First time on a schooner/The traitorous magaidh
Chapter 5 - Part 3 (Voyage of the Dawn Breaker)
“I'm ready when you are,” Rembran brushed his fingers through Ixa's hair. “Do we need to return to the ship?”
Rhyslin watched Ixa's eyes drift closed as a satisfied smile crossed her lips. “No, we can do it from here. First, ask Ixa to show you the Dawn-Breaker.”
When the spell-sword relayed the request, the air elemental replied, “Of course, Maighstir,” an image of the ship from the main deck to the crow's nest appeared before them.
Rembran examined every spar, line, and mast as the image hovered. Intuiting the next step, he addressed the Earth Elemental. “Andros, can you show me the rest of the ship?”
“Yes, Maighstir,” Andros replied, adding the rest of the ship to the image.
“Very good,” Rhyslin commented. “Now, Ixa, can you show everything within a hundred steps of the ship, either straight up or to port and starboard, while Andros can show you everything under the keel.”
When Rembran nodded, Rhyslin spoke to the Earth Elemental, “Andros, show us what's under the keel, if you please.”
Rembran watched as the anchor lines and pseudo-berthing were added to the image. “Interesting. What's next?”
Rhyslin pointed at the docking arrangement. “I want you to set us down.”
“In that?” the spell-sword blinked. “Are you sure?” When Rhyslin nodded, Rembrandt took a deep breath and slowly blew it out. “Ixa, Andros. Can you take us down about ten feet and hold us there?”
“I can do that,” Andros replied as he closed his eyes and slowly added weight to the keel, and the ship settled until the keel barely hovered above the stone hands.
“Thank you, Andros,” the spell-sword said as he watched the hands close against the hull.
Outside, Marcus watched as the deck crew moved the gangway into position and lowered it until it rested against a partial ramp that the younger dryad had raised.
“Is that going to be safe?” Flur asked. Standing beside Natolie, she stared nervously up at the floating ship. She searched the deck for Rhyslin and, not finding him, glanced at Marcus.
“It is,” the ranger stated. “Once you get used to it, you'll never give it a second thought.”
Her eyes widened slightly, “Will all of your soldiers fit inside?” The tip of her right ear twitched, the only visible sign of nervousness.
“They will,” Natolie said with a grin, “and there will be room to spare.”
Flur's blue eyes widened in surprise. “How many can it hold?”
Natolie looked at Marcus, who nodded. “The Dawn-Breaker can embark almost six hundred men and ship almost eighty-thousand stone weight.” She watched the Ciad-Ghin blink as she tried to work the figures in her head.
“That's almost twenty-three freight wagons,” Flur whispered in awe. “Does it always carry so much?”
Marcus shook his head, “No. She usually carries between two and three hundred soldiers, one hundred crew, and about one hundred forty stone-weight of cargo.” He paused and then commented, “The only time I've ever seen her fully loaded was when the Saor-Shealbhan built the forts on the northern border.”
Natolie watched Flur as she gazed at the ship. “Where is she going to bunk?” She inquired as the first file of soldiers walked up the gangway and disappeared as they moved across the deck.
“The cabin next to Rhyslin. It's where his servant would stay if he had brought any with him.” The ranger replied, then pointed at the gangway. “We're up next,” When the gangway cleared, he stated, “Come with us, Flur. We'll show you where to go.”
The Ciad-Ghin nodded and followed the two up the gangway and onto the upper deck. She stopped and stared at the masts, lines, and yards where the sails were half-sheeted, trying to figure out what the sailors were doing based on their actions.
Down below, Rembran and Rhyslin conversed deeply with the two elemental beings. Ixa and Andros were more relaxed, and the air elemental wrapped her arms around the spell sword.
“Why didn't you tell me that Meron was torturing you?” The Draoidh inquired as he watched Ixa. The air elemental nestled into Rembran's back with her right cheek pressed against his shirt. As a light breeze wafted through the ship, it rustled through the veils that covered Ixa's lithe frame, and she wanted nothing more than to be held by the magaidh.
Andros leaned against his spear, almost mirroring Rhyslin's stance. “Meron denied us the right to wander the ship.”
“That violates our agreement,” Rhyslin was shocked that he hadn't known what was happening between the Elemental Beings and the Magaidh. “Why didn't you leave?”
The spell-sword was amazed, “Wait a moment.” He stared at Andros, “You can leave the orb?”
Ixa answered the barbarian. “Of course, Maighstir.”
“Does that mean I don't need to touch the orb to use it?”
For a moment, silence reigned as Rhyslin and Andros returned the spell-sword's stare.
“That's right,” Ixa admitted as she snuggled closer to Rembran.
The spell-sword practically purred as he thought out loud. “I could, for instance, use the orb from the helm.”
He figured it out. Ixa thought as she listened to Rhyslin and Andros.
Andros locked eyes with Rhyslin, “Meron used our proper names to bind us to the crystal.”
How did Meron get their names? Rhyslin wondered as he listened to Andros. “How did he get your proper names? I had to spend three years researching everything that was known about you.” How did he do it in three months?
Andros shared a look with Ixa before replying. “He tortured us for fifteen days before we were forced to tell him.” The barbarian ran his fingers through his hair. “He threatened to rape and kill Ixa if I didn't tell him mine.”
When the draoidh arched a brow in Ixa's direction, she buried her face in Rembran's shirt. “He beat me for seven days, locked me in a sarcophagus for four days, and then chained my naked body to a tree for three days while he whipped me every odd hour until I broke,” she admitted in shame. “I wanted to tell you, but the magaidh forbade me to leave the crystal.” She drew a ragged breath as she felt tears track down her face. Oh, Mathair, now he's going to hate me. She thought as Rembran shifted. I might as well … When she felt his left arm wrap around her and hold her close, she cried in relief.
“It'll be okay, Ixa. He'll never come near you again,” the spell-sword promised. “If Meron did this, and he isn't punished, I'll kill him.”
Rhyslin met Rembran's gaze. “I promise we'll get to the bottom of this.” He must wake up first.
Ixa and Andros shared another look, one in which they silently shared their doubts. “As you say, Mac Draoidheachd,” they replied in unison.
“May we have permission to walk up on the deck?” Ixa inquired as she looked up at Rembran.
“Of course, you may. You both need fresh air,” the spell-sword commented, earning a grateful smile from Ixa. “I'll meet you on the main deck,” he said as he dipped his head and kissed her forehead.
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Damn good chapter, how the heck is Ixa still sane, I'd have cracked under that sort of torture. Damn, that was emotional and amazing, well done Joseph Wiess.