Midnight came too soon. I drank two mugs of grog on an empty stomach just before the witching hour. The initial buzz helped to quell the anxious stirring in my gut, but as soon as I ascended to the deck a tremor started in my middle as terror invaded.
Captain Einar was there waiting at Waist Deck, looking dapper but nervous. The other three chosen to accompany our captain for the summoning approached from different parts of the ship. My fellow Apolake Warriors, Ritthirong, Satwaki and Telemachus, looked as jittery as I felt.
Glancing at Captain Einar, I could see his reticence with the task at hand but we had no choice. The attack of the sea creature and the loss of a warrior to its appetite had to be addressed. Mitigating further loss of man power was of utmost importance. The Tonrar had to be summoned. Their protection was necessary for our survival against this new threat.
Captain Einar slowly locked eyes with each of us, then lifted his chin and spoke the summoning chant loudly into the howling wind.
“Wraiths of wrath come fulfill your destined path. I summon you from below, let your terror flow. Bring your power and your storm, take on whatever form. Come and destroy our foe, crush them with your deadly blow. May Casimer’s name be raised, by your work bring him praise. Listen now to my demand; surround us with your presence where we stand. Appear now and fulfill Casimer’s orders, come assist as we enforce Dwarkaa’s borders. ”
Then all five of us ended the chant with, “All praise be to our High Lord, Casimer.”
We braced ourselves and waited for the Tonrar to appear. Their coming was always obvious. Although the typical dark, approaching cloud would not be able to be detected in the darkness of night, we anticipated feeling their aura precede them. It didn’t take long.
The air grew heavy and thick so that it was difficult to take a good breath without inducing chest pain. Through the haze of the few blazing torches placed strategically on deck, I could see the dark cloud settle down before us. The Tonrar’s hateful quality flowed like smoke from a smoldering fire to encompass the five of us.
Every fiber of my being stood on guard for any foul play by the shape-shifting wraiths. Although we desperately needed their protection, there was no great trust between us. Our mutual hate for each other was like two enemy clans in a face off, the Tonrar threatening and the ship captain demanding they comply.
The cloud of oppression slowly separated and the members of the Tonrar crew became visible as they took on malleable substance. The leader’s vaporous form slowly took shape, his massive otherworldly size towering over us. His head was that of a crocodile, his body a man and his torso the legs of an elk. Other forms of the Tonrar appeared around him, all of them a combination of man/animal, all of them large and intimidating.
Captain Einar stepped forward and spoke. “You are required to protect us from the foul creatures of the sea. They have returned and you are commanded to destroy them when they appear.”
The Tonrar leader chuckled in derision, the sound of it causing my skin to quiver in fear. Their very presence carried an evil so tangible it was hard to endure, making it nearly impossible to think clearly or remain stoic.
“There are no sea creatures. We destroyed them all long ago.” His low, gravelly voice brought another wave of indescribable panic scurrying up my spine.
Captain Einar said, “They are back. They attacked my ship and took a man.”
“Impossible.”
“It happened. Ask any of these four men with me.”
The Tonrar said, “You simply killed a man and threw him overboard. Now you want us to cover your bloodshed, hide it from Casimer.”
That was rich coming from wraiths that thrived on bloodshed.
Einar raised his voice a degree. “We demand your protection from this new threat. We cannot fulfill Dwarkaa’s assignment without some assurance of protection from the sea creatures.”
“Prove that they exist,” the man beast growled.
“Have one of the Tonrar go and inspect the deck at the bow. You’ll see it covered in the creature’s blood.”
I was thankful at that moment that Einar had insisted the blood stains not be washed off. At least there was some evidence of the struggle.
The lead Tonrar didn’t have to utter a word. One of the foul wraiths vaporized, the dark cloud exiting as it floated quickly toward the bow. It returned, took on its former shape and said, “It is as he says. There is blood covering the floor.”
“Our protection will cost you dearly.”
“It is your duty,” Einar insisted.
“Not this. Encouraging the killing on the farrins is our duty.”
“Fulfilling the demands of Dwarkaa is your obligation, whatever that may entail. Right now, the protection of my warriors is your responsibility. Without that we cannot fulfill our assignment.”
The evil croc-apparition grinned wickedly. “What is that to me?”
“If we fail, so do you and we will both be punished.”
Fear invaded the wraiths eyes for a moment before it was replaced with disdain. The ghoul snarled, “It will cost you.”
“If you try anything against any man on this ship you will be reported.”
The temptation in the Tonrar’s black misty eyes was intense but so was the fear of being ratted on. He growled gutturally, his utter hatred flowing toward us in waves. I had a feeling we would be made to pay in some way for their help but I pushed that thought aside and tried to focus amidst the terror prickling my skin.
“What do you want from us?” the Tonrar finally asked.
“Kill any threat from the sea that tries to attack. Destroy every sea creature that comes against us.”
The leader’s long crocodile snout snarled as though it was a wild dog, revealing its razor sharp teeth.
Einar said, “I charge you by the High Name of our Lord Casimer.”
Before the Tonrar could respond, a piercing sound sliced through the atmosphere and the ship pitched crazily to the starboard side. The Tonrar disappeared into dark cloud and mist as they dispersed out over the side of the ship and over the rough water. We could no longer see them but neither could we see what made the ship buck the way it did or what creature split the air with that horrible squealing.
The five of us withdrew our swords and huddled with backs together, facing the sea on both sides of the ship. The vessel settled into its familiar rocking but that didn’t mean we were safe. We waited and listened.
Another shriek rent the silence and this time I saw, by the flickering light of the torches, a massive slimy flow of creature lift from the sea and swirl slowly, lithely next to the ship. It appeared snakelike as its massive body flowed on and on until the tail flicked up and sent our ship skittering crazily. I nearly lost my footing as the ship rocked madly from side to side. The size of the creature’s middle appeared as deep and wide as our hull, utterly massive in size. Never had I witnessed such a fantastical sight, its bulk putting the previous creature to shame.
The Tonrar’s copious, oppressive presence flowed around our vessel as they sought to get the best advantage over the sea monster. The Tonrar refused to enter enclosed, dark places, the sea being one of them. The only way they could possibly overpower a creature of the violent water is by destroying any exposed area.
I waited with the other men, expecting a return visit by the massive snake-like being. Another sound pierced the air. I was sure the sound came from up above but it was impossible to see into the inky darkness. The animal-like sound was somewhat familiar and I couldn’t place it.
The expected snake attack never came. We waited for at least half an hour. The heavy torment of the Tonrar grew lighter and I slowly lowered my guard.
I doubted that the Tonrar destroyed the creature. There would have been tell-tale sounds and they would have returned with proof, bragging of their kill, bringing us a piece of the sea monster as a boast of their proficiency.
Another thought brought on a wave of panic. If the Tonrar were unsuccessful with the assignment to destroy the sea creature, they might take their thwarted efforts out on us. Their lust for the kill could backfire on us.
Captain Einar must have thought the same thing. “Everyone below deck, now.”
He was taking no chances. The Tonrar never enter below deck. At least there was one place we were safe from their murderous ways.
We joined the other Apolake Warriors who were congregated in the main room/dining area. They all stared at us as we entered.
“What happened out there?” one man asked.
“The ship rocked wildly. What caused it?” asked another.
Captain Einar said, “Another sea creature, different than the last one.”
“Did the Tonrar come?”
“Yes.”
“Did they defeat the creature?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Then it might return,” said another man, fear in his eyes.
Einar said, “I need to inform you all. The sea creature we saw was massive, much larger than the one that took Onndria. If this is a new threat to our farrin patrol, we have much to overcome. The danger has increased exponentially.”
“And what of the Tonrar? Are they willing to protect us?”
“They did eventually agree.”
“But did they kill it?”
“There was no sign of a kill. I don’t believe they were successful.”
Murmuring filled the space. Fear was evident on each warrior’s face. I am sure the same emotion showed on mine. My gut quivered from the encounter up above and my hands shook.
The room began to erupt in discussion, everyone giving advice on how to mitigate total destruction for the remainder of our farrin patrol.
My mind was full of the noise I’d heard, that second shriek from the skies above and I began to wonder. Other thoughts invaded. Perhaps my survival was necessary. Perhaps someone was watching over me. What if my life was important enough that the lives of my comrades were also being spared? If this was true then no creature of the sea, no matter how massive, would be able to destroy our ship or the lives that occupied it. So, yes, one man was snatched but perhaps something or someone was keeping an eye on me.
I was very aware how crazy my musings were. No one watches out for anyone in this world. Everyone watches his own back. Although as warriors we would defend each other if possible, the way we tried to help Onndria escape the many-armed creature. Our ruler, Casimer, cares for no one but himself and the well-being of his followers does not concern him.
How could I believe someone was actually watching out for me? This theory had no merit in my reality and yet I had this uncanny sense that maybe it was true. If my involvement with Kranti’s army and the revolution was significant enough, perhaps my life was worth saving.
A strong, baffling urge hit me at that moment. I knew I needed to go back up on deck. There was no reasonable explanation for it and following this inclination could end badly for me, especially if the Tonrar were in the near vicinity and eager for a kill. To go alone could be a suicide mission. The more I attempted to ignore this impulse, the stronger it grew until I separated myself from the group, left the room and headed for the steep ladder to the deck.
