Path of the Stonebreaker

Chapter 107

Black Sails on the Horizon

On the sixth day at sea, Femira’s morning training routine was interrupted by concerned shouting. She paused in her weapon dance, Nyth had just transformed into the coiled armour that was currently wrapping itself around her when she stood up straight to watch the commotion.

Cowbell was frantically ringing his wrist bell, pointing to the horizon. Sleek was at the helm, shouting for someone to run and wake Connie who had taken the early morning watch and was currently napping in the cabin.

The crew were reacting similarly to when they spotted Avriem’s ships which had happened a few times in the first three days but not since. But they were too far out for any of Avriem's patrols as they were closer to Rubane’s shores now than Athlin.

Lydia was suddenly at Femira’s side.

“What’s going on?” the woman asked.

“I’m not sure, more patrols?” Femira tried.

“Not patrols,” Farns said moving past the pair to start pulling on the iron wheel that retracted the masthead.

“Warships,” Farns spat, nodding to the south, “half dozen of ‘em.”

Femira squinted on the horizon. All she could see was the dark blue of the sea until it faded into the horizon. The shifting waves created black spots in the water, she supposed some them might be ships.

“Can you see anything?” Femira asked Lydia who shook her head in response.

Femira was continually surprised by how the crew could spot ships so far away. Internally, she decided to direct the question to Nyth. Can you see them? Nyth responded with the impression of clanking metal, like a stick running over prison bars—Femira usually interpreted this as Nyth’s preferred impression for saying “no.” But then sometimes Nyth used the image randomly when it wasn’t a yes-or-no question. They still had a lot to figure out to effectively communicate together.

Actually, you don’t have eyes, Nyth… How do you even see things at all? Nyth sent back the visual of a bat screeching in a cave. Hmmm. That doesn’t make much sense. She expressed that confusion back to Nyth who then returned back the impression of Femira herself sending out her edir in pulses and how it resonated with stone and metal around her. Like vibrations? Nyth sent back a calm sea—its preferred image for ‘yes’.

The idea was strange to Femira that Nyth could see the world around it in vibrations but then again everything about Nyth was strange. It was a sentient blob of metal that somehow had figured out a way to communicate with Femira. Nyth was one of the mysteries that Femira decided to leave until after she’d found Daegan Tredain and returned him to Epilas. After that, she could then try to find out more about nythilium and what it actually was.

Connie was now up on deck; she and Sleek were discussing something while the crew rushed about preparing to take the ship into ‘stealth mode’ as they called it. Femira caught Lydia giving the pair a troubled expression. Femira still hadn’t figured out what Connie and Lydia had been arguing about the other day. Although she figured it was likely something to do with the rebellion in Port Novic.

“What were you and Connie arguing about the other day?” Femira asked, deciding that she wanted to know. If she was going to ask for Connie’s help in smuggling Daegan back to Epilas, she needed to learn as much about the woman as she could in order to trust her.

“I’ve heard about Connie before, you know,” Lydia admitted, “her operation has a good reputation in Port Novic.”

“I know this,” Femira replied, “it’s why I sought her out.”

“She’d done some jobs for the cause in the past, I had never dealt with that side of things myself but some of the other cadres had worked with her. Bringing some people in, sneaking others out. She was always picky about which jobs she took.”

Femira recalled the conversation that she had had with Connie. The woman had admitted much the same. It didn’t make much sense to Femira, why would Connie only take some jobs from the rebels and not others. She claimed she didn’t support the rebels, nor the Duke. If she was neutral to the situation, why didn’t she just take all the jobs coming her way? Connie claimed that she wanted to help people get out of dangerous situations, but helping the rebels would ultimately only lead to…

“She won’t smuggle weapons,” Femira realised.

“We’ve made a deal with Ironworks in Nordock,” Lydia said conspiratorially, “we just need someone we can trust to bring in the shipments. Connie’s been reliable for getting us key people in and out… I think she can be trusted with this.”

“But she won’t agree to it,” Femira pointed out.

“No, she won’t,” Lydia grumbled, “but I’m working on it.” Lydia was speaking as though Femira had already agreed to be part of her revolution. Well, I suppose I did destroy the throne hall. Outwardly, she would seem to be more aligned with the rebels than not.

“She can’t continue to be neutral in this,” Lydia went on, then giving Femira a side glance, “none of us can.”

“I already told you,” Femira warned.

“Staying aloof in the face of injustice isn’t an option,” Lydia argued, “you have a responsibility to use your power for the greater good. Not acting is as bad as—”

“—How dare you,” Femira snapped, “what makes you think that I’m doing nothing. I have my own objectives and I’m sorry that they don’t involve your city. The world is a lot larger than just Port Novic and its problems.”

“I… I’m sorry,” Lydia stammered, taken aback by Femira’s outburst.

“And back off on Connie,” Femira admonished. “She doesn’t want to be the cause of any more bloodshed in Port Novic.” And neither do I. Femira turned away from Lydia before she could argue further and made her way towards Connie and Sleek who were still deliberating.

“What’s going on?” Femira asked, she realised that Lydia was trailing after her and intended to listen in.

“Whose warships are they?” Femira pressed on, although she had an unsettling hunch.

“Black and red sails,” Sleek sighed, “they can only be Reldoni.”

“What are they doing this far north, I thought they landed at Garronforn?” Lydia replied. Femira felt Connie’s eyes watching her. She still suspected that Femira knew more about the Reldoni invasion than she was leading on. She’s not wrong.

“Shit,” Femira said, “they must be trying to take Nordock too… Fuck!” This would be a serious wrench in her plans. She knew that Garld had intended a full scale invasion of Rubane, but from the little she’d known, the target had always been the capital city of Rubastre first and spreading from there.

“Strategically it would make sense,” Lydia said, “I thought it was strange that they would strike first at Rubastre. It’s the heart of Rubane and they would be exposed on both sides. It makes sense to take Garronforn and Nordock at the same time, then head east once establishing a strong foothold.”

“It draws out the war though,” Sleek commented, “by all accounts the Blightwind prefers to strike fast and hard. They say he took Altarea in a single day.”

“We’re getting off topic,” Connie berated him, “it doesn’t matter why they’re here. The question is whether or not we try to run from them.”

“If we don’t know what they want,” Sleek replied, “I think we should run.”

“I’m with Sleek on this,” Femira put in, eagerly. Connie’s eyes flicked back to her when she spoke. The tiny woman could be awfully intimidating when she wanted to be.

“If we run then they’ll be very suspicious of what we’re doing,” Connie said, “these aren’t Avriem’s ships. They don’t care about his embargo. As far as they know we’re simple traders, we’ve got nothing to hide from them.” The last statement was directed to Femira.

“We can't be caught by them,” Femira said sternly, “we have to run.”

“There’s nowhere to run to,” Connie pointed out. “They’re coming from the south and look to be heading north-east. Nordock is clearly their destination. We can’t go back the way we came and there’s nowhere to hide if we go north and they decide to give chase.”

“Well,” Sleek said, awkwardly, “not nowhere.” Farns came up to the helm, he’d been listening to the conversation from where he’d been turning the masthead wheel.

“Aye,” Farns said, “there’s the Wailing Rocks.”

“No,” Connie dismissed the idea, “I’d rather risk the Reldoni than risk one the Wailing Rocks.”

“What are these rocks?” Femira asked.

“Islands off the White Cliffs,” Farns replied, “plenty of ‘em stretch down this far south. We passed one earlier this morning. Mists are always hanging around those islands, could easily swing back and drop anchor in one of the coves and wait it out.” Femira didn’t recall seeing any islands, but then again these guys managed to spot a lot more than she did on the horizon.

“I won’t risk a Wailing Rock,” Connie repeated, this time more forcefully, “they’re more dangerous than the Reldoni. Ships that go into those mists rarely come out.”

“But that’s it ain’t it,” Sleek admitted, “good bit of fog about a Wailing Rock. Makes ‘em easy to hide in.”

“That makes ‘em more dangerous, you know that,” Connie contested, “harder to spot reefs around the islands… and besides,” she seemed reluctant to admit the last part of her argument, “there’s…” she sighed.

“The sea monsters,” Sleek nodded.

“Aye, I know they’re just tales, but we’ve all heard stories of those islands. Ships disappearing without a trace, sea snakes the size of dragons.”

“If we get caught by the Reldoni it will be worse,” Femira argued, “trust me.”

“We can hide you in cargo holds, we’ve been through routine checks many times before,” Sleek put in.

“I’m sorry, Femira, but the risk is too great,” Connie added, “we could lose the ship, our lives, everything by going to a Wailing Rock.”

“They say they’re breeding grounds for draega,” Sleek continued, “creatures the size—”

“—I can handle draega,” Femira cut across and all eyes moved to her.

“I’ve fought them before,” she admitted, “I can handle them. But you need to believe me, if I’m found on this ship by the Reldoni, none of us are making it out alive.”

“You’re her, aren’t you?” Connie revealed, “You’re Annali Jahar?! One of Blightwind’s elites—a bloodshedder!”

This was it. Decision time. Femira needed to decide if she would reveal to the crew what she was doing. Could she trust them with what she was trying to achieve? Despite their vocation, Connie and Sleek seemed like good people. Was it time to tell them everything and try to convince them to help her?

What do you think, Nyth? Femira directed the question internally. Nyth was still in its armour form around her. Should I trust them? Nyth buzzed, she rarely consulted it mid-conversation but Femira knew that it was alway paying attention. Nyth sent her the image of seven enormous pillars of silver, standing in a semicircle in a desert of black sand. Well, that’s useful.

“Captain,” Farns said, “they’re changing course towards us. We’ve got to decide now.” Technically, Sleek was the Captain but with Connie—as the ship’s owner—on board, Sleek deferred to her.

“I’m not Annali Jahar,” Femira said, “…not technically but you are correct; I was one of Landryn’s bloodshedders. I was the one who killed the draega at Temple Beach.”

“You’re one of them,” Connie spat with distaste.

“I’m trying to prevent this war.”

“Prevent it? Love, it’s in full swing.”

“Stop it then,” Femira countered. “Landryn doesn’t want this war, he’s only doing this because he wants revenge but Daegan Tredain is alive… and I need to find him.”

“Blightwind is invading Rubane because it’s got resources,” Connie argued. “It’s got the ironworks and forests. You finding some prince isn’t going to end this.”

“Con!” Sleek shouted, “we’ve got to make the call now. Do we let them intercept us, or do we make for the Wailing Rock?”

“Please, Connie,” Femira implored, praying to all the gods whose names she didn’t remember.

Nyth began to shift on her, responding to her pumping heart. It was ready to transform into a weapon if she needed it. It’s ok, Nyth. She wouldn’t attack Connie. It wasn’t like Femira could move this ship on her own. But she might need to if these warships caught up to them. Femira felt nauseous at the thought of needing to fight the Reldoni. She hoped there wasn’t any soulforged on the ships.

“You’ve really fought draega?” Connie asked.

“I have,” Femira attested. “The draega are the real enemy. Not the Rubanians, not the Reldoni, not Avriem and his soldiers. The draega don’t care about our borders, or our politics, or anything other than spreading and destroying everything. All I care about is ending this war so that we can focus on fighting them.”

Sleek and Farns had gone pale at Femira’s words. Connie still watched her with her penetrative stare.

“Ending a war is far easier said than done,” Connie remarked. “Do you truly think that this Daegan Tredain can end it?”

“I do,” Femira confirmed although she could feel the doubt in her own words. “But… honestly, I’m not even sure if he’s still alive. That’s why I’ve been in such a rush to get to Nordock. It’s why I agreed to free your men so that you’d help me. I need to find him and bring him home to Epilas.”

“That’s not an easy task.”

“No,” Femira admitted, “… that’s why I need to ask for your help.”