Flameseeker (Book 3) (18 page)

Immediately after shutting his eyes, he fell into
a deep sleep.

XVIII

Kaijin opened his eyes and stared up at the wooden
beams in the ceiling of his room. The morning sunlight poured through the
room’s only window. He grabbed the sheets, about to pull them off him, when he
stopped to gaze at the ring on his finger. He hadn’t taken it off since Ranaiah
first gave it to him. He closed his eyes and smiled, bringing the gold ring to
his lips, remembering the beautiful priestess.

Good morning, Ranaiah. I hope you’re well. I
miss you. So much.

A sudden snore beside him interrupted his thoughts.
He looked sidelong at Omari, who was huddled in a ball near the edge of the
bed. Kaijin sat up and stretched. Percival, who was curled up against his
master, opened his eyes and lifted his head, watching Kaijin intently. His tiny
ears twitched and swiveled as Omari’s snore quieted, only to intermittently
return.

The sheets rustled in another bed beside him, and
Jarial let out a groan in his sleep. His youthful disguise had been shed once
more, replaced by the aged face that looked more like a corpse. Sable lay
against the man’s legs, purring, her ears twitching in the same manner as
Percival’s. Her green eyes slowly opened, and she blinked at Kaijin.

Wearing only his pants, Kaijin slid out of bed. He
filled a small clay basin with water from the wooden tub and washed his face.
Miele flew from the ceiling and landed on his haversack, which was hanging from
a hook on the room’s door. She screeched and nuzzled the bag’s flap.

Kaijin dried his face and smiled at her. His
stomach growled.
“Yes, breakfast. I’m starving, too.”

He dressed and walked to the door, nearly tripping
over Aidan along the way. The giant had found a place on the floor to sleep,
his wings folded around his muscular body in a similar manner to how Miele
wrapped herself in her own wings whenever she rested.

Aidan let out a loud snore, startling Kaijin.
Aidan’s mouth was half-open, revealing his sharp fangs, and drool dangled from
the corner of his mouth.

Kaijin pulled the honeystick jar from his
haversack and handed Miele a treat. Brett had made him a batch before Kaijin
left the Pyre. She grasped the honeystick in her jaws, then returned to a
ceiling beam. Kaijin turned and saw Jarial and Omari waking up. Jarial had
apparently returned to his youthful state without Kaijin’s seeing.

“Morning, you two,”
Kaijin said with a half-smile.

Omari yawned and
stretched. “What about it, Kaijin?” he grumbled as he crawled out of bed, his
pants all wrinkled. He walked toward the desk chair, where the rest of his
clothes were hanging on the back. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he walked,
Omari tripped over Aidan’s solid form and nearly fell flat on his face.

“Get up, you big oaf!”
Omari kicked Aidan in his side. “Ouch! Ouch!
Confound it
!” He hopped
around, then leaned against the desk and held his foot. Percival hopped atop
the desk and whined at him.

Kaijin covered his
mouth, hiding his laughter.

Omari glared. “What is
so funny?”

“Uh, nothing.” Kaijin
cleared his throat and looked elsewhere.

Jarial slid out of bed,
and with his back to Kaijin, retrieved his clothes that were folded neatly at
the foot of his bed.

Apparently not having
felt any pain from the kick, Aidan slowly opened his eyes, which were still
silver and pupilless, and then sat up. He yawned sleepily.

“Oh, get over yourself,
Omari,” Jarial said, getting dressed. He peered out the window, then growled as
he approached Kaijin, Sable following in his footsteps. “Nester still hasn’t
returned.”

Kaijin frowned. He
didn’t want to believe that Nester had betrayed them, but perhaps he had been a
little
too
trusting of the brownie. “I know what it might seem, Master,
but I’ve known Nester for a while now, and I don’t think he’d betray people he
trusts.”

Omari snorted. “What
makes you think
he
trusts
us
? I do not know who is more naïve—you
or Aidan.”

Aidan stopped in
mid-stretch and looked at Omari.

“Look, Omari, you don’t
know—” A knock came at the door, interrupting Kaijin.

“Open up, mates! It’s
me!”

Relief washed through
Kaijin, and he quickly opened the door.

Waving documents in his
hand, Nester bounded into the room and hopped up on the footlocker at the end
of Kaijin’s and Omari’s bed. “Oh, good! You’re all awake! As promised, I got
documents made for everyone. All you gotta do is show ’em to th’ dockmaster,
an’ you should be allowed to board one of th’ merchant ships. Even got some
cargo with your names on it, too!” He began passing the documents out to
everyone. “Where’s Zarya?”

“She is in her room
across the hall,” Jarial said, walking to the door. “I will get her.”

Kaijin looked at his
parchment. It appeared official enough, with his name handwritten in elegant
script, and a red seal engraved with Ostwyn’s symbol affixed at the bottom.
Apparently, he was now a jewelry trader. Several officials’ names were also
signed at the bottom, names of people Kaijin didn’t recognize but assumed were
important. He looked back at Nester. “Dare I ask how you managed to get these
for us?”

Nester smirked. “Nay,
you may not ask. It’s my secret.”

Omari scoffed. “‘Secret’,
my ass. What manner of illegal act did you perform to obtain these?”

“Nothin’, I tell you!”
Nester’s smirk turned to a frown. “Look, if you ungrateful blokes don’t wanna
get on th’ boat, then give those papers back to me right now!”

“Never mind, Nester,”
Kaijin said, stuffing the papers into his haversack, and Omari did the same.

Jarial returned with
Zarya, and Nester handed the priestess her set of documents and explained his
instructions again.

Aidan read over his
documents and scowled. “There must be some mistake. Aidan is not silk trader
from Ankhram.” He looked at Nester.

Nester stiffened. “Well,
for now, you are, unless you don’t want to go on the boat. Must everythin’ ’ave
to be cut ’n dry for you, Aidan?”

Aidan gripped the paper,
and it began to crumple slightly.

“Aidan, wait,” Kaijin
said, placing a hand on the giant’s thick arm. “It’s either this or wait four
more weeks like everyone else for the next passenger ship.”

“And that is time I do
not
have,” Omari added.

Aidan took a deep breath
and loosened his grip on the paper. He smoothed out the wrinkles, and then
folded it neatly. “Aidan does not like this. He is only going along to help and
fulfill his promise to the children back in Faywald, but once we reach
destination, Aidan is leaving.” He eyed everyone sharply. “For good.”

* * *

After a hearty breakfast
downstairs, Kaijin and his friends headed to the docks district. The area was
bustling with late morning activity. Workers hustled to and fro, transporting
cargo to the storehouses or loading up one of the three large vessels. Some men
carried registry books, evidently recording inventory and speaking with some of
the well-dressed merchants.

Nester skipped over to
one man who was writing in his registry and tugged on the back of his tunic. “Pardon
us.”

The man stopped writing
and glanced over his shoulder. “I’m busy here!” he barked. He paused,
apparently realizing he was talking to empty air.

“Down ’ere,” Nester
said, waving his hand.

The man spun and looked
down at him, still frowning. “What do you need?” he asked, sounding annoyed.

“We’re lookin’ for th’
one in charge around ’ere so we can get clearance to board.”

“The dockmaster is busy
right now, but I can sign you off if you have your paperwork.”

“Aye! I do!” Smiling,
Nester showed him his document. “This ship’s ’eaded to Sinan soon? My
associates and I ’ave an ... engagement there, and we must not be late.”

The man took Nester’s
document and briefly scanned it. He nodded, signed it, and scribbled in his registry.
“Yes, of course, Mr. Brogen. Someone delivered your cargo to the docks earlier.
I will make certain someone signs off on it before we depart.”

“Excellent! And my
associates’ cargo, as well?”

“Yes, they also brought
your associates’, however I will still need to see their documents, as well.”
The man looked up and acknowledged the rest of the group expectantly.

Kaijin and the others
handed theirs to the worker, and he signed each of them. Kaijin glanced at
Nester and noticed a mischievous gleam in his eye. The man returned to his
work, and Kaijin and his friends walked away. They gathered on one of the piers
with a few other merchants and vendors, where they watched the workers finish
loading the ship.

“‘Mr. Brogen’?” Kaijin
asked Nester, still mind-boggled by it all.

“Aye. Y’like it?” Nester
smirked, puffing his chest out and giving the front flaps of his jerkin a firm
tug. “Not a bad name, eh? Sounds all important-like.”

“Why are you the only
one of us with a different name?”

Nester deflated a
little. “Well, uh ... I ’ave a lotta ...
admirers
. Aye. That’s it. I’m
famous, y’know! Can’t let everyone know where I’m goin’, else I’ll get a whole
slew of beautiful women, jealous ’usbands, an’ creepy stalkers followin’ me!
Gotta’ lay low, if y’know what I mean.”

Zarya cleared her
throat.

Omari snorted. “If that
is not the biggest crock of shite I ever heard ...”

“Try again, brownie,”
Jarial said coolly, crossing his arms.

Nester huffed. “Nay! I
ain’t gotta prove nothin’ to you blokes!”

Aidan looked toward one
of the boats curiously and scratched the back of his head. “Where is this boat
going, exactly?”

“Sinan,” Nester replied.
“It’s a port city, much like this one, in Ankhram.”

“And a few days south of
my home city,” Omari added.

Kaijin smiled. “Great.
It’ll be nice to see more of the country.”
And finish my business there so
that I can finally return to you, Ranaiah.

XIX

Kaijin and his friends had boarded the merchant
ship, and by late evening, it was on its way south. Merchants and vendors of
all types and backgrounds flocked to the upper and lower decks of the ship,
keeping clear of the crewmen, who bustled to and from their workstations.

Kaijin went to his curtained sleeping area
belowdecks and remained there, lying in a small nest of woolen blankets that
made up his makeshift bed. While it wasn’t the most comfortable, exhaustion
from his journey still plagued his body, and he succumbed to sleep.

Kaijin awoke the following mid-afternoon. He had
not remembered having slept so long like that in a long time. Despite it all,
his mind and body felt refreshed. With his hands clasped behind his head,
Kaijin stared toward the single tiny open window of his sleeping area while
listening to the sea and enjoying a soothing, cool breeze that whisked inside.

Miele screeched, conveying nervousness to his mind.

Kaijin looked up toward the entranceway of his
small quarters.

Miele clung from a wooden dowel, from which hung a
gaudy, abstract-patterned curtain. The curtain hadn’t been pulled completely
across the length of his quarter’s entrance, and Miele rested on the small bit
of dowel remaining.

“Were you not able to sleep last night? I’m
sorry, Miele.”
He frowned.
“I don’t know how I was able to sleep. I
think I was just too tired to even realize or care that I was on a boat, even
though I’ve never been on one before. And I’m not sure if I like it all too
much.”
The more he thought about it, the more wary he felt. Given Kaijin’s
inability to swim, fear of the worst—becoming submerged in water, helpless—haunted
him. He grasped his fiery charm. It felt warm in his hand. He closed his eyes
and spoke a brief prayer to the Firelord.

After he finished, the fiery voice said in his
mind,
“Never fear the enemy, Kaijin Sora.”

Kaijin opened his eyes. “I don’t,” he said aloud.
“But what if something happens to this ship? I don’t know how to swim. I’m sure
things would be far different than when I faced that water elemental.” He
shivered at the memory of that harrowing experience back at the Pyre.

“Do not disgrace me,”
the voice replied.

Kaijin pursed his lips, sensing the presence was
done with him for now. The thought of his possible danger and helplessness
continued plaguing his mind. “I’m going to go for a walk and clear my head,” he
said to Miele, then got up. Without a second thought, he pulled back the curtain
and left his quarters for the first time.

* * *

Leaning her forearms on the wooden railing of the
main deck, Zarya stared dreamily out on the open waters, taking in the soothing
sounds of the waves. There was no land in sight. It was the first time she’d
been away from Aransiya, and she was looking forward to discovering what new
adventures awaited her in the country of Ankhram.

Her gaze flitted toward some of the well-dressed
passengers who lingered about, chatting with one another or taking in the
scenery. She heard Nester’s raucous voice above her, and she glanced up at the
crow’s nest, where the brownie sat on the railing, his little legs dangling,
while he conversed with the lookout there.

A whistle pierced her ears, and she whipped her
head toward the sound. A group of sailors stood a short distance away, leering
at her. Feeling her cheeks get hot, she turned away and quickly moved toward
the foredeck. She’d seen only four other females on the ship.

She climbed up the ladder of the foredeck to be
alone. She approached the wooden railing and leaned on it while she watched the
bowsprit extend out toward the sparkling sea line against the mid-afternoon
horizon.
I should sail more often,
she thought, inhaling the salty air.
The
sea is so relaxing.

“There you are, Zarya.”

She spun around to see Jarial climbing up the ladder
to join her.

“What are you doing here all by yourself?” he
asked, taking a place beside her at the rail.

Zarya tried to smile. “Oh, I was just enjoying the
view. The sea is beautiful from here.”

“Indeed, it is.” Jarial returned the smile and
then stared out toward the horizon.

“How long is the voyage, do you think?”

Jarial looked back at her. “The seamen say a week,
if the weather holds up.” Zarya noticed him looking sidelong at her, and she
sensed he was admiring her. “What’s on your mind, my dear?”

Zarya blushed and looked away.
He’s been so
sweet, attentive and concerned about my well being. But ...

“Zarya?” Jarial asked again, concern filling his
voice.

She fidgeted and looked down at her hands,
avoiding his gaze. She sighed and looked at Jarial. He, too, had secrets that
he didn’t want the world to know. She felt bad for the one she did know, which had
been inadvertently revealed. She moistened her lips as she searched for the
right words. “Jarial. There is ... something you should know.”

* * *

From the tone of her voice, Jarial feared the
worst.
She doesn’t want anything to do with this old man. No one does. Damn
my carelessness.
He stared at her blankly, awaiting her dreaded words.

Zarya fidgeted some more, her otherwise flawless
face marred by an expression of grave concern. “As you already know, I am a Celestial.”

He perked up slightly, not expecting that
response. “Yes, of course. But why does that trouble you?”

“Because ...” She bit her bottom lip. “I am much
older than you think.”

Jarial smiled, relief and amusement spreading
through him. “Really? Well, you shouldn’t be ashamed of that. In fact, you
should be flattered to look younger than your real age.”

She shook her head. “No, Jarial. I am much,
much
older than you think.”

He quirked an eyebrow. He liked older women well
enough, though age was never a factor for him when it came to his attraction to
the opposite sex. “Is that supposed to frighten me, my dear? Because it does
not.”

Zarya lifted her head and managed a small smile.
“My kind can live a thousand years, sometimes longer. In a few months, I will
reach my one hundred and thirty-seventh year.”

Jarial blinked, startled. “One hundred and
thirty-seven?”

She nodded solemnly.

He shook his head in disbelief. “Well, you don’t
look a day past twenty. You carry yourself like a young woman of that age in
human years. Is that the equivalent of a one hundred and thirty-seven year old Celestial?”

She shrugged lightly and blushed. “I don’t know.
Perhaps. I’ve spent the majority of my life in a convent with other aspiring
Celestran clerics, but none who were of my kind. I have learned about my race
in books, though rarely have I encountered them personally.”

He digested the information and then stepped
closer to her. “Well, I find you beautiful, no matter what age you are,” he
said, gliding his finger down her cheek.

She smiled, but it quickly faded. She turned her
face away from him, stopping his gentle caress.

Jarial understood the gesture and didn’t try to
touch her again. He sighed and shut his eyes a moment, enjoying just her
closeness, then opened them. “Do the others know this about you?”

“They know what I am, but not ...” She stared wistfully
toward the sea.

“I’m flattered that you’ve entrusted me with this
information. Your secret will remain with me, forever.”

Zarya looked back at him and smiled. “Thank you,
Jarial. But I felt obliged to tell you after ... what happened to you.”

Jarial’s heart sank. He hissed air through his
teeth, averting his gaze. “Yes, well ... nothing I can do about it now. You’ve
seen beneath this disguise. I will understand if you’d want nothing to do with
such a repulsive old man.”

“You are anything
but
repulsive. I am sorry
you feel that way about yourself.”

“No one takes their elders seriously. And if they
do, it’s usually just a bunch of phony hogwash.”

“Is that why you’ve taken on this disguise? So
people can take you seriously?”

Jarial thought for a moment. “Amongst other
things.”
And to perhaps find a woman like you that I can spend the rest of
my days with.

Zarya tilted her head to the side. “Did Kaijin not
take you seriously?”

“He did, though I can only imagine how much different
things would’ve been if I came to him as a crotchety old man.”

Zarya laughed. “You’re not a crotchety old man. Anyway,
I find true beauty in one’s personality rather than looks.”

He gave her a hopeful smile. “Your words are
flattering, my dear.” Jarial looked at her hand, wanting to take it in his, but
staved off the urge.
I should give Zarya her space.
He stepped away from
her and turned back toward the ladder. “I will be belowdecks with Omari and
Aidan. Do let me know if you need anything.”

As he approached the ladder, he felt her slender,
soft hand grab his. He stopped.

“Stay here with me,” Zarya said softly. “Please.”

Jarial’s heart thumped harder. His mouth going
dry, he swallowed. He turned back to her and gazed down at his hand in hers,
then smiled. “I would love to,” he said, slowly raising his gaze to look into
her eyes. He slowly brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her knuckles.

* * *

Belowdecks, Omari slouched with his elbows propped
on the table, watching with disinterest as Aidan, too big for any of the
stools, knelt at an adjacent table and arm-wrestled another man. Aidan effortlessly
slammed the man’s fist on the table only seconds after the match started, and
the crowd gathered around them cheered.

Omari winced from the noise. He’d kept to himself
since they first embarked, and most of the passengers left him alone. But he
remained aware of everyone on the ship, as he had sensed magic everywhere here.
Perhaps it came from the passengers themselves, or the crew, or even the cargo.
Omari wasn’t entirely certain.

“Best two out of three!” Aidan’s opponent said,
readying his hand again.

Aidan smiled smugly. “Okay!”

Omari sighed and rolled his eyes. It was Aidan’s
ninth opponent, and he’d beaten them all with ease. He wondered if the half-Dragon
would end up arm-wrestling everyone on the ship. Not wanting to watch another
match, Omari rose from his chair, wandered over to one of the wine casks, and
helped himself to a flagon. The ship apparently had enough food, ale—mainly for
the crew—and wine stored to last the crew and passengers for up to two weeks.

“What’s all the ruckus in here about?” Kaijin
sounded confused.

Omari re-tightened the spigot and looked over.
Kaijin stood by the door, near him.

Omari shrugged and took a sip of his wine. It
wasn’t the best he’d ever tasted, but it was something to wet his parched
throat. “Aidan is apparently challenging everyone on the entire ship to a
barbaric contest. Rather boring, really.”

Aidan slammed down his opponent’s hand yet again,
causing the empty tankards atop the table to rattle. The crowd suddenly erupted
in cheers, and Omari winced.

Kaijin smiled. “Well, we shouldn’t deter him from
having a
little
fun.”

“Hmph. Tell that to Percival. He ran off with
Sable when it started getting rowdy in here.”

Kaijin leaned against the wall next to the cask,
watching as the matches continued. “Are you excited about returning home,
Omari?”

Such a rude question.
Omari raised an
eyebrow. “Why would you ask such a thing? Of course I am not excited! I am
searching for a murderer, not going to a family reunion.” He took another swig.

Kaijin’s eyes dulled. “Sorry. It’s just that when you
said Sinan was near your home, it made me think about my own family.”

Omari scowled behind the brim of his flagon.
Is
he expecting me to show pity?
“That is unfortunate for you, but
my
family is the last thing on my mind right now.”

“You should be grateful that you still have a family,
at least,” Kaijin said. “You have no idea what it’s like to be alone.”

Perhaps Omari didn’t, but he wasn’t about to let
Kaijin know that. Omari had his own problems. Thinking about the death of
Master Faulk was like recalling a nightmare. “You have made friends at the
Pyre, Kaijin. You have a new family now.”

“Yes, but ... it is not the same as your own flesh
and blood.”

An elf approached them
before Omari could respond. The elf was tall and wore a long, green coat over
colorful silk attire. He smiled pleasantly at Omari and Kaijin and held out his
hand. “Greetings to you both. My name is Silas.”

Omari looked at the
elf’s extended hand and curled his lip.

Kaijin shook Silas’s
hand and returned the smile. “Hello to you, sir. Nice to meet you. My name is
Kaijin. Kaijin Sora.”

Omari stared coldly at
the handshake.
Disgusting.

Silas nodded to Kaijin
and held his hand to Omari, but when he didn’t shake it, he frowned and lowered
his hand, then cleared his throat. “Quite a show, that Aidan fellow is putting
on. Every time I turn my head, he ends up beating someone else.”

“Not much of a ‘show’
when there is no competition,” Omari muttered, and then finished his drink.

Silas raised his thin,
brown eyebrows. “On the contrary. There is one on this ship I think may give
him a little challenge. She’s part of this ship’s crew, actually. I see her
working every time I board.”

Omari raised his
eyebrows, intrigued.
‘She’?
He hadn’t seen any female crewmembers.