Magician's Quest: Dark Mage Series, #3

By D. Bruce Cotton

To save his adopted world, Adam Gray must abandon it.

Beaten down by despair, Adam's every breath seems an exercise in futility. Alecia, the woman he loves more than life itself, is dead by his own hand. Most of those he counted as friends lie moldering in their graves. Hope itself flickers like a dying candle.

Only one chance remains to redeem himself and those he loves: The Talisman of Time.

Together with four companions—an elderly mage, a love-sick librarian, an arrogant ship's captain, and a bad-tempered dwarf—Adam sets sail in a desperate search for the mythical icon.  Filled with malice and unforeseen death, the world beyond Tantris rivals anything Adam has yet endured. Unknown evils inhabit the shadowy corners of the earth; each one seeking his utter annihilation.

Adam's journey toward atonement has just begun. Should he succeed, it is but one step on the road to a dark and terrible confrontation. At its end, the Dark Mage lies in wait, hungry for revenge.

• Language: English
• Publisher: D. Bruce Cotton
• Release date: Aug 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386570691

D. Bruce Cotton

D. Bruce Cotton grew up in a small rural town in central Kentucky. A certified bibliophile, when he wasn’t digging through the local store’s latest delivery of comic books, you could usually find him camped out in a corner of the town library, avidly reading the literary masters: Isaac Asimov, Edgar Rice Burroughs and J.R.R. Tolkien. After graduating with a somewhat useless degree in English, he went to work for Uncle Sam, serving as a statistical clerk at a nerve gas laboratory, a public affairs specialist, and for 28 years as a writer and editor for PS Magazine, an Army comic book designed to teach Soldiers how to care for their equipment. Now retired, Bruce lives in Cold Spring, KY, with his wife, Cindy, and 6-year-old standard poodle, Gracie. He’s the author of seven books in the epic Dark Mage fantasy series: Magician's Dawn (a prequel), Magician’s Heir, Magician’s Return, Magician’s Quest, Magician's Loss, Magician's War, and Magician's Genesis. To find more about these books and future additions to the series, go to: https://dbrucecotton.com

Book preview

Chapter 1, Journey

Hands clenching the ship’s gunwale in a white-knuckled grip, Adam stared at the gray, wind-tossed waves. Acid burned his throat and he swallowed hard against the incessant nausea roiling in his gut. Gagging, he spat over the side and closed his eyes. Please, not again, he begged. He hated nothing more than throwing up, though it seemed he did little else since boarding the Windraker some three days ago.

I thought to find you here.

Adam turned to see Aristomus approaching. A simple white tunic supplied by their host replaced the mage’s ragged black t-shirt with the snarling silver wolf’s head. He still wore the once white jeans, now faded to a dirty gray, and the black Keds high-tops purchased from the thrift store so long ago. In one hand, Aristomus carried his ever-present staff.

I’m not sure where else I’d be, he rasped. It’s bad enough out here. When I’m below, I can’t go more than a few minutes without hurling. He gagged and spat over the side again. The seasickness hit Adam a few hours after they set sail and stayed with him ever since. Three days with little sleep and nothing but water took a toll on the young man.

Should I attempt another healing? suggested Aristomus. Perhaps it will hold this time.

No! With a sigh, Adam continued in a softer voice, Thanks, but I’d rather not. Though Aristomus and Kate both healed him of the seasickness several times, it never lasted. The nausea always returned, all the worse for a few minutes respite. Uncorking the leather pouch at his side, Adam forced down a few sips of the tepid water and sighed. Then he asked, What do you need?

The old mage joined Adam at the ship’s railing and stared at the churning waves a moment before speaking. I wish to discuss the Captain’s quest. Our hastiness in agreeing to find his daughter concerns me.

Yeah, I know what you mean. Adam thought back to their meeting in Polonius’ cabin. The Captain told them of returning home to find his entire village slaughtered. He found both his wife and son strung up inside their home, sliced open and left to die by unknown assailants. Erin, his daughter, vanished, taken by the same killers who murdered the rest of his family, or so they assumed.

With few choices left to him, Polonius traveled to the Oracle of Cebredes. There he hoped to discover a clue to those who took Erin and killed his wife and son. He arrived at the Oracle’s cave at the same time as Adam and his friends. They, too, needed the Oracle, and sought a means to send them back in time to save the ones they lost. Only the Talisman of Time provided any hope of defeating the Dark Mage and rejoining their loved ones.

But the Oracle fooled them all. Providing the answers required, she said, would ensure their deaths. Instead, she gave their answers to each other and, in so doing, broke the strictures of her power. In his mind’s eye, Adam again saw the Oracle age decades in a few short seconds. Within moments, the young, blind girl transformed into a pile of moldering yellow bones.

Afterward, no other choice remained. Only by working together would Adam and Polonius both fulfill their personal quests. Following a narrow escape from the Dark Mage’s forces, they reached the Windraker. A brief argument ensued, but in the end, Adam agreed to the Captain’s demand they rescue Erin before trying to find the Talisman. Only then did Adam share the word spoken to him by the Oracle: Oxymedes.

To Adam, the word meant nothing. A name, a place; it might be anything. But it meant something to Polonius. Knees buckling, the blood drained from the man’s face. Shocked by his response, the rest of the company demanded answers. But the normally verbose Captain shook his head and left the cabin without speaking. Everyone hurried to follow, arriving on deck in time to see Polonius whisper a few words to the ship’s navigator. Then, turning on his heel, the Captain pushed his way past Adam and returned to his cabin, locking the door behind him. He stayed there ever since.

I spoke to some of the Captain’s men.

Adam jerked, brought back to the present by Aristomus’ voice. And?

The mage shook his head. When I speak of this Oxymedes, they grow pale and make the sign of the evil eye. Only the first mate will talk at all. But he says only, ‘The Captain will speak of it when he is ready.’ Such reticence frightens me, Adam. Who is this Oxymedes who causes fear among such hardened men?

I wish I knew. Have Gren or Kate heard anything?

Nothing. It seems the crewmen are too fearful of Gren to speak. Aristomus shook his head in frustration. No, if we are to learn anything, it must come from the Captain.

Then maybe it’s time we demanded answers. We don’t even know where the ship is headed. Let’s find Gren and head down to his cabin again. If he won’t answer this time, Gren can break down the damn door.

The two mages left in search of the burly dwarf. Though smaller than their distant cousins, the giants, the gray-skinned dwarves—or Krim, as they called themselves—still towered over any human. Standing seven or eight feet tall and almost as wide, even their women sported massive muscles. Of all the Krim Adam met, Gren remained the largest and most bad-tempered. Though the dwarf almost killed him at their first encounter, Adam now considered him a friend.

A shout brought them up short. The Captain’s first mate, Bakkus, hailed them from the bow, arms waving. The two mages hurried over to meet him.

I spoke with the Captain, he announced. He asked me to find and escort you to his cabin.

Adam gave Aristomus a puzzled look, but neither wanted to allow Polonius a chance to change his mind. Motioning for Bakkus to lead the way, they headed toward the ship’s stern and Polonius’ cabin.

It took but a moment to arrive. The Windraker’s small size presented a constant surprise to Adam. At only a hundred feet in length, the three-masted schooner held a thirty-foot beam. It almost seemed a thirty-man crew—minus the three lost during their escape and the addition of Aristomus, Kate, Adam and Gren—would fill the ship to overflowing. But they seldom experienced trouble finding a place to meet in privacy.

After climbing the quarterdeck, the three men descended a set of stairs—though narrow and steep as a ladder—and along a short passageway to the Captain’s cabin. Bakkus rapped a quick knock on the closed door before nodding to the two mages and retreating the way he came. After a curt call to enter, Adam and Aristomus stepped inside to find Polonius staring out the row of open portholes lining the rear of his cabin. Back stiff and hands clasped behind him, the Captain maintained the image of a stern and uncompromising man. He stayed silent, even after Adam’s polite throat-clearing.

Aristomus gave a puzzled shrug at Adam’s look, so the young mage tried again. Captain, we need to talk... He spluttered to a halt when Polonius turned to face them.

The man had aged overnight. Face pale and sagging, Polonius’ long hair fell limp about his shoulders. Dirty, wrinkled clothing hung on an already slender frame now gone gaunt. As the man stared at them through bleary, red-rimmed eyes, Adam suspected he’d imbibed more than just a little. And he doubted the Captain slept much in the three days since they last saw him.

Aristomus gasped. Hurrying forward, he took Polonius’ arm and led him to a nearby chair. Captain, what ails you? If we knew something afflicted you...

No. Polonius’ voice trembled, making his words difficult to understand. The smell of alcohol mixed with his breath. No, I am not ill. Not in a physical sense, at least. But sick at heart? Aye, I am. I mourn the death of my daughter, Eri... He choked then, unable to speak her name, and fresh tears spilled down his cheeks.

Dead? gasped Adam. How... The Oracle said nothing about her death.

Nor did she need to, he rasped. Erin’s death became a certainty from the moment you spoke his accursed name.

Oxymedes, said Aristomus. His tone of voice didn’t indicate a question. Tell us who he is, Captain. Perhaps we can help.

Polonius winced at the old mage’s words, but at last gave a ragged sigh. "It is why I summoned you. Though my daughter is beyond all help, I will tell you of... Oxymedes.

Every sailor fears the notorious pirate, Oxymedes. Never did a more evil man draw breath and only the most corrupt and villainous men joined his crew. A more wicked and bloodthirsty horde of brutes you cannot imagine. The scourge of the Endless Sea, he was.

Adam frowned. Was? Are you saying he’s dead? I don’t understand.

Dead? Aye, perhaps. But some things we should fear far more than death.

Polonius’ eyes took on a vacant cast, as though staring far off into the past. "One night, many decades ago, Oxymedes and his crew made landfall on a lush tropical island far to the south and west. A mild and simple folk populated this beautiful isle, wishing nothing more than to live their lives in peace. They carried nothing the pirates might want; no gold or jewels which might give cause for the invasion. No, for Oxymedes, ravaged innocence and spilled blood provided more than enough reason to warrant their visit.

"Having never faced anything fiercer than a summer storm, the islanders offered no defense. The pirates slaughtered the village men outright. Their chief, a magic man named Felstar, begged for the lives of those who remained. But to no avail. Oxymedes laughed in the old man’s face. They forced the children to watch their sisters and mothers raped and skinned alive. Afterward, they too faced the knives of the marauders.

"Driven mad by the depravities of his captors, Felstar broke. Rather than watch one more of his people butchered, he tore out his own eyes. Oxymedes and his men roared with laughter. They danced around the blinded Felstar, drunk with power and bloodlust. Few heard the murmured curse passing the old man’s lips that night:

"‘Death will not claim,

Decay will not maim.

Hell will not hold,

Nor the cold grave enfold.

Life’s curse be upon you,

Loss and heartache escort you.

Reflecting the evil within,

The transformation begins,

And eternity spells your doom.’

"Oxymedes leaned down and spat in the magic man’s face. ‘I do not fear your curse, old man. In fact, I welcome it. Eternal life? It means killing without end. I will drown this world in blood!’ With his pronouncement, he seized Felstar by the throat and choked the life from him.

"The pirates’ did not stop their rampage until every islander lay dead. As the sky brightened with the arriving sun, the men admired the death and destruction they wrought. But when the sun at last cleared the trees and bathed the devastated village in the light of day, a terrible thing happened.

"At the first touch of sunlight, each man’s skin burst into crackling flame. Screams loud enough to challenge the debauchery of the night before filled the clearing as their flesh first blistered, then blackened under the searing heat. In agony, Oxymedes tried to douse the flames by diving into a shallow well supplying the village’s water supply. But it only fed the supernatural fire. The flames roared from the stone-lined well and the pirate captain did not reappear. His men ran screaming, slapping at the flames but unable to extinguish them. At last, they collapsed to the ground, charred lumps of burned flesh which moved no longer. Silence blanketed the village; the screams having driven away even the wildlife.

Hours passed, the sun moving over the island and starting its western trek toward the sea, before the first sign of movement came. First one, then another of the charred piles stirred. Soon all of them moved, tiny flecks of ash breaking loose and falling to the ground. At last they stood, shaking off the remaining dust and cinders to reveal themselves. What arose from the ashes were men no longer, but monsters! Tall and grotesque, their creased and puckered skin looked like burned flesh long since healed. Long fingers ended in razor-tipped claws and their jaws hinged wide to expose terrible fangs. Though similar, differences existed, too. Some came with stooped backs, using hands and feet to move, while the malleable flesh of others stretched to grotesque lengths. Ridged spikes sprouted from the backs of a few while knobs of bone protruded from the joints of others. Disjointed knees made the gait of some awkward and cumbersome.

The magic man’s curse, whispered Aristomus.

Aye. The evil contained within each man reflected by an ugliness all could see. All hideous though some worse than others... and now immortal. Felstar made a terrible mistake with his curse. The magic man considered living with eternal repulsiveness a fate worse than death. Alas, he misjudged the true nature of their evil. These men lived for death and destruction and he gave them the means to continue their torment of others for eternity.

What of Oxymedes? asked Adam.

Though it seemed impossible, Polonius grew paler still. But he forced himself to continue. "The pirate crew moved about the village, growing used to their new bodies while jesting and mocking those most abhorrent. Their insults did not stop until the first faint tremor shook the ground beneath them. The rumbles grew until the entire island shook. Trees fell and homes crumbled. The monsters collapsed. Forced to their knees, they jabbered in terror, fearing the entire island would fall into the sea.

"Then, as fast as they started, the tremors ended. The fell creatures exchanged looks as they climbed to their feet. One growled, pointing to the well where Oxymedes fell. Thick black smoke poured from the opening and with it came the harsh stink of sulfur.

A massive claw appeared over the well’s rim accompanied by a deep grunt of effort. Curved talons dug into the stonework as a second claw rose into view. Thrusting himself up, Oxymedes emerged from the well like a demon from the darkest pits of hell. He stood ten feet tall with hairless, furrowed skin the scarlet of old blood. Heat emanated from his body like a furnace and the ground smoldered under his feet. Wicked horns thrust in all directions from a misshapen head fused onto his shoulders. An outthrust lower jaw sported black tusks curving to either side of the monster’s single eye. It burned with crimson spite as he stared at each member of his crew. One by one, they fell to their knees, necks bent in submission.

"‘Arise, my crew.’ Oxymedes’ voice rumbled like distant thunder. ‘The old man blessed us with the power to maim and kill in volumes far beyond our wildest dreams! Let us board our ship and spread terror and mayhem throughout all the world!’

"Cheering, his men accompanied Oxymedes back to their ship, the Black Marauder. For years since, they have spread death and chaos wherever they land, including... including my home. Erin fell into the hands of these monsters. I can only hope she died swiftly."

Aristomus placed a gentle hand on the man’s shoulder. I am so sorry, Captain. I, too, lost a daughter, and at the hands of a fiend every bit as terrible as Oxymedes.

Wait a minute, Adam said as he paced in the small room, I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves here. Look, we came to the Oracle as separate groups, each for different reasons. Yet she involved us in each other’s quests. In fact, she made sure by giving me your answer and you mine.

Aristomus frowned. Where do you go with this, Adam?

Bear with me a minute. The question I keep asking myself is, ‘Why?’ Why did the Oracle bring us together? I think it’s because our quests are somehow connected. Maybe finding Erin is an essential part of finding the Talisman.

Eyes widening, Polonius gasped, Do you claim she is alive?

"I don’t know, Captain. But I do know every time I hear or even think her name, I get this sense of urgency... like time is running out. Adam stopped pacing and knelt, looking into Polonius’ bloodshot eyes. The last thing I want is to give you false hope, but we’ll never know for sure unless we track down Oxymedes. At the least, it’ll give you closure. And if the worst is true, maybe we can fix things with the Talisman of Time."

For the first time, Polonius looked at the mages with something approaching hopefulness. Adam felt a stab of concern. Did he promise too much?

We can discuss such plans later, announced Aristomus. He gave Adam a stern glance, practically ordering him to stay silent. Captain, I have a question. If every islander died, how is it you learned what happened?

Polonius stood. With hope came impatience, and it showed in every angle of his features. Not everyone died. A single survivor, a young woman named Adelle, happened to be away from the village, hunting for mushrooms. She returned in time to witness the slaughter... and its aftermath. Terrified they might find and kill her, she hid herself.

You speak as if you know this woman, said the old mage.

"Aye. As a young man, I served aboard a trading ship, the Sea Falcon. Though far from the normal trading lanes, we visited the island on rare occasion. We made landfall several months following those terrible events and found her there, alone. By then, young Adelle became a wild thing, almost feral, but the Captain took pity and brought her aboard. With the two of us close in age, I suppose it natural she felt less fearful in my company. Through much coaxing and gentleness, her savagery abated, and she spoke, revealing what happened."

And whatever became of her? Aristomus asked. Is she well?

A single tear made its way down the Captain’s face, his voice a husky whisper. Adelle became my wife... and died alongside my son at the hands of the monster Oxymedes.

Chapter 2, Infestation

The two mages made their way back to the main deck. Hearing the story of Oxymedes allowed Adam to forget his nausea for a time, but now it returned with a vengeance. They saw Kate and Gren waiting for them. Before heading their way, Aristomus stopped Adam with a hand on his shoulder.

A moment, Adam, the old mage called, brows turned down in disapproval. Why did you promise the Captain the use of the Talisman if we cannot find his daughter?

Aristomus so seldom showed disappointment, it caught Adam by surprise. What? I don’t know. He seemed so despondent...

"We do not yet have possession of the Talisman and already you make promises we cannot keep; promises we should not keep!"

I don’t understand.

Think about it, Adam. Should we somehow claim the Talisman and learn its uses, each time we go to the past, there is the risk of changing something important... something which might have drastic effects on the future.

Yeah, but isn’t that the whole idea?

Aristomus gave an impatient sigh. Aye. But any changes we make now cannot be worse than what has already happened. And perhaps we can change it for the better. What you propose might kill us all.

What? How?

Suppose we go back in time a few months; remove Polonius’ family before Oxymedes arrives and murders them. It would be a deed well done, would it not?

Sure.

But the outcome of such an action would mean our deaths. Should Polonius’ family survive, no reason exists for him to travel to the Oracle. And without his fortuitous arrival, we lose. Your soul would belong to the Dark Mage while the rest of us lie dead.

The old mage’s revelation stunned Adam. Aristomus is right. Think, you idiot! He promised himself he would take greater care from here on. Far too many lives remained at stake.

Tired of waiting, Kate and Gren joined them. So, what did Captain Polonius say? she asked.

Wow, word travels fast on this boat, Adam replied. He gave a quick synopsis of what happened, leaving out his promise to Polonius. Aristomus interrupted only a few times to elaborate and did not bring up their earlier conversation.

Then this island is our destination? It does not appear our course has altered.

Aye, Gren. Aristomus nodded, impressed with the dwarf’s perceptiveness. The Captain made Oxymedes’ island his goal from the start. Though at first he held no hope of finding Erin alive, Polonius hoped to retrieve her body so she might rest in peace alongside her family. But with no idea where to start, he determined Adelle’s island gave us the best chance of uncovering a clue.

Kate noticed Adam’s face turning an alarming shade of green. Adam! Are you okay?

Without answering, Adam turned and ran for the gunwale. Thrusting his head over the side, he expelled a thin stream of water and bile. Spitting to clear his mouth, he groaned aloud.

The poor young man, murmured Kate.

Aye, very young, agreed Aristomus, and inexperienced. Let us hope such things do not cost us at the last.

POLONIUS APPEARED A short time later to address the crew. Now clean, the Captain showed some of his old fire and swagger as he stood on the quarterdeck, looking at those gathered below. When they learned of Erin’s capture by Oxymedes, the crew grew nervous, murmuring among themselves. Still, the Captain’s confidence and self-assurance buoyed their spirits and by the time he finished, many shook their fists, proclaiming their determination to see Polonius and Erin reunited. When they returned to their duties, everyone moved with energy and vigor.

As the days passed, Adam’s nausea subsided. Once again able to eat and sleep, he passed the time learning some of the more mundane duties of being a sailor—repairing the rigging, oiling the masts, sewing torn sails. Surprised to learn even the best built ship took on water, Adam also took his turn at cleaning the bilge. A dirty, smelly job, the rats made it no better. The scabrous creatures infested the bilge and showed little fear of men. Those assigned the duty always went in teams of two: one to clean and another to protect his back.

Adam teamed up with Gren whenever possible. The dwarf liked the cool dark and the rats showed a healthy fear of the big Krim. His ability to see in the dark made the task easier. After pumping out the water, Adam set to work scrubbing the inner hull with a heavy brush. Though caulked and tarred, the planks needed constant cleaning to keep rot from setting in. Intent on the job, he still shuddered every time a loud thwack signaled the death of another rat. Gren used a wooden pole as thick as Adam’s forearm for the job.

Once finished, Adam used a ladle to scoop the thick sludge into large buckets. Hauled topside by attached ropes, sailors then dumped the buckets’ contents overboard. Gren gathered up the pile of rats he killed—the vermin reproduced so fast, it sometimes seemed a losing battle—and tossed them into a canvas bag.

Back on deck, Gren dumped the dead rats overboard, grinning as the sharks following in the ship’s wake snapped them up. Sometimes Adam wondered if Gren accompanied him below just to gather bait for the sharks.

The two sluiced themselves off using sea water hauled up in a large canvas bag. Adam felt better after washing off the filth from the bilge, but he knew once his clothes dried, the salt would chafe his skin.

The rats grow more numerous, commented Gren as he toweled himself off, and less fearful.

We have a saying where I come from. ‘For every mouse you see, there’s another dozen you can’t.’ I sure hope the same’s not true for rats.

Indeed. Such numbers trouble me. And there is disease to consider.

I guess we’re lucky to have two healers onboard, then. Come on, let’s go see what Aristomus and Kate are up to.

Adam and Gren found their friends in the galley enjoying big bowls of fish stew while listening to a tale spun by the ship’s cook, Hrana. An old man, Hrana suffered from a crippled right leg, though he got around with a wooden crutch as well as most sailors did on two good legs. As though making up for his baldness, he grew a long gray beard which he kept bound in three black metal ringlets. Over the years, he lost most of his teeth, making him sometimes difficult to understand. But since he told such wonderful stories, no one seemed to mind.

Pausing long enough to dish out bowls for Gren and Adam, Hrana continued his tale of a sailor who built a ship out of stone. Several crewmen laughed aloud at such a ridiculous notion.

I see you two bilge-rats have finished up, smiled Kate. Guess you’re both tired.

Adam stretched, suppressing a yawn. Well, I am at least. This one only killed a few rats, he hooked a thumb at Gren, while I did all the work. At Gren’s growl, he amended, Just kidding, big guy.

Aristomus smiled. The Captain tells me we should make landfall in another week. Our true work begins then. We must uncover some clue of Oxymedes’ whereabouts. However, I fear the odds do not favor us after all this time.

Well, if nothing else, we should find some fresh fruits and vegetables, answered Kate. Some of the crewmen show signs of scurvy. It’s just a guess, she said, lowering her voice to a whisper, but I bet it’s what happened to Hrana’s teeth. You would think a cook would know better.

Patting her hand, Aristomus replied, The Unsouled did not allow them to search for such necessities at their last port. And even if given the opportunity, it is unlikely the crew would find much in the Barrenfield Desert.

You’ve got me there.

A shout from outside the galley cut short their banter. Gren cocked his head toward the door.

Did anyone hear a cry?

A second shout, followed by a shrill scream, brought everyone to their feet. Aristomus snatched his staff and raced for the door. Over his shoulder he shouted, Stay here, Kate!

Just a step behind, Gren and Adam piled out the door as soon as Aristomus wrenched it open. The late afternoon sun shone bright off the Windraker’s starboard side. Heat shimmer rose from the deck in waves despite the breeze generated by the ship’s passage. But no mirage made Adam rub both eyes with his palms. The weathered wooden deck pulsed and writhed under a thick carpet of black and gray. From within, glints of red flashed like glowing embers. Adam turned to Aristomus. "What the hell is that?"

A panicked cry rose from the stern. RATS!

The terrified cry drove the fog from Adam’s brain. Thousands of the huge creatures, many as large as cats, poured in a wave from the deck’s main hatchway. The vermin made no noise save for the scratching of their claws as they scrabbled from the depths of the ship. Sailors snatched belaying pins from the gunwales to defend themselves. Each swing killed three or four rodents and knocked others overboard. But within seconds, the rats overwhelmed them.

Gren leaped among the vermin, crushing dozens with his enormous feet. The wood pole he used earlier whistled through the air. More rats died, but others crawled up his legs and over the staff, biting at his face and arms. Swarmed under in seconds, only his thick dwarven skin protected him from the assault. With the staff all but useless, Gren seized three or four vermin at a time in his huge hands, crushing them to a pulp.

Lightning crackled as Aristomus joined the attack. Bolt after scorching bolt seared the packed mass. But the old mage held back much of his power for fear of damaging the ship.

Adam pulled free a gaff lashed to the galley wall. Using it like a long club, he crushed several rats each time he smashed it against the deck. Come on, then! he screamed.

At Adam’s shout, the entire pack froze for a fraction of a second. Then every creature turned in his direction; thousands of glowing crimson eyes boring right through him. Mouths stretching wide, they uttered a single, ear-piercing screech which echoed across the ship. As one, they abandoned their attack on the others and scurried straight for Adam.

Oh, sh...!

Protect the boy! Aristomus’ shout came from somewhere off to his left, followed soon after by the crackle of lightning. To his right, loud thuds accompanied Gren’s unintelligible bellows as the dwarf stamped and crushed dozens of the attackers. Adam heard Polonius shouting orders to crew members still healthy enough to fight.

But not even their best efforts stemmed the tide. Hundreds of rats still crawled forward in a wedge aimed straight at his heart. Adam’s lips pulled away from his teeth in a snarl. Sweat made the gaff slippery as his fingers curled around the shaft. He saw the Dark Mage’s malevolent hate flickering in their ravenous crimson eyes.

Adam! Up here! Hurry!

Adam spun, shocked to see Kate kneeling atop the galley roof. With one hand bathed in glowing white, she extended the other to him. As he reached to take her hand, an intense blast of light shot from her palm. It scorched past his right shoulder and exploded into the rats only a few feet behind.

Their hands locked and Kate grunted, struggling to pull him to safety. At last, she released her power and grabbed him with both hands. Adam’s feet skidded and slipped on the wooden surface before finding purchase. He landed beside her and rolled, reaching out to stop himself by grabbing a length of metal pipe passing through the galley roof. A quick flash of pain and Adam yelped, jerking back his hand. He’d grabbed the stovepipe carrying the heat and smoke from Hrana’s cook fire below.

Adam scrambled up beside Kate, whose hands glowed once again. The rats reached the base of the galley wall and seethed there like an ocean wave crashing against a floodwall. Toward the stern, they saw Aristomus, Gren and the crew of the Windraker still fighting to reach them. The rats ignored their attackers, focusing all their attention on Adam and Kate.

Can they get up here?

As Kate opened her mouth to answer, the rodents sprang for the wall. Tiny claws scrabbled, digging into the wooden planks. A flash of light from Kate knocked them back down, but they clambered over their dead and attacked the wall again, this time in multiple spots.

I don’t think I can hold them for long, Kate panted as she leveled another blast. There’re too many of them. Run, Adam!

What? I can’t leave you!

It’s okay! You’re the one they’re after!

Realizing Kate was right, but still ashamed for abandoning her, Adam scrambled down the far side of the galley and ran for the ship’s bow. He looked back in time to see the rats reach the roof. Kate curled into a ball, covering her face and screaming as the vermin washed over her. Seconds later, the rats swarmed down the galley wall and raced toward him.

Adam looked around. Out of room, he had nowhere else to go but... Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me! The narrow beam of the bowsprit angled up and out from the bow, narrowing as it extended over the surging sea. Secured between it and the fore topmast, the jib and flying jib sails fluttered in the wind.

A quick glance back at the surging rats spurred Adam on. Falling to his stomach, he wrapped his arms and legs around the beam and inched his way out. The ship dipped up and down as the bow plowed into each subsequent wave. Adam swallowed hard, nausea curdling in his stomach, but forced himself to hurry.

Faster, Adam! Crashing waves made the distant voice difficult to hear.

Risking a glance back, Adam saw the rats reach the bowsprit. They swarmed over the wet wood moving faster than he believed possible. He reached the jib boom, lashed to the end of the bowsprit. Reaching out, he grabbed the stay securing the jib sail and pulled himself to his feet. Adam wavered as he inched his way up the jib boom to the flying jib. There he froze, unable to go any farther and terrified of falling into the sea. The rodents drew closer, their eyes burning with hunger.

This is it, he thought. I’m so sorry, Alecia!

Lightning struck the jib boom a few feet below where he stood with a crackling explosion. The mast splintered with a loud snap and Adam, blinded by the lightning’s flash, felt his feet fall free. He reached out, clawing in desperation at the heavy canvas of the flying jib. The fingers of his left hand snagged a fold in the sailcloth and he held on for dear life as the cable, now free, swung back toward the foremast. The rats, mindless and driven by the Dark Mage’s mad compulsion, reached the splintered end of the jib boom and leaped into the surging waters below.

Adam’s grip tore loose when he crashed into the foremast’s rigging. Screaming, he fell, arms flailing...

Chapter 3, Recovery

In his dreams, Adam fell. Faster and faster, he hurtled toward razor-sharp rocks growing closer with astonishing speed. Just before impact, his mouth stretched wide in a soundless scream...

Jerking awake, Adam struggled, tangling himself in the knotted strands of a hammock. Where the...? Looking around, he recognized the quarters he shared with Gren. A quick inventory uncovered no broken bones, but quite a few bruises. And his head throbbed with the mother of all headaches. Reaching up, he found it wrapped in a thick bandage. Knocked out in the fall, he reasoned. But why am I not dead?

Extracting himself from the hammock’s cords with care, Adam dropped to the floor and made his way to the door. After finding the narrow passageway empty, he continued to the steps leading to the main deck. Intense morning sunlight aggravated his headache, forcing him to wait until his eyes adjusted. Squinting hard, he saw several sailors hard at work cleaning up the mess from the previous day. They’d already shoveled most of the dead rats overboard. Now they used buckets of seawater to sluice away the dried blood and gore. When the smell hit him, Adam swallowed hard.

Adam! Gren’s gruff voice rumbled from across the ship. A moment later, the