Harvest of Dreams (The Gods' Dream Trilogy) (42 page)

She flinched and nodded her agreement.

“We need to help them out.” Thaddis pointed toward the water. “Check each one for injuries. The seadragon told me the reavers approach. We’ll need to gain the high ground before they land.”

Philan gripped his sword.

Thaddis strode to the water, where a sailfish deposited a soldier into the shallows. He bent and assisted the man to his feet, recognizing him as the son of a noble who’d followed him into the original battle with Seagem. “You all right?”

The soldier nodded and brushed water out of his eyes.

“Good man.” Thaddis patted him on his shoulder and reached down to pull the next person to his feet. Sadie and Philan did the same. As soon as the new arrivals caught their breaths, they too started to help the others.

Before long, everyone had straggled from the sea.

Thaddis climbed on a boulder. He looked out over the water, checking that no one was left behind. Although the sea teemed with the big fish, he couldn’t see any more humans in the ocean. The remains of the ship, held up by the giant seasnail, continued to block the ray from Yadarius, but even as he watched, the bow of the boat, sliced clean by the beam, toppled into the water and sank from sight.

He turned back to his people, feeling relieved they’d made it this far.

Everyone stood before him, a sodden, bedraggled group. Shock still showed on their faces.

Good thing the night’s warm.
He searched for Wenda, and saw her standing over several people who’d collapsed against the rocks, exhaustion evident in their slumped postures. She touched shoulders and cupped cheeks or chins, obviously sharing her othersense energy. He wondered if she drew upon Yadarius, if the imprisoned SeaGod could aid them.
We were supposed to send Him our energy, not take from Him.

He glanced up the steep mountain at the light.
We have to stop the source of that ray!
Just looking at the mountain made him feel discouraged. The journey seemed too difficult to manage.
But we have no choice.

Thaddis called for everyone’s attention, relieved to note their immediate response. He stretched out an arm and pointed upward. “We must climb as fast as we can before the reavers get here. If any needs aid, the person next to him or her must help out.” Obeying an othersense prompt, he added, “Everyone pick up a fist-sized rock and bring it with you. If you’ve lost your sword, bring two.”

People stooped and felt around for a rock. A few stood there, dazed.

Thaddis wished he could let the ones still in shock rest and recover, but knew they wouldn’t be any safer remaining on the beach than trekking up the mountain.

Trey, one of Ocean’s Glory’s best archers, trotted over to him. “My King…uh, my Lord Commander.”

Thaddis gestured for him to speak.

Trey slipped a bow and the strap of a quiver of arrows from his shoulder. “I had my quiver specially made to be waterproof. He pulled a cap off the container. “I have twelve arrows.”

Feeling a spurt of hope, Thaddis clapped a hand on the archer’s shoulder. “Good man. Those arrows are worth their weight in gold.” He sobered, knowing the order he must give. “I’ll need you at the end of the line, Trey, picking off the seadogs. Wait until they climb a ways, perhaps you’ll topple a few more when the bodies fall into them. You’ll buy us needed time….”

The knowledge of his end showed in Trey’s eyes. “I’ll have a good death, my Lord Commander. I have much to atone for.”

Sadness wrenched at him. Thaddis pressed his lips together to hold back the pain. He’d led so many astray. “As do I.” He forced out the words. “Today, we both will atone. The Goddess Withea be with you.”

“And with you, my Lord Commander.”

Thaddis turned and searched for a way up the cliff. A pathway curved between two rocks, continuing upward. Squinting, he could see steps carved into the cliff about five feet wide. He leaped off his boulder and jogged to the stairs.

Cheta barked and raced after him.

With the dog beside him, Thaddis began to climb.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

In the darkness, the light of the giant beam cast eerie shadows. A breeze from the sea kicked up, stirring the humid air. The faces of the soldiers around Sadie showed strain from the trauma they’d just experienced. Water dripped from their hair and sodden uniforms.

Thaddis’s determination to lead their mission to success radiated from him, seeming to stir some response from his warriors.

Cheta went from person to person, sniffing legs. The dog lingered near the people sitting on or against the rocks—the ones the most shaken by the shipwreck. She nudged the hand of one man with a slack expression. As he stroked her back, life started to return to his eyes.

Figuring the act of bending over would make Philan’s head ache, Sadie stooped and picked up a rock that she could barely get her fingers around and handed it to him.

With a grimace, Philan hefted the stone.

“Are you all right?” she asked, concerned at his sluggish movements.

He shot her a grin that didn’t meet his eyes. “I’ve fought with a sore head before. Although usually it was from a rousing time the prior evening.” His expression sobered. “I’ll do what I must.”

Not relieved by his attempt at humor, Sadie shook her head at him and stooped to pick up a smaller rock for herself. She joined Meleda at the line of soldiers readying to climb the stairs.

Philan moved to stand at her back.

She knew the Seagem man must be hurting. Otherwise, he’d have positioned himself at the head of the pack, right behind Thaddis.
But Philan’s a warrior
, she told herself.
He’s used to fighting through pain.

Meleda glanced up at the light, concern tightening her mouth. “I can feel the power of the Evil One.”

Sadie concentrated, trying to figure out what the warrior-priestess meant. Through her othersense, she could feel the presence of heavy, dark energy that dragged at her spirits. She put a mental shield around her body and visualized the calm presence of Guinheld, the strength of Withea. Ontarem’s ominous energy receded somewhat.

On the other side of Meleda, Sadie recognized the stocky body of Adama, the female soldier from Seagem, her springy hair pulled into long waves by the weight of the water. She too had her sword. Sadie glanced up the line relieved to see almost everyone had retained their weapons. Only a few soldiers or sailors interspersed between those with swords carried rocks in both hands. She nudged Adama with her shoulder, a silent gesture of recognition and support.

Adama turned and gave her a tight smile in response, before her gaze went past Sadie. With an exclamation, she stepped out of line, determination in the set of her shoulders, to grab Wenda’s arm, yanking the priestess over to them.

Wenda protested, trying to pull away.

“You’re unarmed,” Adama said sharply. “Our only priestess. Right now you need to think about
yourself
. If you’ll have enough difficulty climbing this.” She tilted her chin to indicate the mountain. “You can’t prop up anyone else. The men are stronger. They will help each other.”

Wenda bit her lip. Turning to some soldiers behind them, the priestess ordered them to aid those she’d been helping and took her place in line.

Adama nodded in approval. She glanced at Sadie and her gaze lingered on Ganawen. Her hand dropped to cover her sword hilt. “Good. You retained your sword. Fight to the death. You don’t want to be taken by the seadogs. Nor can we allow Wenda to be captured.”

Hearing what the woman
didn’t
say made shivers run down Sadie’s spine, and she swallowed a sudden lump of fear. “To the death,” she repeated, making the words a pact.

~ ~ ~

The staircase led up and up, the risers narrow, forcing Thaddis to put his weight on the balls of his feet. The stone he carried grew heavier. Before long, his calves started to ache, and he took a few seconds to turn sideways and stretch them.

Cheta had trotted at his heels. The dog sat, her tongue lolling.

The line of soldiers snaked beneath him. Only a few individuals remained on the beach.

Thaddis wondered where Sadie was in the pack of people and hoped she’d begun the climb. He searched, spotting her in the middle, and was relieved to know she’d listened to him.

Looking out to sea, with a sudden spike of sadness, he saw the
Wave Rider
had finally disappeared beneath the water. Even crippled and sinking, the vessel had given him an anchor of familiarity. Without the presence of the hulk, he knew they were truly alone in the midst of Ontarem’s territory.

As his breathing eased and his beating heart calmed somewhat, Thaddis recognized another energy thrumming around him.
Ontarem
. The feel of the Evil God’s power, dark and familiar, sent a spike of terror through his chest. Although after a minute, he realized the energy wasn’t directed at him, but traveled along the ray toward the prison of the SeaGod.

Movement on the ocean to the south caught Thaddis’s eye, and he squinted, trying to see in the light of the beams.
Longboats.
He counted three, and searching, found another.

“Pass the word down,” Thaddis said quietly to Boerk, who’d climbed behind him. “The pirates are in sight. Four longboats full of them. We need to hurry.” He turned and began the trudge up the stairs, setting a steady pace. Urgency snapped at his heels, but he resisted the impulse to rush, knowing that he’d only lose his wind before he’d gone far. His soldiers hadn’t endured the same arduous days and nights of training he and Sadie had experienced in the last week, so they’d have a hard time keeping pace with him anyway.

The stairway crossed a path, leading around the side of the mountain. Heavy foliage grew on either side. For a few steps, Thaddis had level ground, and he stretched his calves again. The line of men trailed behind him about ten feet. Until they caught up with him, Thaddis stopped to listen for sounds of pursuers running down the track toward them, but didn’t hear anything from either direction.

Cheta sniffed the air but showed no signs of alarm.

Thaddis glanced upward, noting they’d climbed about a third of the way, and then he looked down at the water. With a clench of fear, he saw the longboats had almost reached the shore.

Boerk caught up with Thaddis, and paused, chest heaving, to catch his breath.

Thaddis dropped a supportive hand on the man’s shoulder and squeezed.

Boerk looked surprised, then gratified. He nodded his thanks.

The brief respite over, Thaddis took a deep breath and resumed the climb. Too soon his lungs burned, and his calves ached. Sweat dripped down his chest and back. He gasped for air. But he didn’t stop, not even when he heard distant shouts and screams of pain below him, knowing Trey was accounting for more than his share of seadogs.

A quick lifted glance toward the peak showed Thaddis they’d reached the halfway mark. But he didn’t stop moving. With concern, he wondered if everyone would have the stamina to reach the top.

The closer Thaddis came to the peak, the more he felt Ontarem’s power pulsing down the beam, as dark and malignant as the light was bright. The Evil God’s energy took a toll on his body as much as the hike did. The staircase narrowed, and he dodged thorny branches that reached out to grab him, trying not to inhale the bitter scent that made him dizzy.

Thaddis paused, straightened, and took several deep breaths of humid air, waiting for Boerk and the next soldiers to catch up with him. He could no longer see the end of the line, but the sounds of fighting carried to his ears.

I should have made sure Sadie was directly behind me where I could keep an eye on her.
But he’d thought she’d be safer in the middle of the pack. He consoled himself with the knowledge she was with Philan. The two of them working together would be more than enough for a dozen reavers.

One more deep breath, and he began to move. The source of the beam grew brighter. Another path bisected the stairway. This time, when he stopped to listen, he heard the slapping sounds of running feet to the right. Forcing himself to be calm, he drew his sword. “They come,” Thaddis yelled at the men behind him. With his blade, Thaddis pointed down the path. “That way. Stop them.”

Led by Boerk, a combination of soldiers from all three countries charged down the path. Thaddis let about thirty men pass, then with relief, he saw Sadie and Philan following the Seagem fighter, Adama. Wenda labored behind them.

Sadie reached his side and paused, her expression fearful, watching their men run down the path. Cheta trotted to her side, sniffing her leg. Adama and Meleda joined them.

Thaddis pointed upward. “All of you keep going.” He shot a stern glance to the dog and Wenda. “But halt before you reach the light. There are probably guards.”

Philan nodded and grabbed Wenda’s elbow to propel her across the path.

Thaddis turned his back to the women, making sure he was between them and the potential threat. He counted off the soldiers, not wanting to send more than a third of his force around the side of the mountain. He trotted a ways down the path, to check if he could see around the curve. Shouts and the clash of swords told him his fighters had engaged with the reavers trying to intercept them.