Satchel & Sword III: The Fate of Kordalis

By Claudette Marco

As Nevaline Scarcliff has braved evil squad-mates, thieves, giant human-eaters, Harpies, her evil grandfather, brigands, and two half-gods, her self-doubt yet plagues her. She walks towards Vusevala Island’s docks with a feeling of dread for she does not know what to expect, what she must face in her charge to find the Saluka Stone fragments. Her friends safety weighs heavily on her mind. But, Cairine and Mocsli assure her that they are there not only to help her, but to better the future for their families and the people of Kordalis. With a renewed confidence, she marches towards her objective: the half-god Micdian who lies dormant in Mt. Oag.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Claudette Marco
• Release date: Sep 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310431616

Claudette Marco

Claudette Marco, scrivener of poetry and short stories since she was a child, earned a B.A. degree from Whittier College, soul budding in world wild. After many years of toil, soul searching for relief, she finally reclaimed path towards labor complete: writing. Home locates in Kingman, AZ.

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Satchel & Sword III:

The Fate of Kordalis

by

Claudette Marco

© 2015 Claudette Marco.

All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the expressed written consent of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events, is entirely coincidental.

ISBN-13: 978-1517320546

ISBN-10: 1517320542

Edited by Robert Yehling

www.wordjourneys.com

http://bobyehling.wordpress.com/

http://366writing.wordpress.com/

Cover Art by Trevor Smith

www.trevorsmithart.com

http://www.trevorsmithart.blogspot.com/

Within a fortnight, an idea shall come to be.

Within a sunrise, the people necessary shall gather.

Within a few hours, the challenge shall stand within reach.

Within a few minutes, the believer shall unite with greatness.

--Ancient Chokunda Proverb

ONE

Visitor

Nevaline! Nevaline, moment! Cairine shouted.

The beach’s sand spurted away from Cairine’s feet as she forced herself before her infuriated best friend’s path. We need to stop and gather our thoughts.

Nevaline stopped and snapped her arms out to her sides. "Vusevala Island, fraught with perpetual summer, opens its eyes to a newly discovered autumn, but this little girl shall always have her eyes veiled by naïveté. Why did I place such fragile trust upon a duplicitous brigand’s shoulders? What a silly, little infant I am! How could I have let my heart open to such a falsehood-bearing, venom-dealing lout? Sorrow flowed down her cheeks. Egan merely wanted to use my Mythics’ abilities to make himself leader of the Kinlanders absent consideration of the charge before us. How can we recover the third and final fragment now, and then trounce the powerful God of Verahain, Micdian? Hope fails with one of such stupidity."

Cairine embraced Nevaline tightly. Egan cannot harm us anymore. Our paths shall not cross again. But if they do, I shall take pleasure in running that selfish ruffian through with his own sword!

Mocsli put his hand on Nevaline’s shoulder and nodded as she wiped the tears from her eyes and cheeks. She took a deep breath. Appreciations for trying to raise spirits.

The sun shines through even a dense fog when we do not have to see Egan or any other brigand, Mocsli said.

With the help of a rebel Zoxica group led by Miya, Zoxican friends Neza and Litzli, and a band of Kinlanders led by a young upstart named Egan Monroe, Nevaline and Cairine were able to infiltrate the Temple of Loáutoc and kill the half-god Loáutoc. Mocsli had been kidnapped by the demon witch Queen Julia and already brought to Loáutoc’s temple. He met the ghost of his dead mother, Eréndira, who wanted to him to stay with her the rest of his life. But, then, she asked him to kill Nevaline. He refused. She then materialized into a jaguar and was ready to pounce on Nevaline, but Mocsli killed his mother instead.

Now, after Egan Monroe refused to help them anymore, they must find a way to leave Vusevala Island.

Mocsli shivered and crossed his arms. "Why is the island cold all of a sudden?"

With Loáutoc’s death, the weather can resume its natural course.

We left Kordalis towards the end of the harvest season. Winter must grip the mainland by now, Cairine said.

A loud crack of thunder broke through the night sky.

A storm approaches, Nevaline said, her stern eyes gazing into the moonlit, distant waves.

"I am glad that this time it is nature’s storm and not the half-god’s angered tempest, like the one which had struck Ollin’s ship, Cairine said. How would we arrive upon Saronata?"

Since Loáutoc does not have control over your Mythics, mayhap you could conjure a ship, or even fly us to Saronata, Mocsli suggested.

Nevaline rubbed the bridge of her nose, trying to alleviate her headache. "My mind is weary from fighting against Loáutoc, Eréndira, and having to deal with Egan. I could fly not an ant onto a pebble, let alone conjure a large ship to sail us hundreds of leagues over the Caátlach Ocean. We must obtain passage upon a ship already here."

We need to know what sorts of ships are docked in Marsali. I hope we can avoid any Kinlan ships, Mocsli said.

Agreed.

Cairine grunted. "That cockroach Egan gave us no provisions but our half emptied water bladders. And you were the one who requested such for that so-called Captain and his crew!"

We should visit Neza and Litzli. They might have more food, Mocsli said.

They already bestowed whatever food they had left, Nevaline said. Oh! Unc—

Look! Cairine pointed inland towards a grove. More coconuts and breadfruit, like what we discovered on the island weeks ago.

The island graciously serves us a midnight’s meal, Mocsli said.

They ran towards the plentiful trees, sat amidst them, and feasted upon the fallen bounty.

I do not remember anything after Manauia’s men brought Litzli, Neza, and me to the colony, Mocsli recounted. I had awoken to a screech, which sounded much like those I had heard in Blackbern Forest, but this screech was closer and more birdlike. I tried to wriggle myself from the ties but could not. So, I waited, and waited, and waited, until Nevaline fortuitously appeared.

You were almost supper for Manauia, who turned out to be one of Socripham’s demons— Queen Julia. How horrid these past few weeks have been. Cairine shook her head.

He described to Cairine his last moments with Eréndira and how he had to relieve his mother of her life to save Nevaline.

Snipish mud-glopped woman! Needed actions must have wrenched heart from chest, she said.

Aye. I could not convince my mother to veer from a tyrant’s path, from Loáutoc’s path. I do not wish anyone to die, especially someone I call friend. Eréndira gave birth to me, yet she did not gain my trust, did not gain my love with her bullying, Mocsli said, looking at Nevaline. She smiled appreciatively. I… Mocsli’s throat closed. A tear rolled down his cheek. I have to believe that I saved her from own nature. Cairine scooted next to him and hugged his head. He returned her embrace, crying into her shoulder.

Family can be quite complicated. Managing one’s feelings is quite difficult when thrust into a locked chamber with a small group of people for decades. Issues would for certain ravage such walls, Nevaline said.

You are not alone, Mocsli, Cairine said. He said nothing and then he gently pulled himself away.

Nevaline finished a couple scaly breadfruits and a coconut, opened by Cairine, and placed a couple of bananas in her satchel. A flash of light inside the satchel caught her eye. She reached in and pulled forth the source of the shimmer: Eréndira’s piece of the second fragment. A twinge of greed grabbed deep down in her soul as the tanzanite’s smooth edge curiously prickled her fingertips. I forgot to place such inside the Pit Box after leaving the Temple of Camcozcatl, now formerly Temple of Loáutoc. She took out the Pit Box and stared at the bluish purple piece for a few moments. The jagged gemstone glowed in the night’s darkness.

Is that the second fragment? asked Cairine.

Aye, well, one piece of the second fragment. Hhhmmm … I wonder what would happen if I united the two pieces which Loáutoc halved, Nevaline said.

We should not jostle the hive, Mocsli said.

We are safe with Nevaline, Mocsli. She must unite all the stones eventually. Let us see what happens, Cairine said.

They sat on the sand.

She gently placed Eréndira’s piece down upon the sand, cupped her hands over the Box, and closed her eyes. When she imagined Loáutoc’s piece, the Box expanded a little. She heard a slight knock from within. She opened her eyes and lifted the lid. There gleamed the beautiful, second piece. She took it out, picked up the piece on the sand, and looked up at Cairine, who smiled.

Naught arrives upon a closed dock, she said.

Appreciations for such staunch support, Nevaline said.

Abundantly obliged. Nevaline smiled.

Nevaline united the two pieces. She cried out as a slight pain shot through her head and her body shifted forward. She moved at lightning speed from the sand towards the ocean. Over the ocean appeared a white tunnel with a candle holding a faint, flickering bluish purple flame. Her arms and legs flailed as her velocity increased faster than it did when she fell down the dirt shaft into the Tanzanite mines in Blackbern Forest, and the sandy shaft in the floor of the Temple of Loáutoc. She tumbled shoulder first onto a hard stone floor and crashed into an equally unforgiving stone block wall. Though her breath was knocked out of her, she scrambled to her feet.

She looked around. To her right was a large wooden bed with four, tall posts carved with regal designs of long, vertical wavy lines along the entire length of the post, each culminating at the carvings of a wolf’s head. The wolves stared straight ahead towards the door as if guarding the bedchamber. The dark green bedspread was ornately stitched with silver threading of interweaving diamond-shaped designs along the fabric’s border and middle, and draped over the bed. The silver threading emitted a twinkle in the clouded light of the sun, which entered the chamber from a window behind her.

On the floor underneath the bed was a thin, square dark blue area rug with decorative patterns of silver-colored Xs along the border and diagonally on the rug towards the center. Beyond the bed against wall was another window, which shined faint sunlight upon a hanging tapestry. Stitched onto it was a picture of two horses, one with its head bowed while eating from a standing bundle of hay. The other stared directly at Nevaline. She walked around the foot of bed. With her finger, she traced the outline of the gazing horse’s head and petted its mane. The tapestry’s fibers felt like they were changing, growing thicker and coarser, like the bristles of the horse’s mane.

Stunning creatures, aye? uttered a man at her far left.

Startled, Nevaline unsheathed her sword and turned around. An older man in his sixties with a gray, short, boxed beard and short hair sat at a writing desk watching her and smiling.

Proclaim identity, Nevaline demanded.

The man lifted up a thick, strong hand. Allay defenses. I mean you no harm. He stood and walked towards her. He was unarmed. Hmmm … Mayhap he can wield Mythics. But, he seems sincere. I shall trust him, for now. Nevaline relaxed her fighting posture and leaned her sword on her shoulder. The man stopped next to her. He clasped his hands behind his back and studied the tapestry. In my days I raised horses, coursers, more precisely, for knights to use for patrolling, and for battle. Such valiant horses were more agile, swifter, and stronger than most other horse breeds. My heart always welcomed such a distraction. Unfortunately, horses are the most widely used creatures of affliction in the world… He studied her. Well, second most used. He returned his gaze to the tapestry. Their sheer size commands an unavoidable presence. And yet, such exist as…, He eyed Nevaline with concern. …prey, vulnerable to predators, predators not dissimilar to the ones you have encountered.

How do you know what I have encountered?

I have watched you throughout your entire life. From a promising little girl, you have matured into a strong young woman. Now, the charge for which you have been unavoidably preparing assumes its position at the forefront of your life. You have grasped such a redoubtable charge absent question, absent idleness. I admire such valor. You are very much akin to your family’s heritage.

Nevaline paused for a moment. Family? You bear knowledge of my family?

You have your father’s kind eyes, he said. Your father aided me greatly in my life, even at times when I deserved not such care. My son is a warrior, a hero. My other son, well, his story is quite different.

You… you are my grandfather?

Osgar Scarcliff.

Hammers and mace! Unfathomable. Grandfather? Why do I see you here, now?

I requested special permission to meet with my granddaughter, to convey some important information. Also, I must ask a favor from you.

A favor?

Aye. I am fully aware of your charge and its grave importance. It can drastically change the existence of humans and gods. However, for now, it can wait. Your father and uncle, my twin sons, are both in danger. You must save them both before they see path towards Verahain.

Father is not in danger. His body is trapped in the stone wall of Sylmor Castle’s dining hall—

He looked over his shoulder, as if listening to someone whispering in his ear. He turned back to her.

You have recently had a dream, a dream of your father, Osgar said.

Nevaline shrugged her shoulders. Aye. I did see him, yet it was merely a dream, mind’s hopeful imagining.

Nae, Nevaline. You imagined not such dream. The Amazonian military has imprisoned your father.

Nevaline opened her eyes widely. What? Such escapes possibility! His body is enchanted within the stone. I must destroy Micdian in order to breach such enchantment.

"Dear girl… you already destroyed the enchantment when you killed the half-god who cast such," Osgar said.

She paused. By the Goddess! Upon Loáutoc’s death, the warm weather on Vusevala Island forthwith changed to the cold weather of a normal winter. Such stands to reason if Jonathan cast the enchantment on my father, then his death would release my father from the grip of his Mythics! That makes sense. How could I have not recognized such?

"After you killed Jonathan, the stone wall which enveloped your father’s body retracted. He fell benumbed onto the floor. The Amazonians discovered that he was a high-ranking military official of Hychester.

One particular Amazonian soldier dispatched a messenger from the military’s base in Hychester to meet you. The messenger, a smart young woman, found out that some farmers had seen flying Mythical creatures heading west. She assumed you were heading away from Hychester towards the islands. She headed towards the Carbry docks. However, once she reached Carbry, she asked the wrong people regarding your whereabouts: Kinlanders. A couple of Kinlanders captured her. They tortured her. When the Kinlanders realized her lips bore permanent seal, they stabbed her through the heart with a rusted seax. She suffered a death most severe, yet truly honored. That messenger bore information most imperative: the army means to execute your father as an enemy of the Amazonian Territory.

What? Her next breath left her body.

His execution shall occur in a fortnight. You must hurry towards Hychester and make sure that does not occur.

Nae! Nevaline cried. She inhaled faster than the air could enter her lungs. Breathe, Nevie. Calm your nerves. Moment, weeks have passed since the conquest of Hychester. Amazonian practice is to execute all military officials immediately upon the conquest of any territory. Such act means to instill within the populace a symbolic detraction from the old politics and old manners of conducting executive affairs. The new regime in Hychester has already assumed power. Father, as you have stated, held a high military position and, from what I have heard, was admired by most of the Hychester military and the Hychester people. For what reason have the Amazonians delayed his execution?

He looked over his shoulder once again. "Time escapes your grasp. Your other grandfather feels overwhelming pressure to hasten his own affairs. His impulsiveness shall absentmindedly force your father towards an early death. You are fully aware of your other grandfather’s accomplices in the forest. You also know that he has accomplices in your own military.

Here is the favor I ask: Kentigern also walks in imminent peril. His heart demonstrates signs of repentance. You yourself have experienced his sparks of kindness. Pleadings, convince him to abandon the Kinlanders and leave Carbry.

Nevaline chortled. "Futility of such task reigns as sky above ocean, cause immutable. Apologies, Grandfather, but such request is impossible. I can protect my uncle from danger and attempt to convince him to abandon the Kinlanders, but, absent control over the Kinlanders, he feels like his life shall be forever in danger. As Captain Monroe once said, he holds fear closely to heart. The Kinlanders shall assume vengeance and dispatch assassins until he is dead."

Osgar nodded, expecting her response. Tell my son this story. When he was a young man, but sixteen precious years of age, he exchanged embittered words with me and then stomped away into Gadina Woods. There, he lost his path. Three men with coin and covetousness challenged my son. They were about to attack him when my deerhounds discovered him. I forthwith executed those deviates. I— Osgar began to choke on his tears. I embraced him tightly and said: ‘Harsh treatment matters not, impassioned words matter not, past actions matter not, a father’s love shall always find his son. Opportunity for life abounds with father and family.’

She began pulling away from him as white light shone before her eyes. Wait! Grandfather! His hands concealed his weeping face. Nevaline pulled farther away, the chamber becoming smaller and smaller, the white light growing too bright. She closed her eyes.

She opened her eyes and gasped for air.

Nevaline, what happened? Cairine’s concerned voice seemed far away as if Nevaline stood in the next village. She shook her head and rubbed her face.

Upon uniting the two pieces, your eyes closed and your body slumped to the ground, she heard Mocsli say, the sounds becoming clearer.

She placed her hand on the shoulder of Cairine and helped her to sit against a tree. Nevaline took a moment to compose herself. I stood in a bedchamber, my grandfather’s bedchamber. He spoke to me.

Farjon? Cairine asked.

Nae, my father’s father, Osgar.

Such can occur? Mocsli asked.

Such did occur. He imparted information regarding my father. He awaits Amazonian execution, Nevaline said.

Cairine’s eyebrows rose. Then, he is not enchanted in the wall of Sylmor Castle?

Not anymore. I had a dream that my father was in a cell in Figos Prison. But, I did not believe the dream to be true because my father’s face had transformed into Master Sjhong’s face. And then he attacked me. Such frightened hair from head.

Mocsli sat back against another tree and rubbed his eyes, frustration vexing his nerves. I can anticipate what is coming next, he said, more to himself.

What else did your grandfather say? Cairine asked.

He urged me to postpone the search for the third fragment and instead save my father … and … judging by Mocsli’s reaction, I dare not utter any more for fear of receiving tongue’s lashing, Nevaline said.

If I may guess, you must save his other son, Kentigern, as well, Cairine said. She stood up and whopped the sand from her long coat, as Nevaline stared long and hard. "Rescuing your father is important, but your uncle is absent redemption. He has thieved so many for so long, he knows no other labor, if anyone could deem such as ‘labor’!"

Nevaline stood up. Kentigern could have killed us both, yet he took us to Bendavidos Island to rescue Litzli, Neza, and Mocsli. My grandfather gave me a message to give to Kentigern. I saw a glimmer of hope, of kindness in the man’s eyes.

My best friend confuses such glimmer of kindness with fear, Cairine said. "Did you see that same glimmer in Egan’s eyes?"

Her words sliced Nevaline with their truth. Nevaline looked down.

Cairine felt bad, her anger subsided. "Nevaline, my words mean not to sting. However, recalling how preposterously Egan fleeced us after we all risked our lives for him and his father, Captain Monroe, I doubt rescuing Kentigern shall procure any different result."

"That grandfather is using you to assuage his own guilt for a son which, by his own volition, strayed from benevolent path, said Mocsli. This is not your cause, Nevaline."

Nevaline stared at the waves. The water crashed and flattened like spilled water from a large bladder, and returned into the ocean, only to begin all over again. Yet, she felt surprised. After even discussing it, my mind still has not strayed.

I am surprised that the Amazonians have not executed your father already, Cairine said.

I thought similarly. I suspect I know why, Nevaline said.

A lure? Cairine asked.

Aye. They discovered that he was in fact my father. Sibli cleaves Sable-enchanted claws deeply into the minds of the Amazonian officials. That multi-lipped strumpet wants me to attempt to rescue him so that the army can trap their falsely-declared ‘enemy of the territory’ and deliver me into Farjon’s awaiting hands, Nevaline said.

"Yet we do not have the final fragment. Would not delay be the more prudent course until you have obtained all of the fragments?" Mocsli asked.

"Osgar said that Farjon feels pressure to ‘hasten his own affairs.’ Farjon must want to apprehend me before I even touch the third fragment, thus securing all three stones and Livith’s soul before I even reach Mt. Oag."

"Sibli must be spitting all sorts of falsehoods to everyone in the army, promulgating your capture as tantamount to the army’s survival in Kordalis. The Amazonians would otherwise have no interest in the affairs of the goddesses," Cairine said.

Aye. Sergeant-Major Hemmett told me so when she rescued me during the attack in the marketplace at Jeremiah. Goddess only knows what Sibli shall convince the army to do if they capture me. The twinkling stars caught Nevaline’s eye. She looked up. The stars… they never jumble or diminish, only change to suit circumstance… better to look at than the changeable ocean. What about Kentigern? she whispered to herself.

Your doubts yet plague you, Mocsli said.

Nevaline took a deep breath. Aye.

Mocsli drew out an exhalation and looked away. Then, we must convey the message. Naught more, naught less.

I do not want to get involved in that Kinlander debacle, Nevaline said. We would surely meet our end amidst such fighting. Hence, we shall relay the message and forthwith move on.

I shall accompany my best friend anywhere, Cairine proclaimed. As for Mocsli, now I know there was a valid purpose for allowing him to shadow us Amazonians. She winked.

" ‘Shadow you Amazonians’? My charge is to forever save you girls from falling into the sludge of mischief." As Mocsli finished, Cairine leapt and attacked him with a flurry of tickles.

Nevaline laughed. "We should gather some more fruit for our journey and hasten stride towards Marsali. With many celestial pleadings and a modicum of optimism, I hope we can for once secure friendly transport."

TWO

Marsali

Nevaline, Cairine, and Mocsli walked briskly all day, heading south along the beach and taking a couple of brief breaks until they finally reached Marsali. The dimming light of dusk shone trace amounts of rays upon five or six carrack vessels with no ensigns docked in the narrow wooden slips. They hid behind a cluster of trees and watched as sword-toting men calmly walk from the ships to the beach, carrying crates and sacks into and out of the ships.

Those men are dressed like Kentigern’s men, dark colored trousers and jacks without undershirts, Cairine whispered. They bear no armor.

The Kinlanders are probably still bartering here, Mocsli said. Kentigern must not have ordered all of his ships towards Carbry.

Egan said that my uncle would meet all of the Kinlander ships here and then set sail for Carbry. We spent many days on Bendavidos Island in Manauia’s Colony and then here on Vusevala Island fighting against Loáutoc. Kentigern’s boot dust should have already settled upon such docks, Nevaline said. These ships could not belong to the Kinlanders.

Then, who are these men? Mocsli asked.

They remained silent for a few moments, watching.

How would we sneak onto one of those vessels? Mocsli asked.

Confusion again ripped words from tongues.

Nevie, do you recall what happened at the border of Blackbern Forest and Corumauk when Farjon chased us during the Sables’ attack upon the Amazonian army and the Corumauk forces? Cairine asked.

Aye, I embraced you tightly and willed us both to disappear into a realm of Mythics. That aided our escape. However, that enchantment only made us disappear. You were unconscious. I may be able to move in that realm but I do not know if I could move you two from here a quarter of a mile away to one of those ships. Moreover, if I accomplished such feat, where would the three of us hide?

Mocsli stood up and walked inland through the trees.

Mayhap you could meditate and survey the ships. Once you discover one ship that is not so crowded, then you could attempt to transport one of us and then the other into one of crew’s cabins, or even the brig, Cairine suggested.

The brig? Nevaline asked.

Aye, the brig shall be the last place any would bother to search for stowaways, Cairine said.

Nevaline pondered for a moment. "No one before or after shall ever suggest going into a brig! Though, it does sound logical. Manifesting within the cabin of a crew member would—"

Cairine looked around. Where is Mocsli? He was nowhere to be found.

Mayhap hunger drove him to retrieve more fruit, or mayhap he just had to relieve himself, Nevaline said.

For what reason would he venture forth absent any utterance? Errrr.

He can defend himself. No harm shall come to him. Allow me to meditate and survey the ships, eh?

Well… satisfactory. Yet, tarry not, pleadings.

I shall not be long.

Nevaline closed her eyes and imagined Lady Earth’s soul. The bright glow of bluish purple light pulsed beneath her. She could feel it radiating pure love and emitting warm energy. In her mind, she looked down into her soul. The small, glowing bluish-purple ball and its opaque, white core shined above her stomach and underneath her heart. She willed a beam of light from her soul down towards Lady Earth’s. The beam connected and disappeared into the larger soul. She gasped. A momentary surge of energy raced from the earth’s soul into her own then pulsated throughout her body. Curious, I have never felt a surge like this before. When I connect, it usually feels good. Lady Earth seems to, dare thought strike mind, reject me. Nevertheless, I must perform my survey.

Her soul hovered above her body, then over the ground towards the ships. Hmmm… through which ship would I begin my search? The first usually is a good beginning, Nevie. She passed through the wooden planks of its hull. It was teeming with men. Much too crowded. She moved through each subsequent ship, always finding something wrong: one had too many crates so no space to hide, the next one too many men, goats and horses.

She transpired through the hull of yet another ship, looked beyond the hearth towards the bow, and made her way athwartships. An object sparkled near the captain’s quarters. She hovered towards it and then moved through the locked door into the cabin. Atop the desk was a small wooden box with a padlock. The lock is of no consequence to one within a meditative state. She forced herself to see through the box.

A bluish purple stone with an oval edge and a jagged edge sat inside. Smelt the spelt! This cannot be true.

A gust of wind pushed her through the wall of the captain’s quarters and into the ocean. After splashing, her vision grew dark, disorienting her. What is happening? Overcome with fright, she opened her eyes, breathing quickly. Her eyes darted around. The darkness of night blanketed the island.

She felt someone clutching the lapels of her long jacket. She looked up. Cairine’s expression was grave.

Nevaline, wake up! Mocsli has not returned. I searched in the nearby trees and did not find him.

Nevaline was dazed from the meditation. The fragment! The fragment is in that ship! Cairine looked very concerned. But, my best friend needs Mocsli. We need Mocsli.

She slowly put her hands over Cairine’s fists. Let us search for him.

They walked inland as Nevaline recounted what she saw in her meditation.

Why would those men transport the third fragment in plain sight? Anyone can take it, Cairine asked.

It was not in plain sight. The fragment was in a small locked wooden box.

"It would be much more prudent to conceal an artifact as important as the third fragment of the Saluka Stone than to place it on a desk as some adornment."

Nevaline thought for a moment. That makes sense. I must admit that my hopes blinded me to such an assertion. I would have rather hoped that those sailors lacked judgment.

No one would have been able to see what was inside the box without unlocking the padlock or prying it open. However, for someone who can wield Mythics, such would mark the gemstone with ease.

"Then, this is a ruse."

Forsooth. Someone who has enough coin to engage a carrack vessel and enough men to sail it bears full knowledge of your identity, where you are, and, ergo, wants you on that ship, Cairine said.

Hammers and mace. Nevaline stopped when she realized what they had to do next.

Uh, oh. I recognize that look, Cairine said. What you are going to say next shall be like a cacophony of buzzards in my ears.

"Cairine, before that vision, I had no idea where the third fragment was, not even an inkling. I knew it was somewhere south of Hychester, as that vile, now dead, Queen Julia of Hychester said. I trust that information to be true because she also said that the second fragment was somewhere north in the islands.

It would not be in Blackbern Forest because the Sables would have discovered it by now and relayed such information to me as the ultimate lure. Being fully aware of Farjon’s conniving nature, my grandfather would have promulgated such from the top of Mt. Oag if he could. Nae, it is somewhere south of the forest.

Mayhap Julia told you the truth about the second fragment’s location so that you could help her oust Loáutoc and make it easy for her to assume command over the half-god’s reign, Cairine said. Telling you about the third fragment’s location could have just been a lie to get you to believe the rest of it.

Nevaline shook her head as if shaking off the fact that they might be knowingly jumping into a trap. Well, falsehoods or not, we are staring at a possible clue, Nevaline said.

You yet mean to board the ship, clench hand upon baited hook bearing full knowledge of such being a ruse?

Our other choice would be to head south of Blackbern Forest towards Amazonia and the Chokunda Territory, facing what could become months of searching.

Cairine groaned. We cannot board the ship without a plan. You can wield Mythics now, absent hindrance. What if the stone is a counterfeit?

Even if the stone is a counterfeit, I must discover who is attempting to lure me. We have no other choice. Cairine pursed her lips and huffed. Nevaline nodded. Appreciations, Cairine. Now, where could that young man be?

Cairine placed her hand on Nevaline’s stomach and stopped. Moment … do you smell that?

Nevaline sniffed the air. Aye. Someone is roasting meat.

Mmmmmm, that smells deliciously! Could it be venison, boar, or chicken?

They looked at each other in horror. Or human?

They ran towards the infectious smell and came up to a flickering campfire. Nevaline grasped Cairine’s shoulder and directed her behind bushes surrounding the fire. Five