“And what if there is not wind at all,” inquired Mistake.
“Ah,” sighed Fuster. “A sail is of no use without wind. That is why there are oars onboard,” he added as he pointed to two new shiny oars strapped to the side of the boat. “Rowing is good exercise, but a sail is what make travel possible. It would take me all day to row to this village.”
Mistake nodded absently and gazed at the passing coast. She watched as the city of Alamar passed by and faded towards the horizon. As Fuster began to change directions, she turned and gazed forward. A small fishing village approached and she saw two riders on the beach heading towards it.
“They are going to beat us there,” quipped Mistake.
“Not by a long shot,” chuckled Fuster as the boat suddenly lurched and changed directions.
Mistake watched as Fuster’s sinewy arm fought with the tiller. The sailor had a grin on his face as he devoted all of his attention to coaxing as much speed out of the wind as he could. When the boat slid onto the small beach, Temiker and MistyTrail were just entering the village.
“We won,” grinned Fuster as he hopped out of the boat. “Nothing beats a boat for getting around.”
Temiker dismounted and walked towards a local fisherman that was working on his boat. Fuster went and held the reins for the horses while the magician spoke to the fisherman. Mistake and MistyTrail gathered around the mage to hear what he would say.
“You are not at sea today, Gerock,” Temiker said.
The fisherman turned to look at Temiker and his face paled. “You are dead,” Gerock said as his eyes opened wide with fear.
“Hardly,” chuckled Temiker. “I made a promise to you a long time ago. I have come to keep my word.”
“But I saw you die,” protested the fisherman. “I came back without you.”
Temiker stepped closer and placed his hand on the man’s temple. Gerock trembled in fear as the mage cast a spell. Within seconds it was over, and Temiker stepped back a pace. Gerock looked confused as he gazed at Temiker and then glanced up the beach at the new boat.
“That is truly mine?” Gerock suddenly smiled. “How did you do that?”
“It is magic,” shrugged Temiker as he smiled at the fisherman. “I did tell you that I was a mage.”
“You did at that,” laughed Gerock. “I truly believed that you were dead. What of the men chasing you?”
“They are all dead,” Temiker reported. “They were a bunch of hired assassins trying to use me in some diabolical political plot. They failed.”
“Well I am glad that they did,” smiled Gerock. “They did come for the horse, you know.”
“Did they harm you?” asked Temiker.
“No,” Gerock shook his head. “They threatened to, but I convinced them that you were lost at sea. I truly believed that you had.”
“Then all worked out as it was supposed to,” sighed Temiker. “Why are you not fishing today? I thought we would have to wait for you to come in from the sea.”
“Well,” grinned Gerock, “your timing could not be better. My old boat is not what it used to be. I spend more time repairing it these days then I do fishing. It has a leak along the keel that I cannot seal.”
“Would you sell it?” asked MistyTrail.
Gerock seemed to notice the two small women for the first time. He looked from one to the other and then his eyes rested on Temiker.
“I take it that the women are with you, Temiker,” Gerock said. “The old boat is of no use to me. If you wish them to have it, you have my blessing to give it to them. I am not sure what use they can make of it.”
“Go and inspect your new boat, Gerock,” smiled Temiker. “I will see what I can do with your old boat to make it worthy for these women.”
Gerock nodded enthusiastically and ran along the beach to view his new boat. Temiker knelt in the sand and bowed his head over the rail of the old boat. He closed his eyes and began chanting under his breath. As he chanted, his hands ran over the boards inside the boat. Several minutes later, he opened his eyes and stood up.
“The boat will no longer leak,” he announced.
“What did you do?” asked Mistake.
“I caused the boards to swell until they were tight as new,” shrugged the magician. “The boat is just old, not unusable. Are you sure this is a good idea, Mistake?”
“Certainly,” Mistake replied with enthusiasm. “I learned a lot more from Fuster on the way down here. I know all about tacking now.”
“Then I wish you a safe journey,” sighed Temiker. “Should you change your mind, I always will have a place for the two of you. I will protect you from the Omungans and keep you safe.”
“We must do what we have planned to do,” MistyTrail shook her head. “Say goodbye to HawkShadow for me when you see him. I did not have a chance to do so myself.”
“That I shall do,” promised Temiker as he turned and walked towards Fuster.
Mistake watched Temiker and Fuster turn and ride out of the village. She threw her pack into the boat and encouraged MistyTrail to do the same. Gerock dragged his new boat through the surf until it rested next to his old one.
“So you are going to be sailors?” smiled Gerock. “Do you plan to fish? Don’t know of too many female fishermen.”
“The boat is for our poor villagers,” Mistake replied. “They don’t have any boat at all. This will be quite a surprise for them.”
“No boat at all?” frowned Gerock. “I knew times were tough, but a village without a single boat is a sad thing indeed. Had I known, I would have been tempted to give it to you even without the new boat from Temiker. How will you get it there?”
“We will sail it there,” boasted Mistake. “We are going to leave now. Would you be so kind as to push us through the surf?”
“With pleasure,” nodded Gerock as he placed his hands on the bow of the boat. “Get in.”
Mistake and MistyTrail climbed into the boat. Gerock grunted as he shoved the boat off the sand beach. He waded into the water waist deep before turning the boat around.
“Hoist the sail,” ordered Gerock. “There is a good breeze to take you offshore.”
Mistake grabbed a line and pulled the sail upward. She tied off the line as Fuster had done when they had left port in Alamar. Gerock pushed hard on the boat until he was chest deep in water. With a final push, he raised his arm high and waved goodbye. Mistake crouched in the stern of the boat and grabbed the tiller. It took her some time to steady the boat on a northeast course.
“There are not any seats in this old boat,” complained MistyTrail as she sat on the floor. “How long will this trip take?”
“I don’t know,” shrugged Mistake as she looked down and saw an overturned bucket.
She sat on the bucket and turned to watch the shoreline receding.
“We are making good speed,” Mistake commented. “You keep an eye out for land in front of us.”
“I don’t think we will see it just yet,” replied MistyTrail. “I have seen a map before, and I think Fakara is a long ways off.”
“But we are moving quickly,” countered Mistake as she watched the sail fill with wind. “I bet we will be there before we know it.”
Chapter 7
Emperor Vand
Marak heard soft voices not too far away. He opened his eyes and stared into the darkness. As he turned his head to the side, he saw that he was in the entry foyer of the old temple. Two figures sat outside the doorway around a fire. He sat up and stretched, feeling slightly sore all over. With a yawn, Marak rose and stepped out the door. Ukaro and Tmundo immediately turned to stare at him.
“I feel like I have slept for hours,” remarked Marak as he walked down the stairs and sat on a log near the fire. “Is that tea?”
Ukaro nodded and poured him a cup. “You had me worried, son,” Ukaro said as he handed the cup to Marak. “What happened in there?”
“I guess I fell asleep,” shrugged Marak. “I had such strange dreams. Why are you here, Tmundo?”
“I became concerned when you did not return,” answered the Kywara leader. “I felt that I should travel here to find if anything was wrong.”