The ship deck was eerily quiet except for the violent wind lacerating my hair and whipping at my Apolake Warrior uniform. I was surprised that the atmosphere was clear of the Tonrar’s heavy leverage. I was sure I’d be caught alone with the oppressive wraiths as soon as I came up on deck and had anticipated being bombarded with another wave of heaviness, rendering my lungs tight and screaming for air. My torturous death at the Tonrar’s hands played through my mind over and over again.
The strong compulsion I had felt down below to come alone still urged me on. I walked to one of the torches set in its sconce, withdrew it and headed for the stern. When I arrived, I stood in the center and faced the angry, churning sea. Inky black sky stared at me and the night silence shrouded me. I was uncertain why I was there, staring out into an incomprehensible and sullied view. My single torch did nothing to shed any light on potential danger coming from the sea, it simply lit the general area where I stood, the floor boards beneath my feet, the rail directly before me and the gear and tackle to my right.
I felt exposed and idiotic. Never had I responded to an impulse such as this before, although I couldn’t recall ever having had such a strong inclination to do something so out-of-character. My default response is rational, carefully weighing all danger, taking precaution as the situation demands. I threw all caution to the wind when I decided to go upside that night, with no fellow warrior to offer protection and no clear reason for such a careless move. With the attacks we endured from sea creatures I should have remained down below with my fellow warriors
Relative silence in the air caused my heart to race and fear beckoned me to retreat. Just as I was about to turn around, head back below deck, a sound made me pause.
I looked out into utter darkness, straining to see what caused the noise. Holding my torch higher I thought to gain a better perspective but it failed to penetrate the blackness around me. Thoughts of the light drawing the Tonrar back to the ship made me quickly lower the torch. I contemplated extinguishing it and hiding myself the best I knew how. The housing for some of the gear was just behind me and would provide some cover should the Tonrar approach.
As I stepped back toward the partial enclosed area, a loud roar bellowed above me and pulses of wind pushed me backwards. Within moments my torch began to highlight and glint off massive black wings that floated down to the stern before me. I stepped back farther to put as much distance between us, threw the torch into the air, caught it in my left hand and withdrew my sword with my right. As soon as it alighted I recognized the large beast.
On its back rode the most beautiful woman, the same one that appeared to me in my first night vision.
“Suma,” I said, but didn’t relax my battle stance.
The dragon lowered to its haunches. Suma slipped her leg over the dragon’s back, stepped onto the beast’s leg and lithely disembarked. Stepping toward me, the light illuminated her face further and I was struck by her stunning features, full lips, smooth ivory skin, blue piercing eyes that looked straight through me, clean blond hair falling past her shoulders and blowing about in a soft wind. She was more spectacular in real than when she appeared to me in my dream.
As she stopped before me, she gave a slight smile, which caused her to look even more beautiful. “Hello Razmig.”
I was surprised how the wind had immediately calmed at her coming. “How are you able to affect the wind? Are you like the Tonrar?”
She smiled wide. “Do you feel heaviness in the atmosphere?”
“None. It is easy to breathe.”
“Exactly. The calm Tarmon Farrin brings is free of all oppression.”
The information was astounding. “Why have you come?” I asked.
“I have been sent to facilitate your survival through this farrin patrol.”
“To protect me from the sea creatures?”
“And from the Tonrar. They are growing restless. They sense that things are changing and they are furious and terrified. Trusting them would be foolhardy.”
I relaxed my battle stance and lowered my sword slightly. “How can I be sure that you are trustworthy?”
“You still doubt? You saw me in the dream. What I foretold has happened. Einar is now your captain. And now I am here, flesh and blood before you. Why do you doubt?”
I had no answer. “How will you protect me?”
“Towsaj has commissioned me to keep the Tonrar at bay. He has also informed me that the sea creatures were sent only as a distraction, to keep the other warriors down below as we talk.”
I looked around to see if anyone had heard Suma speak his name. The name of Mowae, she calls him Towsaj, still feels like a curse word, forbidden to be spoken by anyone by our Lord Casimer within Dwarkaa’s Domain. “But Onndria was taken, killed by the many armed creature. What if it would have grabbed me instead?”
“I would have intervened.”
“How?”
“Tarmon has weapons that you would not understand. I would have used one of them and no one would have noticed that I intervened at all. The creature would have returned to the sea and your life would have been spared. The members of your ship would have simply attributed it to some good luck.”
“Why didn’t you spare Onndria? Was his life not worth sparing?”
“He made his choice and you have made yours. Tarman is watching you, has a purpose for you and since you’ve agreed to assist us, your life has become very valuable.”
I thought her statement over carefully before asking my next question. “Why have the sea creatures returned? We thought they were all destroyed generations ago.”
“Most were extinguished by Casimer’s ruthless decrees. He has been relentless in his destruction of anything that would remind him of Towsaj.”
My chest tightened at her casual mention of Towsaj. “Why are the creatures a reminder?”
“Don’t be afraid, Razmig. No one will hear us. We are being shrouded by Towsaj’s power.”
I nodded but it bothered me that she recognized my fear.
Suma said, “Most of the land creatures that used to roam this world have been snuffed out. Only the hardiest and those hidden away on different land masses still survive. The mighty sea creatures are the only ones that have been able to hide in the black, turbulent waters. They withdrew for a time, have reproduced and were protected by Tarmon Farrin, the place Towsaj retreated to.”
“They live near Tarmon?”
“Yes, they were shielded there.”
“Why have they returned to the seas?”
“They will offer a perfect distraction to Tarman Farrin’s plans. The Tonrar will be consumed with the task of destroying the sea giants, the ship captains will be thrown into dread and confusion and every warrior will quake in fear of their lives. Knowing that your life will be protected will afford you a boldness others will not enjoy. This will allow you to do your work undetected and hidden from suspicion.”
“I know the work I’m required to do. I inform Kranti of which ship to attack as I receive instruction to do so. I’ve already sent the message to him on this tour of farrins.”
“There is much more for you to do.”
“Tell me,” I demanded.
“When you arrive home there will be a formal invitation sent out by the Royal Palace and from the High Sentinel Command. The invitation will be offered to all Apolake Warriors. They will request volunteers to travel to Akoni Farrin.”
“Akoni Farrin? My former ship captain, Donagh, took over that jurisdiction. Akoni Farrin is part of his farrin patrol. Why are they looking for another crew?”
“His ship never returned at its designated time. Months have passed since its expected arrival back on Dwarkaa. The ship is presumed destroyed by the violent seas and its crew is considered deceased.”
This news shook me. I’d never had feelings of warmth toward Donagh but I’d worked beneath him for many years. He was a capable and efficient sea captain. To think that he perished with the ship was a blow.
“Do you know what has happened to the ship and men?”
Suma’s look was hard to read. She studied me for a few minutes and then said, “That is not important. You are being asked to volunteer for this scouting mission.”
“Why would they bother sending out another crew of men?”
“Casimer is desperate to know what has happened to the ship and men that perished. He is determined to crush Akoni Farrin and its clan. He will continue to send ship crews to Akoni until he learns what’s taking place there and makes an example of the clan.”
“This will never happen.” I said it as a statement but I was asking for information.
“You will ensure that it looks as though Akoni is sufficiently punished and crushed.”
“What are you implying? Are we to really destroy Akoni Farrin’s clan?”
“I didn’t say that. You are simply being asked to make it appear that way.”
“And then what?”
“Return to Dwarkaa Farrin with your report.”
“I cannot report anything. I’m simply one of the Apolake Warrior Crew.”
“Not anymore. When you volunteer you will be asked to captain the ship.”
I shook my head. I had no interest in taking the position of captain. Being in such a visible job would bring too much attention and scrutiny. The idea seemed foolish, especially in light of my role in the planned revolution.
“I don’t want this role. I will refuse it.”
“You must take it. There’s no other way.”
“How will I bring back a false report without risking my life? I will have a crew of men who are fiercely dedicated to Casimer’s demands. I will be betrayed, tortured and killed.”
“You will know what to do when the time comes.”
I stared at Suma sullenly, not liking the plan at all. It seemed like a death trap.
Suma said, “And you will not die. You will face much danger but Tarmon Farrin will be watching you.”
“Will you be there in the dust-shrouded sky?”
“I don’t know if it will be me but someone from Tarmon will be watching. Just know that Towsaj is always observing you.”
“You mean…” I couldn’t bring myself to say the name I knew him by.
“Mowae. He is one and the same.”
I didn’t fully understand why he went by two names and I was too afraid to ask. And I didn’t know entirely what she meant about being watched but I was beginning to see, beginning to comprehend. Feeling safe was a foreign concept but that was the moment when I began to trust Mowae’s care of me to a miniscule degree.
“I need more information. How will I possibly be allowed to bring back a false report? The Apolake Warriors who travel with me will surely negate my word. When we return, their tales in the taverns will make their rounds until my lies are exposed and I am killed.”
“What if they don’t return?” Suma asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I can say no more. You will be shown the plan as it unfolds. You must trust me.”
“Trust you?”
“I know the practice is foreign but it’s something you must learn if you are to survive.”
I simply stared at her. She was showing her ignorance of the operation of Dwarkaa’s Domain. Trust was dangerous, liable to get one killed. Everyone watches their own back, orchestrates their own salvation and trusts absolutely no one.
Suma walked toward the leg of the massive beast, hauled herself up and unto its back. When she was seated, she looked at me and said, “Trust is buried deep inside you. You must draw it out if you are to be successful in completing your mission.”
“I don’t know how to trust.”
Staring at me, her eyes stern, she finally said, “Then you will perish.”
Giving the command, the dragon unfurled its black wings and pushed down mightily, pulsating up and down until it lifted from the deck and rose into the inky sky.
I watched until the two disappeared from sight as an overwhelming dread of my imminent demise filled my chest. But, an immense desire to live also echoed through the chasms of my heart.
