropped to one knee as the knife flashed above her head, and brought the hilt of her sword up to connect with the man's midriff, knocking the wind out of him. She glanced over to where Coyle stood his ground. The mob was threatening to sweep the two of them apart, knowing that they would be much easier to subdue individually. One man now stood between them, concentrating on Coyle and his back open to her. She knew that she could strike the fool down with a single blow, but instead, she put her shoulder down and threw herself into him, knocking him away from the railing, and bringing herself back to Coyle's side. When Coyle saw her, he said nothing, but his teeth were clenched, and blood flowed freely from a cut over one eye. He nodded and tried to force a smile.
GreyEagle heard a cry from behind her and turned to see the blade of a short sword arcing down towards her. She had no time to bring her own sword around, so she instinctively threw her arm up to ward off the blow, only remembering at the last instant that her arm was completely unprotected. She closed her eyes.
The sword hit her arm with a resounding crack, and then, for an instant, there was silence. She felt no pain. She opened up one eye to look. Her hand looked normal, and there was no sign of blood. Then she saw the sailor standing there looking at her with his mouth hanging open and a couple of the other sailors backing off with worried expressions on their faces. She looked again at her hand. It tingled slightly, but other than that it showed no indication that it had just taken a blow that should have cleanly severed it from her arm.
There was no time to contemplate though. The sailors quickly resumed their attack, and GreyEagle struggled to turn their blows. She fought with her back to Coyle, but there were just too many of them. She turned to face one sailor as he brandished a knife in her face, but as she did, another swung at her with a heavy wooden staff. The blow hit her squarely in the back of the head, and carried enough force to shatter the staff, but while she was knocked to her knees, again she felt no pain. She turned and knocked the splintered remains of the staff from the man's hands with an angry slash of her sword as her mind spun trying to understand what was happening to her. She could think of no explanation, and the attackers continued to press in on them, giving her no time to ponder.
They drove the mob back time and again. In spite of the fact that Coyle had several wounds from which blood freely flowed, he continued to go no further than to defend himself and GreyEagle. GreyEagle admired his self-control, but she was starting to worry. His breathing was heavy, and she wondered if he was beginning to tire.
She heard other voices calling out above the noise of the mob. Sucaba stood on the poop deck, waving franticly and calling to Horton, while the angry bellows of the dragon could be heard as it struggled to gain the deck. More soldiers were streaming out of the door from the mess hall and falling upon the back of the mob. "It's about time they showed up," Coyle muttered between grunts as he brought his long sword around to deflect another thrust. Recuahc continued to climb higher into the rigging, with a couple of sailors in hot pursuit. It was becoming an all out battle.
Horton finally burst from one of the hatches. Sucaba flung himself on the dragon's back and the two took to the air. They circled around behind GreyEagle and Coyle and then the dragon hung in the air there as Sucaba pulled a scroll from within his cloak.
A sudden crack split the air above them and a bolt of light flew from somewhere beyond the edge of the mob to erupt into a blinding ball of greenish white light somewhere above GreyEagle's head. Four of the sailors directly in front of her slumped to the deck. Silence fell over the deck as most of the people in front of her, soldiers and sailors alike, stared out blankly, temporarily blinded by the flash.
"Silence!" Trouble's voice boomed out over the eerie hush. "Not a word from anyone!" The sailors in the front of the mob began to back up, tripping over those directly behind them. As their eyesight gradually returned, they saw the sailors who had fallen before them, and they lowered their weapons and backed away more quickly. GreyEagle stood her ground, but it was soon evident that no further attack was imminent. She sighed and let her shoulders drop.
"Another minute or two and we'd have had to get serious there," Coyle jested as he wearily put his sword away. GreyEagle shook her head. The fight had ended as strangely as it had begun, and she was still dazed.
With a rush of wings, Horton swooped in to light on the deck between them and the sailors. "Nice bit of work there," Sucaba said to Coyle as he slid down from the dragon's back. He gave GreyEagle a curious look. "You seem to have fared well," he said quietly. "Not a scratch, eh? Either you're a better fighter than I thought, or..." He let his sentence trail off. Turning to Coyle, he stuffed the scroll he had been holding back into a fold in his cloak, and then reached into another pocket and produced a pinch of green powder. "This should help I think."
GreyEagle shook herself. "I'm sorry Coyle. Here I am staring like a foolish child. Let me help you."
"I'm fine," Coyle said with a wave of dismissal. GreyEagle bit her lip and backed off. He was more interested in Sucaba and his green power than in her help He opened up his shirt to allow Sucaba to sprinkle the stuff over the fresh wound in his side.
As Sucaba worked, the silent mage pushed his way through the crowd. The mage pulled a number of strips of cloth from beneath his robe and began to bind Coyle's wounds. He too cast a curious glance at GreyEagle as he worked.
Suddenly there was the sound of another door crashing open, and the voice of Berakus came bellowing over the crowd. "What in the name of the gods of land and sea is going on here!" The captain pushed his way through to where they were standing, with captain Metzler close on his heels. "I demand an explanation." Berakus stopped short in front of Coyle and looked at him sternly. "Coyle, you're the last one I'd expect to find in the middle of something like this. You and your young lady friend here had better have a good story." He looked down at the sailors who were still slumped on the deck and quickly reached down to checked one man for a pulse. He stood back up and gave the sailor a swift kick in the ribs. "You, Groth, get up you filthy rat. You've got some talking to do. Stand when I speak to you!" The sailor moaned and tried to roll over. The threat of another kick from the captain quickly brought him to his feet though. "So," the captain asked, his voice like a chill northern wind, "do you think you can tell me what is going on here, or do you not have enough brain left to speak?"
Groth cast an angry glance over at Coyle. "It's Jerry," he hissed. "He hasn't been seen since he went off guard duty last night. The soldier boy over there tried to pick a fight with him the other day, so we thought he had done something with him before he reached his bunk." His eyes narrowed to slits as he starred at Coyle.
"Since when have you ever been known to THINK, Groth," Berakus fumed as he grabbed the sailor by the beard and snapped his head back around to look into his eyes. There was a noise in the rigging above him and he glanced up and spotted the sailors who had gone up after Recuahc. They had been silently hanging on there, hoping perhaps to escape the his fury. "Get down here you warehouse scum," the captain roared, and the two quickly slid down the ropes, attempting to land a fair distance from both the captain and the dragon who was silently regarding them through narrow eyes and licking his chops.
"So, what do you have to say?" Berakus asked, turning to Coyle.
Coyle shrugged, and winced slightly as the motion pulled at the fresh wound in his side. "I assume he is referring to the sailor I spoke to earlier this week. I haven't seen the man since last night."
One of the soldiers stepped forward. "Sir, Coyle went on guard duty with Recuahc and me around midnight. He couldn't have done anything to the sailor. I saw the man go below just after we went on duty."
Berakus stepped back and almost tripped over the slumped form of one of the sailors still on the deck. GreyEagle cringed as the captain began another string of angry curses. "Would somebody do something about these slobs," he sputtered, punctuating his request with another toe in the ribs of one of the sleeping forms. He looked sharply at Coyle and GreyEagle. "I don't know what you two did to these, but I don't like it. You could have taken a couple of their heads off I suppose, and they'd have been no shorter on brains, so I have that much to be thankful for." He glared at those around him. "We will get to the bottom of this yet." The mob had already begun to thin. "Everyone back to your posts," he shouted, "or your quarters if you have nothing better to do." He turned back to Coyle. "I will meet with you shortly in your cabin. Bring your young lady friend along too," he said eyeing GreyEagle. "Food and bandages will be sent down. Captain Metzler, if you would please, I'd like to have a word with you." He and Metzler turned to leave.
"Sir," Sucaba interrupted, "I would like to be present for that meeting, if you would."
"Suit yourself," Berakus replied with a shrug, "but no funny business." Sucaba bowed with a flourish, and the captain, after giving the mage a scowl, turned and stormed away.
Trouble walked up and Sucaba gave him a hearty slap on the back. "Nice trick there," he said loudly. "Saved me a scroll there, you did." Trouble nodded, but he was more interested in GreyEagle.
"Not a scratch, eh?" the mage asked her with eyes narrowed.
"No, but thank you for your timely spell." GreyEagle felt a chill as the Trouble regarded her in silence.
They were interrupted by Ormec's loud grumbling. "Idiot sailors," he muttered as he tried to make his way around the dragon who still lay on the deck. "Can't even control themselves on their own boat. I hate boats!" GreyEagle almost laughed in spite of herself as she saw the dwarf trying to squeeze himself between the rail and the dragon's hind quarters, being ever so careful to not step on the dragon's tail. He had not even had time to clean the crumbs out of his beard from the breakfast table. "Can't even sit down for a decent meal around here. If we aren't sick from being driven before a gale, we're defending ourselves from hoodlums and drunken sailors." He finally made his way up to GreyEagle. "Well, are you okay GreyEagle? I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner, not that these idiots had any fighting skills."
"Thank you Ormec, but we seem to have managed all right even though you were not here to defend us."
His hands were on his hips as he looked around for a moment. "Well, if everything is under control here, I think I will head back and finish my breakfast which I was actually beginning to enjoy before we were so rudely interrupted."
GreyEagle laughed. "I pity the poor soul who comes between you and your breakfast." Ormec frowned at first, but then a smile softened his features, and he winked at GreyEagle. He turned and headed back to the galley.
As the reality of what had just happened began to make its way into her consciousness, GreyEagle felt a sudden desire to be alone with Coyle. Images of cruel, snarling faces swept around her and she began to shake. The slender line which they held to was so fine, and it had almost snapped. She had yet to confront the fact that they were heading to the face of a danger far more terrible than a mob of angry sailors. She did not know if she was ready.
Coyle shrugged and turned to Recuahc and Sucaba. "Shall we go then? We don't want to keep the good captain waiting do we," he added with a smirk.
Without warning, one of the hatches in front of then burst open, and a very dusty gnome popped his head up. "Great. I see I've arrived just in time," Conrad said with a disgusted snort. He pulled himself up on deck and dusted himself off. "I figured I'd be trampled if I tried to get up the stairs with all you guys stomping about, so I went forward and tried to come up. Unfortunately, one of the hatches was stuck and I couldn't get through. Looks like everyone is okay though." With a shrug, he ducked back into the opening he had just came out of. "No wonder I've never felt like sailing before," he muttered as he disappeared under the deck. "Who ever came up with this idea..." His sentence was cut off by the sound of the hatch slamming shut.
There was a short hushed conversation between the three mages. The silent mage nodded once and then quietly slipped into the shadows at one corner of the deck as Trouble headed off back to his breakfast and Sucaba rejoined the others on their way to Coyle's cabin.
The cabin was small, though there was a small port hole fitted with a thick glass, through which a thin shaft of green tinted light filtered. A small desk stood in the corner, covered with maps and scroll tubes, and a single small cot was fitted into the forward bulkhead. GreyEagle sat down heavily on the cot.
"May I sit here too?" She looked up to see Recuahc smiling at her. She silently slid over to give him room to sit down. Sucaba slipped into the room and closed the door behind him. He stood next to the door, silently watching the others.
Coyle dropped wearily into the small chair and shook his head. "I still can't believe that they would attack us like that," he muttered. "I have never seen them so out of control before."
"Well, so much for breakfast," GreyEagle muttered. "I wonder how long we will have to wait." Just then, there was a knock at the door and Sucaba opened it a crack.
"Well, perhaps they haven't forgotten about us," Sucaba said, opening the door the rest of the way. A couple of soldiers entered with platters of food and more bandages. They placed these on the desk and with a nod to Coyle, left.
Recuahc was the first to move towards the food, and he quickly handed out plates of food to the others. GreyEagle avoided his glance when he handed her the plate.
There was another knock at the door and this time Marianne entered. "Coyle, are you okay?" She stepped over next to him and began to check his bandages. "I was worried when I heard what had happened, and came as quickly as I could."
"Would people please stop poking and prodding me!" Coyle sputtered. "I am quite fine, thank you. I don't have more than a couple of scratches, and besides, Sucaba's powder seems to have been quite effective, whatever it was." Marianne backed off and gave Coyle a puzzled look. "You would think I had just survived a battle with a horde of hill giants for all the attention I've been getting."
Marianne shrugged and turned to GreyEagle. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," GreyEagle muttered. "Nothing hurt but my pride."
"Not a scratch?" Marianne cocked her head curiously.
"No. It all happened too quickly." Marianne didn't look like she was satisfied with GreyEagle's explanation, but she did not to press the matter.
"Oh, I'm fine," Recuahc said as Marianne turned towards him. "I didn't do much of anything that could have given me the chance to be hurt."
There was another knock at the door -- this time it was Trouble and Ormec. The mage quietly slipped over next to Sucaba and the two of them began to speak together in hushed tones. The room was too crowded for the dwarf to fit in, but he did catch GreyEagle's eye from the doorway.
"Did they remember to bring you anything to eat?" he asked.
"Yes, Ormec dear, they have taken good care of us." GreyEagle smiled at the dwarf. For all of his gruff exterior, she appreciated his thoughtfulness.
"Good. I just wanted to see that they had gotten something down here for you. These sailors don't seem too bright sometimes, and I would hate to see you forgotten."
GreyEagle looked down at her plate which she had hardly touched and forced a smile. "Yes, they have remembered us Ormec, but thank you for checking." The dwarf gave one last glance around the room, scowling at the mages in the corner, and pulled the door shut again.
GreyEagle poked at the food on the plate in front of her, but she had little appetite. She was still confused by what had happened, almost frightened by it. She rubbed her arm again where she had been hit, but she could detect no marks or soreness. The skin felt normal, and she could not imagine what might have turned the blade. In her mind, she could still see the sword as it had come down on her, but she wondered now if somehow she had dreamed it all. Suddenly she remembered the attack of the kobolds on the trail to the first tower. There too she had somehow escaped injury.
She thought again of Schimray. He had said that he would protect her. Could it be that Schimray had cast some sort of spell over her to turn the blows of her attackers? She realized that there was still much which she did not know about the mage.
She looked up again at Coyle. She had been afraid for him as they had fought, afraid that they would be torn apart. Was it that thought which had turned her heart to water? Then, when it had all been through, he had brushed her aside as useless. She had survived the knives of the sailors, only to have her heart pierced by her friends.
Recuahc sat next to her hungrily attacking the food on his plate. He stopped for a moment and looked over at her. "Is this the same person who was just so worried about breakfast a few moments ago?" he whispered in her ear. "I thought that meant you were hungry, but I don't believe I have seen you take a single bite."
GreyEagle looked up at him and tried to smile. "Oh, I was just thinking about things."
Recuahc leaned back and gave her a quick look up and down. "I thought it seemed awfully early for you and Coyle to happen to run into each other up on deck, if you know what I mean." He shook his head. "Or did I miss something again?"
GreyEagle was silent for a moment, but suddenly her cheeks flushed red at his insinuation. "We were just walking together -- don't get any ideas," she hissed angrily.
"Touchy, touchy," Recuahc said, clicking his tongue and backing away from her slightly.
GreyEagle looked away for a moment, but then she reached out and touched his arm. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be angry at you."
Recuahc smiled. "Don't worry about it. We can talk later if you'd like. This isn't exactly a private setting." He thought for a moment. "Is this something to do with Coyle, or something else?"
GreyEagle shook her head. "A bunch of flea-bitten sailors with clubs and knives, and I almost panic," she whispered. "What kind of professional is that?"
"At least you actually did something. Let's forget it for now and talk about it later, okay?"
They sat quietly for a while, with the only sound in the room being the hushed whispers of the mages. Marianne sat down on the bunk next to Recuahc. He touched her arm lightly and whispered in her ear. The two of them spoke quietly together for a while and then fell silent, but GreyEagle noticed that Recuahc was holding Marianne's hand as they sat there.
The time seemed to drag on forever. GreyEagle fidgeted, impatient to get over with whatever questioning the captains might want to do. Coyle stood up and began to pace back and forth in the small amount of floor space which was still open. He still winced occasionally, but other than that, gave no indication of the wounds which he had suffered. The silence in the room oppressed GreyEagle, until she wanted to shout out, but was afraid to. She tried to catch Coyle's eyes, to probe what he might be thinking, but he would not look at her. The two mages now stood silently in the corner, content to wait forever it seemed.
It was almost an hour before they were joined by the two captains. Marianne excused herself and rose to leave, but Berakus asked her to stay.
"You already heard the story up on deck. Jerry has not been seen since he left his guard post last night. The others on the shift went to the galley to catch something to eat, but they said that Jerry headed straight for his bunk. He wasn't there when the others returned, and hasn't been seen since." The captain crossed his arms and scowled. "I'm inclined to agree with Metzler that you and Recuahc here didn't have anything to do with his disappearance, but that doesn't leave me much to go on. What exactly happened the other day between you two?"
Coyle recounted Jerry's rude comments to Marianne and explained what followed after. "I figured the issue was settled, so I gave it no further thought."
Marianne nodded her agreement. "After the incident, Coyle and I avoided the man."
"And what were you doing on the deck?" he asked GreyEagle.
"Watching at the sunrise," GreyEagle replied. "As you can see, I was not planning on a fight."
Berakus shook his head. "He may still be here on the ship," he said to captain Metzler, "sleeping off a little too much rum in some hold for all I know. We will have to search the entire ship to see if we can turn him up."
GreyEagle could feel her face flush. "Wonderful," she muttered. "One of the sailors has a little too much to drink and falls into a hold somewhere, and we almost get killed for it."
"Enough of that!" Berakus growled. "I am requesting that Coyle, Recuahc and the ladies remain here until we are finished with the search. I will be back to talk to you again once we are finished." He pointed to Sucaba. "I would like to have a word with you and your dragon. The others are to meet on deck where the search will be organized."
"Be my guest," Sucaba grinned, "he won't bite. In the meantime I would like to join the search immediately."
Berakus eyed him carefully as he rose to leave. "I have never liked that dragon on board," he said slowly, "though I thought he would be a useful weapon should we have trouble with pirates. He still makes me nervous though." He looked at Sucaba for a moment and then shook his head. "You may join the others on deck where the search will be organized." With that, he turned and left. Sucaba and Trouble quickly rose and followed them out the door.
Coyle stood to close the door behind the mages. He turned to GreyEagle and pulled her into his arms. "Are you okay?" he asked. "You seem very quiet."
GreyEagle pulled away. "I'm fine, I guess."
Coyle gave her a strange look. "What troubles you then?"
"Nothing. I'm fine."
Coyle smiled. "You are a poor liar then." GreyEagle spun around at his comment, but the sparkle in Coyle's quickly defused her anger.
"I was worried about you after the fight, but you wouldn't even speak to me, you were so interested in the mages."
Coyle gently pulled her back into his arms. "I am very glad that you were there with me," he spoke softly into her ear. "I am sorry if I offended you afterwards. I was curious about the powder which Sucaba had and what it would do."
GreyEagle looked back up again at his face. "What did Sucaba give you? I saw him sprinkle something in your wounds, but then the silent one covered them up right away."
Coyle shrugged. "I do not know what it was. The powder stung at first, but then the pain seemed to vanish. I was grateful for his help."
"Is that what contributed to your sour disposition?" Marianne asked.
Coyle frowned, but then he laughed. "Do not worry my dear Marianne. You are in no danger of loosing your job to Sucaba." He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "No one here has your touch for healing of body and soul, green powders not withstanding."
Recuahc leaned over and kissed Marianne's cheek. "I can second that opinion," he said brightly.
Marianne flushed. "Well," she sputtered, "you be on your guard none the less. Mages and their concoctions often have unforeseen side effects. Sucaba is not above taking advantage of a situation to further his own ends."
"As if your ministrations never had other side effects," Coyle said quietly. Recuahc coughed and looked away.
Marianne reddened. "You know what I mean."
Coyle smiled. "Of course we do Marianne, and we will be careful. I just don't want you to worry yourself over it."
Marianne did not look totally convinced, but she sat back with a sigh. "Do you know anything about this sailor Coyle, anything which you have not told Berakus?"
Coyle shrugged. "I have told him everything I know, which I must admit is not much. We will have to wait and see if they turn up anything in their search."
They did not have to wait long. Berakus returned a short time later and asked them to join with the rest of the ship and crew in the ship's mess. The captain had a short wooden staff which he brought down with a crack on the table he was standing behind and the room quickly fell silent.
"We have found no trace of Jerry," Berakus began, his voice booming across the room. "There were rumors that the officer Coyle had something to do with his disappearance, but on further investigation, neither captain Metzler nor myself believe that there is any truth in these." There was a low rumble among the sailors present, but no one dared speak out. Berakus swept the room with his fierce gaze, and the sailors fell silent again. "I have also spoken with the dragon mount of the mage," he continued, "and I have of no reason to believe that it is responsible. Some suggested that the sailor jumped ship, since we are still fairly close to shore, but I doubt he would do this. Since we have no more to go on, unless something new comes to light, the matter is closed." Berakus rapped his staff on the table once again to quiet the room. "If there are any complaints, I will handle them. In addition, any further break in discipline will be dealt with severely." Berakus paused a moment to let his words sink in.
"That is all," he dismissed them with a wave of the hand. There was a low rumble as those present began to slowly file out.
GreyEagle spotted Sucaba standing at the back of the room with a smug look of satisfaction on his face. As the room slowly emptied, she hung back until they were the only ones left.
"Something is still not right here," she said finally, her voice tight with agitation, "I can feel it in my bones." She nodded in the direction of the door where the sailors had just left. "They don't look convinced either. I for one am going to be watching them."
Sucaba pushed away from the wall where he had been leaning and pointed a long finger at her. "Remember our mission," he hissed. "What you do with your time is your business, until it interferes with the mission. Let it go, we will be landing soon anyway." With that, he pushed by her and headed towards the door.
"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" she said angrily. Though she was sure he had heard her, Sucaba did not stop on his way out the door or make any move to answer her.
That evening, she made her way up to the forward deck to be by herself. The sailors on duty gave her a wide berth as she climbed up to the prow of the ship. The sun was sinking into the horizon and the air had begun to cool. She was anxious for the voyage to be over, to return to solid land, but she knew too that it would be the end of the time she had with Coyle.
She heard the familiar call of the raven behind her and turned to see the Ariel circling over head. The bird glided down and landed on the railing next to her with a grace that continued to amazed her.
"Gentle human," he said, with a slight bow, "some have said that you had a part in the sailor's demise. I do not believe it is true, but I would ask you directly: Do you know more? I am no one you need tell, but I would like to know that it is not true. I have sensed only goodness in your deeds, kindness in your heart."
GreyEagle smiled. "Kind raven, I thank you for your confidence. No, I did not have anything to do with the sailor's disappearance, and I am afraid that I know nothing more about it. Have your far reaching eyes and ears seen or heard anything?"
"No, they have not," the raven answered. "Then, it as much a mystery to you as it is to me. I do not think that even the Wise One knows, for The Teacher of Truth's would tell me. No, I do think that even he knows. Sailors disappear. That is the truth, I am told."
GreyEagle stood for a while looking out at the stars which were starting to poke through the gathering night. She was disappointed that the raven knew nothing, for she had thought that if anyone would know more about the various goings on about the ship, it would be the raven. He always seemed to be about, watching this and that, presumably bringing everything back to the silent one.
She began to wonder about the strange mage and his raven. It was a strange creature who could change his form, or take on a cloak of invisibility. She had been disgusted at first by the rat, and then amused when he had shown up in the morning, dressed in his boots and cape. Now he was a raven. Ariel drew such a contrast against the silent mage. He was always talking, where the silent one remained shrouded in mystery.
Suddenly, she turned to Ariel. "Please tell me," she asked, "why does the silent one never speak? I know he has a tongue, for I heard him cast a spell in the tower. Does he ever speak to you or the other mages?"
Ariel fidgeted and hopped around. After a moment he fluttered up onto GreyEagle's shoulder. "You have told me in truth, I believe," he spoke softly into her ear. "Now I will tell you the truth in turn. The Well of Wisdom does speak, however every world from is mouth is magic and it cannot be otherwise. His tongue is held by magic and only by magic can it be loosed." The raven shifted its weight from one foot to the other. "I will tell you for I know that you would not hurt him. In the Before Time, before the Time of Great Sorrow and the Changing, the boy child did speak ordinary words, even sing, for Muse smiled on him. It is in him even now, but it is locked away like a nightingale in a cage."
"That was before the Changing, but I know of this because he has told that tale before. Now he speaks not with words, but with visions. With me the Master has no need to speak -- we were linked at the Changing, before the Call to Power, during the Time of the Sword, during the Great Sorrow." The raven lowered its head and its voice became softer still. "Great sorrow and suffering... He tried to protect me from it but we were linked by the Changing." The raven fell silent for a time.
"Wise raven," GreyEagle finally answered, "you serve your master well. I understand little of magic, and though I know that we cannot hope to accomplish our mission without it, still it frightens me. Is it possible that we might discover the magic that would loose your master's tongue?"
Ariel fluttered restlessly. "Nothing is simple -- everything is linked together. It has been said that breaking the spell of silence might also undo the Changing, and I do not know if the Master wishes to return. I for one, am not eager to return to the darkness of the Before Time."
GreyEagle looked out over the waters. "The sailor probably has nothing to do with our mission," she said, returning her thoughts to the raven's original question, "but my heart tells me that something dark is on the foot, and I fear it. Sucaba knows more than he tells."
Ariel flapped his wings. "The mage has been selected as the leader of the party by Schimray himself, but who knows what is going on inside his head. What matter is that to us that he holds his tongue? The master is far wiser than I, and he chooses to follow the other mage's lead, at least for now."
"Perhaps that is true. Yet it still troubles me. Your master has his reasons for following Sucaba, but they may or may not be the same as the reasons why I choose to do so. What if Sucaba has done something with the sailor? We would surely be the last to know, and I am not sure I want to be there to find out. I know too that he considers me of little consequence." She was silent for a time before she turned back to Ariel. "Will you let me know if you discover anything new? I will tell you about anything I see. Perhaps together we could get to the bottom of this tangled web."
The raven nodded. "Rest assured that I will withhold nothing from you. I believe too that I speak for the Talon of Truth in this matter." With that, it flapped its great wings and silently flew off into the gathering night.
The next two days Coyle and GreyEagle spent a great deal of time together on deck, often joined by Recuahc and Marianne. Sucaba had once again renewed his interest in fishing, and spent a great deal of time on deck. It was clear that the sailors were still not happy with the lack of any explanation for Jerry's disappearance, but they did not make an issue of it, at least not with any of the members of the party. None the less, GreyEagle made a point of wearing her leather armor whenever she was out on deck.
Sucaba watched GreyEagle closely as she and Coyle talked together. "You have remembered your armor again, I see."
"Yes," GreyEagle answered hesitantly.
"It is wise," Sucaba replied simply.
"What?" GreyEagle asked. Sucaba however, had already turned his attention back to his fishing line and ignored her. GreyEagle fumed, but chose not to push the mage.
She looked around and saw the silent one watching some of the sailors. She remembered that she had often seen him carry a matched set of long swords, but she had never seen him use them. Finally, her curiosity overcame her shyness toward the mysterious mage.
"I see that you carry a great sword," she said timidly as she approached him, "but I have never had the privilege of testing my skills against yours, or even of seeing you fight, though I am sure that you would not carry such a proud weapon if you were not familiar with its use." She paused. "Would you consider a time when we could meet in practice together, to test each other, and to learn from each other's strengths?"
The silent mage slowly turned to look at her, his eyes searching her from head to toe. Gradually, a smile formed on his lips, but then, with a sudden shrug, he shook his head and turned away. GreyEagle's face fell in disappointment. She had thought that, perhaps, she might have found some way to understand the silent mage, but it appeared that he was still not ready to open the doors to his inner self yet.
"I am still troubled by the sailor's disappearance," she whispered to Coyle as the silent one walked away. "People do not simply vanish. After the search, Sucaba made some kind of veiled threat, warning me not to be distracted from our task, but just as he did now, he would say no more. Now he comments on the fact that I am wearing my armor again. I hope that he is not tangled up in some scheme having to do with the sailor vanishing."
"Yes," Coyle replied softly, "I am sure something happened to him, and I do not believe that it was simple coincidence that it was that particular sailor. I have no doubt that Sucaba, and perhaps even some of the others are involved." He paused and his face became dark. "From what I see, I believe that Sucaba and the other mages worship a very dark master. I become increasingly concerned for your safety. I know you are fond of Schimray, but I wonder what kind of man allows one such as Sucaba to champion his cause."
"But Schimray..."
Coyle quickly touched his finger to her lips. "I know how you feel, and you know how I feel, so there is nothing more to be said on the subject." Coyle's comment sting her heart, but she knew that it was a subject best not brought up for now. There were too many tightly strung emotions to deal yet with her relationship with Schimray.
"Once we reach Arrabar," she asked, "where will you go from there? I wish that you could come with us." A chill came over GreyEagle, and she snuggled closer into Coyle's arms for warmth.
She looked up into Coyle's face, and he looked suddenly tired. "From Arrabar we head to Hlondeth, and then retrace our route back to Arabel. I too wish that I could go on with you, or that you would stay on with us. I am sure that you would be accepted here as a part of the guard, now that you have shown what you can do. However, I cannot break my contract to go with you, as much as I would like to. I have given my word, and if that is no good, why would you want me? Since it appears that your heart is set on following Sucaba and this mission of Schimray's, then all I can do is to try to train Recuahc as best I can."
GreyEagle was silent for a long time. "I too have given my word," she said finally. She knew that she could back down from her task no more than Coyle could from his. "No, it is not for us to continue along the same path at this time, though our paths may cross again in the future."
She knew however, that she would never be the same.
Next...

7 April, 1998