Savage Messiah

"Do you have anything else to add?"

K'jarr shook his head. "Only that you must believe me," he said. "I'm telling you the truth."

Sighing, Tyra

With a click of his heels, K'jarr crossed the stateroom and left. The intricately carved door closed quietly behind him.

Tyra

For some time, the only sounds disturbing the quiet of the stateroom were the creaking of the ship and the splashing of the waves, just below the open stained-glass windows.

"You were hard on him," Shailiha said quietly. "Despite what you might think of his story, I have never known a Minion warrior to lie."

Tyra

Shailiha leaned forward and placed her wine glass on the desk. The wound on her forehead was purple and swollen, and she was tired.

"You are new to the wonders and the horrors of the craft," she said. "In the right hands, magic can do amazing things. Not all of them are good."

"So you believe him?"

"I think it's too dangerous not to," the princess answered.

Tyra

The gigantic first mate shrugged his shoulders. "I have seen far fewer uses of the craft than the princess. Those I have witnessed have astounded me. I don't think it impossible. But I will tell you one thing for certain." He emptied his wine goblet in a single swallow and placed it back on the desk. His expression darkened. "If what K'jarr says is true and we meet those Black Ships on the open sea, there will be no hope for us. We must do everything we can to avoid them."

Tyra

The last day and a half had passed quietly enough. While the Reprise lumbered southeast, her crewmen and the Minion warriors were doing everything they could to repair the mangled ship.

A new bowsprit had been carved and mounted, most of the damaged rigging had been replaced, and the canvas-masters were busy mending the sails. The repairs to the hull were holding. Still, the damage to the fallen mast could only be repaired in port. Until it was replaced, the Reprise was much slower than she had been, and that continued to worry her captain. But for the most part the warship was again seaworthy. So far, no other vessels had been sighted.

Tyra

As she thought over her options, Tyra

"Is Faegan's other spell still working?" she asked the princess.

Before departing Eutracia, the crafty wizard had not only enchanted her against seasickness, but also enveloped her in a spell that would cloak her endowed blood from practitioners of the craft. As long as the spell was working, she would feel a slight but not unpleasant tingle in her left hand. She held her hand up and rubbed her fingers against her palm.

"Yes," she answered. "I think we should continue our mission. Tristan wants a demonslaver." A sly smile crossed her face. "Let's go get him one."

"I agree," Scars interjected. "We didn't come all this way just to turn tail and go home. Besides, it's been too long since I've broken the bones of some of those white-ski

"When the Gates of Dawn collapsed, Ox carried Tristan all the way home to Tammerland," the princess said. "But Ox is extremely strong. K'jarr would know the answer better than I. He has already made the trip to the Citadel and back. He could also select the best fliers."

Remembering the other gift of the craft that Faegan had so wisely conjured for them, Tyra

"If we have enough warriors who can carry us, and Faegan's device works properly, then each of the warriors will only have to fly half the journey at a time," she mused. "We are closer to the Citadel than we were when Traax and his party left. Our odds are better now, and it's a chance worth taking.

"Do you have a feel for the weather?" she asked Scars.

The first mate pursed his lips. "K'jarr says that there is a fog bank building to the east," he answered. "My sea bones agree. It should help hide us. But if it doesn't clear on our way home, finding the Reprise could become very difficult."

"It's a chance we'll have to take," Tyra

Scars nodded to his captain and departed to carry out his orders. Taking another sip of wine, Shailiha regarded Tyra

Looking down, Shailiha rolled the wine glass between her palms. Something had been bothering her for some time. At last she looked Tyra

"What, then?"

"You love him, don't you?"

Sighing, Tyra

"Perhaps only to me," Shailiha answered. "No one else has mentioned it. I speak of it for two reasons. The first is that I want you to know that I understand. I care for him in a different way than you do, of course, but I know how easy it is to become attached to him. Trust me, I've seen it before."

Smiling wryly, Tyra

After an awkward silence, Tyra

"I want your promise that you will do nothing to interfere with the relationship between my brother and Celeste," Shailiha said bluntly. "They have only recently found each other, and they love each other deeply. Ever since the return of the Coven, his life has been very difficult. And her life has been a nightmare from the day she was born. I don't want you to harm whatever joy they have been able to pluck from the ashes."