James C Gilliam

The first mate’s brow furrowed as he listened to Elec’s report. He held a hand to shade his eyes as he looked out at the floating debris.

“A rowboat with someone aboard? That doesn’t sound right. This close to the shore, they shouldn’t be in trouble unless something went badly wrong.”

He squinted in the direction Elec pointed, troubled by the situation. The distortion seemed to be caused by movement just beneath the surface of the water. A subtle pattern suggested a large entity circled underneath. The distinct ripples radiated outward, disturbing the otherwise calm water in that part of the bay. Whatever caused it moved slowly and deliberately. Waiting. Scattered pieces of cargo and debris floated near the distortion, perhaps remnants of a ship or something torn from the rowboat itself. Captain Jorn watched Elec’s expression.

“What else do you see? Spill it, lad.” The man growled.

“Something is churning the water not far from the rowboat. I’m not certain, but if it’s a creature, it may have been the one who attacked it.”

Ograrn’s expression darkened as he followed Elec’s pointing finger toward the bay. His jaw tightened as his eyes moved between circling birds and the faint ripples.

“I was afraid it’d be a creature. Could be serpent trouble, alright. A beast of that size could easily tip a rowboat or worse. But those waters are shallow. Far too shallow for the ‘Sprinter, let alone larger creatures as such.”

Jorn raised his voice to the crew, saying, “All hands, listen up! We’ve got a situation near the bay. Possible wreckage and someone stranded. Stay sharp and prepare to lower a boat if needed.”

“We’ll approach as close as we can, cautiously. No need to risk the ship until we know more. Keep an eye on that water, though. We need to be ready if it takes more an interest in us.” Ograrn said. “Keep that spyglass ready. If you see anything more, let us know immediately.”

The Sea Sprinter doused canvas and adjusted its course, heading toward the bay at a steady but cautious pace. Elec remained at the corner of the aft deck, spyglass in hand, his sharp eye fixed on the ripple in the water, the cause becoming clearer. A long, shadowy figure moved below the surface, large and sinuous. It circled the rowboat in deliberate, almost predatory patterns. The rowboat shifted slightly with the motion of the water with every circuit. The figure slumped over the hull and remained motionless, with faint glints of metal armor or weapons shone on its body. Another dark shape, triangular in shape, briefly surfaced in the water farther out, near the edges of the bay. Elec adjusted the focus of the glass, but it had slipped away before he could get a better view. He informed the first mate of the new development.

“I think there are a pair of creatures, one just near the rowboat, the other waiting not too far away. Both may wait to ambush anyone willing to investigate.”

The first mate’s expression hardened as Elec delivered his report. His grip on the railing tightened as his sharp eyes scanned the scene.

“Two creatures? It’s definitely serpents, and both are lying in wait. That complicates things…but it makes no sense…”

He stepped back and shouted to the crew, his voice ringing with authority.

“Hold steady, men! We’ve got more than just a wreck to deal with. Something’s lurking in the water, and it doesn’t look friendly. Arm up. We’ll not be caught unawares.”

The sailors scrambled, grabbing spears, crossbows, and other weapons from the armory. The captain strides over, his face grim but calm.

“This doesn’t sound like a simple rescue. If there’s even a chance of survivors, we’ll do what we can, but we won’t risk the ship or the crew recklessly. Regardless, those waters are far too shallow for the Sprinter to draw any closer. First Mate, have the men ready the longboat. We’ll send a small team in quietly and quickly. If those creatures make a move, we’ll try to cover them from the ship.”

The captain ordered the men to trim sail and weigh anchor while the team, equipped for fishing just moments ago, now readied simple leather armor and crossbows for battle.

“How about it, Elec? You’ve got a sharp eye and a good head on your shoulders. Will you join the team, or stay aboard to keep watch and call out anything we might miss?”

“I’ll accompany the others to investigate the rowboat. My spells should be able to ward off any creature and keep them safe.”

“Good. Just remember, if things go south, prioritize getting back to the ship alive. No one’s a hero if they’re dead.”

The first mate turned and bellowed, “Prepare the longboat! And arm the men. Crossbows, spears, and harpoons at the ready!”

Within moments, a group of sailors gathered near the longboat. Two sturdy deckhands and the young sailor Bram, who still looked nervous but determined, accompanied Elec. The first mate gave Elec a firm pat on the shoulder.

“Watch each other’s backs out there. We don’t have ballista, but we’ll cover you from the ship with crossbows as long as you are within range. If you see anything, signal us.”

The longboat lowered into the water, and Elec climbed aboard with the other sailors. His thundering heart threatened to overwhelm him. The sailors paddled, their movements rehearsed a thousand times. Every once in a while, Drunars or Barro shifted their oars to push a bit of debris away from the bow of the small craft. As they drew closer, the rowboat and the circling distortion grew clearer. The dark shadow beneath the surface remained in constant motion, and the second, farther shape seemed to linger just at the edge of visibility. Elec, focused on the battered vessel and the figure slumped over its edge, watched the longboat glide closer to the rowboat. Deep gouges marked the rowboat’s hull, as if claws or sharp teeth had attacked it. Elec harkened back to the wreckage of the Waveshear. One oar was missing, and the other floated nearby, broken in half. The slumped figure appeared to be male and wore partial armor, though heavy dents and rust marred it in places. Torn clothing hung from him, and his arms dangled across the boat’s hull. Sunlight shimmered on the figure’s hip, a weapon, perhaps a short sword or dagger, still sheathed. There were no immediate signs of movement from the figure, neither the movement of a limb nor a noticeable draw of breath. The shadowy creature beneath the surface circled lazily around the rowboat, its movements deliberate but unhurried. Its shape remained indistinct, but Elec noticed a faint ripple near the rowboat’s edge, as though the creature was testing or nudging it.

They were about sixty feet from the rowboat when the sailors rowed counter to the approach, slowing their pace to a halt. They glanced nervously at Elec. While he was the lowest in the pecking order aboard the ship, they now waited for his next move or instructions. Elec’s own excitement found itself replaced with cold sweat and shaky hands. He took a long moment to examine the shadows rippling the water nearby. Surely these creatures cannot be too large, he thought. If the ship cannot get much closer in these waters, these creatures may not be much of a threat. He looked back at the ship, its crew like tiny little ants on a toy vessel in the distance. However, all those ants had crossbows, javelins, and harpoons. All he had to do was draw them to it.

Elec motioned for the sailors to be ready with their crossbows. He secured a long rope, made a slip-loop on one end, and held it in his hand as he concentrated. His hand filled with a rising power, reaching every part of his palm and fingers. Elec released his own fingers, and the magical ones separated from them to keep holding the rope aloft. He slid his hand away, and the knotted loop hovered in mid-air. He then directed the invisible hand to carry the loop over to the rowboat and fasten it to an oar-saddle.

“Folks, get those crossbows and spears ready.”

With the rope now attached, Elec took hold of the free end and pulled the rope tight until the rowboat shifted. The rowboat creaked as it glided on the water. As though sensing the movement, the shadow beneath the water paused in its circling. The water rippled near the rowboat as it approached, but the shape below did not make an aggressive move. The slumped figure remained motionless, and the shadowy shape beneath the water hovered closer to the surface. Inwardly, Elec swore as the creature continued to guard the wrecked boat.

Elec halted and told the two sailors, Devlin and Kol, to slowly start paddling back towards the Sea Sprinter. He remained ready to let go of the rope and intervene if violence erupted. The sailors nodded at Elec’s command. They paddled carefully, their movements slow and deliberate to avoid drawing attention from the shadowy creatures beneath the water. The longboat began its laborious trek back toward the Sea Sprinter, with the rowboat in tow. The going was slow. For a while, it felt as if the longboat were not even moving. Gradually, the toy ship grew into a full-sized vessel, and the ants’ crossbows looked large enough to handle some shallow-water creatures.

The shadow beneath the water stirred, rippling the surface as it continued to follow the movement of the rowboat. Its slow, deliberate motions suggested curiosity, or perhaps something more sinister. The second, smaller shadow farther out remained still. Its presence lingered like a dark omen at the edge of Elec’s vision. The sailors, gripping their crossbows and spears, glanced nervously at Elec, waiting for any sign that the situation was about to escalate. As the distance to the Sea Sprinter shrank, the first mate stood at the rail, barking quiet orders to the crew. Several aimed their weapons toward the water near the rowboat and waited for them to be in range.

The shadow beneath the rowboat shifted again, this time rising just above the surface, the shape becoming clearer. Its body was long and serpentine, with a sinuous form that glided just beneath the surface. The faint outline of fins and a ridged back was now visible, and its size was large enough to tip or destroy either boat if provoked.

Elec continued to watch the dark shapes below the water while the longboat made its slow progress. From his observations, he recalled tales of sea serpents, simple predators known for their cunning and ambush strategies. The creatures were territorial and circled their prey, waiting for an opportunity to strike. He knew from his father’s books that they were not mindless and could sometimes be deterred by displays of strength or dominance.

The longboat continued its slow progress toward the Sea Sprinter, the rowboat trailing behind. The larger shadow kept pace beneath the rowboat, staying close but not yet making any aggressive moves. Elec remained coiled for action while he held the rope until the longboat was alongside the Sea Sprinter or the creatures moved to strike. When the longboat fell under the shadow of the Sea Sprinter, Elec let go of the rope with his right hand and placed it into the water, while slowly drawing the rowboat closer to him.

“Be ready,” He said.

The sailors in the longboat nodded, eyes wide and focused on the water, all four readying their spears and crossbows. Elec said a prayer to Ilen that none of the slumped figure’s body was touching water at this very moment. With a steady breath, Elec gathered his concentration and focused the energy into the power of lightning, sending a surge of electric energy through his outstretched and submerged hand. The current crackled through the water and spread outward, seeking the creatures beneath the surface.

The larger shadow immediately reacted to the attack, its sinuous body jerking violently as the electricity struck it. A loud, crackling noise erupted from the rippling water, electricity arching between the peaks of the surface. The creature thrashed, its body twisting and writhing in response to the shock. It let out a low, guttural hiss.

The smaller shadow, sensing the disturbance, moved more aggressively, darting toward the rowboat with alarming speed. The sailors in the longboat reacted, with several readying their spears and crossbows. One sailor shouted, “Watch out!” as the smaller creature approached. The larger creature, still thrashing from the electric shock, moved away from the rowboat, but it did not fully retreat. Its attention seemed now split between the rowboat and Elec’s group.

Elec was about to give the order to row towards the capsized boat until the creature’s head reared up out of the water. He had read that sea serpents tended to be larger creatures, but the angry maw that hissed at them from the water’s surface could eat half the longboat in one bite. He loosed a pair of his force blasts at the creature, one reflexively while he summoned the other. The blasts struck it perfectly but to minimal effect against its thick hide. Before he could blink, the jagged teeth were piercing through his shoulder, chest, and neck. He heard himself roar in pain, as if observing someone else taking the strike in a weird, dreamlike dissociation, as he clawed at the creature now poised to lift him out of the longboat. Several crossbow bolts and a javelin struck the beast. The maw released its grasp on him. His feet clattered onto the deck of the small boat, his hand falling into the water. Feeling the coolness, he brought forth the lightning in his hand once more. The creature reeled and curled around itself uncontrollably once more. As he rose, more tiny daggers pinned his left arm to his side, exploding in more pain throughout his chest and left shoulder. The second creature came alongside the ship and bit into him. He pelted the creature with his force blasts while the nails of his right hand scrambled into its eye. Sailors, despite catching them all unaware, skewered the serpent with several harpoons.

As the creature tried to drag him off the boat, Elec dislodged his arm and, with both hands, brought forth flames that burst the creature’s eye. It released and slipped away under the water when the first reared its head high above and crashed down on top of him with its full weight. Though it struck him full on, smashing its body down atop him, the bulk slipped sideways, failing to capsize their longboat. He fell to his knees while the rest of the crew expertly rode the distortion. Elec plunged his hands into the water and called forth the power of lightning again, catching both creatures mid-strike. Instead of coiling, they snapped rigid, the crew of the Sprinter and the longboat continuing to fill the creatures’ hides with bolts and harpoons. He blasted the water once more with lightning and watched with satisfaction as the creatures floated stiffly just below the surface. Elec took a moment to catch his breath and wipe the creature’s blood from his face and chest. Only more seemed to remain. He wiped his chest again, but found it was not the creature’s blood now flowing down his shirt, pants, into his boots, and pooling at his feet. It was his own, flowing freely from the numerous punctures on the left side of his body. The adrenaline ebbed out of his heart, and the waves beneath the boat seemed to grow in fervor. Despite the constant pain from his sliced and bruised body, determination kept him standing on his feet through the growing agony. He worried that the battle was not over, as his vision had blurred. The crew members steadied him, urging him to sit down on the bench below.

As the longboat pulled up alongside the Sea Sprinter once again, the captain shouted orders. The first mate and several sailors rushed to help Elec and the others from the longboat.

“Get him up here, now!” Someone yelled from miles away, his voice sharp with urgency.

Bram, the young sailor, helped Elec from the longboat with care, though he looked pale and shaken from the close combat. The others were already preparing to lift Elec back onto the Sea Sprinter, where a group of sailors had gathered with supplies to tend to the wounded.

A hazy figure watched the scene from the deck. He motioned to the figures bustling about. Elec’s eyes refused to focus, and his ears were filled with a droning.

“No time for dawdling. We need him patched up. Get him below deck.”

As Elec floated from without and disembodied hands placed him elsewhere, the shade approached, his expression grim but impressed.

“You did well out there, lad. It wasn’t easy, but you fought through it. Don’t think for a second…”

Still, the pain and exhaustion overwhelmed him, and the next figure welcomed him with warm, steady hands as they ushered him into a cooler, shadier place.

*

While the Seafarer’s Rest was the very picture of frontier luxury, the Salty Gull was also the picturesque, rough-and-tumble place the real people of the region went to. They built the inn from the hull of the actual ship named the Salty Gull, Seraphine discovered, using reclaimed wood from the reefed vessel. While the introduction phase of her set in the fancier establishment was a gradual affair, the attention she drew at the Gull was immediate. Instead of calm, collected suitors waiting patiently for the show to end, she had immediate and much less worthy callers greeting her as she took the stage. Seraphine smiled and engaged with each admirer as she made her way to the corner of the room and played.

The crowd possessed a much different rhythm here as well. The Seafarer was a steady buildup. Prepared for the occasion, the ‘Gull demanded the good stuff up front. She started with a local favorite, “She Knows I Love the Sea,” which drew a decent amount of ruckus. She allowed the merriment to continue for a while before continuing with a much slower song, “Time Moves”. Her playlist soon had them swaying to her rhythm, her groove. Starting high, going low, then high to middling, to high, and then to the highest for the finale. “Time Moves” had them quiet and somber. “House of My Pleasures” had them back up and roaring, “Battle of Poisoned Bay” had them tapping along its steady march-like pace, and “Babe, I Like What I See” got them onto their feet and dancing where they could find space. “A Glorious Deckhand’s Life” brought them all together for the finale, the entire inn singing loudly and demanding two encores.

While the crowd was rowdy, they were still very civil around her compared to some dives she had played. Their approaches and calls were still heavy-handed, but not once did Roderick have to raise his voice, let alone intervene. They received anonymous payment for their meals and drinks, and they filled the copper bowl to the brim. While filled mostly with copper coins, it was enough as far as food, drink, and bedding; the bard and the warrior could live like royalty for the next week or so.

When the festivities quieted, Seraphine remained seated, conversing with the hopefuls at the table with the warrior. His stern but impassive face gave the suitors the hint that tonight would not be any of their nights with her. She found herself slightly disappointed with the current prospects. While she had entertained a lover here and there in the past, she was finding the dry spell a little drier than she liked. She never offered Roderick a second chance, but not because of her disappointment the first time she offered. The warrior made no indication that he desired her in such a way, and if he did, she would wait for him to make the first move this time. That itch nagged at her again, and Pelavora was not shaping up to be a place to scratch it. Maybe a ship will pull into port that may have someone dashing enough to sweep me off my feet, she thought, recalling several of her own songs on the matter.

“Still no word of the Silver Drake or the Guild Master?” Roderick asked.

“None yet. The clerk seemed quite nervous about it, too. Seems the mercenaries are putting some pressure on the guild as if they can do something about it. We are stuck waiting for either to come in, or someone to bring word what befell them.”

*

Elec stared in horror as the serpent rose from the water and fell upon him. He tried to lash out with his power, but the creature was too fast. It bit into him, wrapping its thick mass around his body, and dragged him into the darkness of the sea. He tried to call out before the dark water covered his head, but it was too late. He struggled in the darkness, the pain in his shoulder growing brighter until he could not bear it anymore.

It was dark when he opened his eyes. A single candle lit the hazy, pale Elvish face that loomed over him. Am I dead, he wondered as he tried to move, but found his hands were bound and ropes were across his chest. Elec looked around, trying to make sense of everything, his body trembling.

“Steady now, Elec. The battle was won, and you are safe now.” Said a somber, comforting voice, a woman’s hands pressing him down against his chest. “I’m Tialha, the ship’s healer. I’m sorry…if they hurt you. The crew had to move you swiftly when replacing your bandages. Each time you’d come slightly awake and thrash about. We had to lash you down ever since the fever set in.”

Elec’s trembling subsided as he remembered that the sea serpents died under spell and a hail of crossbow bolts. They nearly tore him to pieces as well. The pain shooting up and down his left side grew in waves.

“Your fever is finally breaking. We were worried you were going to tear your stitches again, despite how quickly you were taking to the poultices and treatments.”

She untied the bindings that held him in his bed. The Elf unbound his right arm while the left remained wrapped in bandages and secured against his chest.

“I want to go home.”

The statement escaped his lips uncontrollably. Elec’s eyes widened in surprise, his voice cracking and wavering with every word. He wasn’t even aware of his feelings when the words suddenly came out. A wave of shame, disappointment, and yearning for his island hit him as hard as the pain along his left side. He shut his eyes and turned his head aside. His right hand gingerly held his still tightly bound left arm. For a while, there was nothing but the unsteady heaving of his breathing as he tried not to cry.

“It is understandable, Elec. Ograrn said this was your first time away from home, and battle is something no one can ever be prepared for their first time. You’ve survived something very traumatic, and it will take some time to regain your spirit, but know this: Despite the pain and anguish, you kept the crew safe. And your fellow crewmates, each one of them, stopped in to see you. Barro, Devlen, Drunars…and Kol. Bram even stopped in to see you several times yesterday. Not one of us could’ve stood up to those beasts, taken their blows, and kept fighting like you did. Because of your strength and bravery, we didn’t lose anyone that day, let alone you or that other sailor. So allow yourself a moment to weep if you must, but do not weep for shame or home. Weep for the weakness that you shed the other day. Weep and allow that little piece to die away so that you can rise stronger in its wake.”

She placed a steady, reassuring hand on his uninjured shoulder. Despite his own emotions, he could hear a touch of sadness in her voice. A lot of personal experience tinged the words she shared, hinting that the lesson she had learned was much greater than he had experienced.

“I know this is hard for you, but I won’t let them see you in your current state. From here on out, I’ll only let them see you when you are ready. Not before. Get yourself some rest now. We’ve about two more days until we reach the Port of Pelavora. I’m certain seeing a little bit of civilization will help to restore your spirits.”

When she left his berth, he wept for a while. The pain in his shoulder, arm, and side was great, but the ointments and medicines finally took hold and quieted it down to a manageable ache and made his mind fuzzy. Then he was still, and he slept. When he awoke, he collected his thoughts and calmed his emotions. My crewmates, he thought, if I weren’t already an honorary member before, I sure am now. His anxiety subsided in his rest and now found himself starving. He rose, and his blanket fell away, revealing a naked waist and thighs. Wrapping the rough blanket around his waist, careful not to move his bound left arm, he picked his way from his berthing over to the galley. A chorus of snores and groans matched with the gentle clinking of pots and cutlery. Elec guessed it must’ve been early in the morning, as the Halfling was already lighting his cook fires and readying his cauldron.

“Master Elec,” Cordival said with genuine elation. “I’m surprised to find you up on your feet so soon. You must be famished.”

Saltpot motioned for Elec to sit on a small stool next to the cauldron. Drawing some water from the bucket next to him, he readied a small pot, bringing it to a quick boil. He added a generous portion of fat, mashed potato, mashed carrot, and a little bit of seasoning. He boiled it down to a fine, thick soup and ladled it into a wide, shallow bowl.

“I cannot…” Elec began, looking for a place to set the bowl.

“Easy there. You just tip it to the edge and drink it.” The cook said, cleaning his hands before going back to his preparations. “I had to feed a bit of that to you yesterday with a funnel. When you weren’t thrashing around, that is. Was afraid you weren’t gonna come back above the water.”

Elec sipped at the soup slowly. It was very hot, but the mixture warmed his chest and sat well in his stomach. He took several long pulls, his body seeming to restrengthen though he grew tired once more.

“Has the Sea Sprinter encountered sea serpents before?”

The cook ladled another generous portion of the soup into the bowl from the small pot with a nod.

“Here ya go, lad. Couldn’t hurt to get some strength back after all that fightin’. And the sea serpents, aye, we’ve had our run-ins with ‘em before. Not often, mind you, but enough to know that when they show up, it’s trouble. We’ve had a few close calls over the years, but I’ve heard from the old-timers that the bay’s always been a bit…cursed. There’s something about these waters that brings ‘em close to shore.”

The cook paused, his eyes distant for a moment as he remembered. He’s definitely good for a conversation at least, Elec thought.

“Some say there’s an ancient force under the sea around here. Something that calls to the serpents. Or maybe it’s driving them out of their usual waters. I don’t know about all that, but I’ve seen what they can do up close, and it ain’t pretty. They’re not just mindless beasts. They’re territorial, and they’ll fight to protect what they’re guarding. The last time a ship got hit by one near these parts, they lost a few good men. We’ve been lucky, and it seems like the Sea Sprinter has always managed to steer clear of the worst of it. You, well…that’s something else. You were lucky to make it back, especially with those crossbows from the vessel. Those creatures won’t hesitate to sink a ship if they think it’s a threat.”

Elec looked down dejectedly, touching the bandages on his side with the edge of the bowl.

“Large enough to sink ships, huh? I had grossly underestimated how much larger and deadlier the creatures we encountered were. Had we not pulled the rowboat back closer to the Sea Sprinter, we might not have survived the fight.”

The cook nodded, his expression growing more serious as he listened.

“Aye, you’re not wrong there. Those sea serpents are no ordinary creatures. They’ve got size, speed, and cunning, and they know how to use them. You did well to pull that rowboat back in when you did. Who knows how many more of those things are lurking under the waves just further off? They tend to be opportunistic, too, picking off smaller boats or ships if they sense weakness.”

He wiped his brow with the back of his hand.

“The Sea Sprinter is a sturdy ship, but I’ve seen even the toughest ships get taken down by creatures like those. It’s a miracle you made it back in one piece, especially after taking most of the hits yourself. I’m sure the crew appreciates the work you did. You might’ve saved more lives than you realize. Just be careful next time. You’re tougher than most, but there are some things out here in the sea that even the strongest can’t handle on their own.”

Elec finished his meal, giving a grateful nod to the cook.

“Thanks for the food and the advice. I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, pushing back from the table.

The cook gave him a friendly wave as Elec headed back towards his bunk. No sooner than his head rested upon the rough pillow, there was a knock on the crate near his bed. Elec’s eyes blinked open, sunlight glaring into his small berthing, and he looked upon Tialha holding a tray containing wraps and a couple of vials.

“The breeze blows gently, Elec.” She said, setting the tray next to his cot. “It’s time to change your bandages again. Bram is here if you wish to have company.”

“Absolutely,” Elec said, shifting under his covers.

As soon as he moved to rise, there was an explosion of pain in his left side that immediately left him paralyzed in place. He let out a long growl of pain until the daggers quieted down. Tialha asked Bram to help Elec up. Relaxing and allowing the young sailor to do most of the work, Elec returned to a seated position.

“You’ve gotten up since yesterday. That’s my fault, as I thought you’d have slept much longer. I should have told you to remain in bed until at least tomorrow. The medicine works well to dampen the pain and speed the healing, but you still have a couple more days before you can move about on your own.”

Elec gasped as she gently removed the wraps closest to his numerous wounds.

“Sorry. I had gotten hungry and went to the galley. I have a few vials of Nahrestra in my pack to speed this up.”

Elec caught another surprised flash in the Elven woman’s eyes.

“Potions are rare and expensive in these regions, Elec. We have some of the sort on hand as well, but only in the most extreme circumstances. Hopefully, we will not need such as long as your wounds do not go septic. It seems the binding compounds have held. From now on, please call for someone to help you.”

“I’m glad to see you awake, Elec,” Bram said. “The crew has not stopped talking about how you took on both of the serpents. Oh, I brought your clothes. We tried to mend them as best we could.”

He shook out Elec’s expensive traveling clothes. What was once a fine set of a white shirt, brown jacket, and pants had now all become dark, muddy brown. The bloodstains on all three items were so massive that they dyed them the same ugly color. They patched the shirt and jacket from the inside, yet their shredded state was visible. He had another pair of shirts and pants in his pack, but the jacket was the only one he had. And his favorite.

“You can thank whoever for patching it up,” Elec said, hiding his disappointment. “But more importantly, thanks for your help in the longboat. You made some good shots with that crossbow of yours.”

Bram’s face lit up with a mix of surprise and pride as he replied, “Oh, hey Elec! No problem! I…uh, I just did what needed doin’. It was a close one, though. You were the one out there taking the brunt of it. Thanks, though. I’ve been practicin’ with the crossbow, but I ain’t used it in a real fight like that before. Definitely a bit more intense than shootin’ at barrels on shore,”

He chuckled, his gaze flicking toward the crates as he chewed the nail of his ring finger, as if trying to distract himself from the intensity of the moment. He met Elec’s gaze again, his expression more confident.

“It felt good, though… knowing I could help. We were all in it together, right? Anyway, I…I didn’t get a chance to thank you properly for the other day, too, when you helped me with the ropes. I was really messin’ that up, but you made it seem easy.”

“It is no problem. That was my first proper fight, too. Sure, I have traded fists with some who might draw a blade on me, but this is a totally new experience for me as well.”

Elec paused, wincing as Tialha continued her treatment, adding, “And the first time being defeated as well.”

Bram’s eyes widened as Elec spoke, a mix of surprise and respect in his gaze.

“Wait, that was your first real fight? I thought for sure you were a seasoned warrior, especially with that magic you were throwin’ around! You handled yourself like a veteran out there, even if you did take a few hits.”

“Looks maybe, but it surely didn’t feel like it.”

“You made it through, though, and that’s what counts.”

Tialha finished rebinding his wounds, and Bram eased him back down onto his cot. Elec tried to speak more, but the moment his head touched the pillow, his eyes became heavy, and his mouth refused to form words properly. Bram waited, but soon the medicines began their work in earnest, and Elec drifted to sleep once more. Though his dreams were far from restful.

Table of Contents

Chapter 13 – Pelavora