Return of the Crown (7 page)

She popped the cork of a gourd and gulped the
cool water, wrapping Rowan’s fine cloak about her. A small school
of dolphin frolicked beside the boat. They cheered her up with
their silly antics. She clapped her hands as they leaped in high
arcs, splashing down and spraying water into the raft. She trailed
her hand in the water and was excited when a dolphin brushed
against it. The dolphin seemed thrilled to have an audience,
performing amazing acrobatic feats. She watched them until hunger
gnawed at her belly. She dug into the provisions, pulling out fruit
and biscuits.

The day wore on with steady progress to the
East. The steady breeze filled the sail, and Ravyn rejoiced in the
warm sunny day. After another dip into the food bags, she pulled
out her scrying bowl. Connor could tell her if she was on
course.

She filled the bowl with seawater. She took a
deep breath to center herself and locate the magic welling deep
within. The dolphins continued to splash and play, and she found
herself easily distracted. Ravyn sighed and closed her eyes.
Pushing her aural self ahead of the raft and out beyond the seas,
she crossed the land, seeking out the green-gold aural thread she
knew to be Connor. She spied it and grasped it, as the scent of
pine washed over her.

A sweet scent overcame Connor. He felt the
indigo aural thread tugging at his consciousness while weeding in
his garden. ‘
Ah, there you are. Are you ready to get under
way?
’

‘
I’m already near a full day of sailing.
How long until I reach Aigerach?
’

‘
As long as the winds favor you, I’d
expect a day or two more. Let me follow your aural trail back to
you
.’ He followed her thread out past the fields, villages, and
mountains out to the sea. The thread dropped rapidly to a little
raft cruising toward the northernmost tip of Aigerach.
‘
Hopefully the wind will blow you a bit more southerly. For now,
I will do nothing to aid its course. I will track you and assist
the wind if necessary. I’d rather not employ magic that may alert
Zelera to us, if I can avoid it.
’

‘
Is Blade there yet
?’ Ravyn asked
hopefully.

Connor’s face was grim. ‘
He has yet to
arrive. I expected him three days ago. Fret not, there is more
difficulty traveling abroad recently. I am sure he’s just had to
avoid Zelera’s forces. I will contact you when he arrives
.’

‘
I can scarcely wait to see you both. When
will it be safe to attempt magic?
’

‘
Avoid its use unless it is a life or
death situation. Something is happening at the castle; Zelera has
been in the towers a great deal of time. She is likely searching
for you. For now, scrying is all the magic I want you using. Was it
easier for you to contact me this time?
’

‘
Well, I had to find the right state of
mind, but finding your aural thread was easy. I don’t feel nearly
as stretched this time. Though, come to think of it, I am getting a
bit hungry
.’

‘
I will disconnect the thread this time,
you get a bite to eat, and pray to the Light the winds
persist
.’

Ravyn scented and felt Connor one moment, and
then he gently vanished into the breeze, the scent of pine replaced
with the briny sea air. She was alone once more. She relaxed
against a crate, digging out some cheese and fruit. She sighed,
playing out memories of Rowan and life on the island to keep the
loneliness at bay.

The next day passed slowly; the breeze filled
the sails and the raft made steady progress, but the scenery never
changed. The dolphin pod stayed near the raft, playing in the wake
it created. Delighted by her touch, they took turns swimming near
the side of the raft eager for caresses. She loved the dolphins’
attention, but it wasn’t enough to keep the day from dragging
by.

As the sun slunk below the horizon, her heart
sank as well. Connor hadn’t contacted her about Blade. Memories of
her friend swam into view. What would he look like now? Was he tall
or short? Fat or thin? She ate though she wasn’t hungry, pulling
the cloak tight around her, trying to find elusive peace. Anxious
thoughts flitted about, and it felt as though sleep would never
come.

As glorious pinks spread across the sky
heralding the dawn, Ravyn yawned and stretched, spying land in the
distance. The breeze died away overnight, leaving the raft to bob
aimlessly. She placed some provisions, her cloak, and the scrying
bowl into her pack. She glared at the limp sail, while unstrapping
the oars with a heavy sigh. Fitting the oars into the channels at
the front of the raft, she rowed toward land. Stroke, stroke,
stroke. She lost herself in a rhythmic cadence.

Without warning, a gaping maw erupted from
the water as sharp teeth snapped an oar in two. Ravyn shrieked
falling back, the oars ripped from her grasp. The raft lurched as
the shark rammed it, rocking it wildly from side to side. Its heavy
tail slapped hard against the logs. It disappeared beneath the sea,
and Ravyn staggered to her feet, scanning about for signs of the
creature. A menacing fin sliced through the water, gathering speed
as it neared the raft. Ravyn lurched to the mast, clutching it for
dear life.

The creature slammed into the raft, sending
the whole vessel teetering on its side. Ravyn’s feet slipped out
from beneath her, and she felt herself dangling like bait on a
hook. Supplies flew in all directions, and Ravyn’s pack sailed
through the air. Clinging to the mast with one hand, she snapped
her other hand out snagging the strap of the pack. The raft hung
crazily on its side for an instant before crashing back onto the
water.

Ravyn looked into the beast’s blood red eyes
as it circled for another attack. It snapped its jaws, sharp teeth
glinting in the early morning rays, as if it were savoring her
fear. This was a life or death situation, time for magic. She
shivered, goose bumps popping up along her arms. Panic gripped her
in freezing hands, numbing her ability.

The shark gained momentum as it sped toward
the raft once more. She tightened her grip on the mast, knuckles
whitening as the shark closed the gap. She couldn’t tear her gaze
away from death speeding toward her. She was so mesmerized by those
crimson eyes that thoughts of fighting back slipped away before she
could grasp them.

Dolphins burst out of the water, slamming
repeatedly into the sides of the great beast. The water churned as
they attacked in a concerted effort. The shark rammed into the
raft, knocking it hard once more. Ravyn’s head slammed into the
mast, and stars began dancing before her eyes. She blinked several
times, willing her vision to clear.

Ravyn could hear the gnashing of sharp teeth,
of wood splintering, and frantic splashing. Slivers of wood flew
through the air, stinging her cheek. The raft lurched wildly, and
Ravyn turned to the fray. The dolphins hurled their bodies at the
horrific creature. The water roiled crimson with the blood of shark
and dolphin alike. The creature was losing blood and strength, but
it continued its obsessive attack on the raft. Ravyn watched as a
bull dolphin arced high out of the air, landing square across the
shark’s back with a resounding crack.

The shark slipped beneath the waves. Ravyn
cast about, looking for signs of the menacing fin. The dolphin swam
beside the raft, turning on their sides to look up at her. The bull
dolphin clicked and chirruped at her, before leaping high into the
air to perform a somersault. All play once more.

Ravyn examined the raft, surprised it was
still afloat. Ropes lay shredded and torn, chunks of Balsa wood
bobbed alongside the raft, like so much flotsam and jetsam. All her
provisions were floating away, except for the pack still dangling
from her arm. She could see land on the horizon, though it seemed
impossibly far away.

She unclenched her fingers, wincing as the
blood flowed back into the tissue. She sank to her knees, looking
about for a paddle. She felt forward movement, and saw the water
parting for the raft. She looked over her shoulder to see dolphins
nudging the ailing vessel towards shore. Ravyn cried out in joy,
tears of happiness wetting her cheeks. A bull dolphin swam to the
side of the raft, rolling on his back exposing his belly. Ravyn
reached out and caressed him.

“Thank you so much for your help. I’d be lost
without you. I know you don’t understand what I’m saying, but thank
you so very much.”

The dolphins took turns pushing the boat
toward land and coming to the side for her gentle touch. She
silently said a prayer of thanks to the Light for the intelligent
creatures of the ocean.

The raft glided into a shallow turquoise bay.
Ravyn could see colorful fish darting about the coral that dotted
the bottom. She unlashed the pole that had somehow survived the
attack, and started prodding the craft the last stretch toward
land. The dolphins jumped high in the air spinning corkscrews and
flipping nose over tail before heading out to sea. Ravyn waved
goodbye to her guardians, then finished poling the raft to the
sandy shore. She leaped into the water, hauling the battered raft
onto the sand. Something bumped her leg, and she looked down to see
half an oar bobbing in the surf. She began salvaging lost
provisions as the tide bore them to the beach.

A crazed shriek sundered the air in Veris.
Castle servants scrambled to find a hiding place. Zelera was very
angry. Zelera’s maid scurried to the kitchens to procure some of
the herbal tea that seemed to help calm her mistress’ nerves.
Perhaps if the tea was ready before it was asked for, there
wouldn’t be a punishment. Or at least it wouldn’t be severe.

Zelera had been locked in her cold dark tower
the entire morning. She’d been watching Ravyn in her scrying bowl,
brimming with glee as her monster closed in on Ravyn. Her
nightmares would finally end. Rage and astonishment filled her
black soul as the dolphins saved Ravyn from a bloody end. Sharp
fingernails raked across the black marble worktable as her scream
of frustration erupted. She watched the lifeless shark slip beneath
the frothy bloody sea.

She railed wildly around the room, knocking
over chairs and vases, flinging everything in her path at the stony
walls. She slashed the centuries-old tapestry, shredding the
ancient fibers in a frenzied dance of madness.

She slowly gathered her wits, rubbing her
temples to ease the throbbing. This was an unfortunate setback.
Nothing more. She settled bony fingers on the scrying bowl and
looked into the depths of the water. A low growling laugh broke
free, building into a wild crescendo that rumbled throughout the
room. Ravyn had not landed on the mainland of Aigerach; she was on
Draconis Island.

Surveying the remains of the small raft,
Ravyn felt lucky to be alive. The ropes lay shredded and tattered,
holding the raft together by a miracle. Ravyn ran her hands over a
huge bite mark where the shark had gouged through the logs. She got
down on her hands and knees in the damp sand, the water licking at
her toes, and shoved the raft higher up the sand. She grunted,
inching it forward. Gulping great breaths, she pushed with all her
might until it wouldn’t budge any further.

She plopped down on the warm sand, drawing
her knees to her chest, laying her head on her knees. Thoughts
flitted about, each one demanding attention, but she couldn’t focus
on any one thing for more than a moment or two.

The rush of adrenaline waned, and fatigue
threatened to claim her. Thirst and hunger gnawed at her belly; and
though her provisions were only a few feet away, it seemed like
hundreds of miles. Turning her head, she surveyed her surroundings
closely for the first time.

She sat on a long thin stretch of soft white
sand, fully exposed to the mid-day sun. The heat made her head
swim, and she blinked trying to focus her eyes. To the fore, the
brilliant blue ocean sparkled on forever. Behind her, tropical
palms fought each other for dominance, and leafy green plants of
various shapes and sizes filled in all the gaps. They beckoned her
to their shade. The green canopy of the trees whispered respite
from the burning sand. She grasped her salvaged supplies to her
chest while stumbling inland. She collapsed against a tall palm
tree, dropping her armload of provisions.

Ravyn’s eyes cleared as cool air caressed her
hot dry skin. To her delight, ripe bananas and succulent wild guava
hung nearby. She picked a guava, taking a bite rind and all. The
juices slipped down her parched throat, easing her thirst. She
pulled a ripe bunch of bananas from the tree. The bananas smelled
sweet, and the juice from the guava was sticky on her fingers. She
devoured the bananas, the soft fruit mashing between her fingers.
She popped the cork on a gourd, guzzling water and letting it
splash down her chin. Sated, her gaze wandered to a sharp peak
jutting towards the sky.

Resting in the cool shade of the palms, Ravyn
gathered strength. She would need to hike toward the center of the
land to the high peak. From there, she could see how to proceed.
Then she would contact Connor, so he could send Blade to her. The
sun was high overhead and continued its march across the sky. She
sighed, gathering her meager belongings in a pile. She tossed a few
palm fronds over her small stash. She smiled, Blade would be here
soon, and this would all be over.

The dense jungle offered no easy path. She
picked her way through the maze of trees and lush tropical plants.
She marked her trail with rock markers and bent branches. A careful
pace kept exhaustion at bay and footing safe as she left the dense
tropical jungle and entered the craggy mountain area.