Tim Waggoner - Forge of the Mindslayers

"You should do something about those lips before they start bleeding. You don't want to be more of a temptation to our slumbering beauty than you already are."

Diran replied to Ghaji without turning to look at him. "I'm not in the mood for jokes."

"Since when has that ever stopped me?" The half-orc stepped up next to Diran and leaned forward onto the railing. "Sorry if my attempt at humor fell flat. It's the orcish way to try and cheer up a companion by provoking him."

Diran's cracked lips did their best to form a smile. "What's the companion supposed to do in response?"

"There are several acceptable responses, but the most common is to kill the idiot who's dumb enough to provoke an upset orc."

Diran couldn't stop himself from laughing.

Ghaji smiled. "From your reaction, can I assume you're not going to kill me?"

"Maybe later," Diran said.

It was late afternoon, and though the sky was clear and the sun shone bright, the air remained cold as ever. Ships of various types-two and three-masted merchant vessels, fishing boats, and small, sleek pleasure craft-plied the waters around Perhata as their owners went about their business. The wind rushing over Diran's face began to die down, and he realized the Zephyr was slowing. He glanced back and saw that the sails weren't as full as they had been a moment ago, and he knew that Yvka had commanded the wind elemental to decrease its output so that they could approach the dock at a safe speed.

"How are you?" Ghaji asked.

Diran faced forward once more. "Ever since that awful night in Grimwall, I've tried to imagine what it would be like to see Makala again… how I would feel…" He shook his head. "I didn't even come close."

"How do you feel?"

"As if I've betrayed her. I never should have let her go the night she was changed. I was too weak to do what had to be done."

"You loved her, Diran," Ghaji said. "Still do, unless I miss my guess. That's not a weakness."

"I am one of the Purified, and I swore an oath to fight evil in whatever from it might take." Diran paused. "Even if that form is my love for Makala."

"I don't understand."

Diran turned to look at Ghaji. "If I truly loved Makala, I never would've allowed the corruption of undeath to take hold in her. I would've slain her the moment I knew her transformation was inevitable. By allowing her to continue existing as a vampire, I've condemned her to something far worse than natural death. She might seem to be the same person now, but eventually her spirit will succumb to the darkness that dwells within her and she will be lost."

"Makala's as strong-willed a person as I've ever met," Ghaji said. "If anyone can resist becoming a monster, it's her."

"That's what I've tried to tell myself these last few months," Diran said, "but think of Erdis Cai. The man was a legendary adventurer who faced numerous perils and always managed to survive them one way or another. He had a strong spirit too, but that didn't prevent him from being consumed by evil after his transformation into a vampire."

"That's different. Erdis Cai wasn't simply bitten on the neck by another vampire. He was changed by Vol herself. No mortal can resist her power."

"But that's just it, don't you see? Onkar was Erdis Cai's first mate, and he was transformed by Vol at the same time Cai was. Onkar changed Makala, which means she's also infected with Vol's darkness, and as you said, no mortal can resist her power." He glanced over his shoulder, and though he couldn't see Makala's obsidian sarcophagus from where he stood, he nevertheless sensed its foul presence. "At least, not forever."

"If you truly believe that, then why don't you walk aft, open the coffin's lid, and expose Makala to the light of the sun? You wouldn't be killing her; you'd be setting her free."

Diran knew his friend was right. He also knew that he couldn't do it.

"I told you-because I'm weak."

"No, because you're human." Ghaji put his hand on Diran's shoulder. "No offense intended."

Diran couldn't help smiling. "So what's your excuse? You're only half human, after all."

Ghaji shrugged. "I guess I'm the half that can't bring himself to kill a friend…even when he should."

The two companions spoke no more on the matter, and the Zephyr continued toward Perhata's docks.

Rather than finding a berth for the Zephyr at the docks, Yvka dropped off the others then sailed away. She planned to return the elemental sloop to the secluded location where she'd hidden her before-both to conceal her from those who might be tempted to steal the priceless craft as well as to protect Makala while she slumbered. Yvka promised to meet up with the others later at the King Prawn. Ghaji felt a bit nervous about the idea of Yvka being alone with Makala, even if the latter was sleeping, but he reassured himself that Yvka could deal with whatever threat came her way, including an attack by a vampire. Besides, Yvka would be safe enough as long as the sun was up… he hoped.

As Ghaji, Diran, Hinto, Tresslar, and Asenka walked down the dock to shore, Ghaji said, "So where were we before being so rudely interrupted by Haaken and his crew?"

"We'd decided to track down the barghest that attempted to steal Tresslar's dragonwand," Diran said.

"A worthy goal, if I do say so myself." Tresslar yawned, "but perhaps it might be best if we got some sleep first. We spent most of the night chasing after you two, and while we dozed aboard the Zephyr, I wouldn't exactly call a few catnaps a restful sleep."

"I'm not tired," Hinto said, "but then I'm not an old man like you, Tresslar."

"Old?" The artificer gave a derisive snort. "I prefer to think of myself as seasoned."

The others laughed, but Ghaji had to admit Tresslar had a point. Even though Diran's healing powers had countered the effects of the amber sleep, Ghaji still felt a weary ache in his bones. Diran's ability to heal could work miracles, but it didn't replace the need to attend to one's natural functions. Ghaji could use a soft bed right now, even if he was alone in it.

Ghaji expected Diran to protest, for the priest could drive himself quite hard at times, but instead Diran let out a weary sigh. "I suppose you're right, Tresslar. Much as I hate to postpone our hunt for the barghest, it has been an eventful couple of days. Besides, we'll be all the sharper after a bit of rest."

"I'll return to the Scorpions' barracks and have my people put the word out about the barghest," Asenka said. "Perhaps they can learn something of the creature's whereabouts."

Diran gave the woman a grateful smile. "That would be helpful. Thank you."

They held each other's gaze a few moments longer than necessary, and it was clear to Ghaji that Makala's return hadn't diminished Diran's attraction to the commander of the Sea Scorpions nor hers to him. Ghaji wondered if that was a good sign, or a sign of trouble to come. Both, he decided.

"I think we might have to postpone our rest," Hinto said. The halfling's voice held a note of fear, and everyone turned to see what had disturbed the diminutive pirate.

From the far end of the dock, a wolf came bounding toward them at terrific speed. It leaped at Tresslar and its jaws snapped closed around the dragonwand. The impact spun Tresslar sideways, and as the artificer hit the worn, wooden planks, the wolf yanked the wand free of his belt and dashed off.

Ghaji drew his axe, intending to hurl it at the fleeing barghest, but before he could draw back his arm to throw his weapon, a pair of silver daggers flashed through the air. Diran's knives struck the barghest between the shoulder blades, and the creature howled in agony. The barghest stumbled, its forelegs slid out from under it, and the dragonwand fell from its mouth as the beast collapsed.

Ghaji ran to the barghest without waiting to see if the others followed. He knew they would. The half-orc willed his elemental axe to burst into flame, and as he saw the wounded barghest scrabbling toward the dragonwand, clearly intending to retrieve it, Ghaji hurled his weapon. The axe tumbled end over end, flame trailing behind as it streaked toward its target. The axe blade struck the barghest in the side of its neck, and when the creature opened its mouth to scream, a gout of blood fountained forth instead.