Dragon Warriors: Vastus, #2

By Jaron Osiar

Fresh from her escape in "Flight to Bern Village", Elaina is now faced with entirely new challenges while settling in as a warrior trainee.  Bern Village is preparing for war against the combined might of the northern cities. Will Elaina's past come back to haunt her?  What will happen to the remaining dragon eggs that desperately need to hatch before they are driven to insanity?

 

Elaina, however, is not the only one fleeing the corruption and cruelty of the northern cities.  Many are attempting escape through the forest. Despite the tremendous risks of storms in unfamiliar territory, Crevan and his family must travel by sea only to be attacked by a dangerous creature thought to exist merely in legend.

 

Unfortunately, the Peace Bringers watching events unfolding on Vastus are forced to evacuate their crumbling space station. They find refuge on a small, telepath ship, leaving them helpless and blind to the plight of those on the planet's surface.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jaron Osiar
• Release date: Apr 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393829058

Jaron Osiar

Vastus is a four-book series that is told from multiple perspectives. The series follows a small group of Peace Bringers on an old, crumbling space station who are trying to stop a war by proving peace among their species is possible. They observe dragons, elves, humans, unicorns, and telepaths on a large island. A teen who is part elf, human, and telepath catches the Peace Bringers attention. Unfortunately, conflicts among the cities on Vastus make even desperate Peace Bringers skeptical.

Book preview

Dragon Warriors

Jaron Osiar

Dragon Warriors: Vastus Book 2

Copyright © 2020 Jaron Osiar

All rights reserved.

Cover and symbol by: Harkalé Linaï

Map by: Justin Donaldson

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Avar Sea

Chapter 2: Vastus Forest

Chapter 3: Bern Village

Chapter 4: Bern Village

Chapter 5: Bern Village

Chapter 6: Vastus Station

Chapter 7: El Cuervo

Chapter 8: Bern Village

Chapter 9: Bern Village

Chapter 10: Vastus Station

Chapter 11: Bern Village

Chapter 12: Vastus Forest

Chapter 13: El Cuervo

Chapter 14: Vastus Forest

Chapter 15: Vastus Forest

Chapter 16: Avar Sea

Chapter 17: Bern Village

Chapter 18: Bern Village

Chapter 19: Bern Village

Chapter 20: Mendje

Chapter 21: El Cuervo

Chapter 22: Bern Village

Chapter 23: Bern Village

Chapter 24: Bern Village

Chapter 25: Vastus Station

Chapter 26: Bern Village

Chapter 27: Bern Village

Chapter 28: Bern Village

Chapter 29: Bern Village

Chapter 30: Bern Village

Chapter 31: Bern Village

Glossary

Map

Chapter 1:  Avar Sea

Dim light below the Odyssey’s deck made it difficult for Crevan to see clearly, despite sunrays from the deck prism rippling across the smooth wooden floor. Thoughts of the past sailors and passengers who may have walked these same floors in search of refuge from storms, wind, and bright sunlight filled his thoughts. Presently, bunk beds with sturdy rails, mounted firmly against walls, held scattered passengers who were still sleeping after a calm night at sea. Salt residue crunched under Crevan’s leather shoes as he found his footing on the swaying floor.

Crevan bent over the edge of Dalton’s bed. Despite Dalton’s fatigue, it was unusual for him to sleep contentedly. Typically, pains awoke him, making him toss and turn in a vain attempt to find a comfortable position. The medication Dalton took to treat his liver made it difficult for his cuts to heal or stop bleeding, but it gave Dalton a small chance for a full recovery. Unfortunately, that chance shrank away every day on the Odyssey as his health steadily declined.

Dalton’s yellow skin sagged. His limp hand rested by his side. An old cut bled through a bandage on Dalton’s arm. Next to Dalton’s bed was a bag of bandages for such an occasion. Crevan pulled the soiled bandage off and replaced it with a clean one, coated with clotting powder.

Gray light streamed below deck when the heavy, wooden door opened. Without looking, Crevan recognized Ranvir’s tired steps. When Ranvir was done with his shift, he always stopped by Dalton’s bed. Before Ranvir returned to the deck for his next shift, he always checked on his father again. It would have surprised Crevan if Ranvir hadn’t inquired after Dalton.

Ranvir leaned his head against the upper bunkbed as he peered down at his father. How is he today?

Sleeping peacefully. Dalton will be fine today. Get some rest Ranvir.

Alright. Ranvir ruffled his dark-brown hair, shaking stray salt onto the floor. He collapsed on the only bed left, a corner bed that was too short for his tall stature.

Crevan walked past sleeping passengers, trying not to disturb them. Many of the passengers did not easily tolerate the constant rolling of ocean waves. A stream of morning light bounced on Crevan’s face. He squinted, searching for Dillan who was standing along the ship’s rail.

Wind blew Dillan’s sun-bleached hair around a long spyglass. Dillan planned to send a small group to scout the shore that morning. If all went well, they should have arrived already. Crevan found a spot next to Dillan. How is the scout crew?

They arrived safely.

That’s good news.

It looks like a peaceful shore.

I wouldn’t have allowed them to go if it looked hazardous.

I know.

When will they be back?

Around lunch time.

Crevan’s thoughts drifted. He had intended to move back to Bern Village earlier, but his desire to leave was met with strong resistance by King Reth. Later, he wanted to stay long enough to protect Ani Louise and discover if Bern Village was in danger. Crevan decided to plan his escape after he gathered enough details concerning King Reth’s plans. Unfortunately, gathering more details required careful planning over several years. During that time, Ranvir and Louie wanted to officially train as warriors. Crevan knew enough to object signing a training contract with the kings. Instead, Crevan helped Ranvir and Louie travel to Bern Village for their training.

Ranvir worked hard at Bern Village. When he received the letter that Crevan sent with some spies, requesting Ranvir’s return to Glanton, it only gave him a few weeks to prepare for his departure. Ranvir spent hours each day after training, working on his aim with a bow and building his strength. He barely managed to earn an aurium bow before he left. Under normal circumstances Ranvir would have needed more time to earn his bow, but his situation was unusual. Neither of the spies who would be returning owned a bow capable of fighting the most powerful carnivores in the forest. Ranvir might need an aurium bow for their survival. Crevan sent a letter to the mayor via Kijani, informing him that if they were not back at Bern Village within the year, Bern Village could take the money for Ranvir’s bow out of a bank account Crevan had left at Bern Village.

Though Ranvir worked hard, he enjoyed his stay at Bern Village. He was accustomed to plentiful, regular meals, a comfortable schedule, and often made comments to pretty, young ladies to see how they responded. In short, Ranvir was a skilled flirt. Crevan took advantage of Ranvir’s knack with people to plan their escape.

It didn’t take long for Ranvir to realize his family’s predicament. Though Greta and her daughters, Hazel and Kiku were willing to work, Greta wasn’t qualified as more than an elementary tutor. Hazel was learning to teach music, but she wasn’t sufficiently knowledgeable to teach at Glanton. Kiku wanted to be an attorney. Though Kiku was intelligent and mature for her age, she was too young for attorneys to take her seriously, and Dalton, a skilled attorney, was too ill to train her. Ranvir’s responsibility as the primary breadwinner for his family added years to his emotional maturity in the matter of months.

As a warrior at Bern Village, Ranvir could manage as the bread winner for a few years, then Kiku would be ready for an apprenticeship. With an entire family living on a warrior salary, taking master lessons would be difficult. Should Crevan recommend that Ranvir withdraw from master lessons? Ranvir would have to give up on his dream of being a master if he did. Perhaps Greta, Ranvir, Hazel, and Kiku could all pull together and Ranvir could continue training. Hazel needed time to find students. Meanwhile, she would have to find another job. Crevan saw rough years ahead for Dalton’s family. If only the medicine would work!

Havard’s health was also of great concern. Cheryl and Havard had five children, and another on the way. If Havard didn’t make it to Bern Village, his family would be in worse condition than Dalton’s. Havard’s oldest daughter, Faina, and Troy, one of Dillan’s sons, were engaged. They would be alright. Havard and Cheryl’s other children were still trying to decide what they wanted to be. Cheryl needed to care for her baby that was due soon. At least Crevan’s only daughter, Noria, was a qualified accountant and bookkeeper. Her son, Louie, was far enough along in training to finish. Noria could easily support herself and Louie.

Crevan gazed at the water, trying to think of the best way to help Dalton’s family while hoping Havard would be alright. Securing an apprenticeship for Kiku would certainly be helpful, but who would take a fourteen-year-old child as an apprentice, despite how intelligent and attentive she was? Perhaps Crevan could find someone open-minded enough to accept a young teen as an apprentice. Finding a job for Greta was essential. Crevan rubbed his thumb across his forehead, venting his anxiety through creases that stretched above his eyes.

Crevan’s attention suddenly turned to the ocean where water rose around the ship, running over an enormous creature. He cast another glimpse at the shore where the rowboat was floating. Crevan waved Dillan over. What is that?

Dillan cautiously leaned over the rail, studying the water with a look of dread. "It approached the Odyssey from the south a couple of minutes ago. I’m sure I caught a glimpse of a black tail."

Crevan carefully considered the sea creatures he had studied. Sclem?

That’s what I’m afraid of.

Crevan’s heart pounded harder. He recalled reading about sclem in the Ocean Guide. It was a creature commonly thought to be a myth. Sclem lived in calm, shallow water, crawling on the ocean floor or swimming near the water’s surface in search of prey. Sclem could patrol the water near the coast for hundreds of kilometers, taking out larger ocean creatures, devouring sharks and other predators. They could sense their prey moving in the water or even on boats from over a kilometer.

A sharp, green and black tail breached the surface then swayed away from the ship. A chill rippled down Crevan’s spine. He cast a glance around the deck. Ula get Ranvir and tell him to bring his weapon pack with his bow. We’ll need your help as well.

Ula jogged across the deck while Crevan and Dillan studied the creature that was hunting them. Soon after, she was back. Ula gaped at the creature in the water. Do you have any brilliant ideas on how to defeat a sclem Dad?

Chop off its tail.

Crevan gently shook his head. Its tail is moving too quickly under the water for an arrow. We also can’t outrun it. Fortunately, the sclem didn’t find us until after our scouts were already on shore, and they are enjoying their stay.

I can shoot a flare if we see them get on the rowboat. If I fire one now, they might think I’m telling them to come back.

Keep one handy.

Ranvir yawned as he leaned over the rail. What’s going on?

A sclem.

What?

An enormous sea creature is going to attack soon. Use only aurium arrows.

Ranvir frowned doubtfully. Over the ocean? I’ll lose some.

Better the arrow than you. Wooden arrows won’t penetrate a sclem. Crevan pulled an arrow out of its quiver and casually twisted it around his fingers. Carnivorous sea creatures that could weigh fifteen hundred kilograms and jump onto a ship deck to attack sailors seemed far-fetched, yet one was swimming around the ship. Perhaps it wouldn’t attack at all and they would sail on in peace.

The sclem accelerated around the ship. Crevan shook his head and peered over his shoulder at Ranvir. Aim one meter into the tail.

Ranvir frowned in confusion. The tail?

Only a direct hit one meter into the tail can kill the sclem instantly. The tail stingers are poisonous. The sclem will likely jump onto the deck soon. Stay well away from the sclem unless you have no choice.

Ranvir’s jaw dropped. What does it look like?

It’s a powerful creature with six legs and a thick tail that shoots poison. When attacking, it can swim with astonishing speed. Brace yourself. Crevan’s fingers closed around his bow. He swung it in front of him.

The sclem turned sharply near the Odyssey. It swam further away, then whipped around, charging the ship. Crevan sent Ranvir to the opposite side of the deck. If possible, Ranvir would survive the sclem attack.

It’s attacking! Dillan’s voice was laced with panic.

The sclem charged forward and leapt out of the water, spreading its black fins, and gliding over the rail, scrambling on the deck with its six, stubby legs. Black spots over the sclem’s belly passed in a blur.

Sailors in the Ocean Guide told stories of hitting a sclem with their swords hundreds of times, only to have a sclem fall after a direct hit one meter into its poisonous tail where a heart-like organ was located. Crevan’s aim was true, but the aurium arrow didn’t burrow deep enough. It only made the sclem angry.

The sclem smashed against the rail as it scrambled toward its nearest prey. A splinter shot past Crevan’s shoulder. Dillan jumped behind the mast. The sclem’s tail whipped at the captain. Ula loosened a rope connected to the mast. When the sclem’s tail caught the rope, Ula yanked hard, temporarily slowing the sclem as it writhed around to loosen its tail. Poison splattered out of the tail, littering the deck with hazardous blue goo.

Another arrow flew from Master Crevan’s bow, hitting a little too far down the tail. A bristling tail swung past Dillan. The sclem’s wide jaw opened, its tail curved upward. Ranvir aimed his arrow, hitting the back of the tail. While the tail came down, two more arrows flew from Ranvir’s bow, both misses. One arrow flew into the ocean, the other into the mast.

Dillan swung his sword at the sclem’s side, near its tail. Blue poison from the tail spewed onto Crevan and Dillan, searing Crevan’s face. He shoved his arm across his face to remove the poison.

Troy and Havard arrived on deck, their swords ready. With his strength gone from weeks of seasickness, Havard would not be a tremendous asset. Crevan considered yelling at Havard to return below deck, but they were short on warriors. Whatever help Havard could give would have to suffice. A fleeting thought of what Havard’s family would do without him made Crevan cringe.

Troy knew only the basics of a sword, but he did his best to use what he knew. He tried to draw the attack away from Crevan and Dillan by shoving his sword into the sclem’s side. The sclem turned to Troy, barring its needle-like teeth. The terror on Troy’s face was obvious, even across the deck. Troy ducked, narrowly missing the tail as it smashed into the door leading below deck. Havard swung his sword, barely knocking the tail away from his and Troy’s heads. Ula buried her dagger into the sclem legs, drawing its attention away from Troy. When she yanked her hand away the sclem jerked its leg and smashed her arm. Ula retreated, her arm bleeding.

The sclem’s tail was moving erratically, leaving no opening for Crevan to fire his bow. Crevan ran to the sclem with one of his swords drawn. Gripping the sword tightly with both hands, he swung with all his might. The aurium sword sliced into the sclem’s leg, leaving a sizable gash in the furious monster. Giving the sclem no time to recover, he swung at the next leg, worked around the thrashing sclem, then swung at its third leg, crippling the sclem.

A roar of agony echoed across the deck, making the ship tremble. The sclem’s jaw shook as it barred its threatening teeth. Havard and Ranvir raced forward. Crevan desperately ordered, All of you back away!

Immediately, Havard, Troy, Ula, and Ranvir backed away from the hungry carnivore. The sclem’s tail whipped around, narrowly missing Havard’s leg and slashing its tail at anything nearby, desperately trying to turn the tide of the battle. Crevan ducked underneath the tail and slipped on a pile of blue poison. He allowed his feet to continue sliding and worked his way behind the sclem, dodging the tail. Ranvir fired another arrow into the sclem’s abdomen, a shot that gave Crevan the intended distraction. The sclem scrambled around while Crevan took careful aim for his next hit. The sclem’s tail curved toward Ranvir, Ula, and Havard. Crevan braced his foot against a rail then sliced his sword into another leg.

The sclem’s tail remained curved upward, as though frozen in place, no longer sure of where to aim. Ranvir’s next arrow flew into the tail at the exact spot needed to down the sclem. Unable to control its movements, the sclem rolled onto the deck. Poison poured out of the tail. The sclem released a horrifying screech. Its enormous, black head pounded on the deck. Crevan raised his sword and hacked at the powerful tail until it separated from the sclem, ensuring the creature’s death and releasing a torrent of poison. Crevan carefully worked around pooling poison, along the deck rail to the other side of the sclem.

The Odyssey deck was in ruins. Splinters of wood and aurium arrows poked out of the sclem tail amongst blue poison that tried to seep between cracks on the deck to the innocent passengers anxiously awaiting news below.

Dillan called, Are you alright Ula?

Fine Dad.

Go bandage your arm.

Ula glared, but didn’t debate with Dillan. She carefully wound around the rubble to the stairs leading below deck.

Troy was a good student of the Ocean Guide and knew what needed to happen next. He pulled up a bucket of ocean water then placed it on the deck near Crevan and Dillan. Ranvir stared, thoroughly confused. What are you doing?

Dillan popped a blister on his face. Saltwater neutralizes the poison.

Of an ocean fish?

You don’t want to know.

. . . I kind of do.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Sclem can’t circulate blood on their own. Tiny fish-like creatures that grow in a heart-like organ in the tail do it for them. The tiny creatures travel through the sclem in a circulation cycle, but all blood flows through the tail.

The poison is . . .

Miniscule fish that burrow under your skin and form bubbles by excreting waste to protect themselves.

Ranvir looked like he was going to hurl. The poison is fish waste?

Yes. I did say you didn’t want to know.

And now I believe you. How does shooting the heart-like organ kill the sclem then?

It stops blood flow by blocking off the central passage for the tiny fish. Chopping off the tail forces blood to flow out of the sclem instead of to the sclem’s limbs.

Why does the sclem shoot poison when poison isn’t effective in ocean water?

Sclem are not natural ocean creatures. They fare better in freshwater but can survive in ocean water. They can also swim in larger rivers, but the only river on Peace Island big enough is the Great River. When a sclem attacks prey in the ocean, they inject poison directly into their prey. Sclem only shoot poison when they are above the water and the poison is likely to bind to a target, resulting in a weakened prey. The fish that circulate their blood can’t survive in saltwater unless they create a protective pocket in another animal.

Sclem willingly use their own blood to attack?

They have extra stores of blood and can afford to lose some. The sclem didn’t spew lots of blood either.

That wasn’t a lot of blood?

Nope. Take a look at the deck.

Ranvir paled as he studied blue poison spreading across the deck then drizzling into the ocean. Why didn’t the sclem attack something on the shore?

Dillan shook his head. Sclem are odd creatures! They need to be around water to keep their skin moist, but they can leave the water to hunt for prey, even if the prey is on shore. The sclem attacked us because it sensed us before it noticed nearby prey on the shore.

Sensed us?

They don’t need to see us to know where we are. Crevan grabbed the bucket of saltwater and brought it to the captain’s cabin where he could more easily see his blisters in the mirror.

Dillan followed Crevan to the captain’s cabin. You’re going to survive, right?

Crevan pulled off his soiled shoes, peeling away large blisters on his feet. For now.

Blue poison on their tender, blistering skin gradually turned purple as the saltwater washed it away. Crevan sliced open the shriveling blisters on his feet, trying to ignore blinding pain as the salt killed the creatures producing the poison.

To keep his mind off the pain, Crevan considered the other crew members. What happened to Vic, Ward, and Acton?

Troy is checking on them. Dillan grimaced at the shattered door.

In the morning light, Troy handed the spyglass to Ranvir. What is that?

Ranvir searched the shore with the spyglass. Mmm. Tasty!

What?

It’s a Glauvir. The others are okay, and I can’t shoot the glauvir from here. We should clean the ship.

Crevan breathed out with relief. If a glauvir is in the area, it must be reasonably safe. Glauvir are good at evading predators. We should start sending ill people to shore when our scouts return. We’ll be here for a while to work on repairs.

That makes sense.

While Crevan and Dillan treated their wounds in the cabin, they could hear buckets of seawater splashing onto the deck. Crevan shook his head. "This is too much for our group to handle. We have to repair the Odyssey, care for the ill, clean the ship, and gather food."

Dillan grumbled, "What else are we supposed to do? We already knew we were short on able workers. That’s why Ranvir couldn’t go ashore this morning. He had guard duty on the Odyssey."

Crevan tossed his soiled jacket in a bucket of seawater. Yeah. I’ll think about it.

The echo of a pounding sword caught Crevan’s attention. Dillan peered out the doorway. What? They’re trying to chop up the sclem.

Crevan scoffed.

Dillan shrugged. Do you have a better idea?

Maybe.

They’re going to get poison all over the deck!

The deck is already full of poison.

Hacking a sclem will take days!

No, it won’t. They’ll quit before then.

Crevan and Dillan concentrated on treating their wounds. Eventually, the sound of chopping stopped. Crevan grinned when he heard Vic call to Ranvir and Troy, Hello, all passengers! We bring good news of plentiful animals, but nowhere to put the ship. We’ll have to row everyone to shore. The trees were so beautiful we almost didn’t come back. Have you seen the sunshine today?

Troy hung over the rail. We haven’t had time to notice. Come see what we caught while you were gone.

Are we guessing?

If you want, but you’ll never guess it right.

A shark?

A whale?

A flying fish?

Kraken?

Tasty tuna?

Ward poked his head over the ship deck. What! What happened? What is that thing?

Troy grinned with pride. That, my fellow sailors, is a sclem. It attacked us while you were on shore.

Vic gasped at the sclem. Is the blue goop poison?

Troy grimaced. Judging by what it did to Dad and Master Crevan, I would say, yes.

Is Grandfather Crevan okay?

Probably, but we haven’t seen them for an hour or two.

Maybe we should check on them.

I think they’re still in the captain’s cabin.

Footsteps pattered on the deck. While eyes peered into the cabin, Crevan popped new blisters that were forming under his skin. How was your trip?

Better than your stay. How’s Dad?

Better than Crevan. Dillan rubbed a thick, black salve on his arms then stuck a thumb in Crevan’s direction. That insane master chopped off the sclem’s legs by himself!

Crevan muttered, Better me than you or anyone else on this ship.

Dillan glared at blisters on his arm. At least we all survived.

How bad are the blisters?

I need more seawater. This salve isn’t relieving the itching.

I’ll get you some. Vic ran to the side of the ship, pulled up a bucket of water then slapped it on the table in the captain’s cabin.

Dillan dipped his arms in the bucket of saltwater, cringing with a mixture of pain and relief. Crevan dunked his head in the water then let the water drip off his face. Do we have any aloe vera or hyanbin?

Troy took a step back. I’ll ask Mom. I think we have to boil the hyanbin to extract the oil.

Remember that hyanbin water is poisonous.

Troy rolled his eyes. I know Dad.

Vic, Ward, and Acton walked around the sclem that was still sprawled out on the deck as they talked, Did it really jump on the ship?

Jump on the ship? Ward grew up on land and was less familiar with ocean creatures than Vic and Acton, who were both Dillan’s sons.

When they attack, they can jump on the ship.

Ranvir began a detailed story of what happened. Dillan chuckled. Ranvir enjoys telling a good story.

He always has. Crevan wrinkled his nose at the awful stench coming from the sclem.

Ranvir finished the story then stepped into the cabin. Grandpa, we have a problem.

What is it?

It’s going to take a long time to chop the sclem then get the pieces off the ship. I didn’t realize that sclem were this tough. No wonder my arrows barely made it into the sclem’s tail!

Crevan nodded. Rig the block and tackle then use the winch to lift the sclem off the ship in one piece.

Ranvir’s jaw fell open. How do we do that?

We’ll have to reinforce the beams first. Take care of your hands before the toxin spreads. Crevan pointed to Ranvir’s leather gloves, soaked in sclem blood.

Ranvir flinched as he pulled off his leather gloves, revealing blue blisters where the sclem blood had soaked through. Ranvir dunked his hands in the saltwater and popped blisters under the water, his face laced with pain. Crevan scrubbed his feet again, popped more blisters, then scrubbed his arms until they were raw.

Finally, Troy brought in a metal cup. Here’s the hyanbin oil.

Thanks, Dillan roughly grabbed the cup, his arms shaking, most likely from pain. Crevan checked his own arms and discovered the same malady. He smeared the shiny, hyanbin oil on his face, making him look like an old piece of wet pottery.

A boy with scraggly, brown hair and a large mouth stepped inside the cabin. Hi, Grandpa! Are you alright?

I’ll be fine, Ward. What did you find on the shore?

"It’s a nice bit of shore. We should be able to find some food and maybe materials to repair the Odyssey. Since repair materials weren’t on our list, we weren’t looking for them."

Crevan frowned at the sclem on the deck. The sick people will get off first. We can dispose of the sclem after they are on shore. If any of this poison reaches Dalton . . . Crevan studied the shore, considering the hazardous, rocky terrain, how difficult it was for Dalton to move, and the cold nights. Was it worth the chance for Dalton to be on solid ground? Crevan sadly shook his head. Then again, Dalton might be safer where he is.

Ranvir shuddered. Do you think we will see another sclem?

Dillan shook his head vigorously. "The Ocean Guide says sclem are solitary and territorial. We shouldn’t see another sclem anytime soon. We need to start repairs, and someone needs to guard the people on shore."

Crevan gazed past the crippled deck at the distant mountains. I’ll send Ranvir over to guard the shore. Havard will need to be on shore but it will take weeks for him to recover enough for guard duty.

Dillan unwrapped a bandage on his arm and tightened it. "Troy and Vic take a full load to the shore, then come back with the boat. Do a quick search for materials to repair the Odyssey while you’re there."

Troy, Vic, and Ranvir scampered around the ship, gathering supplies and passengers to fill the rowboat. The first load held the most ill, a canopy, and some meager bedding. Havard kept his aurium sword on his back with his quiver of arrows in hopes that better days lay ahead. Crevan stood on the deck with a large water bag, gulping water and nibbling on dried fish from Dillan’s cabin. Slowly, the shaking subsided.

Cheryl clutched Stan with one arm and her belly with the other, diverting her eyes from the sclem. Kiku did not take to the sea well. Her pale complexion was equaled only by her uncle Havard. Crevan wasn’t sure she could see clearly enough to identify the sclem. Ranvir had to carry her part-way to the rowboat, her eyes wide with terror. Kiku curled up on the wooden seat while Havard laid down in the bottom of the boat.

Troy, Vic, and Ranvir rowed toward the rocky shore. Dillan nudged his chin at the pulley. Are you ready for a challenge, Crevan?

This entire trip has been a challenge. Why stop now?

Dillan guffawed. Let’s get to work on the pulley.

Together Crevan and Dillan cut an angle out of an old ship rail to mount the pulley more securely to the ship. Ula arrived on the deck, glaring. What are you doing?

Crevan nudged his chin at the sclem. We’re strengthening the arm to accommodate the sclem’s weight.

The bandage on Ula’s arm stretched around her muscle as she waved her hand. I’ve got this.

Dillan shook his head. Rest your arm Ula.

I don’t want you messing with my frames Dad.

Dillan muttered, "Ula is a little protective of the Odyssey."

Crevan willingly yielded the task to Ula, the most experienced woodworker on the ship. She enlisted Crevan and Dillan’s assistance to add an extension on the beam. They reinforced the beam with scrap wood from the sclem attack. While Ula continued reinforcing the beam, Crevan and Dillan modified the block and tackle and reattached the worm winch.

Ula struggled to hold in place a board that probably weighed more than she did. Crevan stabilized it while Ula hammered in rusty nails. Troy and Vic climbed over the rail, side-stepping around the poison. Crevan wrapped a large, steel hook around one of the sclem legs. Dillan called Troy and Vic to help push the sclem off the deck. Ula glared at the shattered rail. Snatching a saw, she cut through the railing, providing an opening to dispose of the sclem.

Crevan jogged below deck and snatched some glinirv skin. He wrapped the glinirv skin around his leather shoes then tossed more scraps to Vic and Troy. Dillan and Ula cranked the wheel. The pulley creaked and groaned as Crevan, Troy, and Vic shoved the sclem across the deck, sliding in goop. Crevan picked up a scrap of wood and aimed for the sclem’s abdomen, his feet planted firmly in a rare, dry portion of the deck. He buried the wood into the speckled, black skin. The pulley rope rolled around a wheel as the sclem swung closer to the pulley. Finally, the sclem slid toward the ocean. Fearing the others would be injured if the sclem rolled unpredictably, Crevan hollered, Ula, Vic and Troy, back up!

The rope slipped. Dillan called out to Crevan. With a quick leap to the side, Crevan avoided the whipping rope. The sclem pounded on the side of the ship then plummeted into the gray waves.

The ship rocked in the water, protesting the sudden change in its center of gravity. Crevan clutched a rail as the ship rocked in the opposite direction then settled in the water until it regained its characteristic up and down motion.

Ula scoffed. My part held!

Dillan laughed, but Crevan didn’t find the situation amusing. He removed his shoes, covered with blue poison, jogged down the stairs leading below deck and ran to Dalton’s bunk. He wasn’t there. A groan from the other side of the room alerted Crevan to his son’s location. Crevan carefully knelt next to Dalton. Are you alright?

Dalton choked on his words, making it nearly impossible for Crevan to understand. Another bruise that I’m sure won’t go away.

I’m sorry, Dalton. I would have sent you to the shore, but I wasn’t sure you would be better off there. It’s cold outside. Crevan lifted Dalton and gently placed him back in his bed, ignoring the pain in his feet from both new and old blisters. Do you need anything while I’m here?

Dalton wriggled his finger.

Crevan knelt next to Dalton’s bed. What is it?

A promise.

Name it.

If I make it to Bern Village, I won’t live much longer. We both know that. Will you help my children? All of them are still young.

I’ll help them until you recover and can take care of them yourself. Get some rest. There is still a chance the medicine will work.

I doubt it. Dalton sipped some water then fell asleep.

Crevan tapped his head against the bed frame, whispering, Why Dalton? Haven’t I lost enough? Crevan desperately held onto the small chance that Dalton would recover. After the ship made it to the shore south of Bern Village, it would take days for Dalton to go from the seashore to his new home. If Crevan followed through with his plan, chances were good he would see his son again.

When Crevan turned away from Dalton’s bed, Greta was glaring at him. You tell Dalton he’ll get better, yet while he is asleep you act as though he is most certainly going to die. Which is it?

Crevan closed his eyes. Don’t mind the ramblings of a discouraged, old man Greta. Have hope until there is no chance for any. Crevan climbed the stairs to rinse his feet in more seawater. In the cabin, Crevan withheld a yell of pain when the seawater stung his raw skin. He popped more blisters, rinsed his shoes, then slid the wet shoes on his burning feet. Crevan considered leaving his shoes off, but salt from the water would help prevent more blisters from forming. He gritted his teeth and endured the pain.

Dillan was starting repairs with Troy by his side. Crevan turned away from the sight of Dillan and Troy, lifting a damaged beam from the rail. I’m going to the shore, Dillan. I’ll return tomorrow.

Vic and Acton need to gather repair materials. They’ll go with you.

How is Ula?

She’ll be alright. I told her to tend her arm and let it heal for the rest of the day. That’s why she’s repairing the rail instead of doing the heavy lifting.

Ula glared at Dillan while tossing a rail half her weight onto a couple of sawhorses.

Crevan chortled as he picked up his jacket, now neutralized from the poison, but obviously stained. Slinging it across his shoulder, he quietly descended the stairs and took a quick look at Dalton who was sleeping peacefully in his bed. Crevan climbed the stairs then stepped down the ladder to a rowboat and started rowing with Vic and Acton. Ignoring Vic and Acton’s chatter, he deliberated over what course of action would be best for their group. Soon they arrived at the rocky shore.

Chapter 2:  Vastus Forest

The shore was thick with trees that shaded piles of snow. Chilly wind numbed the stinging pain on Crevan’s face. His feet, hands and face were still bleeding, but the most intense pain from the sclem attack was gone.

Climbing the rocks was a nice relief after weeks on the ship. The unsteady feeling in his legs slowly dissipated. Tracks in filthy, crunchy snow made it easy to see which way his family went. Crevan followed the trail. The canopy Crevan sent wouldn’t be a perfect shelter, but it would help contain the wind and snow. It was the best they could do to accommodate their ill people.

Trees grew between cracks in the rocks. Snow covered most of the ground away from the water. Ranvir had found a somewhat flat spot in a small clearing. Fiveral branches