Keith Baker - The Shattered Land

Lei’s anger melted in the face of his despair. “He was a healer,” she murmured, “a dragonmark. He wasn’t a target on the battlefield …”

“I was his friend. I could have taught him what I know. I could have made him learn.”

“No one could make Jode do anything he didn’t want to do.”

“It’s not just Jode,” Daine said. “In my dreams-Jholeg, Krazhal, Jani, even thrice-damned Saerath. All dead.”

“All soldiers,” Lei reminded him. “Now you’re going to take responsibility for everyone who died in the war?”

Daine looked away. “People die in war. That’s unavoidable, but could I have done more? I can’t even remember what happened at Keldan Ridge. Did I lead them into disaster? Am I doing it again? I could have made you and Pierce stay in Sharn.”

“Oh, and Sharn is the safest place in Khorvaire? If it’s Sharn without you or Xen’drik with you, I’ll feel safer in Xen’drik.” She put her hand on his shoulder, and ran her finger along the tense muscles of his neck. “You can’t take responsibility for everything, Daine. We’re in this together.”

Now it was Daine who said nothing.

“Come,” Lei said, taking his arm and pulling him away from the rail. “Let’s go another round. Let me show you what I can really do. I think a few bruises are just what you need to clear your head.”

Daine nodded, but the faces of the dead were still fresh in his mind.

“Better,” Daine said.

“Bold talk for someone lying on the ground,” Lei said, the point of her staff pressed against his chest.

“This is practice. If I don’t let you get away with something occasionally, you’ll never learn the technique.”

“Oh, so you let me trip you?” Lei lowered the staff and offered her hand, pulling Daine to his feet. Despite her slender frame, she was surprisingly strong.

“Believe what you will,” Daine said with a smile. “Now you’re still leaving yourself open-”

He was interrupted by the ringing of the deck bell. What now? he thought. Moments later, crewmen were scrambling across the deck.

“Look at the main sail,” Lei said. “The wind just turned, and only the captain could order that. I think we’re coming to a halt.”

“Why? I don’t see any land.” Daine studied the horizon. “Wait. What’s that?”

There was a patch of purple weed floating off the starboard bow-a mass of seaweed some twenty feet across.

“It seems like it would be easy enough to steer around,” Lei said, “unless … it’s some sort of marker.”

“We’ll see,” Daine said. “Perhaps you’ll have a chance to put our practice to work.”

Lei’s assumption was correct. A moment later, the magical wind that filled the main sail died completely, and the vessel stood at rest on the water. Crewman lowered the anchor and threw something else over the side … a package of some sort? Daine wondered if this was some sort of sacrifice to the Devourer, the sinister god who embodied the destructive power of nature. Few people admitted to worshipping any of the Dark Six-the malevolent deities of the Sovereign Host-but he’d known many soldiers to say an occasional prayer to the Mockery when the odds were against them.

The captain came down from the wheelhouse, walking toward the knot of crewman. Daine caught up with him.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing for you to be concerned about,” Helais d’Lyrandar said. “Routine procedure before entering Shargon’s Teeth, though perhaps it would be a good time for you to visit the mess.”

“Why’s that?” Daine wasn’t the most sensitive man, but even he could see that the captain was nervous. “I don’t know anything about routine procedures, so perhaps you could enlighten me.”

The captain scowled. “I don’t have time to talk to passengers right now. Stay out of the way!” He made his way to the knot of sailors standing by the anchor.

“He’s in a friendly mood,” Lei said.

“Stay ready,” Daine said. He walked slowly along the railing toward the knot of sailors, then a hand gripped the rail right in front of him.

It was covered in leathery green scales, still wet from the sea, each finger tipped with a sharp claw. A moment later a second hand appeared, and a horror pulled its way up to the edge. It was a hideous blend of man and armored fish, with two gleaming yellow eyes set above a wide mouth filled with needle-like teeth. A leather harness was wrapped around its torso, and a short barbed trident was slung over its back. Swearing, Daine drew back to strike-and suddenly found himself falling to the deck. Lei had tripped him with her staff. Before he could react, there was a hue and cry; the captain and the sailors had spotted the creature.

“Don’t hurt him!” the captain cried, and for a moment Daine thought Helais was talking about him. Then the creature pulled itself over the rail and onto the deck, and Daine realized that its presence was expected.

“Well, you were right,” Lei said, prodding him with her staff. “I did get to put our practice to work.”

The visitor’s name was Thaask, and it seemed that the captain had met him before.

“He’s a sahuagin,” Lei said, as they watched the captain talk to the creature.

“I thought sahuagin lived on a diet of fresh sailors.” Daine had heard tales of the fish-folk before, but he’d never seen one-and in all the stories he’d heard, these sea devils were a force to be feared.

“Sure, and ogres eat babies,” Lei said, “but not the ogres in Malleon’s Gate. It’s dangerous to make assumptions.”

“What do you think this is about?” Daine said, watching the creature. The conversation with the captain seemed cordial enough, but something about the creature set him on edge.

“Helais said that we were about to enter Shargon’s Teeth. From what I’ve heard, that’s dangerous water-full of hidden reefs and … well, sahuagin. My guess is that the captain is paying for protection. Or a guide.”

Lei’s instincts were correct. A moment later, the captain handed a leather purse to the fish-man and gave a slight bow. Thaask echoed this with a slight nod of his angular head. The captain turned and spoke to the crew, and the sailors scattered across the decks, raising the sails and pulling up the anchor.

“If we’re entering the Straits, we’re almost to Stormreach,” Lei said. “It won’t be long now.”

“It can’t be soon enough for me … now what?”

Thaask was coming toward them. He had a strange, lopsided gait; it was clear that he preferred swimming to walking. He spoke, but the sound was a croaking gargle; Daine couldn’t make out the words. Daine still had his sword in his hand, but Lei stepped in front of him.

“What did you say?” Lei said. “I couldn’t understand.”

Thaask spoke again, slower and more clearly. “I give you greetings, daughter of air. Many storms have passed since last we met.”

Daine shot a sharp glance at Lei, but she seemed to be just as surprised as he was. “Since last we … I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.”

The sahuagin made a rasping sound that could just as easily have been a laugh or a cry of outrage. Eventually it spoke again. “I forget the way that age takes you creatures of earth and air. You would not wear the face in my memory if you were the one I met before, so you must be the daughter.”

“What are you talking about?” Lei said, her voice beginning to rise. Daine put a hand on her shoulder.

“Aleisa. This name is known to you?”

“That’s my mother!” Surprise diffused the growing anger, and Lei loosened her grip on her staff.

“It is she whom I took you to be. As a guardian of these waters, I never forget my charges, and you and she are one and the same.”