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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7552811" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Chapter 248</p><p></p><p>The <em>Golden Gull</em> bobbed lightly at anchor in the sheltered island cove. It was a moonless night, and the only light came from several banked lanterns that only released enough of a glow to illuminate the decks of the ship. The only sound was the soft gurgle of water as the pumps continued their laborious effort of keeping the wounded vessel afloat.</p><p></p><p>A lot of work had already been accomplished. The cleaned trunk of what would become the new mast lay across the main deck, its ends sticking out over the water to each side of the ship. It had taken a lot of effort, first to find and cut down the tree, then to drag it back to the beach. It had been far too large to carry in the ship’s boat, so they’d attached lines and floats and dragged it over to the <em>Gull</em> once the initial work of preparing the trunk had been completed. There would be a lot more work to do before it could be lifted into place and attached to the stubby remnant of the original mast, but at least that work could be done on the ship. After the attack by the giant crocodiles, enthusiasm for exploring the island had waned considerably. They did find a spring while looking for the right tree, but it was considerably inland and getting the water into the ship’s barrels might end up being more trouble than it was worth. Captain Sond had promised to consider the matter.</p><p></p><p>Bredan thought about the day’s events as he stood watch on the raised aft deck of the <em>Gull</em>. His arms and shoulders burned, both from the mauling he’d taken from the crocodile and the hard labor of getting the new mast back to the ship. Quellan had spent another healing spell on him when he’d finally gotten back aboard, but it wasn’t just his aches and pains that were keeping him awake. He didn’t have to stand this watch. No one either among his companions or on the crew would have asked it of him after the day’s adventures, but he’d felt restless. The calm quiet of night in the shelter of the bay was a soothing balm to a mind run ragged by the events of the last few months.</p><p></p><p>A slight sound drew his attention around, reminding him that he was supposed to be keeping watch, not reflecting on his current situation. He could see the other two sentries from his current vantage, both members of Sond’s crew. One was walking back and forth across the main deck, while the other sat on a barrel on the forecastle, his back against the solidity of the foremast.</p><p></p><p>But the source of the sound wasn’t either man, but a shadowed figure that appeared on the narrow stairs that led down to the main deck. Bredan lacked the special vision that all of his companions possessed, but he didn’t need it to recognize the familiar presence of Xeeta. She was carrying a cup of steaming liquid, which she handed over to him as she joined him at the aft rail.</p><p></p><p>“Coffee,” she said. “Thought you might want something to help keep you awake on watch.”</p><p></p><p>“Thanks,” he said. He sipped at the liquid, but it was still too hot.</p><p></p><p>“So,” she said. “What about you and my brother?”</p><p></p><p>“Brother?” Bredan asked.</p><p></p><p>“There’s no way to know for sure,” she said. “But what happened in Li Syval suggests that we’re more closely related than we thought. We had different mothers, but we never were told who—or what—our fathers were.” She didn’t mention the look that the horned devil had given her as it stepped back through the portal into its own world. “I spoke with Quellan, and he said that the ritual Kalev used, there would have had to have been a strong link between us for the magic to bring him here, all the way from the Silverpeak Valley.”</p><p></p><p>“There isn’t anything between me and Rodan,” Bredan said. “Not right now.”</p><p></p><p>“He doesn’t blame you for what happened,” Xeeta said.</p><p></p><p>“He wouldn’t be here right now if not for that damned book,” Bredan said. “None of us would be here.”</p><p></p><p>“He chose to join this expedition,” Xeeta said. “We all did. I asked him why. He told me that he never thought it would be up to our kind to help save the world.”</p><p></p><p>“We’re not saving the world,” Bredan said absently.</p><p></p><p>“That’s what I told him,” Xeeta said. “Sometimes… saving each other’s enough.”</p><p></p><p>Bredan sipped his coffee and put his other arm around her. “I am glad you’re here,” he said.</p><p></p><p>“Will you talk to him?”</p><p></p><p>“You’re starting to sound like Glori,” he said.</p><p></p><p>“That isn’t an answer.”</p><p></p><p>“No. All right. I’ll talk to him. I promise.”</p><p></p><p>“Good,” she said.</p><p></p><p>He sipped again at the coffee. “How are you doing?” he asked.</p><p></p><p>She stared out at the open sea, beyond the waves that frothed as they passed over the hidden reef that warded the natural harbor. She didn’t need to ask what he meant. “I thought I would know what it would mean to come back,” she said.</p><p></p><p>“You couldn’t have known what would happen,” he said.</p><p></p><p>“It’s not that. Not just that. I’m glad that bastard Kalev got what was coming to him, anyway. I’m not sure I can explain it.”</p><p></p><p>“I know how you feel,” he said.</p><p></p><p>She looked up at him. “I guess you do.”</p><p></p><p>He released her and started to take another drink, but hesitated. For a moment he’d thought he’d heard something over the constant gush of the pumps. At first he couldn’t see the sentry on the main deck, but when he took a few steps forward he could see the man, now leaning on the rail with his back to the island. A plume of smoke rose from his mouth, briefly hanging in the air before the night breeze caught hold of it.</p><p></p><p>But the man on the forecastle was gone. He might have slipped below for a moment, but…</p><p></p><p>“Bredan, what…” Xeeta asked, but he lifted a hand for quiet. He listened intently, and finally heard something, a soft scrape against the wood of the ship.</p><p></p><p>He quickly made his way over to the side of the ship that faced out toward the ocean, and leaned over the rail. The starlight did not provide much in way of illumination, but it was enough for him to make out the humanoid forms climbing up the side of the ship. A face that was in no way human looked up at him and let out a harsh hiss.</p><p></p><p>“Attack!” he yelled, summoning his sword. “We’re under attack!”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 7552811, member: 143"] Chapter 248 The [i]Golden Gull[/i] bobbed lightly at anchor in the sheltered island cove. It was a moonless night, and the only light came from several banked lanterns that only released enough of a glow to illuminate the decks of the ship. The only sound was the soft gurgle of water as the pumps continued their laborious effort of keeping the wounded vessel afloat. A lot of work had already been accomplished. The cleaned trunk of what would become the new mast lay across the main deck, its ends sticking out over the water to each side of the ship. It had taken a lot of effort, first to find and cut down the tree, then to drag it back to the beach. It had been far too large to carry in the ship’s boat, so they’d attached lines and floats and dragged it over to the [i]Gull[/i] once the initial work of preparing the trunk had been completed. There would be a lot more work to do before it could be lifted into place and attached to the stubby remnant of the original mast, but at least that work could be done on the ship. After the attack by the giant crocodiles, enthusiasm for exploring the island had waned considerably. They did find a spring while looking for the right tree, but it was considerably inland and getting the water into the ship’s barrels might end up being more trouble than it was worth. Captain Sond had promised to consider the matter. Bredan thought about the day’s events as he stood watch on the raised aft deck of the [i]Gull[/i]. His arms and shoulders burned, both from the mauling he’d taken from the crocodile and the hard labor of getting the new mast back to the ship. Quellan had spent another healing spell on him when he’d finally gotten back aboard, but it wasn’t just his aches and pains that were keeping him awake. He didn’t have to stand this watch. No one either among his companions or on the crew would have asked it of him after the day’s adventures, but he’d felt restless. The calm quiet of night in the shelter of the bay was a soothing balm to a mind run ragged by the events of the last few months. A slight sound drew his attention around, reminding him that he was supposed to be keeping watch, not reflecting on his current situation. He could see the other two sentries from his current vantage, both members of Sond’s crew. One was walking back and forth across the main deck, while the other sat on a barrel on the forecastle, his back against the solidity of the foremast. But the source of the sound wasn’t either man, but a shadowed figure that appeared on the narrow stairs that led down to the main deck. Bredan lacked the special vision that all of his companions possessed, but he didn’t need it to recognize the familiar presence of Xeeta. She was carrying a cup of steaming liquid, which she handed over to him as she joined him at the aft rail. “Coffee,” she said. “Thought you might want something to help keep you awake on watch.” “Thanks,” he said. He sipped at the liquid, but it was still too hot. “So,” she said. “What about you and my brother?” “Brother?” Bredan asked. “There’s no way to know for sure,” she said. “But what happened in Li Syval suggests that we’re more closely related than we thought. We had different mothers, but we never were told who—or what—our fathers were.” She didn’t mention the look that the horned devil had given her as it stepped back through the portal into its own world. “I spoke with Quellan, and he said that the ritual Kalev used, there would have had to have been a strong link between us for the magic to bring him here, all the way from the Silverpeak Valley.” “There isn’t anything between me and Rodan,” Bredan said. “Not right now.” “He doesn’t blame you for what happened,” Xeeta said. “He wouldn’t be here right now if not for that damned book,” Bredan said. “None of us would be here.” “He chose to join this expedition,” Xeeta said. “We all did. I asked him why. He told me that he never thought it would be up to our kind to help save the world.” “We’re not saving the world,” Bredan said absently. “That’s what I told him,” Xeeta said. “Sometimes… saving each other’s enough.” Bredan sipped his coffee and put his other arm around her. “I am glad you’re here,” he said. “Will you talk to him?” “You’re starting to sound like Glori,” he said. “That isn’t an answer.” “No. All right. I’ll talk to him. I promise.” “Good,” she said. He sipped again at the coffee. “How are you doing?” he asked. She stared out at the open sea, beyond the waves that frothed as they passed over the hidden reef that warded the natural harbor. She didn’t need to ask what he meant. “I thought I would know what it would mean to come back,” she said. “You couldn’t have known what would happen,” he said. “It’s not that. Not just that. I’m glad that bastard Kalev got what was coming to him, anyway. I’m not sure I can explain it.” “I know how you feel,” he said. She looked up at him. “I guess you do.” He released her and started to take another drink, but hesitated. For a moment he’d thought he’d heard something over the constant gush of the pumps. At first he couldn’t see the sentry on the main deck, but when he took a few steps forward he could see the man, now leaning on the rail with his back to the island. A plume of smoke rose from his mouth, briefly hanging in the air before the night breeze caught hold of it. But the man on the forecastle was gone. He might have slipped below for a moment, but… “Bredan, what…” Xeeta asked, but he lifted a hand for quiet. He listened intently, and finally heard something, a soft scrape against the wood of the ship. He quickly made his way over to the side of the ship that faced out toward the ocean, and leaned over the rail. The starlight did not provide much in way of illumination, but it was enough for him to make out the humanoid forms climbing up the side of the ship. A face that was in no way human looked up at him and let out a harsh hiss. “Attack!” he yelled, summoning his sword. “We’re under attack!” [/QUOTE]
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